Overview

This section (Q96–97) defines the second sacrament, the Lord’s Supper — its signs and what believers receive through it — and sets out what is required to receive it worthily. It expresses the Reformed doctrine of the real spiritual presence and the necessity of self-examination.

The Questions & Answers

Q96. What is the Lord’s supper? A. The Lord’s supper is a sacrament, wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine, according to Christ’s appointment, his death is showed forth; and the worthy receivers are, not after a corporal and carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of his body and blood, with all his benefits, to their spiritual nourishment, and growth in grace.

Scripture Proofs (ESV):

“…do this in remembrance of me… For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” (1 Cor. 11:24–26, ESV)

“The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?” (1 Cor. 10:16, ESV)

Further proofs: Matt. 26:26–28; John 6:51, 53–56.

Q97. What is required to the worthy receiving of the Lord’s supper? A. It is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lord’s supper, that they examine themselves of their knowledge to discern the Lord’s body, of their faith to feed upon him, of their repentance, love, and new obedience; lest, coming unworthily, they eat and drink judgment to themselves.

Scripture Proofs (ESV):

“Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.” (1 Cor. 11:28–29, ESV)

Further proofs: 1 Cor. 11:31; 2 Cor. 13:5; 1 Cor. 5:7–8; Matt. 26:28.

Exposition: Q96 expresses the Reformed middle way between Rome’s transubstantiation and a bare memorialism. The Supper “shows forth” Christ’s death (a proclamation and remembrance), but it is more than memory: “the worthy receivers are… by faith, made partakers of his body and blood, with all his benefits.” Note the careful phrase — “not after a corporal and carnal manner, but by faith.” Christ is not physically present in the elements; yet believers truly feed on Him spiritually, by faith, for their “nourishment and growth in grace.” Q97 then sets the conditions for worthy reception: self-examination of one’s knowledge (to discern the Lord’s body), faith (to feed on Him), and repentance, love, and new obedience. The warning is solemn — to come unworthily is to “eat and drink judgment” (1 Cor. 11:29) — but “worthy” does not mean sinless; it means coming as a knowing, believing, repentant sinner who rests on Christ.

Connections

• WLC Q168–175 — what the Lord’s Supper is; how it is to be received; worthy receiving; the duty of self-examination before, during, and after.
• WCF 29 (Of the Lord’s Supper) — the full doctrine, including the rejection of transubstantiation and the real spiritual presence.
• Loci: The Lord’s Supper; the real spiritual presence; worthy reception; the means of grace.

Pastoral & Practical Significance

The Lord’s Table is one of the believer’s richest means of grace, and these questions teach us to come neither carelessly nor fearfully but by faith. Q96 lifts the Supper above mere ritual or memory: at the Table you do not simply think about Christ — you commune with Him, feeding on Him and all His benefits by faith, for real spiritual nourishment. That makes the Supper a feast of assurance, the gospel placed on your tongue, sealing to you that His body was broken and His blood shed for you. Q97’s call to self-examination is sometimes misread as a barrier to keep struggling Christians away — but its aim is the opposite: it ensures we come as believers who discern what we are doing, not flippantly. “Worthy” reception is not the achievement of the spiritually impressive; it is the posture of the repentant sinner who knows his need, trusts Christ, and longs to grow. So the weak, the grieving, and the battle-weary believer should come hungriest of all — for here Christ Himself feeds His people and strengthens them for the journey home, “till he comes.” Examine yourself, then come; the Table is for sinners who rest on the Savior.

For Memory & Reflection

• Memorize Q96 and Q97; anchor verses: 1 Corinthians 11:24–26 and 11:28. Note that worthy receivers feed on Christ “by faith,” not corporally.
• Do I come to the Table expecting a real communion with Christ, or treating it as bare ritual or mere memory?
• Self-examination is meant to prepare, not to bar, the repentant. Does fear of unworthiness wrongly keep me from the feast Christ spread for sinners?