1 Corinthians 10:16

The cup of blessing, &c.— The Jews used to conclude the feast whereon the paschal lamb was eaten, with a cup of wine. This they called the cup of blessing, and the cup of praising, because at the time of drinking it, they sung a hymn of praise. We should likewise recollect, that in the early ages of the world, when victims made so great a part of the religion, not only of the Jews, but even of the Gentiles, the sacrifice was followed by a religious feasting on the thing which had been offered; the partakers whereof were supposed to become partakers of the benefits of the sacrifice. Well, therefore, might theApostle argue against the Corinthians, who ate of the sacrifices of the Gentiles, and communicated with the Christians, as in the verse before us; whence we may collect, that the cup of blessing, &c. is not merely a general commemoration of Christ's death and passion; it is the spiritual communion of the blood of Christ. See Cudworth on the Sacrament.