The Lord’s Supper

Key Thought: Rudyard Kipling had a little poem he used in meditating/deliberating over anything.

‘I keep six honest serving men they taught me all I know, their names are what, why, when, how, where and who!‘ In learning from the past let us use this in learning from the greatest of Books – Holy Writ!

Key Scripture: "….. this do in remembrance of Me. " 1 Corinthians 11:24.

Proposition: Let us open our Bibles and prayerfully read and consider all the verses quoted

BODY OF TEACHING:

WHAT?

The BREAD and the WINE. It is Bread, Wine, Meat and Bitter Herbs that were used at every Passover, so we should note that these were the four elements used once a year at the Passover remembrance meal given to Israel as a lasting memorial ordinance in all their generations.

Because this was to be something new associated with His sacrifice, we have been instructed by the Lord, that only the bread and the wine are to be used as symbols of His body and precious blood. So the Lord’s Supper mentioned in 1 Corinthians 11:20 is the communion along with an agape love meal for the Church as a whole. Paul rebukes the believers for their lack of respect to the Lord and to one another in these verses.

Lastly, l Corinthians 5:7-8 teaches us that we may keep the Feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread. Paul was writing to a Church made up of Jews and Gentiles, with the Gentile believers probably making up the greater percentage of members! The verses go on to show the spiritual application in their discipleship walk with their Lord.

WHY?

1. Because of its DIVINE INSTITUTION – it is of the Lord not of man. Luke 22:19-20.

2. Because of its HISTORIC INAUGURATION – it is of the Lord again. 1 Cor 11:23.
(Sha’ul/Paul tells us that he received these instructions from the Lord direct!)

3. Because of its APOSTOLIC INTERPRETATION – it is of the Lord again via the pen of Paul.
1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 11:26.

WHEN?

1 Corinthians 11:26 says ‘For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death til He comes.’

‘As often as’ has been taken by those wishing to remember and proclaim their Lord to be daily or weekly when meeting with other believers. Surely we should want to raise the cup more than once a year. More importantly the teaching in Corinthians is for us to examine ourselves before partaking. Many teach for us to keep short accounts and when remembering the greatest sacrifice ever, we have time to seek His immediate forgiveness because of His precious royal shed blood. The enemy loves to come to rob and steal as our Lord informed us. The demons do not like us proclaiming His death till He comes! Why? Because when He comes they are in for it! Did they not say, ‘Have you come to torment us before the time!’ They know the plan and purposes of God just as much as we do!

THE HOW AND THE WHERE?

It is clear from the Holy Scriptures that the following 3 points are for all partakers.

1. MORAL CONFORMITY- all to take worthily. 1 Cor 11:28.

2. MENTAL COMREHENSION – discerning the Lord’s body. 1 Cor 11:29.

3. MUTUAL CONSIDERATION -one for another (as it is written!) 1 Cor 11:33.
This shows a corporate meeting or at least two or three together.

WHO?

In our Yeshiva Study (to sit and discuss). We have used the principles of Midrash (to search out, to contrast and to compare) the Holy Scriptures using Hebraic Hermeneutics, not Hellenistic thinking.

We have then kept the best for the last – WHO? It is of course our blessed Lord Jesus Christ (Adonai Y’shua HaMashiach) and us His people as we:-

1. We remember a Unique Person – our Lord. 1 Cor 11:24.

2. We proclaim a wonderful Death – as often. 1 Cor 11:26.

3. We celebrate a notable Victory – His resurrection. 1 Cor 15:4.

4. We express a world-wide Fellowship – with the saints. 1 Cor 10:16-17.

5. We anticipate a glorious Event – til He come. 1 Cor 11:26.

Conclusion:

In understanding any doctrine (teaching) we need to have all the jigsaw pieces to get the full picture.

I trust the full picture has been given to you above, although in any teaching many words and thoughts can be used. The simple and straight forward exposition, has been presented here.

Maranatha.

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