Vol. VII No. 11

The Lord’s Supper

Written by Christopher Mentzer

In Acts 20:7 Luke writes, “And upon the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread…” This is the only verse in which we have a command, of any kind, as to when to partake of the Lord’s Supper. Some has told me that this was a special occasion for those only in Troas. Really? I don’t see it. Let’s look at the whole passage…

“5. But these had gone before, and were waiting for us at Troas. 6. And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days, where we tarried seven days. 7. And upon the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, intending to depart on the morrow; and prolonged his speech until midnight. 8. And there were many lights in the upper chamber where we were gathered together.”

I don’t see any mention of a “special occasion”. They purposely stayed an extra two days so that they might break bread with those in Troas but it doesn’t say it was strictly for them.

Too often we see man inventing their own reasons for changing God’s commands. In most denominations, The Lord’s Supper (referred to as Communion) is only done on the first Sunday of the month. The Seventh-day Adventist church partakes once every three months and, some friends of that church told me, the reason for this is so they don’t take it for granted.

The real purpose for The Lord’s Supper is for a memorial. Paul writes of this in 1 Cor. 11: 23-25 but let’s look at verse 26 which says, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink the cup, ye proclaim the Lord's death till he come.” ‘For as often as you do this’. Looking back at Acts 20:7, they said on the first day of the week. How often does the first day come around? Once a week. This eliminates monthly, quarterly, or twice-years (for the C and E people). It’s on Sunday which eliminates Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturday nights.

However, some people will put more emphasis on The Lord’s Supper than the rest of the service because they herald it as sacred compared to singing, praying, and sermons. It is simply a memorial to help us recall the sacrifice that Jesus gave on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. There are no magic powers or special “Cleansing Agents’ in the emblems that erases sins or purifies the body. The Catholic Church would have you believe that the bread and wine change into actual flesh and blood using a word called Transubstantiation. I guess this is referenced to what Jesus said in Matt. 26: 26-28, “26. And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it; and he gave to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27. And he took a cup, and gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28. for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many unto remission of sins.” This is not to be taken literally as it was simply used as an example in setting up the memorial.

Finally we look at this simple verse from Proverbs 14: 12, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death.” Whatever man would have you believe to be a command of God is the path to death, as he is not following what God has commanded in the scriptures.