What is the Lord’s Supper?
The most detailed description of The Lord's Supper is in 1
Corinthians 11. In verses 17 - 22, Paul rebukes the congregation for selfish
behavior as they enjoy the dinner, which is referred to as “the Lord’s
Supper.”
Now in giving the following instruction I do not praise you, since
you come together not for the better but for the worse. For to begin with, I
hear that when you come together as a church there are divisions among you, and
in part I believe it. There must, indeed, be factions among you, so that those
who are approved may be recognized among you. Therefore, when you come
together, it is not really to eat the Lord’s Supper. For at the meal, each one
eats his own supper ahead of others. So one person is hungry while another gets
drunk! Don’t you have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you look down on the
church of God and embarrass those who have nothing? What should I say to you?
Should I praise you? I do not praise you for this!
In verses 23 - 27, he describes the meaning of the supper.
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the
night when He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it,
and said, “This is My body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” In
the same way, after supper He also took the cup and said, “This cup is the new
covenant established by My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, 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. Therefore, whoever eats the bread or
drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy way will be guilty of sin against the
body and blood of the Lord.
Note: in verses 17 - 22, it's obvious the saints were taking part
in a meal, likely the main meal of the day. The "breaking of bread"
was more than breaking actual bread, although it included that. As Acts 2:46
reveals, it was a phrase that referred to a meal: "Day by day
continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house,
they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart."
The meal commemorating the death and return of the Lord would be cause for the
children of God to have sincere gladness in their hearts.
Then, in verse 25, Paul notes that "after supper"
Christ took the cup. After supper, the Lord’s Supper - the main meal of the day
which included breaking of bread.
Peter described (2 Pet. 2:12-13) false brothers, wicked people,
who feasted with the saints - they took the supper in an unworthy manner, as
Paul said. Jude made the same comment, noting these wicked people partook of
the love feasts of the saints (verse 12-13).
The modern practice of a piece of unleavened bread and a shot
glass of juice or wine began in the 4th century when Constantine gave
permission for Christians to gather and gave them large buildings (pagan
temples and bath houses) to meet in. Large crowds made actual meals difficult
and several councils (Council of Laodicea (363–364 AD), Council of Hippo (393
AD) & Council of Carthage (397 AD), and Council of Trullo (692 AD)) forbade
bringing food inside the "church buildings". How could sincere
gladness of heart come from a rigidly ritualistic eating a crumb of bread and a
very small amount of cheap wine? Later, in the papist religion, the wine would
be withheld from the common folk.
If Christians are to be people of the Book, we should be about
ordering our meetings according to the Book, and not according to traditions of
men that we have been taught.
The practice was not abolished overnight but was suppressed
through a series of regional church councils:
- Council of Laodicea (363–364 AD): This
council issued Canon 28, which explicitly forbade eating or setting up
couches for dining inside church buildings. This forced the agape
meal outside the main place of worship.
- Canon 28. It is not permitted to hold love feasts, as they are called, in the Lord's Houses, or Churches, nor to eat and to spread couches in the house of God.
- Council of Hippo (393 AD) & Council
of Carthage (397 AD): Led heavily by North African bishops
like Saint Augustine, these councils banned the clergy from participating
in these feasts and strictly prohibited the general public from holding
them inside churches, unless no other space was available.
- Canon XLII. THAT no bishops or clerics
are to hold feasts in churches, unless perchance they are forced thereto
by the necessity of hospitality as they pass by. The people, too, as far
as possible, are to be prohibited from attending such feasts.
- Council of Trullo (692 AD): This
major eastern council issued Canon 74, reinforcing the strict
penalties—including excommunication—for anyone who attempted to host a
love feast inside a church sanctuary. This effectively delivered the final
blow to the tradition in the East.
- Canon 74. It is not permitted to hold
what are called Agapæ, that is love-feasts, in the Lord's houses or
churches, nor to eat within the house, nor to spread couches. If any dare
to do so let him cease therefrom or be cut off.
Each of these councils are held dear by the papist religion. They show that, as men of high position exercised power over them. It must not be like that among you who claim Christ (Matt. 20:25-27). Let us gently work to return to the Biblical model of the Lord’s Supper, sharing our lives and what God has blessed us with, so with sincerity and gladness of heart, we will remember the Son of God and all He has done for us.
