Backs to the Basics: The Weekly Observance of the Lord’s Supper

Introduction

1. The Lord’s Supper is a significant part of the Christian’s life and worship.

a. It has been observed in many different ways and settings, from sacrament to common, potluck supper!

b. Removed from its Biblical context, the Supper has been practiced in many ways foreign to the scriptures.

2. There is a wide variety of practices with regard to the frequency of partaking of the Supper.

a. E.g. Daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, yearly or on special occasions

b. Some would limit partaking to Sunday; others allow Thursday (when instituted) or any day of the week.

3. Setting aside our preconceptions and prior views, let’s examine the issue with an open and honest mind.

I.      Biblical Evidence

A.          Matthew 26:17-20, 26-30

1.   It was while observing the Passover Feast with His disciples that Jesus instituted the Supper.

a)       This has traditionally been understood to be Thursday evening, Friday by Jewish time.

b)       The basic elements of the Supper were unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine (juice).

c)       Jesus said these elements were His body and blood, i.e. they stood for or represented.

2.   No statement is made as to when or how often this memorial was to be observed.

a)       Some suggest v. 29 implies a specific future day that was to be continually observed.

b)       I am not convinced that Matthew 26 gives us any information regarding time or frequency.

B.          1Corinthians 11:17-34

1.   It seems evident that assembling to partake of the Supper happened often in Corinth.

a)       Paul was seeking to correct Corinthian abuses of the Supper.

b)       Yet the text clearly, and without rebuke, implies a regular and frequent observance.

2.   We know that the Corinthians met on the first day of the week. 1Co 16:1-2

a)       It would seem logical to think that the Supper was being observed in that Sunday assembly.

b)       Newer versions using older manuscripts translate the Greek “every first day of the week.”

C.          Acts 20:6-12

1.   This text is the most significant passage on the time and frequency of eating the holy Supper.

a)       Notice that:

(1)    Paul had been in town for a week (v.6)

(2)    The assembly was regular, not called especially due to Paul’s presence (v.7)

(3)    The disciples had gathered to break bread (v.7)

b)       We may infer that it was the church’s practice to assemble and break bread each first day.

(1)    This conclusion is implied by the language of verse 7.

(2)    Why else would there be a week’s delay from Paul’s arrival until the assembly?

(3)    Paul’s sermon was the special occurrence, not assembling or breaking bread.

2.   The breaking of bread in verse seven almost certainly refers to the Lord’s Supper.

a)       It is consistent with the language of 1Corinthians 10:16.

b)       It would be consistent with Paul’s instructions to the Corinthians. 1Co. 11:22, 34

c)       It would be consistent with the implication of Acts 2:42.

II.    Historical Evidence

A.          Ancient Writings

1.   The Didache (“The Teaching,” circa 70-150 A.D.)

·        On the Lord’s own day gather together and break bread and give thanks, having first confessed your sins so that your sacrifice may be pure. (14:1)

2.   Justin Martyr (A second century apologist, circa 156 A.D.)

·        And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons…But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead. For He was crucified on the day before that of Saturn (Saturday); and on the day after that of Saturn, which is the day of the Sun, having appeared to His apostles and disciples, He taught them these things, which we have submitted to you also for your consideration.

(from The First Apology of Justin, Chapter LXVII)

B.          Bible Scholars/Historians

·        …the early church writers from Barnabas, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, to Clement of Alexandria, Origen and Cyprian, all with one consent, declare that the church observed the first day of the week. They are equally agreed that the Lord's Supper was observed weekly, on the first day of the week. (B.W. Johnson, People’s NT Commentary on Acts 20:7)

·        To break [Syriac] eucaristia, the eucharist, as the Syriac has it; intimating, by this, that they were accustomed to receive the holy sacrament on each Lord's day. (Adam Clarke on Acts 20:7)

III.  A Weekly Observance is Necessarily Inferred

A.          Based Upon the Principle of Bible Authority

1.   The Lord’s Supper was clearly a significant part of the worship of early churches.

a)       The NT indicates that this memorial was observed frequently and regularly.

b)       Though instituted on Thursday, the evidence unanimously supports eating on Sunday.

2.   Can we justify partaking of the Lord’s Supper on any day other than the first day, by the Bible?

a)       To act “in Jesus’ name” implies the necessity of divine permission for our activity. Co. 3:17

b)       What do the “oracles of God” tell us about when God’s people ate the Supper? 1Pe. 4:11

c)       The example of Acts 20:7 was carried out with the approval of an apostle. Php. 4:9

B.          It is the Logical Conclusion from the Available Evidence

1.   When the Jews were told to “remember the Sabbath day,” they understood the implication.

a)       They didn’t have to ask, “Which Sabbath days should we set aside as holy?”

b)       The clear implication was that every Sabbath was holy to God.

2.   We do not have any explicit command as to when or how often to eat the Lord’s Supper.

a)       But we do have:

(1)    An example of an early church eating it on Sunday with apostolic approval

(2)    Biblical examples of churches meeting weekly for worship

(3)    The strong implication of regular and frequent observance of the Supper

(4)    Historical testimony explicating confirming weekly observance on Sunday

b)       Where is the Bible authority for partaking at any other time or interval?

Conclusion

1. Will eating the Supper every week diminish the appreciation of its significance, as some have suggested?

a. It certainly can, if we allow it to become routine and a commonplace act!

b. But by the same token, our attitude can make even a quarterly or yearly observance devoid of meaning.

2. We cannot artificially add meaning by eating less often; the significance is maintained through reverence.

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