Matthew 26:26-29 #4

Matthew 26:26-29 #4

In our final article on the Lord’s Supper we will examine the question of when and how often the Supper should be taken. In order to find the answer to this question, we must first understand the position in which the Lord placed the apostles in His church. Ephesians 2:20 tells us that the church is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Paul’s point is that the church is built on the teaching of the apostles and prophets. Therefore, the Lord’s church is to following the instructions of the apostles as revealed in the New Testament.

In 1 Corinthians 4:17, Paul said, “That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.” Paul refers to “his ways” that he taught everywhere and in every church. Therefore, Paul had given a pattern for the work and worship of a local church. These “ways” were taught in every church. In other words, one could visit any of a number of first century churches and find the same practice in each of them.

In Philippians 4:9, Paul said, “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” Again, we see that we are not only to follow the things learned directly from Paul, but even His example. Paul repeats this principle in 2 Thessalonians 2:15, “So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.” So, the question is, what do we see the apostles doing? What were their “traditions,” or what is the pattern of work and worship that we see them practicing?

With that in mind, Acts 20:7 states, “but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days. On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.” Paul, along with the other disciples with him, waited seven days in order to meet with the local disciples on the first day of the week in order to “break bread” – referring to the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:42). Though this is the only passage in scripture telling us when the apostles and disciples of the first century partook of the Supper, it is one more passage than anyone else has who would try to argue that the Supper could be taken on another day. Since there is a “first day” in every week, the Supper should be taken every first day of the week. To do otherwise is to do something for which there is no authority anywhere in the New Testament.

Berry Kercheville