The Breaking Of The Bread

by William Gilmour, Kilmarnock | Category: General | Aug 1978

The ordinance of the Breaking of the Bread was instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ and the record of this is found in Matt. 26:2&28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20. In 1 Cor. lithe apostle Paul reveals that in relation to this ordinance he had received a personal revelation from the Lord. Paul gave to the Corinthians teaching concerning not only what the Lord commanded but also concerning those who were to participate in the Breaking of the Bread. He also gave solemn warning about the possibility of eating and drinking unworthily.

Before he was baptized and added to a church of God in the Fellowship of God's Son the writer of this article moved among several companies of believers. Perhaps his experiences may serve to emphasize some important issues in the matter of the Breaking of the Bread. There was much variation of practice. There were different decisions as to who should be permitted to participate. In some places the actual Breaking of the Bread took place about the middle of the meeting. A brother would stand up and give thanks for the emblem without going to the table on which it was placed. On occasions one brother gave thanks for the loaf and a different brother gave thanks for the wine. In one company the brother who gave thanks for the emblems went to the table but this always took place at the end of the meeting, which was then closed with a hymn.

The writer decided to consider carefully what the Bible has to say about the Breaking of the Bread, and with the help of a concordance he examined what the Scriptures said about this subject. This is something he would advise all young believers to do because there is always the danger of taking things for granted. From the word of God he learned the mind of the Lord as to how and when the Remembrance should be kept and he learned also who should participate.

The Gospel records show that the Lord Jesus Christ in instituting the Breaking of the Bread took the emblems and, having given thanks, He handed them directly to the disciples. Only his apostles were present. The Lord's example teaches that only one person gives thanks for both emblems.

What the Lord commanded His apostles to do was faithfully passed on by them in their teaching to the early disciples of this dispensation. From Acts 2:41,42 we learn who were the persons that continued in the Breaking of the Bread. They were believers who had been baptized and added to the church of God in Jerusalem; they were known persons, linked in divine collective testimony under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. It should be noted that they continued steadfastly. There was no hint of what some have referred to as "occasional fellowship".

In John 20:19; Mark 16:9; Acts 20:7 and 1 Cor. 16:2 we have references to "the first day of the week" and the Acts 20 scripture states that the purpose for which the disciples were gathered together on that day was "to break bread". We accept that this is the correct day for keeping the Lord's command. In light of the fact that it is clearly stated that the object for which the disciples were assembled was to break bread we believe that this service should have priority.

In 1 Cor. 11 we have teaching about order and disorder at the Remembrance service and there is impressed upon us the importance of a right spiritual condition in those who participate. To be in a church of God is not in itself a guarantee of a right spiritual condition and there is therefore the need for personal self-examination. The word says, "Whosoever shall eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord unworthily... " There is one standard for all. A state of preparedness is not something that is worked up during the meeting but it is a result of prior preparation. The following scriptures are relevant: 1 Cor. 11:28; 2 Cor. 13:5; Gal. 6:4; Heb. 10:19-25; Matt. 5:23,24; Matt. 18:15.

It is clear from 1 Cor. 11 that all who were assembled to eat the Lord's supper partook of both the bread and the wine. This is implied in the solemn words, "He that eateth and drinketh, eateth and drinketh judgement unto himself, if he discern not the body". Reverence and discernment in what we do are very important and we should pay serious attention to the warnings which were given by Paul to the Corinthians.

We know of no scripture that teaches that the brother giving thanks for the loaf and the cup must be either an overseer of a deacon. We would encourage younger brethren to be exercised about this responsibility and we suggest that simplicity and reverence should characterize the thanksgiving. It should not be made the occasion for a word of ministry.

William Gilmour, Kilmarnock | Aug 1978
General