The Elements of the Lords Supper


The Lords supper is a vital/core part of the Christian faith centered around Jesus and His perfect work for our salvation. You can go to these articles to learn about it and how you (if an obedient born again saint) can partake of it at home or anytime at all:


Recently I had a saint ask about altering the elements used in the Lords Supper (for health reasons) so I thought it would make for a teaching moment for us all. 

Have you ever wondered why bread and wine are used in the Lords Supper? Below is a teaching that highlights the meaning of the bread and the wine, then I discuss why (or if) we should ever make any changes to it as we partake of it. 

Jesus own words to us:

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it. For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. Mathew 26

We see Jesus setting the example for us of how to do the Lord's supper and what was involved. It was during a Passover meal with a lamb, bitter herbs and bread. Today Jesus is our Passover Lamb, glory to Him! 

Note: I must add that there is NOTHING mystical or saving in this Lord's Supper act but it is powerful symbolism. It is NOT a sacrament that saves you like Roman Catholics or other false men teach. It is also NOT to be controlled or lorded over by men/modern pastors. That is clearly age old heresy and I have articles on that at the teaching blog at dontperish.com 

Some keys points about this first Lords Supper:

*It was at a regular meal
*It was only with His closest true disciples (not crowds of unknown people)
* He used bread and wine to symbolize Himself. 
(it was not an assembly line little cracker & sip of juice like churchianity uses today) 

It should be noted that God always works through powerful symbols to show His truth, character and Holy ordained ways. Things like water in Baptism, the lambs used in sacrifices, the Ark of Noah for salvation, and the rainbow (a promise of no more flooding as judgment) are some examples. 

For this article let's look at the symbols of the Lord's supper and I want to briefly cover the details and importance of those elements; 
the bread and the wine.  

Bread

It is no small matter that bread is a main part of the Lord's supper (a symbol and remembrance of Jesus finished work, death and resurrection for us) This simple food goes way back in time and it has been a mainstay/diet of ancient civilizations and in the bible for thousands of years. In the OT word we see bread first appear in Genesis 3:19 when God tosses out Adam and Eve from the garden. The word for bread in Hebrew is Lechem and it means food esp grain/bread. While we could do a whole article on bread and how it was used in God's temple, Holy festivals and feasts, I believe several main points one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament that will set the table as to why bread is used as a key part of the Lord's Supper. 

 Bread is often referenced in scripture (over 400 times) but let's go to the Israelites out of Egypt, wandering in the harsh desert and without God's hand they would perish. What does the Creator do? He gives them food from heaven. 

And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eat.

Exodus 16:15
   
In Exodus 16;31 Israel named it Manna which means:
"what it is" and "bread from heaven". 

God literally rained bread from heaven to feed His people for 40 years as a powerful symbol of His provision/salvation for them. It was God and His people eating that bread as part of their covenant relationship with Him.

Then moving to the NT word and bread makes the Lords Prayer. (see Matt 6) 

Then we see this bread and Jesus the Savior, coming together as One. 

 I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. John 6

Oh what a beautiful a picture for us to behold! 

Notes of importance:

*Jesus tells us He is that bread of life (He brings eternal life / Jesus means salvation; just like that manna in the desert to save the Israelite's)
*He BREAKS the bread (this a symbol of His broken body for us)

Apostle Paul also lays out the bread of the Lords Supper in 1 Cor 11

 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.  

Some keys points about this  account of the Lords Supper:

*It was at a regular meal 
*It was only true disciples (not crowds of unknown people invited in)
* They used bread and wine to symbolize Christ. 

(it was not an assembly line little cracker & sip of juice like churchianity uses today) 

Once again we see God and His people (the body of Christ) partaking of bread, this time as part of the NEW Covenant.

Wine

The drinking and use of wine has a similar history as bread;  going back in time biblically and about as far. Again, I believe several main points from the Old Testament and from the New Testament that will help us to see why wine is used as a key part of the Lords Supper. We first read of wine in the book of Genesis 9:21 and an account of Noah drinking it to excess. This wine (a fermented fruit drink) is an important part of God's order and ways in the temple, His feasts and within His people Israel, always with the warning of not partaking of too much wine. (to be drunk is sin) God often used wine references in positive ways towards Israel. Some other OT key points to note is that wine was also a symbol of celebration (see Deut 14:23) and it can be a symbol of God's wrath as well (see Isa 63:6) We see vines, branches, fruit and the making of wine having a deep rich meaning all through the OT pages. 

Moving to the New Testament; wine has the same important place among Israel and it is even Jesus first miracle; the turning of water into wine. (see John 2)  Wine is often known as the "fruit of the vine" and grapes or other fruit were fermented into this drink. 

In John 15 Jesus tells us:

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

So Jesus is the vine, we are branches and together we produce much fruit. We have a vine, its branches and much fruit; it has the symbolism of wine all over it just as the OT word did.     

In the NT Word we also see wine used as a celebration as at the wedding in John 2 and Jesus said He won't partake of it again UNTIL the Kingdom comes (see Luke 22:18) We also see it used as a symbol of wrath once again in the final book of scripture. (see Revelation 16:19) Jesus is indeed a cause to celebrate (see Matt 2)  and Christ will bring wrath soon to all who do not obey Him (see 2 Thess 1:8 thru 10) 

So we have this wine that is laced all through God's Word and often it is red in color. Just as the bread symbolizes a broken body for us, this wine (often red) is the symbol of His poured out shed blood for our sins. (see 2 Cor 5:21 / Heb 9:22) 

 Apostle Paul also lays out the use of wine in 1 Cor 11 at the Lords Supper:

After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

(verse 21 talks of drunk people so we know they used wine but in sin in Corinth) 

Since the entire bible is really all about Christ (God) and His glory, how fitting that the two of the most important food/drink items in holy scripture are used to symbolize His redemption work for us. 

The bread and the wine.  

I hope when you think of these elements you now have a deeper understanding of their important biblical meaning and symbolism for us. Someday you should do a word search on bread and wine and read all the verses yourself and it will bless you. 

Now that we understand the meaning of the elements, on to the saints question.  

Can we alter these elements?

 This is not a yes or no type question so I will lay it out this way:

1) Jesus sets the standard for us and we have NO authority to change the elements, just because. He said teaching them to OBEY all He commanded in Matt 28;20

2) Paul said keep the traditions he taught in 2 Thess 2:15 and as you can see bread and wine is the tradition he/Jesus taught.

3) I am cautious about changing elements. I have heard of liberal unbiblical bodies talking of using pizza and pop for the elements. I see that as a dangerous way to go as they could do much so better for the Lord who died to buy our freedom with His blood. It is strange fire to me and I have an article on that at dontperish.com on the teaching blog 

4) I am not the Lords Supper police but Isee no real valid biblical reason to change what God ordained UNLESS a person has no other choice.   (if a person feels led to alter it for valid reasons I will leave that to them and God.)  

By this I mean, if a man is in prison and has no wine or bread, we serve a God of grace. The Lord would understand if the man had to use water and cookies as the elements. I also know God would give grace if a person truly had a valid medical reason to adjust the elements. We as saints must live in the Spirit of God's truth NOT the letter that brings death. Example: we follow local traffic speed laws until we have to rush a person dying to the hospital. Then the police will help you race/speed there instead of giving you a speeding ticket, if that makes sense? Spirit vs letter must rule! 

On this question of changing the elements, I say in 99 percent of the cases, hold to the tradition of the bible UNLESS you have no other choice. Then if you must alter it, ask God for the grace to do the best you can to honor Him/Christ. They are ONLY symbols but the bread and the wine are still POWERFUL symbols at that of our very salvation. Let us NEVER take them lightly or in a wrong way as people died in 1 Cor 11 for that very reason:

 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he  come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.  

That is a dire warning for sure! More important then the exact elements, make sure your heart and life are right before God meaning you are NOT living in willful ongoing sin as you partake of them. Repent and obey the gospel!

Thanks for reading this teaching and I hope your theology on the elements of the Lords Supper is more enhanced now? Please let me know how I can help you in the faith.

God be praised

Brother James / dontperish.com

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Here is the biblical gospel:

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