There is much confusion today concerning when we are to eat the Lord's supper. Christ gave instructions: "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. 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 show the Lord's death till he come" (I Cor 11:23-26).
In these passages there are many things said. Notice the command to "take eat...this do ye...in remembrance of me." Christ did not give us a choice, we must do this. "For as oft as ye eat this bread and drink this cup...". Christ did not tell us when in this passage, but he said we must do it so we have to turn to other passages to determine when. He also said it is a memorial that is to be done "till he come."
We need to understand how the Bible teaches since it is our standard for authority. The Bible teaches, explicitly and implicitly. Explicit teaching is directly stated. Implicit teaching is that teaching which is understood, or concluded from direct statements, though not stated directly itself. Implicit teaching is just as valid or binding as explicit teaching.
In Acts 8:35-39 we have an example of implicit teaching. "Then Philip opened his mouth...and preached unto him Jesus." The eunuch replied: "See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?" We know by "implication" that when Peter preached Jesus, that he preached baptism in water. We also know by implication that there was much water, since baptism is a burial (Col. 2:12; Rom. 6:3-4), "and they both went down into the water...and he baptized him."
"As often as ye eat...ye do shew the Lord's death till he come." There is the "implication" in taking the Lord's supper, that He died, was buried, was resurrected, and that He ascended to heaven. He is now King, and is coming again.
"And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread...(Acts 20:7). Christ gave the command, but didn't say when. We see in Acts 20:6 where Paul stayed seven days in order "to break bread" upon "the first day of the week."
"Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store..."(I Cor. 16:2). Everybody understands this, the first day is every first day. The Lord's supper is not mentioned in I Cor. 16:2. The collection is not mentioned in Acts 20:7, but Paul preached. Now the implication of I Cor. 16:2 is that upon the first day of the week, they were gathered together. Things not mentioned in the verse are, singing, prayer, teaching, preaching. Everyone does these without question. Christ commanded the Lord's supper. We have clear example when it is to be done. Christ said: "This do ye...in remembrance of me." The example is upon the first day of the week. "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29)
"If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God" (I Pet. 4:11).
Don H. Noblin
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