02.36. The Lord's Supper
LESSON XXXVI--The Lord’s Supper.
Repeat Matthew’s account of the institution of the Lord’s Supper Matthew 26:26-28. When he said, "This is my body," what did he mean? What is the Roman Catholic doctrine on this subject? Ans.--That the bread was actually the body of Christ, and the wine actually his blood. How could the disciples know that the bread had not been actually turned into his body? Ans.--Because after he said, "This is my body," they saw his body and the bread both there; and after they had eaten the bread his body was still there. After Jesus had said of the wine, "This is my blood" (Matthew 26:28), what does he still call it? Matthew 26:29. Was it still wine, then? When Jesus says (Matthew 26:27), "Drink ye all of it," does he mean that all must drink, or that they must drink all the wine? Ans. He means that all must drink.
Repeat Luke’s account of the institution of the supper. Luke 22:19. What command does he quote that is not mentioned by Matthew? How would this enable them to remember Christ? What would be the advantage of remembering him?
Repeat Paul’s account of the same event. 1 Corinthians 11:23-25. Did Paul get his account from some of the apostles, or directly from the Lord himself? 1 Corinthians 11:23. What additional remark does Paul make in regard to the design of the supper? 1 Corinthians 11:26. To whom do we "show the Lord’s death," to the church or the world? What then, is the chief object of the Lord’s Supper, as regards the church, and what as regards the world?
What abuse of the Lord’s supper does Paul rebuke in the Church at Corinth? 1 Corinthians 11:20-22. What effect did these meetings have on the disciples? 1 Corinthians 11:17. What was their particular fault as regards the supper? Ans.--Instead of eating it as the Lord’s supper (1 Corinthians 11:20), they ate it as "their own supper" (1 Corinthians 11:21), that is, as a supper to satisfy their appetite.
What did Paul say to them about eating and drinking unworthily? 1 Corinthians 11:27. How did he tell them to guard against this? 1 Corinthians 11:28. If, upon self-examination, we think of sins of which we have not repented, what should we immediately do? If we are not thoroughly penitent concerning our sins, should we partake at all? What will be our fate if we die in such a condition? Is it right to decline the supper because somebody else has sinned? Does the fact that we must examine ourselves, prohibit the church from debarring persons whom it knows to be unworthy? Should any one be allowed to partake who would not be received as a member? If members are unworthy to partake, ought they to be kept in the church?
What does Paul further say of eating and drinking unworthily? 1 Corinthians 11:29. What is meant by not discerning the Lord’s body? Ans. Not eating the loaf as the Lord’s body, and with that reverence and self-examination which is required. The Corinthians were guilty of this in making it "their own supper." What was the effect of this evil practice in Corinth? 1 Corinthians 11:30. Does this mean physical sickness and death or spiritual weakness and torpor? Ans.--It certainly includes the latter, and many commentators think it also includes the former.
What day of the week did the disciples meet to break the loaf? Acts 20:7. Is this mentioned as if it were a regular custom? As Paul rebuked the Corinthians for coming together not to eat the Lord’s supper, what does this show as to the object of coming together? 1 Corinthians 11:20. As the object of coming together on the first day of the week was to break the loaf, and as they came together every first day, how often did they break the loaf? Have we any right to depart from this apostolic practice?