What is the meaning of the term, “The Lord’s Table”?
What does the expression “Partake of the Lord’s Table” convey?
Is it right to speak of being “At the Lord’s Table”?
Can believers “Receive (other believers) to the Lord’s Table”?
Do all true believers “partake of the Lord’s Table” or some only?
The Cup and Table speak in symbol of the foundation of Christian fellowship, which is the Lord’s death. The Cup is also described as “the cup of blessing”; it is the new testament in the blood of Christ; in it is set forth the blessing and love in which we are called to participate, blessing and love of which His blood is the pledge and token.
The Table probably brings the bread more into prominence, and here we have the communion of the body of Christ, and in breaking it we manifest our fellowship as one body. They are called the cup and table of the Lord in contrast to the cup and table of devils’; it was morally impossible to partake of, or “hold with,” (as the word means) both. In partaking there is complete identification with the Lord’s death in all the blessings and responsibilities attaching to this identification.
Scripture does not speak of being at the Lord’s Table; it is not a point of locality but a matter of Christian profession, and should be a great exercise as to whether our conduct and profession are consistent with each other.
We do not read of believers receiving other believers to the Lord’s Table, but we are exhorted to receive one another, and this of course is to Christian fellowship. In doing this we acknowledge those whom God has received. There may be doubt in the mind as to some, as in the case of Saul (Acts 9:26, 2726And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. 27But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. (Acts 9:26‑27)), but when all question is settled it would be an act of disobedience to the Lord to refuse one of His own, except in such cases as are made abundantly clear by Scripture.
As to the last question, the chapter contemplates all true believers — the whole Christian “we” as breaking the one loaf (verses 16, 17) and so partaking of, or in communion with, the Lord’s table; not to do so is to be in an altogether anomalous position, whereas the chapter is treating of what is normal.