Feasts of Charity

Narrator: Chris Genthree
Duration: 1min
 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 10
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According to the early Christian writers these feasts were simple meals, taken on the same occasion as the Lord's supper, and were instituted for the sake of the poor. Chrysostom speaks of such feasts as derived from apostolic practice. "When all the faithful met together, and had heard the sermon and prayers, and received the communion, they did not immediately return home upon the conclusion of the service; but the rich and wealthy brought meat and food from their own houses, and called the poor and made a common table, a common dinner, a common banquet in the church." By others it is judged that the meal was taken before the Lord's supper, prior to the rule of taking the supper fasting. It is generally supposed that the disorder spoken of in 1 Corinthians 11 refers to some such meal being taken in connection with the Lord's supper. Whether such feasts were held at other times, apart from the Lord's supper, is not known; it is difficult to conceive the persons described in Jude 10-1210But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. 11Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. 12These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; (Jude 10‑12) being allowed to come to the Lord's supper; or those mentioned in 2 Peter 2:1313And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; (2 Peter 2:13), if that also refers to the love-feasts.