"For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till He come."
The Lord's Table
The desire is, or should be, in the heart of every true believer to remember the Lord in His death, by partaking of the Lord's supper each first day of the week. (1 Cor. 11:2626For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. (1 Corinthians 11:26), Acts 20:77And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. (Acts 20:7).) What a privilege this is, until He comes! How can we but respond to love like His? Surely it ought to constrain our hearts more and more. However it is noticeable that, because of its importance, the truth as to the Lord's table precedes the instructions as to the Lord's supper in the epistle to the Corinthians.
The Lord would have us partake of His supper in the place and way He chooses, not as we choose, for it is never right to follow our own wills. Self-will is sin. He orders for us in wisdom and love, as He has always done for His people. He chose a center for His earthly people Israel, and He only acknowledged that center. No other would do. (Deut. 12:13,1413Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest: 14But in the place which the Lord shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee. (Deuteronomy 12:13‑14).) We also notice that when the Lord instituted His supper on the night of His betrayal, He chose the place for them. (Luke 22:8-208And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. 9And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? 10And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. 11And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? 12And he shall show you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. 13And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. 14And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. 15And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: 16For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 17And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: 18For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. 19And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. (Luke 22:8‑20).) Again, later, after His resurrection, He chose the place He would meet with them before He ascended. (Matt. 28:1616Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. (Matthew 28:16).) Then, after this, He chose Jerusalem as the place where the disciples were to await the coming of the Holy Spirit. (Luke 24:4949And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. (Luke 24:49).) And so today, we have the Word of God, speaking with equal clearness as to the Lord's table and the Lord's supper. Let us notice a few simple Scriptures in this connection.
The Lord's table is that which the Lord has set up according to His Word, where He is in the midst (1 Cor. 10:2121Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. (1 Corinthians 10:21), Matt. 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)), where His authority is owned (Matt. 18:17,18; 117And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. 18Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 18:17‑18) Cor. 5: 41. and where the unity of the body of Christ is expressed by the one loaf on the table. (1 Cor. 10:1717For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. (1 Corinthians 10:17).) The local assembly is the local expression of this. How precious this is to faith! The ritual that God gave to Israel has now been set aside, and we can enter the very "holiest of all" through the rent veil. (Heb. 10:19,2019Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (Hebrews 10:19‑20).) That is where we worship now, as members of the body of Christ, bearing testimony to His finished work, while we await His coming as the Bridegroom for the Church-His bride.
What a privilege it is to remember the Lord in His own appointed way! Though we are not told to invite all believers to His table, yet we know they are all represented in the one loaf, and we can teach them the truth of it, receiving them gladly, when we can do so to the glory of God. (Rom. 15:6,76That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. (Romans 15:6‑7).) The Lord Himself invites them, but let us bear in mind that although it is the responsibility of each believer who breaks bread to examine himself, (1 Cor. 11:2828But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. (1 Corinthians 11:28)), it is ALSO the responsibility of the assembly to judge evil in its midst. (1 Cor. 5:12,1312For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. (1 Corinthians 5:12‑13).) God's assembly is the pillar and ground of the truth, and soundness in faith as to the person and work of Christ are of vital importance. (1 Tim. 3:1515But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:15).) Because of these things we have to be careful as to who is received at the Lord's table. Even though an individual Christian may be sound in the faith, and godly as to his own personal walk, yet if he knowingly remains in a group where moral or doctrinal evil is allowed, he is having fellowship with the evil, and is defiled thereby; for "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." (1 Cor. 5:66Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? (1 Corinthians 5:6).) The act of breaking bread is the expression of fellowship with the table where one breaks bread (1 Cor. 10:18-2218Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? 19What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? 20But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. 21Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. 22Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? (1 Corinthians 10:18‑22)), and so the Word of God calls upon each believer to purge himself from the "vessels to dishonor" and to "depart from iniquity". (2 Tim. 2:18-2218Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. 19Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:18‑22).) To remain in an unscriptural position would be to say that there is more than one Lord's table, one set up and owned of the Lord in separation from evil, and others set up by men. It is the Lord's glory we would seek as we "endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace". (Eph. 4:33Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:3).) We do not wish to offend, for we love every true believer, and are members one of another in the body of Christ. but would ask each one to examine these things in the light of God's Word. Divisions and sects in the professing church are the result, either of the allowance of evil. or the denial of the all-sufficiency of the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ as a gathering center, and His authority in the midst of His gathered saints.
In making these remarks we are conscious of much failure on our part, and would be humbled by it. How grievously we have failed, but even this does not alter the truth of God, and we would still seek to maintain divine principles. It is our desire, though with but a little strength, to "keep Christ's Word and not deny His Name" till He comes.
How precious to be gathered as those united by the Spirit to Christ in glory-not of this world. (John 17:1414I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (John 17:14).) The Church is the bride of Christ, and espoused as a chaste virgin to Him. (2 Cor. 11:22For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:2).) The beauty of Israel of old was in having the Lord's comeliness put upon them (Ezek. 16:1414And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord God. (Ezekiel 16:14)), and they were to be separate from the nations, dwelling alone. (Num. 23:99For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. (Numbers 23:9).) Their national failure was in their desire to be like the nations about them. (1 Sam. 8:5,19,205And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. (1 Samuel 8:5)
19Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; 20That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. (1 Samuel 8:19‑20).) Anything that marks the child of God as of the world is a practical denial of his heavenly calling. May we each, in the unity of the Spirit, "speak the same thing" (1 Cor. 1:1010Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (1 Corinthians 1:10)) and seek to walk as those led of the Spirit (Gal. 5:1616This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16)), manifesting those divine affections that produce "the same care one for another" as members of the body of Christ. If we were all exercised as to this, then the world which rejected our precious Savior, would see in all His saints, gathered to His precious Name, that our joy is in the Lord. May it be more so, as the Lord's coming draws nearer!
"Till Thou shalt come in glory,
And call us hence away,
To rest in all the brightness
Of that unclouded day,
We show Thy death, Lord Jesus,
And here would seek to be
More to Thy death conformed,
Whilst we remember Thee."
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