1 Corinthians 11:23-25; Song of Solomon 5:1; 1 Corinthians 11:26
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.
Eat, O friends, drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved!
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
ROBERT HAWKER (1753-1827): The first thing of importance concerning the holy Supper, which we here learn, is that the thing itself is of Christ’s express institution. This I conceive to be a matter of high moment―it ought indeed to have been enough to endear it, and recommend it forever, to the faithful: yet had not the Lord again taught His servant Paul what is here related, and God the Holy Ghost caused it to be handed down in the Church by those written records, we should not have known how highly Jesus prized it.
C. H. SPURGEON (1834-1892): It seems to me that the Lord’s Supper should be received by us often.
GEORGE MÜLLER (1805-1898): We have no express command respecting the frequency of its observance.
C. H. SPURGEON: When the Apostle says, in our text, “As often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup,” and our Lord said, in instituting the ordinance, “This do you, as oft as you drink it, in remembrance of Me,” I will not say that their words absolutely teach that we should frequently come to the Communion Table, but I do think they give us a hint that if we act rightly, we shall often observe this Supper of the Lord.
WILLIAM S. PLUMER (1802-1880): It is a serious question whether the Christian world is not sadly delinquent in having so few communions.
C. H. SPURGEON: Once or twice in the year can hardly be thought to be a sufficiently frequent memorial.
GEORGE WHITEFIELD (1714-1770): I do think that is too seldom by a great deal.
C. H. SPURGEON: From the records preserved in the Acts of the Apostles, it appears that when the saints came together on the first day of the week, they usually broke bread.
JONATHAN EDWARDS (1703-1758): It seems plain by the Scripture that the primitive Christians were wont to celebrate this memorial of the sufferings of their dear Redeemer every Lord’s Day.
ANDREW FULLER (1754-1815): That the supper was celebrated on the first day of the week by the church at Troas is certain, Acts 20:7; that it was so every first day of the week is possible, perhaps probable; but the passage does not prove that it was so―I do not think this to be binding, but I am persuaded there can be nothing wrong in it, and that probably, it was then the practice of the primitive churches.
C. H. SPURGEON: At any rate, let it be often.
ROBERT HAWKER: Nothing can be more plain, than that it is the Lord’s pleasure, that His people should often meet in His name, for this holy purpose.
JOHN GILL (1697-1771): “As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. It may be rendered in the imperative mood, as an exhortation, direction or command: “Show ye the Lord’s death till He come”―for the design of the institution is to declare that Christ died for the sins of His people: to represent Him as crucified; to set forth the manner of His sufferings and death, by having his body wounded, bruised, and broken, and His blood shed; to express the blessings and benefits which come by His death, and His people’s faith in them; and to show their sense of gratitude, and declare their thankfulness.
MATTHEW HENRY (1662-1714): The Lord’s supper is not a temporary, but a standing and perpetual ordinance―it is to be celebrated “till the Lord shall come;”―till He shall come the second time, without sin, for the salvation of those that believe, and to judge the world. This is our warrant for keeping this feast. It was our Lord’s will that we should thus celebrate the memorials of His death and passion, till He come in His own glory, and the Father’s glory, with his Holy angels.
C. H. SPURGEON: I marvel at some of you who love my Lord that you should keep away from His Table. It is His dying will—“This do you in remembrance of Me.” It is so kind of Him to institute such an ordinance at all. To let us, who were as the dogs, sit at the children’s table and eat bread such as angels never knew! You will say it is non-essential. And I will reply to you, most true, it is non-essential for your salvation, but it is not non-essential for your comfort. Nor is it non-essential for your obedience. It is for a child to do what his parent bids him.
CHARLES SIMEON (1759-1836): The duty of commemorating our Lord’s death is much neglected; but a neglect of it involves us in the deepest guilt. It implies rebellion against the highest authority—Christ, the Supreme Governor of heaven and earth, has said, “Do this.” Yet the language of too many is, “I will not.” But they who disregarded the passover did not go unpunished―much less shall they who slight the invitations to Christ’s Supper. Surely it is madness to persist in this rebellion. It is ingratitude towards our greatest Benefactor—Christ has even “given his own life a ransom for us;” and shall we disregard His dying command? “On the same night that he was betrayed,” He instituted these memorials of His death. Had He, at that season, such a concern for us, and can we refuse to do so small a thing in remembrance of Him?
C. H. SPURGEON: I understand not, my dear Brother, my dear Sister, what sort of love yours can be if you hear Jesus say, “If you love Me, keep My commandments,” and yet you neglect His ordinances.
ROBERT HAWKER: Who shall describe the feelings of those redeemed souls, who, while Jesus breaks to them the bread, and gives to them the cup of salvation, opens their hearts, warms their affections, cheers their spirits, and makes them sensible of a gracious welcome―when by faith they hear the Lord say: “Eat, O friends, drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved!” Could any child of God, whose soul is truly regenerated, and hath felt the sweetness of the ordinance at the Supper, ever keep from the table, or use it sparingly?
C. H. SPURGEON: The wine how rich, the bread how sweet,
When Jesus deigns the guests to meet!
A. P. GIBBS (1890-1967): Do we really love the Lord Jesus? If so, we shall not be thinking of how seldom we can remember Him in the way He has requested, but how often we are privileged to do so.
