Smith's Bible Dictionary.pdf - Online Christian Library

Smith's Bible Dictionary
We can scarcely doubt that this implies that the chief actual meal of each day was one in which
they met as brothers, and which was either preceded or followed by the more solemn
commemorative acts of the breaking of the bread and the drinking of the cup. It will be convenient
to anticipate the language and the thoughts of a somewhat later date, and to say that, apparently,
they thus united every day the Agape or feast of love with the celebration of the Eucharist. At
some time, before or after the meal of which they partook as such, the bread and the wine would
be given with some special form of words or acts, to indicate its character. New converts would
need some explanation of the meaning and origin of the observance. What would be so fitting and
so much in harmony with the precedents of the paschal feast as the narrative of what had passed
ont he night of its institution? (1 Corinthians 11:23-27)
•Its significance.—The Lord’s Supper is a reminder of the leading truths of the gospel: (1) Salvation,
like this bread, is the gift of God’s love. (2) We are reminded of the life of Christ—all he was and
did and said. (3) We are reminded, as by the passover, of the grievous bondage of sin from which
Christ redeems us. (4) It holds up the atonement, the body of Christ broken, his blood shed, for
us. (5) In Christ alone is forgiveness and salvation from sin, the first need of the soul. (6) Christ
is the food of the soul. (7) We must partake by faith, or it will be of no avail. (8) We are taught to
distribute to one another the spiritual blessings God gives us. (9) By this meal our daily bread is
sanctified. (10) The most intimate communion with God in Christ. (11) Communion with one
another. (12) It is a feast of joy. “Nothing less than the actual joy of heaven is above it.” (13) It is
a prophecy of Christ’s second coming, of the perfect triumph of his kingdom. (14) It is holding
up before the world the cross of Christ; not a selfish gathering of a few saints, but a proclamation
of the Saviour for all. Why did Christ ordain bread to be used in the Lord’s Supper, and not a lamb
? Canon Walsham How replies, “Because the types and shadows were to cease when the real
Sacrifice was come. There was to be no more shedding of blood when once his all-prevailing
blood was shed. There must be nothing which might cast a doubt upon the all-sufficiency of that.
” (Then, the Lamb being sacrificed once for all, what is needed is to teach the world that Christ
is now the bread of life. Perhaps also it was because bread was more easily provided, and fitted
thus more easily to be a part of the universal ordinance.—ED.)
•Was it a permanent ordinance?—”’Do this in remembrance of me’ points to a permanent institution.
The command is therefore binding on all who believe in Christ; and disobedience to it is sin, for
the unbelief that keeps men away is one of the worst of sins.”—Prof. Riddle. “The subsequent
practice of the apostles, (Acts 2:42,46; 20:7) and still more the fact that directions for the Lord’s
Supper were made a matter of special revelation to Paul, (1 Corinthians 11:23) seem to make it
clear that Christ intended the ordinance for a perpetual one, and that his apostles so understood
it.”—Abbott.
•Method of observance.—“The original supper was taken in a private house, an upper chamber, at
night, around a table, reclining, women excluded, only the ordained apostles admitted. None of
these conditions are maintained to-day by any Christian sect.” But it must be kept with the same
spirit and purpose now as then.
Loruhamah
(the uncompassionated), the name of the daughter of Hosea the prophet, given to denote the
utterly ruined condition of the kingdom of Israel. (Hosea 1:6)
Lot
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William Smith