Q: Is alcoholic wine to be used in the Lord’s Supper?
We read of Jesus instituting the Lord’s Supper in Matt. 26:26-30; Mark
14:22-26; and Luke 22:14-20; cf. 1 Cor. 11:23-26. The bread is unleavened
(Matt. 26:17; Mark 14:12), representing Christ’s body. The cup containing “the
fruit of the vine” (Matt. 26:29; Mark 14:25; Luke 22:18) represents Christ’s
blood, shed “for the remission of sins” (Matt. 26:28).
Leaven or yeast (zumē) was prohibited in all grain offerings to God
(Lev. 2:11; 6:14-17). Because leaven permeates and ferments, it is
metaphorically applied to pervading and corrupting influences (Matt. 13:33; Luke 13:21; Gal. 5:9), including doctrinal error and corrupt behavior (1 Cor.
5:6-8). Jesus warned about the “leaven” or negative influence of the Pharisees,
the Sadducees, and Herod [Antipas] (Matt. 16:6, 11, 12; Luke 12:1; Mark 8:15;
cf. 3:6; 6:14-28; 12:13).
The Greek word oinos, often translated “wine” in our English Bibles, is
never employed with reference to the Lord’s Supper. The expression used is gennema
tas ampelou (“fruit of the vine”), contextually meaning the juice of grapes
(cf. Lev. 25:5; Rev. 14:18). The same species of yeast (Saccharomyces
cerevisiae) converts carbohydrates to carbon dioxide in bread (causing it
to rise) and to alcohol in grape juice (causing it to ferment). Seeing that
yeast (leaven) was prohibited in the Passover bread (Deut. 16:3), it follows
that the same would be absent from the fruit of the vine, i.e. non-alcoholic.
Q: When is the Lord’s Supper to be observed?
The church assemblies at Corinth had
regressed into something they were not supposed to be (1 Corinthians 11:17).
Paul writes in v. 20, “Therefore when you come together in one place [epi to auto], it is not to eat the
Lord’s Supper” (NKJV) or “When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you
eat” (ESV). The implication of this reprimand, in light of what the apostle
goes on to write, is that communion (cf. 10:16) was to be observed when these
brethren assembled together, yet their abuses and misbehavior had rendered
it unrecognizable. Paul then offers positive instructions for restoring the
Lord’s Supper to what it was intended to be, namely a sacred memorial to
commemorate Christ’s death (1 Cor. 11:23-29) kept on a regular basis (“as often” vv. 25, 26). The question is, how
often? Since these Christians assembled every first day of the week (1 Cor.
16:1-2), and they were to partake of the Lord’s Supper as often as they
gathered together, weekly observance (each Sunday) is implied. Moreover,
early Christians besides the Corinthians also practiced the Sunday-observance
of the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7).
Is there a particular time of day
enjoined? Jesus established the memorial on a Thursday evening (Matt. 26:20) to
commemorate his crucifixion, which took place the following day from about 9
a.m. to 3 p.m. (Mark 15:25; Matt. 27:45). Early Christians observed the Lord’s
Supper on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7), i.e. the day of Christ’s
resurrection, which occurred early in the morning (Mark 16:9). The Lord’s
Supper was designed for observance in God’s kingdom (Matt. 26:29; Mark 14:25;
Luke 22:16), i.e. in the church, on a regular basis to remember Christ’s
death (1 Cor. 11:20-26).
While Acts 20:7 affirms that Paul’s Sunday sermon lasted until “midnight,” there
is no indication as to when this assembly began or at what time communion was
observed. As long as the Lord’s Supper is kept each Sunday (regardless of the
time of day), the New Testament pattern has been followed.
--Kevin
L. Moore
Related Posts: Stop getting drunk at church, The Frequency of the Lord's Supper, Closed Communion, The Sunday Collection
Related articles: Neal Pollard's Alcoholic Wine in the Lord's Supper?, Wes McAdams' If You Feel Unworthy?, Dave Miller's Order of the Lord's Supper
Related Posts: Stop getting drunk at church, The Frequency of the Lord's Supper, Closed Communion, The Sunday Collection
Related articles: Neal Pollard's Alcoholic Wine in the Lord's Supper?, Wes McAdams' If You Feel Unworthy?, Dave Miller's Order of the Lord's Supper
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http://www.retrochristianity.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Lords-Supper2.jpg
Hi Professor. I am an MACM student at Abilene Christian University. There are some who teach that grapefruit was used when instituting the Lord’s supper because grape was the most common fruit of the vine in Palestine. Thus, where grapes aren’t common, any fruit of the vine (not necessarily grapefruit) can be used on the Lord’s table. In other words, the context the church finds itself in determines the fruit of the vine to use. Please I would love if you could respond to this. It would greatly be of help to me.
ReplyDeleteThis question is addressed in my article, “A Closer Look at the Elements of the Lord’s Supper” (22 March 2020). Grapes were common in Palestine, but grapefruit, a subtropical citrus fruit, was not. The expression “fruit of the vine” occurs only three times in the NT, all in reference to the Lord’s Supper. According to common usage in the historical-cultural setting of these passages, grapes are understood. Vineyards were commonplace in the ancient Near East (Matt. 20:1-8; 21:28, 33-41; Mark 12:1-11; Luke 20:9-16; 1 Cor. 9:7), and the Greek term ámpelos (“vine”) particularly refers to the grapevine. The expression “fruit of the vine” would have been universally understood by Jesus, his immediate disciples, and all others in the ancient Mediterranean world as the product of the grapevine (cf. Gen. 40:9-11; Lev. 25:5; Jas. 3:12; Rev. 14:18). If no grape juice is available, raisins (dried grapes) can be soaked or boiled. Wine can be boiled to remove its alcohol content. If we can supply people around the globe with food, clothes, medicine, clean water, the gospel, Bibles, and other resources necessary to live and to be right with God, surely we can do the same with communion needs.
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