READING • MATTHEW 26
Remembering the Lord Jesus together
Baptism begins a new life in Christ. The Breaking of Bread is the regular act of fellowship in which baptized disciples remember the Lord Jesus, examine themselves, give thanks for his sacrifice and look forward to his return.
A command from the Lord Jesus
Discipleship is more than admiring Jesus: it means hearing him and obeying him. Jesus told his followers that friendship with him is shown by obedience to his commands:
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”
John 15:13–14 • King James Version
On the night before his death Jesus gave his disciples bread and the cup and told them to remember him. Paul later passed the same command to the Corinthian ecclesia:
“This do in remembrance of me.”
1 Corinthians 11:24 • King James Version
Christadelphians therefore treat the Breaking of Bread as a central ordinance of Christian life, alongside baptism. It is simple in form, but profound in meaning: it takes our minds back to Christ’s life and death and forward to his coming Kingdom.
How often did the early disciples meet?
Acts describes believers continuing together in teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayers. It also records a first-day-of-the-week meeting at Troas:
“And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them...”
Acts 20:7 • King James Version
This provides the Scriptural pattern behind the Christadelphian practice of meeting each first day of the week, normally on Sunday. Scripture does not explicitly say that the first day was chosen because it was the day of the resurrection, so we need not make that claim stronger than the text itself.
The place is not the point
The first believers met in homes as well as other available places. A dedicated building is not required. What matters is a faithful gathering of believers who remember Christ in the way he appointed.
“This do in remembrance of me”
At the Breaking of Bread, Jesus must be at the centre of our thoughts. “Remembrance” means more than recalling a forgotten fact. We deliberately fill our minds with his life, his obedience, his sacrifice, his resurrection and the hope of his return.
“And 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.”
Luke 22:19 • King James Version
Christ our Passover
Jesus died at Passover time. Israel remembered how God had delivered them from slavery in Egypt, and Paul deliberately connects that deliverance with Christ:
“For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast... with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”
1 Corinthians 5:7–8 • King James Version
The Breaking of Bread therefore reminds us that we have been called out of slavery to sin and death. The emblems point us to the sacrifice through which forgiveness and life become possible.
The new covenant
The cup also directs our thoughts to the new covenant. Luke records Jesus saying:
“This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”
Luke 22:20 • King James Version
In the KJV the word is translated “testament”; the underlying idea is covenant. Jesus is the mediator through whom God’s promises are brought to fulfilment, and through him believers have access to God.
“But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.”
Hebrews 8:6 • King James Version
A memorial that also proclaims
The service looks backward, but not only backward. Each time disciples eat and drink they make a visible confession of their dependence upon Christ and their shared hope:
“For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.”
1 Corinthians 11:26 • King James Version
Past, present and future
We remember what Jesus did, renew our fellowship with one another in the present, and proclaim our confidence that the Lord who died and rose will come again.
“Let a man examine himself”
Paul does not tell us to arrive at the service ready to inspect everyone else. The command is personal:
“But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.”
1 Corinthians 11:28 • King James Version
We compare ourselves with the Lord Jesus: his obedience, humility, patience, love and complete dedication to his Father. That should remove pride and make us deeply conscious of our need for grace.
Unworthy manner — not unworthy people
No disciple comes because he or she is personally worthy of Christ’s sacrifice. Paul warns instead about eating and drinking “unworthily” — in an unworthy manner, without discerning the significance of what is being done.
“For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.”
1 Corinthians 11:29 • King James Version
The Corinthians had allowed division, selfishness and disorder to spoil their gathering. The answer was not permanent absence from the table, but repentance, self-examination and a right approach to the Lord’s memorial.
What about 1 Corinthians 11:30?
“For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.”
1 Corinthians 11:30 • King James Version
The older lesson stated that Paul did not mean physical illness. The verse itself does not say that. Some readers understand these words literally as divine discipline; others have taken them spiritually. What is certain is Paul’s main point: careless treatment of the Lord’s memorial is a serious matter, not an empty ritual.
Fellowship in one body
Breaking bread is not only an individual act. Paul describes a shared fellowship in Christ:
“For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.”
1 Corinthians 10:17 • King James Version
As the bread and cup pass from believer to believer, each person acknowledges the same need of Christ and the same hope. This should make quarrels, pride and contempt for one another feel completely out of place.
Christadelphian fellowship
Christadelphians normally share the bread and wine with baptized believers who are in fellowship and who share the same apostolic faith. This is intended to express genuine unity of belief and life, not to claim personal superiority over other people.
The bread
“Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.”
1 Corinthians 11:24 • King James Version
Christadelphians understand the bread as a symbol or emblem of Christ’s body; it does not change materially into his body. Ordinary bread is sufficient. Its importance comes from what the Lord commanded it to represent.
The bread reminds us of the whole obedient life of Jesus in the body he shared with us. He knew temptation, weakness and suffering, yet he did no sin and delighted to do God’s will:
“I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.”
Psalm 40:8 • King James Version
The cup
“This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.”
1 Corinthians 11:25 • King James Version
The wine reminds us of the life Jesus willingly poured out and of the forgiveness made possible through his sacrifice. Hebrews expresses the principle in the language of sacrifice:
“And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”
Hebrews 9:22 • King James Version
Animal sacrifices under the law could not finally remove sin. Christ’s sacrifice was once for all in the purpose of God. The bread and wine therefore leave no room for self-congratulation: they call us to gratitude, humility and repentance.
“But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”
1 Peter 1:19 • King James Version
A simple service with deep meaning
WHAT WE DO
WHAT IT CALLS US TO REMEMBER
Gather with fellow-believers
We are one body in Christ and need one another.
Hear the Scriptures and exhortation
God’s Word searches, teaches and strengthens us.
Give thanks for the bread
Christ gave his body in obedient service and sacrifice.
Eat the bread
We identify ourselves with the Lord whom we remember.
Give thanks for the cup
His blood speaks of the new covenant and forgiveness.
Drink the cup
We confess our need of grace and our fellowship in Christ.
“Till he come”
The Breaking of Bread is full of hope. At the last supper Jesus did not speak only of his approaching death. He also looked forward to the Kingdom:
“For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
Luke 22:16 • King James Version
“For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.”
Luke 22:18 • King James Version
Every Breaking of Bread therefore points beyond the present age. We remember the Lord who died, worship the risen Lord who is at God’s right hand, and wait for the King who will return.
Do not neglect meeting together
Regular fellowship is one of God’s provisions for keeping disciples spiritually strong. Hebrews links confidence through Christ with encouraging one another as the day approaches:
“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together... but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:24–25 • King James Version
Illness, distance, persecution or other serious circumstances may sometimes prevent attendance. The principle is not legalistic counting of meetings, but a willing desire to obey the Lord, remember him, and seek the fellowship of his people whenever we are able.
When we come to the table
Remember Christ. Examine yourself. Put away bitterness. Give thanks. Recognise your need of forgiveness. Recognise your brother or sister as part of the same body. And look forward to the Lord’s return.
SUMMARY
1
Jesus commanded remembrance. The bread and cup were given so that disciples would remember him.
2
The service is fellowship. Those who share the one bread acknowledge one Lord, one hope and their need of one another.
3
The bread and wine are emblems. They direct our minds to Christ’s body, his blood, the new covenant and forgiveness.
4
Self-examination is essential. We come humbly, correcting our own attitudes rather than judging other worshippers.
5
The memorial proclaims hope. We “shew the Lord’s death till he come” and look forward to the Kingdom.
6
Regular meeting strengthens discipleship. Believers encourage one another in love and good works as the day approaches.
Chapters to read
Matthew 26:17–30 • Luke 22:14–30 • 1 Corinthians 10:14–22 • 1 Corinthians 11:17–34 • Hebrews 10:19–25
LEARN BY HEART • 1 CORINTHIANS 11:26
“For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.”
1 Corinthians 11:26 • King James Version
CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION • 5
CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION • 1