Lord’s Day for the Lord’s Supper

Just when is the Lord’s Supper to be observed? Many modern denominations observe it monthly, quarterly, yearly, and on days other than on Sunday. Catholics observe it every day of the week. Some observe it on Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. To most people when and how often one observes is inconsequential. If nothing more had been said than, “this do in remembrance of me,” then congregations would have been at liberty to select their own day, hour, and frequency. However, the Bible does give us a required day and frequency of the Lord’s Supper’s observance.

The Day of Observance

Jesus said that he would partake of it again on “that day” (Mt. 26:29). The word “day” may refer to a specific day of 24 hours, or the word “day” may also refer to a general period of time. “That day” is the Kingdom would exist. The Kingdom or church as established on the day of Pentecost. Pentecost came on a Sunday. The feast day of Pentecost was fifty days after the Passover which as on a Sabbath. So exactly seven weeks plus one day would make it Sunday. By necessary inference the Bible teaches the Lord’s Supper is to be observed on Sunday, the first day of the week The Lord said he would not eat of the Supper until He ate anew with His disciples in His kingdom. The disciples ate of it on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:42). Therefore, Christ intended that the Lord’s Supper be observed on the Lord’s Day.

The first-time individuals could be baptized into the church was on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38,41). The first-time people could be born again into the kingdom was on the Day of Pentecost. The first-time baptized men and women partook of the Lord’s Supper was on the Day of Pentecost.  “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts. 2:42).

Sunday is a day of divine worship (Acts 2:42; 20:7). Paul stayed a whole week in Troas just to get a chance to worship with the saints there. “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight” (Acts 20:7). The fact that Luke mentions the day of the week at all is significant. Elsewhere he rarely identifies a day, unless it is a Sabbath or a special feast. His word for “came together” is important too. It is a semi technical term the New Testament uses for Christians gathered together for worship (1 Cor. 5:4).

So, this was not a special meeting convened to hear Paul (who had already been in town six days). Worship can take place at any time, but God has set a specific day in which we all must come together to worship. There are divinely approved examples where others worshiped God upon other days (Acts 16:25; 20:36; 21:5). There are some items of worship that God has not specified the particular time or limited it to a particular day, such as, to study (2 Tim. 2:15). The example of the noble Bereans shows us that every day is acceptable (Acts 17:11). We are commanded to engage in singing whenever merry (Js. 5:13). Paul and Silas gave us an example of singing and praying (Acts 16:25). Prayer is to be made without ceasing (1 Th. 5:17).

There are certain items of worship which are to be done only at a divinely specified time, such as, the Lord’s supper (Ac. 20:7) and giving (1 Cor. 16:1,2). Churches may have as many meetings as they desire, but as concerning the Lord’s Day meeting they have no choice.

Sunday is the day we show “His death till He comes” (1 Cor. 11:26). Homer Hailey wrote, “The day was the Lord’s day, the supper was the Lord’s supper. The Lord’s supper was observed on the first day of the week (Ac. 20:7). Surely the Lord’s Supper was observed on the Lord’s Day, and if so it must follow that the Lord’s Day was the first day of the week. The Lord provided this new name for a new day on which this new religious service was observed.”

The Lord’s Supper should be observed upon the first day of the week because of the great events which took place upon that day. Christ was raised upon the first day (Jn. 20:1; Mk. 16:9). On the Sabbath, the son of Man lay in the tomb. The world was dark. The faithful were in despair. There was no hope. Then on the first day of the week Christ rose triumphantly from the dead.

Six of the eight New Testament references to the first day of the week refer to the resurrection. Christ appeared to Mary Magdalene (Mk. 16:9); then to another Mary (Mt. 28:9,10). He met with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Lk. 24:13-35). He met with the apostles with Thomas absent (Jn. 20:19-25). He appeared to the apostles with Thomas present (26-29). The first day of the week is the day that the Holy Spirit came in the baptismal measure (Acts 2:1-4). The first day of he week is the day the first gospel sermon was preached, (Acts 2:14-36). It is the first day that remission of sin was received by those responding to the Gospel (Acts 2:37-41). Sunday is the birthday of the church (Acts 2:47). Peter refers to it as the beginning (Ac. 11:15). The beginning of the kingdom (Mk. 9:1; Ac. 1:6; 2:3,4). Beginning on the first day of the week Jesus sat on the throne of David (Ac. 2:28-35.) Christ’s rule as high priest and king was announced as beginning. (Zech. 6:13; Ac. 2:29-36). It was the first day of the week when the New Covenant went into effect (Is. 2:3; Lk. 24:47, 49, Ac. 2:38).

Some denominations have it on the Thursday night before Easter Sunday. They say Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper on a Thursday night before he arose that Sunday. The fact that something is not forbidden doesn’t necessarily make it right. In fact, our authority for any practice should not grow out of the fact that it is “not forbidden” but from the fact that we can provide a “thus saith the Lord”. In other words, where is the passage that authorizes it?  Where in the New Testament do we find authority for the Lord’s supper on Thursday night?

Since the apostles were guided into all truth (Jn. 16:13), we should follow their approved examples (Acts 20:7; 2:42). One needs to remember that the supper was instituted before the Lord’s death and in concert with the Jewish Passover. To argue, therefore, a Thursday observance would be to argue for a combination Supper-Passover meal. If Thursday was a day to partake than why did Paul wait a full seven days in Troas (Acts 20:6,7). “The observance of the supper on any other day not only lacks authority, but is a meaningless performance in that it signifies a dead hero instead of our risen Savior.” (A.M. Trice, Around the Lord’s Table, p. 46). If the church can do one thing without authority, then it can do anything and everything without authority.

Others say that Paul took the Lord’s Supper on Monday in Acts 20:11 when he visited the Church as Troas. The reference to breaking bread is to a common meal. Luke, Paul and others had already taken the Lord’s Supper in verse seven. In verse eleven only Paul is said to have eaten. Did he eat two meals? If it was the Lord’s Supper did Paul partake of it twice. Once with one another and once without others.

The Time of Day for Observance

Although the Lord’s Day, first day of the week or Sunday is specified as to the day of observing the Lord’s Supper, nothing is said in regard to the time of day. In the absence of a specified time of the day, it seems that any hour contained in the twenty-four hours of the first day of each week would and must be acceptable. The generic command to partake of the Lord’s Supper upon the Lord’s Day requires a time. Therefore, the hour is left to the judgment of the local leadership or elders of each local congregation. The hour is purely a matter of expediency that may vary from congregation to congregation. Simply because the Lord’s Supper is observed by a number of congregations during the morning hours of 10-12 a.m. does not dictate to any other congregation when they should partake.

This day is the Lord’s Day and so it is with every Sunday the first day of the week. As you partake today focus on the greatest event in the history of mankind: the resurrection of the Lord.

– Daniel R. Vess