In an age of kale, keto, and Atkins… I like to remember the reference as Jesus is the “Bread Of Life” in John 6.35. Obviously that doesn’t indicate a diet plan for us, but it does refer to the necessity of life. For life-survival we depend on a rule of three: three minutes without oxygen, three days without water, three weeks without food. Without the basics of bread, water and oxygen a person cannot survive. The same holds true in the spiritual life, as Jesus indicates in John 6. He is the basic necessity of life itself. Scripture also says “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds. out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4.4) We have a spiritual side that is alive as well and therefore needs nourishment for survival. God in His infinite grace has provided more than the bear necessities for survival. He has provided a church for us to be fed, fellowshipped, and focused in. Fed spiritual food from the scripture; Fellowshipped from others perfectly placed there by God to provide both challenge and encouragement; Focused into the gospel ministry and eternal perspective. In some of the earliest post-pentecost days the church in Jerusalem was expanding rapidly. This rapid expansion would necessitate the feeding, fellowship, and focusing needed for the young christians to grow and produce fruit. What is the best method to do such a thing? Today all we hear is methodology, when what we really need to do is obey. I see Acts 2 as prescriptive and not descriptive. I do not see the church in Jerusalem as a historical reference only, but a path to effective methodology, even for 21st century churches. It was ordained of God and worked effectively.
“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (Acts 2.42)
Focus your attention on “breaking bread”: κλάσει τοῦ ἄρτου — klasei tou artou. Literally to break apart bread. In the first century in the East it would be seen as a cultural intimate setting; place of discussion; barring of ones soul; etc. It would be done on the floor sitting in close proximity while enjoying a meal and friendships.
It has been said that this is in reference to the Lord’s Supper. This can be true, but only partly so. The Lord’s Supper should also be “continued steadfastly in” because it is mandatory for all Christians to observe in their local body (1 Corinthians 11.24-29). This is not in reference to this event only though. The Lord ‘broke bread’ many times with people and through this He showed Himself to the Disciples after He was resurrected (Luke 24.35). In Luke 24 it was after a long journey, they stopped for sleep and to enjoy a meal. This was a meal—not ‘the table’. Again it is shown to be a meal in Acts 20.11. You would not “eat” the Lord’s Supper as a meal and it is condemned to do so in 1 Corinthians 11.17-34.
In Matthew 26.26 when the Lord’s Supper was initiated, it was done so after the ‘Sader meal’ of the Jews. This is a meal dating back to the passover in the Exodus account while still in Egypt as the death angel visited the doors not covered in blood. Before this text (Matthew 26.26) they ate meals many times and called it “breaking bread”. In fact when Peter was caught without his clothes on fishing (John 21) Jesus “took bread and gave it”. Did He perform the Lord’s Supper at that moment? No. They ate a meal which had bread made in loaves which would need to be broken apart to eat. No sliced bread! It is important to note that the John 21 instance along with the others afore mentioned, was the sharp moment where the apostles eyes were opened and they knew it was Jesus. God has used this in our New Testament to bring about an emotional connection between these men and their Lord. I believe that can be true among believers today, and therefore what may be missing. Jesus’ ministry was the training of these men and His example is a stark contrast to how we ‘do’ church today.
In our text of Acts 2, four verses later (46) it mentioned them eating some more. This is more conclusive that “breaking bread” here isn’t the Lord’s Supper but a cultural meal of fellowship and deepening friendships— “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,” If verse 46 is the Lord’s Supper then it would be a violation of the rules Paul provides the church of Corinth in taking the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11) because they did it without the ordained leadership necessary to conduct such a service. It would also contradict the Bible because they did not “come together” as 1 Corinthians 11 demands. We are to “tarry one for another” and not to do this without the invited, assembled church.
The bread and meat indicate meals together, time together, friendship together. This cannot be just a regimented weekly event, or once a month get-to-gether. It was what we would call in today’s english a ‘fellowship’. They hung out…a lot! In Acts 2.46 alone it shares with us that they did this “daily”.
Should we do this that often? Why or why not?
One thought on “Break Some Bread”
Absolutely! It seems to me that there has been such a lack of true fellowship and relationships in the local church. This show to stunt the accountability and growth that we should have one for another and directly to Jesus. There is no exhortation as we see the day approaching, no sharpening each other, no co-labouring for the cause of Christ. Therefore, no souls saved, even within the local body and no seriousness or investment to the covenant we have with that body. We see it work win the 1st century, it might so crazy it might work in this century.