“HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF A BROTHER OFFERING ONE PRAYER FOR BOTH THE BREAD AND FRUIT OF THE VINE DURING THE LORD’S SUPPER?”

This was the basic question asked to me sometime ago by a brother in Christ. I told him yes and that I was greatly disturbed and surprised that a brother in Christ would offer only one prayer for both the bread and the fruit of the vine that are symbolic of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. My wife and I, along with family members, attended a small church of Christ while on vacation. When it came time for the brother presiding at the ‘Lord’s Table’, our brother offered only one prayer for both the bread and fruit of the vine. This was the first time in all of my years to hear a brother do this. When it came time for the ‘offering’ the brother thanked God for His blessings and the opportunity for all to give their monetary gifts to the Lord. I thought to myself, here is a brother who chose to offer one prayer for the bread and fruit of the vine, yet he offered a prayer for the offering when there is no specific example of this being done in the New Testament during the assembly of the church to worship God. We understand that we can pray anytime we choose because we are taught in the word of God to be “steadfastly in prayer” (Romans 12:12), and we are taught to give thanks to God. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16,17, we read, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Thus, it is acceptable for a brother to give thanks for our blessings and for brothers and sisters in Christ to give cheerfully and according to one’s ability to the Lord. But, let us consider the occasion when Jesus Christ gave thanks for the bread and fruit of the vine. In Matthew’s account (Mt. 26:26-29, NKJV), we read the following, “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said “Take, eat; this is my body.” In Luke 22:19, we read, “And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” So, when Jesus said a blessing he also gave thanks for the bread. In Matthew 26:27, Jesus “took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.” The best commentary on the actions of Jesus when He instituted the Lord’s Supper is found in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26: “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” The question should be raised, was the action of Jesus giving thanks separately for the bread and fruit done unintentionally or deliberately? Can we not understand the action of Jesus was intended and on purpose? After all, the Lord’s Supper is the center of our corporate worship! Why then, would a brother change the pattern that Jesus set when He gave thanks for each the bread and fruit of the vine? Man’s wisdom is not God’s wisdom! Why can’t we just follow the example of our Lord Jesus Christ when he gave thanks for both the bread and fruit of the vine separately; knowing He was going to suffer shortly on the cross and shed His blood for our redemption and forgiveness of our sins (Ephesians 1:7).