THE LORD’S SUPPER: “BLESSED”, “GAVE THANKS”

I have for many years been concerned about what is said in the prayers just before we partake of the bread and the fruit of the vine during the Lord’s Supper when Chistians assemble together on the first day of the week. So, I set out to study more diligently on this very important subject and the words of our Lord Jesus Christ when He instituted the Lord’s Supper. In Matthew 26:26, we read, “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” (NKJV). The New American Standard renders this verse as follows: “Now while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” So, what does it mean to say a “blessing”, or, having “blessed” the bread? The greek word for “blessed” is εὐλογήσας (eulogesas). Let us now read Matthew 26:27, “Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.” Please observe the similarity of the greek word for “thanks'', εὐχαριστήσας (eucharistesas), in verse 27 with the greek word εὐλογήσας (eulogeas)for “blessed” in verse 26. 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.” The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 11:23,24: “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” We must consider the fact that as Jesus gave thanks for the fruit of the vine, He also gave thanks for the bread. Of course, this would not exclude blessings of praise to God for His grace and love; and blessings on those who partake of the Lord’s Supper. We must remember that we do not know what all Jesus said when He spoke a blessing, however, it did include the giving of thanks for the bread. . Though the following statement is from an uninspired person, please observe the comments from Albert Barnes in his commentary on Matthew 26:26: “And blessed it” - Or sought a blessing on it; or "gave thanks" to God for it. The word rendered "blessed" not unfrequently means "to give thanks." Compare Luke 9:16 and John 6:11. It is also to be remarked that some manuscripts have the word rendered "gave thanks," instead of the one translated "blessed." It appears from the writings of Philo and the Rabbis that the Jews were never accustomed to eat without giving thanks to God and seeking his blessing. This was especially the case in both the bread and the wine used at the Passover.” If we could go back in time and enter the room where Jesus and the disciples were gathered and listen to the words of Jesus as He gave thanks for the “bread”, and said, “this is my body.”; and “gave thanks for the cup” and said, “This is my blood of the new covenant which was shed for many” (Mark 14:2, it would not be possible for us to know the thoughts and deep emotions in the heart of our precious savior as He spoke a blessing and gave thanks for these elements of the Supper, knowing that His suffering and death on the cross were imminent when His body would be nailed to the cross and His body would be pierced and His blood would be shed. As a good friend and brother said, “To me this is one of the most awesome statements in all of history. That Jesus, the night before the crucifixion, would thank the Father for the bread and cup, the emblems of His own tormented death and ultimate sacrifice, is beyond comprehension.” On the first day of the week when we assemble to “break bread”,our hearts should burst forth with praise, adoration and love for our blessed Lord Jesus Christ who gave His life for us on Calvary; and to God the Father who gave His precious Son to die for the sins of mankind that by His grace we could be saved.