Is there a law against taking the Lord’s Supper on Monday, Tuesday, etc.? Yes, if we correctly understand the authority of Christ. In an earlier article we addressed the items which constitute the Lord’s Supper as revealed by the apostle Paul in First Corinthians chapter eleven; but we did not study the issue of when the authority of Christ authorizes the Lord’s people to take the Lord’s Supper. Therefore, in this article we will do so!
The church being established on the first Pentecost after Jesus’ resurrection, as recorded in Acts chapter two, and knowing that Pentecost always was on the first day of the week; the first worship of the church took place on the first day of the week. Luke wrote: “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:41-42). This is the first worship of the body of Christ. The words “breaking of bread,” is the Lord’s Supper and part of the “apostle’s teaching” which is “the teaching of Christ,” and the saved continued in it. Therefore, the first time the Lord’s Supper was taken; was on the first day of the week, Sunday. Remembering the words of Jesus to the disciples as he introduced his own memorial, he said, “I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom” (Matt. 26:29); and in Acts 2:42, he was doing just that! It must be noted that the authorized day for the saved to take of this memorial, according to “the apostle’s doctrine,” is the first day of the week!
Here attention is called to a statement recently posted: “In the New Testament, however, it is granted by all Bible students that there is never an explicit law stating that every Sunday and only Sunday is the day that the Lord’s Supper must be taken. Unlike the Old Testament, we never read of a mandated day of the week that the Lord’s Supper must be taken.” Please understand, as has been pointed out in earlier articles that an “explicit law” is not required in order for a thing to be part of “the teaching of Christ” (2 John 9). Also, keep in mind, in order to have fellowship with Christ one must “abideth in the doctrine of Christ” (2 John 9). This does not require an “explicit” command, as not all of “the teaching of Christ” is a series of commandments! Within “the teaching of Christ” there are implicit teachings, which in earlier the article have been proven to be just as binding as “explicit” commandments/statements. It is so important that the student of the New Testament, when studying “the teaching of Christ,” not to expect a series of commandments as in the “ten commandments,” for “the teaching of Christ” is not such!
With the above in mind, let us move to Troas, where Luke wrote: “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight” (Acts 20:7). So, here is an example of the church once more coming together and “to break bread” “upon the first day of the week.” Within “the teaching of Christ” the Lord’s Supper was taken on the first day of week! Let it be noted that within “the teaching of Christ” there is authority to take the Lord’s Supper “upon the first day of the week,” and there is no authority to take the Lord’s Supper upon any other day. When a day is identified, it is not necessary to say, “thou shalt not take the Lord’s Supper on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, nor Saturday, in order to forbid these days. Therefore, if one desires to have fellowship with Christ, and that fellowship is within “the teaching of Christ,” then, the “Lord’s Supper” must be taken only upon “the first day of the week;” as this is the only day within “the teaching of Christ” thus, the only day authorized.
No “explicit” command is required! By implication “the teaching of Christ” requires the Lord’s Supper be taken upon “the first of the week.” Now, we all understand that Monday, Tuesday, etc. is not “the first of the week;” therefore, there is no authority within “the teaching of Christ” for these days. It is also most important that we understand, that there is no fellowship with Christ when taking the Lord’s Supper on any other day, but “the first day of the week!” This is true as the Lord’s Supper and “the first of the week” abide within “the teaching of Christ!”
Finally, “the teaching of Christ” does explicitly state that “fellowship” with Christ “abideth in the doctrine of Christ!” It also explicitly states that there is no “fellowship” with Christ for those who “abideth not in the doctrine of Christ!” So, we ask, is there a law against taking the Lord’s Supper on Monday? Yes, as it is not within “the teaching of Christ!”
— Frank R. Williams