MUST WE USE ONLY ONE CUP?
Some believe that only one cup must be used during the Lord’s Supper. They believe that to use more than one cup is sinful. Because of this, they refuse to fellowship anyone who uses more than one cup. Their belief comes from a misunderstanding of Matthew 26:27
“Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you.” Their mistaken view is that the words “the Cup” in this verse mean the container. Clearly, our Lord was not talking about the container. He was talking about what was in the cup!
Jesus tells us so in Matthew 26:29: “But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom?”
It becomes clear then, that Jesus was not talking about the container in verse 27. He did not bless the container. Surely, He did not tell His disciples to drink the container. We can know He was talking only about the fruit of the vine because He blessed the fruit of the vine; He gave them the fruit of the vine and they drank the fruit of the vine! We may better understand “the cup” when we think how these words are used today. We could say to a friend, “Would you like some tea? ’ He may reply, “Yes, I would like to have a cup!” Our friend would be asking for the container. He would simply be asking for the tea which is in the container. The same is true of Matthew 26:27!
In I Corinthians
Paul wrote to the Corinthians from
the city of
Those who say that only one cup can
be used in the Lord’s Supper are ignorant of human language. The “cup” is a figure of speech called
“metonymy.” A metonymy is a figure of
speech where the container is named, but the contents
(what is in the container) is meant.
Jesus used metonymy in John
The number and type of containers to be used during the Lord’s Supper is simply a matter of opinion. However, when one binds his opinion on another, he binds where God’s Word has not bound. This is sin! (Galatians 1:6-9). We may, with God’s approval, use any number of containers we choose when partaking of the Lord’s Supper!
God’s Plan of Salvation for Man
1. We must hear the truth.
Romans 10:14; Romans 10:17.
2. We must believe Jesus
Christ is the Son of God. Mark
John 8:24.
3. We must repent of our
sins. Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38.
4. We must confess Christ
before men. Matthew 10:32,33;
Romans 10:10.
5. We must be baptized
into Christ. Galatians 3:27; 1 Peter 3:21;
Acts
6. We must continue to
live for Christ Revelation 2:10;
2
Peter 1:10; 2
Peter 3:18.
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