Is it Scriptural to Take the Lord’s Supper on Days Other Than the First Day of the Week?

When discussing whether or not something is scriptural, it can often be debated and argued. “But the Bible doesn’t say…” “I don’t think…” All of these comments begin to rise to the surface and dominate the conversation. The reality is that matters of scripture leave no room for opinion, but rather are entirely based on what the Word of the Lord says. The question we are tasked to answer is not whether or not it is known to happen or whether or not it is culturally accepted. We are discussing the concept of authorization in the worship of God. To begin, let’s consider who has the authority to determine the method of worship. Jesus stated, “All power is given unto me in heaven and on earth.” (Matthew 28:18). This authority is not limited, but rather states that if there is creation credited to God, Jesus has authority over it. This idea is restated in the book of Ephesians, where Paul wrote: “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” (Ephesians 1:22-23). The worship of God must be under His authority and dictation. Jesus Himself stated how worship was to be conducted:

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

(John 4:23-24)

With this understanding, we must understand how Jesus authorizes the conduct of a Christian. The first method of authorization is that of direct commands. Matthew 28:19-20 states:

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen

Jesus explicitly commands that we are to evangelize and what to teach those who are lost. A direct command is often the least argued point of scripture because it is a clear “thus saith the Lord.” The second means by which the Lord authorizes the actions of Christians is by implication. This is not explicitly stated, but it is still stated by the will of God. For instance, scripture never teaches explicitly, “Thou shalt not take recreational cocaine”; however, the scripture does teach to be sober minded (Titus 2:6; 1 Peter 1:13), and it teaches to not be under the power of any (1 Corinthians 6:12). Regardless of how one might feel, the implication stated in scripture teaches that to engage in this act is inherently contradictory to the command to live sober minded. Third, the Lord authorizes through inspired men through examples and teaching. These men are given direct commands from the Lord to instruct those who are followers of the Lord (Matthew 16:19; 18:18). 

Now to the point at hand. What does the Lord teach regarding the Lord’s Supper? Jesus instituted this action the night of Passover prior to His crucifixion:

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.” In the same manner, He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, 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 till He comes. Therefore, whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

(1 Corinthians 11:23-29)

This act was established as a memorial for the death of Christ. This is not a literal eating and drinking of the body and blood of Christ, but rather a symbolic representation of the sacrifice which Christ was about to offer. In this instance, the Lord does not state a time and place for this memorial, but the elements and meaning are explicitly stated. The first means of authorization is shown here in this text. But as mentioned prior, this is not the only means of authorization. So what did the apostles say regarding this practice? Example shows us when the early church practiced the partaking of the Lord’s Supper: “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight” (Acts 20:7). This example states, by example, that the early church took of the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week in commemoration of the death of our savior Jesus Christ. So we have explicit teachings as to the representation, time, and circumstances for taking the Lord’s Supper. 

The question then must be: Is it scriptural to do anything other than what God commanded? Obviously not. The Lord said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Beyond this, there were others who tried to perform worship opposite to what the Lord commanded. Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire to the Lord, which He commanded them not to (Leviticus 10:1-2). God takes His worship very seriously, and therefore, we should take the worship of God and the practices that He has commanded. Offering Him worship presented in Spirit and in Truth (cf. John 4:24).