It was designed, (1.) To commemorate the death of Christ: “This do in
remembrance of me.” (2.) To signify, seal, and apply to believers all the
benefits of the new covenant. In this ordinance Christ ratifies his promises
to his people, and they on their part solemnly consecrate themselves to
him and to his entire service. (3.) To be a badge of the Christian
profession. (4.) To indicate and to promote the communion of believers
with Christ. (5.) To represent the mutual communion of believers with
each other.
The elements used to represent Christ’s body and blood are bread and
wine. The kind of bread, whether leavened or unleavened, is not specified.
Christ used unleavened bread simply because it was at that moment on the
paschal table. Wine, and no other liquid, is to be used (Matthew 26:26-29).
Believers “feed” on Christ’s body and blood, (1) not with the mouth in
any manner, but (2) by the soul alone, and (3) by faith, which is the mouth
or hand of the soul. This they do (4) by the power of the Holy Ghost.
This “feeding” on Christ, however, takes place not in the Lord’s Supper
alone, but whenever faith in him is exercised.
This is a permanent ordinance in the Church of Christ, and is to be
observed “till he come” again.
- LO-RUHAMAH not pitied, the name of the prophet Hosea’s first
daughter, a type of Jehovah’s temporary rejection of his people (Hos. 1:6;
2:23). - LOT (Hebrews goral, a “pebble”), a small stone used in casting lots
(Numbers 33:54; Jonah 1:7). The lot was always resorted to by the
Hebrews with strictest reference to the interposition of God, and as a
method of ascertaining the divine will (Proverbs 16:33), and in serious
cases of doubt (Esther 3:7). Thus the lot was used at the division of the
land of Canaan among the serveral tribes (Numbers 26:55; 34:13), at the
detection of Achan (Joshua 7:14, 18), the election of Saul to be king (1
Samuel 10:20, 21), the distribution of the priestly offices of the temple
service (1 Chronicles 24:3, 5, 19; Luke 1:9), and over the two goats at the
feast of Atonement (Leviticus 16:8). Matthias, who was “numbered with
the eleven” (Acts 1:24-26), was chosen by lot.
This word also denotes a portion or an inheritance (Joshua 15:1; Psalm
125:3; Isaiah 17:4), and a destiny, as assigned by God (Psalm 16:5; Daniel
12:13).