The purest type of the Lord’s Supper is, of course, the
Passover. Christ is, indeed, our Passover (1
Cor. 5:7).  Let’s consider the
fitness of different ones to partake of the Passover, and then see if there are
New Testament scriptures that show how they apply to the Lord’s Supper.

●
The Passover was for the children of Israel

o Exodus 12:24 – And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to
thee and to thy sons for ever.

● The Lord’s Supper is only for believers.

o 1 Corinthians 11:23 – For I have received of the Lord that which
also I delivered unto you (Corinthian believers), That the Lord Jesus the same
night in which he was betrayed took bread:

● No stranger was to partake. This could
include a Gentile, a Gentile proselyte, or even a Jew that was not known to the
company.

o Exodus 12:43 – And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the
ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof:

● No stranger should partake in the Lord’s
Supper. He is unknown, so his life, his beliefs, his associations are unknown.
Are the standards for the Lord’s Supper lower than the standards for the
Passover so that we invite strangers to partake?

o 1 Timothy 5:22 – Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker
of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.

● A purchased servant, who was circumcised,
could partake. Of course, the only way to know if this was a purchased servant
or a hired servant was to ask.

o Exodus 12:44 – But every man’s servant that is bought for money,
when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.

 

● One who is known to be ‘purchased’ and has
put off the flesh should partake of the Lord’s Supper.

o Acts 20:28 – Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the
flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the
church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

o Philippians 3:3 – For we are the circumcision, which worship God in
the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

● A foreigner (outsider) and a hired servant
could not partake. Not being bought, the hired servant would not be compelled
to honor the words of the Lord, so he would be one not circumcised. It would
speak of one who is dependent on his own works, rather than the grace of God.
This would be in contrast to a purchased servant.

o Exodus 12:45 – A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat
thereof. The unsaved have no license to partake of the Lord’s Supper, neither
those who are ‘workers’ (attempting to be justified through their own works)

o John 9:31 – Now we know that God heareth not sinners. ._

o Galatians 5:4 – Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever
of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

● A stranger who eventually attaches himself to
the Jewish company would be allowed to partake, after all his servants were
circumcised

o Exodus 12:48 – And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and
will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then
let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land:
for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.

● One who has made himself to be known as tree
from doctrinal or moral sin, and no longer a stranger, should partake of the
Lord’s Supper.

o 2 Timothy 2:22 – follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with
them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

 

● One who had come into contact with a dead
body was considered defiled by association and could not partake of the
Passover.

o Numbers 9:6 – And there were certain men, who were defiled by the
dead body of a man, that they could not keep the passover on that day: and they
came before Moses and before Aaron on that day:

● The association of an otherwise Godly
believer with those who dishonor the Lord by doctrine or lifestyle, can cause
him to be considered unclean. Are we to be so careless as to allow this
‘leaven’ to enter into our assemblies by carelessly allowing someone to partake
of the Lord’s Supper when his associations cause him to be defiled. . .thus
bringing this deiilement into the assembly?

o 1 Corinthians 5:6 – Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a
little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

o Galatians 5:9 – A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

o 1 Corinthians 15:33 – Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt
good morals. (ASV)

 

These Scriptures make it so clear that reception to the
Lord’s Supper is a serious matter and should not be taken lightly. The Lord
gives the assembly the responsibility to make sure those who are identified
together in the breaking of bread with us are known to be living in purity
before the Lord.

It
is heartbreaking that we cannot remember the Lord with everyone that calls upon
the name of the Lord. However, the church is in a state of division,
ungodliness, and ruin. Scripture calls for separation from those things that
dishonor the Lord, and care in receiving those who desire to walk together with
us.

There are two things which must never he
lost sight of in connection with the question
of reception at the Lord’s table, and these
are, first, the grace which will not allow of
the exclusion of any who ought to be
admitted; secondly, the holiness which
cannot allow the admission of any who
ought to be excluded.  -CHM