1
Breaking Bread

• The expression "break bread" does not have much
  meaning and application to the average
  American. In fact, "breaking bread" would be
  viewed as idiomatic and awkward by most today. 
  However, in Bible days and lands, the expression
  was very relevant and meaningful. "Break bread"
  is also seen in connection with many Bible verses
  and teaching.  First, we need to appreciate the
  importance of bread in Bible days.

2
Breaking Bread

• "Bread the principal food.  In the Orient it has
  been estimated that three-fourths of the people
  live entirely upon either bread or upon that
  which is made from wheat or barley flour.  It is
  unquestionably the principal food of the East"
  (James Freeman, Handbook of Bible Manners and
  Customs, p. 50).

3
Breaking Bread

• Regarding bread, the devil challenged Jesus to
  turn the stones into bread during Jesus'
  temptation (Matt. 4 3).  Jesus teaches his
  followers to pray for their "daily bread" and
  showed the commonness of bread as a staple when
  he mentioned that a father would not provide his
  son a stone, but "bread" (Matt. 6 11 Matt. 7
  9).  Bread kept well and therefore was perfect to
  take on a journey and the giving of thanks was
  offered before taking of bread (Matt. 16 5 Acts
  27 35).   

4
Breaking Bread

• In view of bread being the staff of life, it was
  very fitting that Jesus is said to be the "Bread
  from heaven" (John 6 32, 35, cp. I Cor. 10
  17).  He is also said to be the "Bread of life"
  and Living Bread" (John 6 33, 51).

5
Breaking Bread

• "Since there is this attitude of sacredness in
  relation to 'staff of life,' there grows out of
  it the universal Eastern custom of 'breaking'
  bread and not cutting it. To cut bread would be
  thought of as cutting life itself. This custom of
  breaking bread rather than cutting it, is found
  throughout the scriptures. In Lamentations 4 4
  we read 'The young children ask bread, and no
  man breaketh it unto them.' Thus the expression
  'breaking of bread' came to mean the taking of a
  meal whatever was included in the meal.

6
Breaking Bread

• Because Christ broke bread when he instituted
  the ordinance of the Lord's Supper, the
  expression came to refer to that ordinance.
  Matthew 26 26 'Jesus took bread, and blessed
  it, and brake it, and gave to his disciples.'
  Thus we read in Acts 20 7 'And upon the first
  day of the week, when the disciples came together
  to break bread, Paul preached to them" (Manners
  and Customs of Bible Lands, p. 45, by Fred
  Wight).

7
Breaking Bread

• "Breaking bread" was something commonly done by
  the early Christians. Breaking of bread is used
  in two different contexts.  First, there is the
  breaking of bread used in connection with the
  Lord's Supper, a memorial to remember Jesus'
  death and to declare his coming again (Matt. 26
  26-29, I Cor. 11 23-34). The breaking of bread
  in the sense of the Lord's Supper was a regular
  and constant act of public worship performed on
  the "first day of the week" in which the early
  church engaged (Acts 2 42). 

8
Breaking Bread

• The Christians met on the Lord's Day "to break
  bread" (Acts 20 7).  It is obvious that "break
  bread" here is not a common meal because this is
  the express reason for them coming together on
  the First Day of the week, the day of public
  worship in the New Testament (cp. I Cor. 16
  1ff., cp. Acts 2 46).  The expression "breaking
  of bread" is also used to describe what the
  Christians did "from house to house" (Greek, kar
  oikon, Acts 2 46).

9
Breaking Bread

• As seen, "break bread" is highly significant in
  terms of the worship of the early church.  In
  view of the language of Acts 20 7, it is
  apparent that the breaking of bread was and is
  the very core of the Lord's Day assembly. This
  memorial celebrates the death and resurrection of
  Jesus, the very foundation of the belief of the
  Christian (I Cor. 11 23-34). 

10
Breaking Bread

• Jesus said when he instituted this
  memorial"And as they were eating, Jesus took
  bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it
  to the disciples, and said, Take, eat this is my
  body" (Matt. 26 26, cp. I Cor. 11 24).

11
Breaking Bread

• It is evident that not only were the early
  Christians constant in their public worship and
  assemblies, they also made opportunities to be
  with one another. Some of this was, no doubt, due
  to their onset zeal and enthusiasm.  We read
  "And they, continuing daily with one accord in
  the temple, and breaking bread from house to
  house, did eat their meat with gladness and
  singleness of heart" (Acts 2 46).The "breaking
  of bread" (Gk., klontes arton) in Acts 2 46 is
  clearly referring to a meal. I say this because
  it is distinguished from them being in the temple
  and it was done "daily."

12
Breaking Bread

• Also, notice the expression, "did eat their
  meat.," such language would not be appropriate
  for the Lord's Supper. In Acts 20 11, "broken
  bread" (Gk., klasas ton arton) appears to be a
  meal in view of the general language and
  description and also due to the fact the meal of
  verse eleven appears to have been on the second
  day of the week or our Monday (see vs. 7-11).  It
  is, though, worthy of note that in both texts,
  Acts 2 and Acts 20, we see "break bread" used to
  reference both the spiritual meal, the Lord's
  Supper and a common meal (Acts 2 42, 20 7 2
  46, 20 11).  Notwithstanding, the two are
  distinguished and observed as separate.

13
Breaking Bread

• While the concept of "fellowship" is definitely
  observed relative to the "breaking of bread" as
  it pertained to the Lord's Supper, "fellowship"
  is never applied to the common meals (I Cor. 10
  21).  It is sad to see the emphasis that many
  churches, even some churches of Christ, have
  placed on their common meals.  I have had
  preachers to tell me when I asked them what they
  considered to be their most important effort to
  reach the lost and edify the saved

14
Breaking Bread

• "Brother Martin, our fellowship meals are the
  most important aspect of the work of our local
  church."  When I would tell them that we do read
  of the importance of and the associated
  fellowship regarding the Lord's Supper, they
  would explain, "I am not talking about that, but
  the common meal we have in the church building,
  in which all are invited."

15
Breaking Bread

• Two foreign (not in the scriptures) practices
  have evolved  The building and maintaining of
  "fellowship halls" (monies used from church
  treasuries) and common meals they call
  "fellowship meals."  The "fellowship halls" have
  now evolved to include just about every
  imaginable activity from movie theaters showing
  secular movies to elaborate game rooms for fun
  and frolic, all in the church budget. Some being
  attracted by means of the physical and the
  comparatively tawdry, however, is not new.

16
Breaking Bread

• "Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I
  say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the
  miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves,
  and were filled.  Labour not for the meat which
  perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto
  everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give
  unto you for him hath God the Father sealed"
  (John 6 26, 27).

17
Breaking Bread

• Many have secularized "fellowship" today and
  turned the common meal so carefully distinguished
  in scripture from the public worship and
  spiritual fellowship of the early Christians
  into not only part of their spiritual worship,
  but the main feature.

18
Breaking Bread

• In terms of the "breaking of bread" involved in
  the Lord's Supper, such is a great privilege to
  be able to come together on the Lord's Day and
  gather around the Lord's table in remembrance of
  Jesus (Acts 20 7).  In a different application
  and circumstance, Christians need to get
  together, "break bread" and enjoy one another's
  company, "from house to house" (Acts 2 46).

19
Breaking Bread

• Let us be continue to be careful to separate the
  breaking of bread in Acts 2 42 and verse 46.