An Explanation of Luther's Small CatechismLuther, Martin
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An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism
Luther, Martin
Lutheran Church -- Catechisms -- English
ITS NAMES. This sacrament is called: 1. The Sacrament of the Altar,
because it is administered at the altar. 2. The Lord's Supper, because
it was instituted by the _Lord_ while the disciples were eating the
Passover _Supper_. 3. The Table of the Lord, because the Lord here gives
food and drink to our souls. 4. The Communion, because it is a communion
of bread and wine with the body and blood of Christ, a communion of
believers with Christ, and a communion of believers with one another. 5.
The Eucharist--a name derived from a Greek word meaning to give
thanks--because the administration of the Lord's Supper is attended with
thanksgiving.
WHAT THE SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR IS.
The Lord's Supper was instituted by OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST THE SAME NIGHT
IN WHICH HE WAS BETRAYED, while He and the disciples were eating the
Passover Supper. [I Cor. 11:23-25, Matt. 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24, Luke
22:19-20] What the Lord's Supper is, we learn from the words of Christ
Himself as given by the evangelists, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and by St.
Paul.
THE EARTHLY ELEMENTS. The Lord TOOK BREAD, AND WHEN HE HAD GIVEN THANKS,
HE BROKE IT AND GAVE IT TO HIS DISCIPLES. AFTER THE SAME MANNER ALSO HE
TOOK THE CUP containing the wine, WHEN HE HAD SUPPED, GAVE THANKS, AND
GAVE IT TO THEM. The earthly elements used in this sacrament are,
therefore, bread and wine. The wafers which are generally used in
Lutheran Churches are unleavened bread--the kind which Christ
used--because at the time of the Passover no other but unleavened bread
dared be used by the Jews. The wine which Christ used was real wine, not
unfermented grape juice. We are not permitted to substitute anything
else in place of the earthly elements used by Christ in instituting this
sacrament.
THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST. When Christ gave His disciples the bread,
HE SAID, TAKE, EAT; THIS IS MY BODY, WHICH IS GIVEN FOR YOU. When He
gave them the wine, HE SAID, DRINK YE ALL OF IT; THIS CUP IS THE NEW
TESTAMENT IN MY BLOOD, WHICH IS SHED FOR YOU FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS.
Consequently, when we receive the bread in this sacrament, we receive
also the body of Christ; and when we receive the wine, we receive also
the blood of Christ. And we say of the Sacrament of the Altar, that
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