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NASB | Matthew 26:29 "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 26:29 "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom." |
Subject: What is 'the fruit of the vine'? |
Bible Note: Ed: "Would God want to partake of something that has proven to harm the body? Would the Holy Spirit lead us to something detrimental to our well being? Does God or Jesus receive any glory by us partaking?" Yes, bad question, and yes. God receives the glory when we partake of the wine of communion. Until the temperance movement of the 19th century got its claws into the sacrament, wine was used almost exclusively since the first century. And God indeed receives the glory when it is administered rightly. Wine is only detrimental to our well-being when it is used in excess. The same can be said of food. The sin in Scripture is not alcohol use, but alcohol abuse. Might I suggest that our views are a little bit colored by our culture? In Mediterranean countries even today, wine is used as a common beverage just about every day in every family that can afford it. Yes, there are alcoholics there, but there are plenty of people who still partake of wine responsibly. Again, abuse is the sin, not use. Jesus drank wine. Jesus changed water into wine. It was NOT unfermented grape juice. As one of my favorite writers, Douglas Wilson, put it, to claim that the first-century beverage of the Lord's Table was grape juice is as silly as saying that Paul wore a necktie when he preached. You write: "Help me understand why it is so important that everyone be convinced that the wine of the Bible was alcoholic..." Because it is the truth. What amazes me is the Herculean attempts to make it seem as if it weren't fermented. Why is it so important that everyone be convinced that the wine of the Bible WASN'T alcoholic? Now let's be clear: I am not saying that everyone MUST drink alcohol. I rarely drink at all myself. I also acknowledge that there are times when it would be detrimental to drink (not for myself, but for the conscience of another). However, it is an extra-biblical, legalistic sin to forbid the drinking of wine; and I would prefer to use wine in communion, simply because it is what Christ consecrated for the celebration. "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." --1 Corinthians 10:31 --Joe! |