Bo​az Baptist Chronicles

This simple article is about whether or not we should drink fermented or unfermented wine at the table of the Lord.

This is an important subject, since the Apostle Paul said…

“Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.” (I Corinthians 10:21)

That verse coupled with the next one I quote, pretty much sums up how we are to look at this subject…

“For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter: Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.” (Deuteronomy 32:32-33)

Rather than speaking about our involvement in the Lord’s Supper right here, with your permission, I’d rather switch subjects and speak about our Saviour, the Lord Jesus. What did He drink? Some say that Jesus drank fermented wine. I say that if Jesus drank wine, it was the “new wine” of Acts 2:13. Before I quote that verse, please, read these few verses in order to pick up the story-line…

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:1-4)

Since natural men could not discern what was happening in their midst, “…Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.”   (Acts 2:13)  The joke, if you please, here was that the “new wine” these mockers accused these men of drinking wouldn’t make anyone drunk because it would be too new to become fermented. Jesus—the God/Man (I Timothy 3:16), drank new wine and spoke about it in His preaching. (Matthew 9:17)  [See this term "new wine" in the Old Testament: Nehemiah 10:39; 13:5, 12, Proverbs 3:10]

Since Isaiah 65:8 says that “…the new wine is found in the cluster…” we may easily conclude that the Jews of old knew the difference between “…wine and new wine….” (Hosea 4:11. Also see Hosea 9:2; Joel 1:5, 10; 3:18; Haggai 1:11)

Though Jesus was accused of being “…a gluttonous man, and a winebibber…” (Luke 7:37), He nonetheless drank grape juice with no leaven present.  [Remember, Christ was our sinless “unleavened” (I Corinthians 5:7) Saviour. Would He drink something that was leavened?] Moses called this unfermented wine “…the pure blood of the grape.” (Deuteronomy 32:14)   

Jesus never referred to what He drank as “wine.” Au contraire, He called it “the fruit of the vine”…

“But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.” Matthew 26:29

“Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” Mark 14:25

“For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.” Luke 22:18

This simple process of squeezing grapes into a cup (Genesis 40:11) has continued since the beginning of time, so why would someone question it today? But, more importantly, Christian, what’s in your cup—your communion cup, that is?

Pastor Bob

Addendum:

Even Just a Little

If Jesus Christ made fermented wine, even just a little, then He was responsible for sending men He came to save to Hell.

If Jesus Christ drank fermented wine, even just a little, then He was just a little drunk and wouldn’t qualify to be a SINLESS saviour.

If Jesus Christ’s blood is presented in the Lord’s supper as fermented wine, even just a little, those who serve it and drink it are declaring that God’s blood ( Acts 20:28 ) is tainted with sin.

 
Addendum II:

"Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel."  (Exodus 12:15)

"Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land."  (Exodus 12:19)

 "Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters."  (Exodus 13:7)
 
If Christ was likened to the Passover “Lamb” (Compare John 1:29 with John six about eating Christ’s flesh and drinking his blood) and died when the Passover lamb was to be slain (John 18:28 and He is our Passover (I Corinthians 5:7), if any kind of leaven was forbidden during this holy time (read the three verses above, again) wouldn’t it stand to reason that fermented wine is a bad choice at best to use as a memorial of that event?

Addendum III:

Since Christ is our “Passover,” and his blood is typified by the blood of the Passover lamb, how could anyone reading the following verse add fermentation/”leaven” to it?

“Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven; neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of the passover be left unto the morning.” (Exodus 34:25)

http://www.boazbaptist.com/apps/blog/show/40823804-white-elephant