My dear readers,

1.  Why is the version of the Lord’s Prayer that we say during worship service different from the verses in the Bible?

Matthew 6:9-15 “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we are not reciting the Lord’s Prayer according to the King James Bible. We pray the Lord’s prayer with understanding. The Lord used the word “debts” in verse 12 and the word “trespasses” in verses 14 and 15. Words evolve in meaning with time. The word “debts” in the time of the translators means moral debts, i.e., sins. It is a correct interpretation of the Greek word. But the word “debt” in English has evolved, and it is usually understood as something owed; without moral significance like a fault or wrongdoing. The word “trespasses” retains the meaning of wrongdoing or moral debt, i.e. a fault committed against another; hence, we pray using the word “trespasses”.

2.  When we have our Good Friday service, why do we take the Lord's Supper to commemorate the Last Supper? The actual Last Supper was on a Thursday (Maundy Thursday), unless we take "when the even was come" [Matt 26:20] to refer to Friday, according to Jewish time. Would it be more meaningful to either have that Lord's Supper on the Thursday before Good Friday (as some 'mainstream' churches do) or not to have it during Good Friday service? If the purpose of having this particular Lord's Supper is to mark the actual Last Supper and not as our usual third Sunday of the month commemoration, would it be more 'accurate' to have it on Thursday? Of course, that could mean moving the service on Good Friday night to Thursday evening, which may require some adjustments. While the date of Christmas is arbitrary (since Christ was likely not actually born on 25 Dec), we know from the Bible that the actual Lord's Supper is on Thursday evening, not Friday.

NOTE: The twenty-four-hour day was counted from 6.00 pm to 6.00 pm in biblical times, whereas modern-day calculation is from midnight to midnight. Therefore, effectively, 6.01 pm Thursday is, comparatively speaking, 6.01 pm Friday, the beginning of Friday. From that perspective, the Passover feast Jesus had with the disciples was held on Friday.

The teaching from the Bible on the doctrine of the Lord’s Supper is from 1 Corinthians 11:23-32 “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.”

The emphasis is not on the frequency or the exact moment in time when the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper is to be taken, but on the moment when the sacrament is instituted. All who partake of it must do so worthily, i.e. with biblical understanding, otherwise they will face the judgment of God. Therefore, Jesus taught us to focus on the manner in which the sacrament ought to be observed by every individual believer. The Lord entrusted every church with the decision on when and how often they would like to observe the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.

If some churches like to observe the Lord’s Supper on Monday, Thursday or Friday, it is up to them. Since it has been the practice of the B-P Church in Singapore from its founding to observe the sacrament on Good Friday, we continue to do so, ensuring that keeping the sacrament worthily is observed with great care.

3.  When we sing the Benediction hymn, why do we reverse the order of Numbers 6 verses 25 and 26 ? Numbers 6:25-26 “[25] The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. [26] The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.” Benediction hymn: “The Lord lift His countenance upon you, and give thee peace; The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you.”

Numbers 6:22-27 “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 23 Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, 24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: 25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. 27 And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.”

The Benediction lyrics from RHC -

The Lord bless you and keep you:
The Lord lift His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
The Lord make His face to shine upon you,
And be gracious unto you:
(Amen)

Hymns are composed to praise God. In all compositions of hymns, the Bible is the basis, otherwise, they will be erroneous and rejected. How can praises to the almighty God be based on the ideas and opinions of man? However, to base all hymns on God’s Word does not mean that the words must be used exactly according to how God has given His Word in its written form. The hymns were written based on the theology from God’s Word. As long as the theology is correct, the hymns will honour and praise God correctly. God will be pleased.  Therefore, we sing the benediction based on the theology taught in Numbers 6:22-27.

Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service

Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew, Pastor