Broken for Me
Sermon of the Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo at True Life BPC, 10 October 2010
The Holy Communion text of 1 Corinthians 11:24 reads, “Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.” Recently, a gentleman wrote me to tell me that the above verse in the KJV is erroneous. He wrote, “This fatal and fundamental mistake is also made in the NKJV; but not made in the NIV and NASB which translates I Cor 11:24 thus: ‘This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’” His argument was, “The body of Jesus cannot be broken as it would then not be a perfect sacrifice.” For support, he cited the following verses: John 19:33 and 36, “But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: … For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken”; Psalm 34:20, “He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken”; Exodus 12:46, “…neither shall ye break a bone thereof”; and Numbers 9:12, “…nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it.”
So there are a couple of questions here; one is textual and the other doctrinal. These questions can be easily answered by those who believe in the 100% perfection of the inspired and preserved Scripture without any mistake. So, let us answer these two questions: (1) Which reading is correct, the KJV or the NIV? (2) Was Jesus’ body broken for us or not?
First the text. It is clear that the reading of the KJV differs from the NIV’s. The KJV reads, “Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you.” The NIV has it as, “This is my body, which is for you.” The difference lies in two missing clauses, “Take, eat,” and “which is broken.” This is due to the underlying texts. The KJV is translated from the Textus Receptus. The NIV (and most of the new versions), on the other hand, is translated from the modern critical text. We who believe in God’s promise of Verbal Plenary Preservation accept the Textus Receptus (TR) as our authentic and authoritative text for reasons already well known to us. The TR reading is also the reading of the Majority Text. However, those clauses are not found in the new and modern text edited by liberals because they follow the readings of corrupt manuscripts. The corrupt manuscripts show a docetic hand. Docetism was a first century heresy. The docetists believed that Jesus Christ did not come in the flesh, that His body only had an appearance of flesh, but was not truly flesh, physical and tangible. The TR reading which we believe is the original reading goes against the docetic heresy. A body which can be broken must necessarily be physical and tangible, and not ethereal or intangible. It is possible that the docetists corrupted the Scripture by deleting the Greek klomenon (“which was broken”) to make it agree with their heresy.
The Apostle John warned against docetism, “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world” (1 John 4:3). The corrupt manuscripts of the modern versions, more often than not, betray a heretical hand. The Rev Dr Ian Paisley rightly warned against the new versions, “Knowing the attack wielded in the early centuries of Christianity against the essential deity and true, proper and impeccable humanity of our Lord, it can be rightfully concluded that, out of satanic hatred and hellish malice against the truth itself, the intention of the corrupter of God’s Holy Word was striking at the central truth of the Word of Salvation and tacitly denying what he dared not openly exclude, that Jesus Christ was ‘come in the flesh’. The saint of God rightly discerns here the ‘the spirit of the antichrist’.” Paisley went on to say, “This one plain example of contrasting the NIV with the Authorised Version is enough, and the inference follows that it is the duty of the saints of God to see to it that the Authorised Version must be preserved and maintained in preference to, and rejection of, the NIV.”
“Take, eat,” was what the Lord said when He broke the bread and distributed it to His disciples (Matt 26:26, Mark 14:22, Luke 22:19). It is significant to note that Luke 22:19b, “This is my body which is given for you,” is said in the context of the breaking of the bread, and the bread symbolises the body of Christ which is offered as a sacrifice for our sins (Luke 22:15-17, 19a). The command “take, eat” is required to make sense of the next clause, “This do in remembrance of me.” There is something missing if the verse were to just read, “This is my body which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” The text says, “Do this,” but the question is, “Do what?” “Take, eat” is required to tell us what it is we must do in remembrance of Christ.
Jesus said, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (John 6:51). Jesus went on to say, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever” (John 6:53-58). Of course what Jesus meant was a spiritual eating and drinking of His flesh and blood (cf John 3:3- 8), ie, believing in His atoning work on the cross where His body was broken and His blood shed for the remission of sin, and how this very same body sacrificed for our sins was raised from the dead on the third day, bringing life to all who trust in Him.
Now we come to the doctrinal question. Was Jesus’ body broken for us? If so, how do we explain the verses that say that none of His bones were broken. I think you can see how this can be easily explained when attention is paid to the words of Scripture. Note that Paul said that it was Jesus’ body that was broken, not His bones. His bones indeed remained intact in fulfilment of prophecy. However, His body, ie, his flesh was truly broken for us. Consider how His flesh was ripped apart and torn by the scourging He received (Matt 27:26), how the crown of thorns was pressed onto His head (Matt 27:29), His hands and feet were pierced by the nails (Matt 27:35), how the spear was thrust into His side (John 19:34).
It is important also to know for what reason His body was “broken.” It was broken “for you.” Jesus broke the bread and the bread symbolised His body which pointed to His substitutionary atonement, His body was broken, ie, it was given as a sacrifice for our sins. Calvin commented, “understand the word broken as used here for sacrificed — not, indeed, with strict propriety, but at the same time without any absurdity. For although no bone was broken, yet the body itself having been subjected, first of all, to so many tortures and inflictions, and afterwards to the punishment of death in the most cruel form, cannot be said to have been uninjured. This is what Paul means by its being broken. This, however, is the second clause of the promise, which ought not to be passed over slightly. For the Lord does not present his body to us simply, and without any additional consideration, but as having been sacrificed for us. The first clause, then, intimates, that the body is presented to us: this second clause teaches us, what advantage we derive from it — that we are partakers of redemption, and the benefit of his sacrifice is applied to us. Hence the Supper is a mirror which represents to us Christ crucified, so that no one can profitably and advantageously receive the supper, but the man who embraces Christ crucified.”
A BPC in China!
Time flies! There are so many signs of His Very Imminent Return, let us watch and pray (Matt 25:13). Daily I am more and more constrained of the urgency and shortness of time. Thanks for being my prayerful and supportive participant all through the many years (FEBC 1996-2003), the subsequent missions assignments in different countries, and more especially the China missions (which began on 14 July 2007, and still continuing, according to His purpose).
Personally, I am still amazed at God’s marvellous enabling, and the fruitfulness of my previous four visits to China (Mark 10:27). My most recent ministry was at Nantong last April. I returned to Canada on 24th May. Praise God, in August, the house church in Nantong came under the support of Calvary Jaya Bible-Presbyterian Fellowship and is now named “Nantong Bible- Presbyterian Church.” I never dreamt I would ever hear of a BPC in China! (Rom 10:13- 15)! Nothing happens by chance (Rom 8:28) and what encouragement, that even our feeble efforts are never in vain (1 Cor 15:58). What a great Lord I serve!
For some months I had felt my heart’s tugging for China once again. Had been praying amidst all the daily ups and downs in this temporal world, with its many trials and commitments. It is easy to ascertain God’s directive for China, though I still do not like staying/serving in China, for it is like stepping from a clean, safe comfort-zone into an unhygienic, polluted, health-hazard area. But by His bountiful grace, I have learned how to abound and how to be abased. Certainly it’s a mighty privilege to be given the opportunity to serve (Isa 6:8)!
Daily praying for submission and strength to obey (1 Sam 15:22). How can I not go! I do have a gospel debt to discharge, as long as I still have this breath of life. I have full confidence in His protection and His grace is sufficient for me (2 Cor 12:9). “Not my will, but thine, Lord!” My Lord is a wonderful Master, and the appreciation/changed life of just one student more than compensate; thank God, there has been more than one! (Matt 13:23).
Step by step, He has confirmed His leading from different quarters, including from former students and brethren in China. As per His guidance I have got three months’ visa; and His itinerary is also gradually shaping up. He also graciously provided a special fare, praise Him! I fly directly to Shanghai. Having a divine Navigator certainly makes for smooth sailing/flying. Incidentally, one of my favourites is “How Great Thou Art!” (Ps 96).
Covet your prayers for good health and wisdom, during this time of preparation. May you continue to participate in my missions endeavours, even as the Lord tarries and constrains me (frail and inadequate as I may be) to go to “regions beyond” (Luke 10:2), that His name may be glorified. I might not have internet access, so do continue to intercede for me at His Throne of Grace, even when you do not hear from me. I may not be able to repay your kindness but my omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent Lord (who is no man’s debtor) will reward and bless you accordingly, in His time and way (Matt 19:29). Immanuel. (Esther Chew, 27 October 2010)
