²⁶ And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” ²⁷ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸ For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 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.” ³⁰ And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Now we come to the institution of the Lord’s Supper itself. Each of the three Synoptics account for the Jesus’ institution of the Lord’s Supper.

26:26

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said,

The breaking of bread was a normal part of the Passover, but Jesus gave special meaning to the elements of the Passover meal. These elements were visual reminders of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins yet to take place.

“Take, eat; this [neuter] is My body [masculine].”

“Eat” here is a picture of faith. Jesus said, in effect, “Place your trust in the sacrifice of My body and blood for the forgiveness of your sin.”

The original meaning of the Passover bread was severance from the old life in Egypt. Jesus gave the unleavened bread new meaning as representative of His broken body on the cross. He was obviously not offering his literal body; this was figurative of what would happen on the cross.

There is no transubstantiation here because Jesus at this time sat there offering the bread.

26:27

Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.

The “cup” represented what it contained. The contents represented the shed blood of Christ.

26:28

For this [drink] is My blood of the new covenant,

The Old Testament ratified a covenant with blood sacrifice. The covenant here is the “new covenant.” This covenant replaced the Mosaic Covenant. The New (omitted here in some manuscripts) Covenant is an unconditional covenant based on grace. Jesus’ blood is sufficient to forgive sins. The idea of a “new” covenant distinguishes it from previous covenants.

Jesus’ death for sin ratified the New Covenant of Jeremiah. Jeremiah prophesied that God would make a New Covenant with His people (Je 31:31-34; 32:37-40). The result was a covenant (contract) relationship between God and His people.

which is shed [literally—is being shed; that is, from this point to the cross] for many for [with reference to] the remission of sins.

Jesus’ blood effectively removed the sin of those who believe. It is the basis of forgiveness.

He 9: ²² And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

1 Jn 1: ⁷ But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

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 [new in quality] with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

“My Father’s kingdom” is the Millennial kingdom. Jesus said He would not eat this meal with them until after He returned to reign in the Millennial kingdom.

26:30

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

The hymn they sang might have been the hallelujah Psalms (115-118).

PRINCIPLE:

Forgiveness comes through sacrifice.

APPLICATION:

Nothing in a mysterious manner happens in the Lord’s Supper; it is simply a celebration of the work of Christ on the cross for our sins.

All sins—past, present, and future—were forgiven the believer at the moment of his or her salvation, which is positional or forensic salvation. In order for a believer to walk with the Lord daily, he needs to confess sin by accepting the blood of Christ (which already forgave him) to cleanse him in an operational sense (1 Jn 1:9). This restores the believer to current fellowship (not eternal fellowship) with the Lord.

We approach the Lord’s Supper as those already redeemed by the blood of Christ but with a new desire for fellowship with Him. We are not worthy to fellowship at the Lord’s Supper; it is the blood of Christ that made us worthy.