Read Matthew 26:26–29
Questions from the Scripture text: What were they doing (v26)? Who took what? What three things did He do with it? To whom does He give it? What two things does He tell them to do with it? Why? What does He take in v27? What two things does He do? Whom does He tell to do what? What does He call the cup (v28)? What does His blood seal? For whom is it shed? To do what? What does He say that He will not do (v29)? Until when? How will He drink it? With whom? Where?
What was Jesus doing at the end of the last Passover? Matthew 26:26–29 looks forward to the morning sermon in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Jesus was establishing a meal in which He feeds us by faith, and (by faith!) confirms us in covenant with God and forgiveness of sins.
A new meal. Toward the end of the Passover meal, after the ritual portion is over, and they are eating freely, the Lord Jesus establishes a new ceremony. This is implied in v29, where He speaks of a new way of kingdom-drinking. Luke records that He explicitly said “do this in remembrance of Me,” while serving the bread. And 1Cor records that He said this with both elements.
Christ’s actions with the bread. First, “Jesus took bread” (v26). He selected it. He prepared it. He took to Himself a body in Mary’s womb. And He appoints for His church a sacramental meal. There is intention and initiative here. Jesus prepares for our provision.
“Jesus… blessed” it (v26). Luke and Paul use the language of giving thanks, here. He does both with the bread, and likewise both with the cup. To that which Christ has provided, Christ Himself adds His blessing. This is the case with all His means, and especially so with the Supper that He has provided for His disciples, since He emphasizes it as an example of His blessing attending His provision.
“Jesus… broke and gave” it (v26). Jesus Himself distributes that which He has provided and blessed. This is very personal; each disciple’s piece is specifically broken for him by Christ. The believer’s particular portion is intended for him by Christ. Just as with preaching, this is not diminished when He makes use of His servant to break and give. This is one of the reasons why it is important to be scrupulous about having only His ordained servants break and give the bread, just as only His ordained servants preaching.
What Christ says to do with the bread. The supper is both, a provision of Christ, and a command of Christ. He commands His disciples to take, to receive. This includes recognition of Christ’s provision, receptiveness to Christ’s provision, and appropriation of Christ’s provision. And, He tells them that in doing so, they receive His body. There are two demonstrative pronouns that might have been used here—one indicating especially the bread, the other indicating the action of receiving. This is the latter. It is especially in receiving the bread, and eating it, that they receive Christ (obviously, Christ Himself, being there in the flesh, was not telling them that the bread was becoming His flesh). He is telling them that, as they receive the bread and eat it, they are receiving and feeding upon His body—receiving the benefits of Christ, and His true and full humanity.
Christ’s actions with the cup. Jesus takes the cup, indicating the same preparation and provision. Jesus gives thanks for the cup, the same action as the blessing and giving thanks with the bread. And Jesus gave it to them. The manner is implied by the word behind “shed” (v28), which more literally means “poured.” Lk 22:17 also implies this with the language of “divide” (distribute/separate). As with the bread, each disciple’s portion is specifically intended unto Him by Christ.
What Christ says to do with the cup. “Drink from it, all of you” (v27). The believer’s own portion/participation in Christ’s blood is emphasized by His adding “all of you.” Again, the wine is not becoming blood, and the blood of Christ was not even spilled until the next day. But, the Lord Jesus was already communicating to each disciple, even as they all (“all of you”!) took together, that each one has his own, personal participation in the new covenant. This blood both consecrates the church unto God in the new covenant (v28a) and remits the sins of those who receive Christ Himself by faith (v28b). When you take the Lord’s Supper, as a member of His church, the Lord Jesus drives home both to you: you are bound to God in covenant now, in your part in His church; and, His blood was poured out for the forgiveness of your sins.
Looking forward to the marriage supper of the Lamb. Jesus presented the disciples’ drinking of the cup as something they were to do without Him, in anticipation of once again doing so with Him. 1Cor 11:26 emphasizes the same thing by the phrase “till He comes.” The supper looks backward to the death in which His blood was poured out, and upward to glory, where He is all of our life, and the One in Whom we are bound to God and consecrated unto Him. But it also looks forward joyously to the day when Christ once again joins us at the table to partake with us. We each have our portion from Him, but ultimately, we partake with Him in His portion.
Do you take the supper? Why or why not? What has Jesus done for you? What does He want you to do at the table?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for Your provision in Your Supper. For, You have provided Yourself for us and to us. So, make us to receive by faith, we ask in Your Name, AMEN!
Suggested Songs: ARP116B “I Still Believed” or TPH201 “Twas on That Night”
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