Luke 22
Jesus and the Disciples Share the Last Supper ( _/Matthew 26:20-30; Mark 14:17-26; John 13:21-30)
14 _ Then at the proper time Jesus and the twelve apostles sat down together at the table. 15Jesus said, “I have looked forward to this hour with deep longing, anxious to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. 16For I tell you now that I won’t eat it again until it comes to fulfillment in the Kingdom of God.”
17 _ Then he took a cup of wine, and when he had given thanks for it, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.”
19 _ Then he took a loaf of bread; and when he had thanked God for it, he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 _ After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This wine is the token of God’s new covenant to save you—an agreement sealed with the blood I will pour out for you.£
Luke 22:1
All Jewish males over the age of 12 were required to go to Jerusalem for the Passover festival, which was followed by a seven-day celebration called the Festival of Unleavened Bread. For these festivals, Jews from all over the Roman Empire converged on Jerusalem to celebrate one of the most important events in their history. To learn more about the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread, see the first note on Mark 14:1.
Cross References:
Luke 22:1-2—This passage parallels Matthew 26:1-5; Mark 14:1-2
Luke 22:3
Satan’s part in the betrayal of Jesus does not remove any of the responsibility from Judas. Disillusioned because Jesus was talking about dying rather than about setting up his Kingdom, Judas may have been trying to force Jesus’ hand and make him use his power to prove he was the Messiah. Or perhaps Judas, not understanding Jesus’ mission, no longer believed that Jesus was God’s chosen one. (For more information on Judas, see his Profile.) Whatever Judas thought, Satan assumed that Jesus’ death would end his mission and thwart God’s plan. Like Judas, he did not know that Jesus’ death and resurrection were the most important parts of God’s plan all along.
Cross References:
Luke 22:3-6—This passage parallels Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11
Luke 22:3—John 13:2, 27; Acts 1:17
Luke 22:5
Cross References:
Luke 22:5—Zechariah 11:12; 1 Timothy 6:10
Luke 22:7, 8
The Passover meal included the sacrifice of a lamb because of the association with the Jews’ exodus from Egypt. When the Jews were getting ready to leave, God told them to kill a lamb and paint its blood on the doorframes of their houses. They then were to prepare the meat for food. Peter and John had to buy and prepare the lamb as well as the unleavened bread, herbs, wine, and other ceremonial food.
Cross References:
Luke 22:7-13—This passage parallels Matthew 26:17-20; Mark 14:12-16
Luke 22:8—Exodus 12:8-11
Luke 22:10
Ordinarily women, not men, went to the well and brought home the water. So this man would have stood out in the crowd.
Cross References:
Luke 22:10—1 Samuel 10:2-7
Luke 22:14-18
The Passover commemorated Israel’s escape from Egypt when the blood of a lamb painted on their doorframes saved their firstborn sons from death. This event foreshadowed Jesus’ work on the cross. As the spotless Lamb of God, his blood would be spilled in order to save his people from the penalty of death brought by sin.
Cross References:
Luke 22:15-20—This passage parallels Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Luke 22:16—Luke 14:15
Luke 22:17, 20
Luke mentions two cups of wine, while Matthew and Mark mention only one. In the traditional Passover meal, the wine is served four times. Christ spoke the words about his body and his blood when he offered the fourth and last cup.
Luke 22:17-20
Christians differ in their interpretation of the meaning of the commemoration of the Lord’s Supper. There are three main views: (1) The bread and wine actually become Christ’s body and blood; (2) the bread and wine remain unchanged, yet Christ is spiritually present by faith in and through them; (3) the bread and wine, which remain unchanged, are lasting memorials of Christ’s sacrifice. No matter which view they favor, all Christians agree that the Lord’s Supper commemorates Christ’s death on the cross for our sins and points to the coming of his Kingdom in glory. When we partake of it, we show our deep gratitude for Christ’s work on our behalf, and our faith is strengthened.
Luke 22:19
Jesus asked the disciples to eat the broken bread “in remembrance of me.” He wanted them to remember his sacrifice, the basis for forgiveness of sins, and also his friendship, which they could continue to enjoy through the work of the Holy Spirit. Although the exact meaning of Communion has been strongly debated throughout church history, Christians still take bread and wine in remembrance of their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Do not neglect participating in the Lord’s Supper. Let it remind you of what Christ did for you.
Cross References:
Luke 22:19—Luke 24:30; Acts 27:35
Luke 22:20
In Old Testament times, God agreed to forgive people’s sins if they brought animals for the priests to sacrifice. When this sacrificial system was inaugurated, the agreement between God and his people was sealed with the blood of animals (Exodus 24:8). But animal blood did not in itself remove sin (only God can forgive sin), and animal sacrifices had to be repeated day after day and year after year. Jesus instituted a “new covenant” or agreement between God and his people. Under this new covenant, Jesus would die in the place of sinners. Unlike the blood of animals, his blood (because he is God) would remove the sins of all who put their faith in him. Jesus’ sacrifice would never have to be repeated; it would be good for all eternity (Hebrews 9:23-28). The prophets looked forward to this new covenant that would fulfill the old sacrificial agreement (Jeremiah 31:31-34), and John the Baptist called Jesus “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
