How should Matthew 26:27 influence our understanding of Jesus' sacrifice for us? Setting the Scene “Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you.’” (Matthew 26:27) • Passover night in the upper room—hours before the crucifixion. • Jesus presides as the true Passover Lamb (Exodus 12:5-13). • The cup He lifts is one of the traditional Passover cups, now redefined in light of His coming sacrifice. The Cup as a Symbol of Sacrifice • Jesus’ next words clarify the meaning: “for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28). • Literal, physical blood would be shed the very next day (John 19:34). • Scripture anchors forgiveness in real blood: “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). • The cup therefore points directly to the cross—His life poured out as the atoning substitute (Isaiah 53:5-6). Universal Invitation: “Drink from it, all of you” • No disciple is excluded; the offer is comprehensive. • Echoes John 3:16—salvation for “whoever believes.” • The invitation extends to every generation of believers (Acts 2:39). • Our grasp of His sacrifice must likewise be personal: each one must “drink,” receiving the benefits of His shed blood (John 6:53-54). Thanksgiving in the Midst of Suffering • Jesus “gave thanks” while fully aware of the agony ahead. • Gratitude frames His sacrifice: He willingly embraces the Father’s plan (Hebrews 10:7-10). • For believers, thanksgiving becomes the proper response whenever the cross is remembered (Colossians 3:15-17). The Covenant Connection • “Blood of the covenant” recalls Exodus 24:8, where Moses sprinkled blood to seal Israel’s covenant with God. • Jeremiah 31:31-34 foretold a new covenant of forgiveness and internal transformation. • Jesus inaugurates that covenant with His own blood (Hebrews 9:15; 1 Corinthians 11:25). • The cup, then, is a covenant sign: God binds Himself to redeem and keep a people through the finished work of His Son. Personal Implications for Believers Today • Assurance: His blood fully satisfies divine justice—no lingering guilt (Romans 8:1). • Communion: Each Lord’s Supper proclaims His death “until He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26). • Fellowship: All who drink share one cup, forming a unified body (1 Corinthians 10:16-17). • Gratitude-driven obedience: “You are not your own…for you were bought at a price” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). • Hope: The same Jesus who lifted the cup promises to drink new wine with us in His Father’s kingdom (Matthew 26:29). Matthew 26:27 therefore calls every believer to remember, receive, and rejoice in the costly, covenant-securing, all-sufficient sacrifice of Jesus Christ. |
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