What is the meaning of Luke 22:20? In the same way • Luke echoes earlier words about the bread (v.19), showing that both elements point to the same saving act. • This parallel underscores unity: Christ’s body and blood together accomplish redemption (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:16–17). • It also reflects Jesus’ deliberate, orderly institution of the Lord’s Supper, not a casual gesture (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:25). after supper He took the cup • The cup follows the meal, separating it from ordinary eating and drinking (Exodus 12:11–14). • It likely corresponds to the Passover “cup of redemption,” linking Jesus’ sacrifice to the Exodus deliverance (Exodus 6:6). • By taking it in His own hands, Jesus takes ownership of the ancient sign and redefines it (Matthew 26:27). saying • Jesus interprets the symbol, ensuring His followers understand its meaning (Deuteronomy 6:20–21). • The spoken word, coupled with the visible sign, creates a tangible promise (Romans 10:17). • His authority to redefine a covenant meal flows from being the promised Messiah (Luke 4:21). This cup is the new covenant in My blood • “New covenant” recalls Jeremiah 31:31–34—God’s promise of internal transformation and forgiven sin. • Unlike the old covenant sealed with animal blood (Exodus 24:8), this covenant is sealed with Jesus’ own blood, giving it unbreakable permanence (Hebrews 9:12, 15). • The cup “is” (not merely represents) the covenant, meaning the ordinance truly conveys Christ’s finished work to believers (1 Corinthians 10:16). • The personal pronoun “My” stresses that Jesus alone provides the basis of the covenant; nothing is added by human effort (Ephesians 2:8–9). which is poured out for you • “Poured out” evokes sacrificial imagery (Isaiah 53:12) and signals a violent death voluntarily embraced (John 10:17–18). • “For you” personalizes the atonement—Jesus dies in the place of His disciples, and by extension, all who trust Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). • The phrase assures believers of substitutionary benefit: forgiveness (Ephesians 1:7), reconciliation (Colossians 1:20), and eternal life (John 6:53–54). • It calls each participant to receive the cup with gratitude, confidence, and self-examination (1 Corinthians 11:28–29). summary Luke 22:20 records Jesus deliberately transforming the Passover cup into a new-covenant sign. By His authoritative word, He links the cup to His imminent sacrificial death, declaring that His blood—soon to be poured out—is the sole basis of a covenant that forgives sin and secures eternal redemption for all who believe. Each time believers share this cup, they remember and proclaim that finished work until He comes. |
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