Luke 22:17
After taking the cup, He gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves.
After taking the cup
This phrase marks a significant moment in the Last Supper, where Jesus initiates the institution of the Lord's Supper. The "cup" here is symbolic, representing the new covenant in His blood. In the Jewish Passover meal, multiple cups of wine were consumed, each with its own significance. The Greek word for "cup" (ποτήριον, potērion) is often used metaphorically in Scripture to denote one's fate or destiny, particularly in relation to suffering or divine wrath. Here, it foreshadows the suffering Jesus is about to endure for humanity's redemption.

He gave thanks
The act of giving thanks, or "eucharisteo" in Greek, is where the term "Eucharist" originates. This expression of gratitude is not merely a ritualistic formality but a profound acknowledgment of God's providence and grace. In the context of the Last Supper, Jesus' thanksgiving is deeply significant, as He is aware of the impending sacrifice He is about to make. This act of gratitude amidst impending suffering serves as a model for believers to maintain a heart of thankfulness in all circumstances.

and said
The phrase "and said" introduces Jesus' instructions to His disciples. In the Gospels, Jesus' words are authoritative and transformative. His speech acts as a divine command, establishing a new covenantal practice for His followers. The authority of Jesus' words is rooted in His identity as the Son of God, and His instructions here are foundational for Christian worship and community life.

Take this
The directive "Take this" is an invitation to participate in the new covenant. The Greek word "lambano" (λαμβάνω) implies an active reception, suggesting that the disciples are to willingly and consciously partake in what Jesus is offering. This act of taking is symbolic of accepting the salvation and grace that Jesus provides through His sacrifice.

and divide it among yourselves
This phrase emphasizes the communal aspect of the Lord's Supper. The Greek word "diamerizo" (διαμερίζω) means to distribute or share, highlighting the unity and fellowship among believers. The act of dividing the cup among themselves signifies the shared participation in the benefits of Christ's sacrifice. It underscores the importance of community in the Christian faith, where believers are called to support and edify one another as members of the body of Christ.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus Christ
The central figure in this passage, Jesus is preparing to share the Last Supper with His disciples. This event is a pivotal moment in the New Testament, marking the institution of the Lord's Supper.

2. The Disciples
The immediate audience of Jesus' actions and words. They are His closest followers, who will later become the apostles spreading the Gospel.

3. The Upper Room
The location where the Last Supper takes place. It is a private setting, symbolizing intimacy and fellowship among Jesus and His disciples.

4. The Cup
Represents the new covenant in Jesus' blood, which will be shed for the forgiveness of sins. It is a symbol of the sacrificial love and redemption offered through Christ.

5. Passover
The Jewish feast being celebrated, which commemorates the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt. Jesus reinterprets this meal to signify the new covenant.
Teaching Points
The Significance of Thanksgiving
Jesus gives thanks before sharing the cup, demonstrating gratitude even in the face of suffering. We are called to cultivate a heart of thankfulness in all circumstances.

Unity in Christ
By instructing His disciples to divide the cup among themselves, Jesus emphasizes the unity and fellowship that believers share in Him. This unity should transcend all barriers within the body of Christ.

The New Covenant
The cup symbolizes the new covenant, a promise of redemption and eternal life through Jesus' sacrifice. Believers are invited to live in the reality of this covenant, embracing the grace and forgiveness it offers.

Remembrance and Anticipation
The Lord's Supper is both a remembrance of Jesus' sacrifice and an anticipation of His return. It calls us to live in a way that honors His sacrifice and eagerly awaits His second coming.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Jesus' act of giving thanks before sharing the cup challenge your perspective on gratitude in difficult times?

2. In what ways can the unity symbolized by sharing the cup be reflected in your relationships within the church community?

3. How does understanding the new covenant in Jesus' blood impact your daily walk with Christ?

4. What parallels can you draw between the original Passover and the Last Supper, and how do these deepen your appreciation for Jesus' sacrifice?

5. How can the practice of the Lord's Supper serve as a reminder of both Jesus' past sacrifice and His future return in your life?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Matthew 26:27-28
This passage parallels Luke 22:17, where Jesus also takes the cup and gives thanks, emphasizing the new covenant in His blood.

1 Corinthians 11:25
Paul recounts the institution of the Lord's Supper, highlighting the importance of remembering Jesus' sacrifice.

Exodus 12
The original Passover event, which foreshadows the ultimate deliverance through Christ's sacrifice.

Jeremiah 31:31-34
Prophecy of the new covenant, fulfilled in Jesus' death and resurrection.
The Last Passover of Our LordR.M. Edgar Luke 22:1-23
Christ Wanting to be RememberedR. Tuck, B. A.Luke 22:14-20
Christ's Vicarious DeathLuke 22:14-20
Design of the Lord's SupperNational Baptist.Luke 22:14-20
Remembering JesusH. J. Wilmot Buxton, M. A.Luke 22:14-20
The Advantages of Remembering ChristC. Bradley, M. A.Luke 22:14-20
The Blood of the New CovenantThe Weekly PulpitLuke 22:14-20
The Cup of ReconciliationChristian AgeLuke 22:14-20
The Cup of Sneering and of CommunionR. Ferguson, LL. D.Luke 22:14-20
The Ends for Which the Holy Communion is AppointedJames Foote, M. A.Luke 22:14-20
The Happiness of Attending the CommunionAnon.Luke 22:14-20
The Holy CommunionC. J. Ridgeway, M. A.Luke 22:14-20
The Holy CommunionJ. Burns, D. D.Luke 22:14-20
The Holy FeastJ. B. Owen, M. A.Luke 22:14-20
The Last Passover -- Christ's Desire for ItJ. Ker, D. D.Luke 22:14-20
The Last SupperD. C. Hughes, M. A.Luke 22:14-20
The Lord's SupperA. E. Dunning.Luke 22:14-20
The Lord's SupperDean Vaughan.Luke 22:14-20
The Lord's SupperJ. Baylee, D. D.Luke 22:14-20
The Lord's Supper an Emblem and MemorialC. Bradley, M. A.Luke 22:14-20
The Memorial of JesusJ. R. Leifchild, M. A.Luke 22:14-20
The Ordained MemorialC. H. Spurgeon.Luke 22:14-20
The Sacrament Better than a SermonC. H. Spurgeon.Luke 22:14-20
The Sacrament of Holy CommunionR. M. Willcox.Luke 22:14-20
The Sacrament of Holy CommunionR. S. Brooke, M. A.Luke 22:14-20
People
Jesus, John, Judas, Peter, Simon
Places
Gethsemane, Jerusalem
Topics
Cup, Divide, Division, Praise, Received, Share, Thanks, Yourselves
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Luke 22:17

     5283   cup

Luke 22:14-20

     1680   types
     7021   church, OT anticipations

Luke 22:14-22

     4476   meals

Luke 22:15-18

     9150   Messianic banquet

Luke 22:15-20

     7957   sacraments

Luke 22:16-20

     7933   Lord's Supper

Luke 22:17-18

     4435   drinking

Luke 22:17-19

     2360   Christ, prayers of
     5573   table
     8352   thankfulness

Luke 22:17-20

     1346   covenants, nature of
     4418   bread
     4438   eating
     6755   union with Christ, nature of
     7394   memorial
     7404   ordinances
     8670   remembering

Library
February 2 Morning
Oh that thou wouldest keep me from evil.--I CHR. 4:10. Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.--The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches, feed me with food convenient for me: lest I be full and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. The Lord shall preserve thee from
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

July 28. "Not My Will, but Thine" (Luke xxii. 42).
"Not my will, but Thine" (Luke xxii. 42). He who once suffered in Gethsemane will be our strength and our victory, too. We may fear, we may also sink, but let us not be dismayed, and we shall yet praise Him, and look back from a finished course, and say, "Not one word hath failed of all that the Lord hath spoken." But in order to do this, we must, like Him, meet the conflict, not with a defiant, but with a submissive spirit. He had to say, "Not My will, but Thine be done"; but in saying it, He gained
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

A Great Fall and a Great Recovery
'But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.' --Luke xxii. 32. Our Lord has just been speaking words of large and cordial praise of the steadfastness with which His friends had continued with Him in His temptations, and it is the very contrast between that continuance and the prevision of the cowardly desertion of the Apostle which occasioned the abrupt transition to this solemn appeal to him, which indicates how the forecast pained Christ's
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

The Cross the victory and Defeat of Darkness
'This is your hour, and the power of darkness.' --Luke xxii. 53. The darkness was the right time for so dark a deed. The surface meaning of these pathetic and far-reaching words of our Lord's in the garden to His captors is to point the correspondence between the season and the act. As He has just said, 'He had been daily with them in the Temple,' but in the blaze of the noontide they laid no hands upon Him. They found a congenial hour in the midnight. But the words go a great deal deeper than allusive
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Christ's Look
'And the Lord turned and looked upon Peter.' --Luke xxii. 61. All four Evangelists tell the story of Peter's threefold denial and swift repentance, but we owe the knowledge of this look of Christ's to Luke only. The other Evangelists connect the sudden change in the denier with his hearing the cock crow only, but according to Luke there were two causes co-operating to bring about that sudden repentance, for, he says, 'Immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned and looked
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

The Lonely Christ
'Ye are they which have continued with Me in My temptations'--LUKE xxii 28. We wonder at the disciples when we read of the unseemly strife for precedence which jars on the tender solemnities of the Last Supper. We think them strangely unsympathetic and selfish; and so they were. But do not let us be too hard on them, nor forget that there was a very natural reason for the close connection which is found in the gospels between our Lord's announcements of His sufferings and this eager dispute as to
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Parting Promises and Warnings
'And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. 25. And He said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 26. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. 27. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as He
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Christ's Ideal of a Monarch
'And He said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 26. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.'--LUKE xxii. 25-26. [Footnote: Preached on the occasion of the death of Queen Victoria.] There have been sovereigns of England whose death was a relief. There have been others who were mourned with a certain tepid and decorous
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Gethsemane
'And He came out, and went, as He was wont, to the mount of Olives; and His disciples also followed Him. 40. And when He was at the place, He said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. 41. And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42. Saying, Father, If Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Thine, be done. 43. And there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 44. And, being in an agony, He
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

In the High Priest's Palace
'Then took they Him, and led Him, and brought Him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off. 55. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. 56. But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with Him. 57. And he denied Him, saying, Woman, I know Him not. 58. And, after a little while, another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

The Lord's Supper
'Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. 8. And He sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. 9. And they said unto Him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? 10. And He said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. 11. And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

The Duty of Constant Communion J. W.
"Do this in remembrance of me." Luke 22:19. It is no wonder that men who have no fear of God should never think of doing this. But it is strange that it should be neglected by any that do fear God, and desire to save their souls; And yet nothing is more common. One reason why many neglect it is, they are so much afraid of "eating and drinking unworthily," that they never think how much greater the danger is when they do not eat or drink it at all. That I may do what I can to bring these well-meaning
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

Gethsemane
"And all the unknown joys he gives, Were bought with agonies unknown." Since it would not be possible for any believer, however experienced, to know for himself all that our Lord endured in the place of the olivepress, when he was crushed beneath the upper and the nether mill-stone of mental suffering and hellish malice, it is clearly far beyond the preacher's capacity to set it forth to you. Jesus himself must give you access to the wonders of Gethsemane: as for me, I can but invite you to enter
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 9: 1863

The Betrayal
Without further preface, let us advance to the subject of our Lord's betrayal. First, concentrate your thoughts upon Jesus, the betrayed one; and when ye have lingered awhile there, solemnly gaze into the villanous countenance of Judas, the betrayer--he may prove a beacon to warn us against the sin which gendereth apostacy. I. LET US TARRY AWHILE, AND SEE OUR LORD UNGRATEFULLY AND DASTARDLY BETRAYED. It is appointed that he must die, but how shall he fall into the hands of his adversaries? Shall
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 9: 1863

5Th Day. Restraining Grace.
"He is Faithful that Promised." "Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat; but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not."--LUKE xxii. 31, 32. Restraining Grace. What a scene does this unfold! Satan tempting--Jesus praying! Satan sifting--Jesus pleading! "The strong man assailing"--"the stronger than the strong" beating him back! Believer? here is the past history and present secret of thy safety in the midst of temptation. An interceding Saviour was at thy side, saying
John Ross Macduff—The Faithful Promiser

Peter's Repentance
"And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly" (Luke 22:61, 62). That was the turning-point in the history of Peter. Christ had said to him: "Thou canst not follow me now" (John 13:36). Peter was not in a fit state to follow Christ, because he had not been brought to an end of himself; he did not know himself, and he therefore could not follow
Andrew Murray—Absolute Surrender

Carnal or Spiritual?
"And Peter went out and wept bitterly." -- Luke 22:62. These words indicate the turning point in the life of Peter, --a crisis. There is often a question about the life of holiness. Do you grow into it? Or do you come into it by a crisis suddenly? Peter has been growing for three years under the training of Christ, but he had grown terribly downward, for the end of his growing was, he denied Jesus. And then there came a crisis. After the crisis he was a changed man, and then he began to grow aright.
Andrew Murray—The Deeper Christian Life

Penitence
"And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter . . . .and Peter went out, and wept bitterly."--LUKE xxii. 61, 62. EVERY man at some time in his life has fallen. Many have fallen many times; few, few times. And the more a man knows his life and watches its critical flow from day to day, the larger seems to grow the number of these falls, and the oftener reaches out to God his penitential prayer, "Turn yet again, O Lord!" We have all shuddered before this as we read the tale of Peter's guilt. Many a time
Henry Drummond—The Ideal Life

The Last Supper
189. On Thursday Jesus and his disciples returned to Jerusalem for the last time. Knowing the temper of the leaders, and the danger of arrest at any time, Jesus was particularly eager to eat the Passover with his disciples (Luke xxii. 15), and he sent two of them--Luke names them as Peter and John--to prepare for the supper. In a way which would give no information to such a one as Judas, he directed them carefully how to find the house where a friend would provide them the upper room that was needed
Rush Rhees—The Life of Jesus of Nazareth

The Sinner Seriously Urged and Entreated to Accept of Salvation in this Way.
1. Since many who have been impressed with these things suffer the impression to wear off.--2. Strongly as the ease speaks for itself, sinners are to be entreated to accept this salvation.--3. Accordingly the reader is entreated--by the majesty and mercy of God.--4. By the dying love of our Lord Jesus Christ.--5. By the regard due to our fellow-creatures.--6. By the worth of his own immortal soul.--7. The matter is solemnly left with the reader, as before God. The sinner yielding to these entreaties,
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul

Twenty-Sixth Lesson. I have Prayed for Thee;'
I have prayed for thee;' Or, Christ the Intercessor. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.'--Luke xxii. 32. I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you.'--John xvi. 26. He ever liveth to make intercession.'--Heb. vii. 25. ALL growth in the spiritual life is connected with the clearer insight into what Jesus is to us. The more I realize that Christ must be all to me and in me, that all in Christ is indeed for me, the more I learn to live the real life of faith, which,
Andrew Murray—With Christ in the School of Prayer

Otho, Bishop of Bamberg.
As a new Christian revival distinguished the close of the eleventh century, missionaries were then sent forth from the reinvigorated Church. We will sketch a portrait of one of these, to whom Pomerania owes its Christianity. It was Otho, bishop of Bamberg, who had already in his pastoral office distinguished himself by his fidelity and his self-sacrificing love. He gladly imposed abstinences on self, in order to be able to give more to the poor. All that was presented to him by princes and nobles
Augustus Neander—Light in the Dark Places

General Introduction
In this volume we have sought to present the view taken by Thomas Aquinas of the moral and spiritual world in which we live, and of the conditions of man's self-realization which are consequent upon it. The final end of man lies in God, through whom alone he is and lives, and by whose help alone he can attain his end. The teaching of Aquinas concerning the moral and spiritual order stands in sharp contrast to all views, ancient or modern, which cannot do justice to the difference between the divine
Aquinas—Nature and Grace

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