Luke 22:19-20
And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus uses the word "given" to emphasize that his body is already in the process of being sacrificed, not just a future event. The command to "do this" isn't about performing a ritual, but about actively participating in a memorial that keeps His sacrifice vividly alive in our hearts.
Jesus is sharing his final Passover meal with his disciples, a meal that carries immense historical and spiritual weight. He's about to go through his betrayal and crucifixion, and in this intimate setting, he establishes a new, ongoing practice for his followers. This act of instituting the Lord's Supper occurs just before his arrest, marking a profound transition from the Old Covenant symbols to a new covenant centered on his own sacrifice.
Jesus takes ordinary bread and transforms it into a profound symbol. What makes this simple act so powerful?
Jesus's words, 'This is my body,' are not about a magical transformation of bread into flesh. Instead, he's using vivid, familiar language rooted in Jewish tradition. Just as the Passover meal commemorated God's deliverance from slavery, Jesus is inaugurating a new memorial.
A New Covenant Memorial
The bread, broken and shared, becomes a tangible representation of his body, given for us. It's a powerful reminder that his sacrifice isn't a distant event, but a present reality that reorients our lives. This meal isn't just about looking back; it's about experiencing his presence and love anew.
Jesus doesn't just tell us what to remember, but how. What does 'Do this' truly mean for us today?
The command 'Do this in remembrance of me' is more than just a suggestion to recall Jesus's death. It's an active invitation to participate in a sacred practice.
An Active Remembrance
This isn't a passive memorial. It's a living act that engages our minds, hearts, and bodies. By partaking in the bread and cup, we actively declare, or 'preach,' Christ's death until he comes again. It’s a corporate act of faith, a communal proclamation of the gospel's core truth.
Understand the original words
sōma · Greek Noun
The physical flesh and life of the human person, which Jesus identifies as the sacrifice offered up on behalf of His followers for the forgiveness of sins.
anamnēsis · Greek Noun
An act of calling to mind or bringing into focus the past saving acts of God; in the context of the Lord's Supper, it is a covenantal memorial of Christ’s sacrifice.
diathēkē · Greek Noun
A binding agreement or promise established by God with His people, ratified by sacrifice, which creates a formal relationship between God and humanity.
haima · Greek Noun
The vital fluid of life, which according to Scripture is the means of atonement and the sign of a life surrendered in death to satisfy the requirements of God's justice.
The institution of the Lord's Supper by Jesus occurred during the Passover, a Jewish festival commemorating liberation from slavery, imbuing the new memorial with layers of meaning about spiritual freedom.
c. AD 30— this verse
The Last Supper
Jesus institutes the Lord's Supper with his disciples during the Passover meal, a pivotal moment in Christian tradition.
c. AD 30
Crucifixion of Jesus
Jesus is crucified, fulfilling the prophetic significance of his body being 'given for you' and his blood ratifying the new covenant.
c. AD 33
Pentecost
The Holy Spirit descends upon the disciples, empowering them to spread the teachings of Jesus, including the practice of the Lord's Supper.
c. AD 50-60
Paul's Letters
The Apostle Paul writes letters, including 1 Corinthians, which describe and emphasize the practice of the Lord's Supper for early Christian communities.
Paul's account directly echoes Luke's, emphasizing that the Lord's Supper is to be done in remembrance of Christ's death until He comes again, connecting the action to a proclamation of His sacrifice.
Exodus 12:1-14This Old Testament passage describes the institution of the Passover, a feast Jesus was celebrating when He instituted the Lord's Supper, highlighting the theme of remembrance and liberation from bondage.
Matthew 26:26-28Matthew also records Jesus' words at the Last Supper, agreeing that 'this is my body' and linking the cup to the 'new covenant in my blood,' reinforcing the sacrificial and covenantal significance.
John 6:53-56Jesus speaks about 'eating his flesh and drinking his blood' in a way that deeply connects to the imagery of the Lord's Supper, emphasizing a spiritual union with Him that nourishes eternal life.
Hebrews 10:1-4This passage contrasts the ineffectiveness of Old Testament sacrifices with the one, perfect sacrifice of Christ, providing theological depth to Jesus' statement that His body 'is given for you.'
barnesLuke 22:19: "And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me."
See the notes at Matthew 26:26-28 .
ellicottLuke 22:19: "And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me."
(19, 20) He took bread, and gave thanks. —See Notes on Matthew 26:26-28 ; Mark 14:22-25 . The other two reports give “He blessed,” instead of “He gave thanks.” There is, of course, no real difference between them. Thanksgiving and blessing both entered into what we may call the Jewish “Grace,” and were so far convertible terms. It is n…
Jesus uses the word "given" to emphasize that his body is already in the process of being sacrificed, not just a future event. The command to "do this" isn't about performing a ritual, but about actively participating in a memorial that keeps His sacrifice vividly alive in our hearts.
Jesus is sharing his final Passover meal with his disciples, a meal that carries immense historical and spiritual weight. He's about to go through his betrayal and crucifixion, and in this intimate setting, he establishes a new, ongoing practice for his followers. This act of instituting the Lord's Supper occurs just before his arrest, marking a profound transition from the Old Covenant symbols to a new covenant centered on his own sacrifice.
Jesus is sharing his final Passover meal with his disciples, a meal that carries immense historical and spiritual weight. He's about to go through his betrayal and crucifixion, and in this intimate setting, he establishes a new, ongoing practice for his followers. This act of instituting the Lord's Supper occurs just before his arrest, marking a profound transition from the Old Covenant symbols to a new covenant centered on his own sacrifice.
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"And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured…" — Jesus uses the word "given" to emphasize that his body is already in the process of being sacrificed, not just a future event. The command to "do this" isn't about performing a ritual, but about ac…
