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)
Jesus emphasizes that the cup represents the "new covenant in my blood," which is being poured out for you. This present tense highlights that the sacrifice is not just a future event, but an active, ongoing reality that seals this covenant right then and there. It’s not just a symbol of a past or future act, but a present impartation of God's grace through His imminent sacrifice.
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)
Jesus is instituting a new meal, the Lord's Supper, during Passover. Having just shared bread as a symbol of his body given for them, he now lifts the cup after they've eaten. This cup, filled with wine, represents his blood and the establishment of a new covenant between God and humanity, sealing it through his imminent sacrifice.
Jesus institutes a meal that's more than just remembrance. It's a profound declaration of a new reality established through His sacrifice.
Jesus presents the cup not just as wine, but as a symbol of a new covenant made possible by His blood. This echoes the Old Testament practice where covenants were often sealed with blood (Exodus 24:8), signifying a sacred, unbreakable bond and atonement. Unlike the old covenant, which required ongoing sacrifices, this new covenant is established once for all through Christ's ultimate sacrifice. It’s a promise of forgiveness and a restored relationship with God, guaranteed by the very blood of Jesus.
The words Jesus uses for the cup's contents aren't casual. They point to the unique, life-giving purpose of His impending death.
Luke specifically records Jesus saying the blood is 'poured out for you' (or 'shed for you'). This emphasizes the voluntary and sacrificial nature of His death. It wasn't an accident; it was a deliberate pouring out of His life to secure a new covenant for us. This act of being 'poured out' signifies the immense cost and the abundance of God's grace being made available to all who receive Him.
Understand the original words
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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.
This verse marks the institution of the Lord's Supper, a pivotal moment that redefines God's covenant relationship with humanity, moving from the Old Covenant symbolized by the Exodus and Temple to a New Covenant sealed by Christ's blood.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
God liberates the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, establishing the initial covenant and the Passover feast as a memorial.
c. 1400 BC - 722 BC
Israel's Covenant History
Generations of Israelites live under the Mosaic covenant, experiencing periods of faithfulness and disobedience, leading to prophetic warnings.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
King Nebuchadnezzar deports a portion of the Jewish nobility and skilled workers to Babylon, marking the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, scattering the remaining population and intensifying the sense of God's broken covenant.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' Ministry and Teaching
Jesus proclaims the arrival of God's kingdom, calling for repentance and faith, and gathering disciples.
c. 33 AD— this verse
The Last Supper
During the Passover meal, Jesus institutes a new remembrance, symbolizing his impending sacrifice and the establishment of a new covenant in his blood.
c. 49-50 AD
Council of Jerusalem
Apostles and elders address issues of Gentile inclusion in the church, affirming the new covenant's reach beyond ethnic Israel.
This passage describes the ratification of the old covenant with blood, directly paralleling Jesus' words about the new covenant being in His blood.
Jeremiah 31:31-34This prophecy explicitly foretells a new covenant, distinct from the old one, which God will write on His people's hearts, a concept fulfilled in Christ's blood.
1 Corinthians 11:25Paul recounts the institution of the Lord's Supper, echoing Jesus' words about the cup representing the new covenant in His blood, providing a consistent account.
Hebrews 8:6-13This passage thoroughly explains how Jesus is the mediator of a new and better covenant, directly referencing Jeremiah's prophecy and Jesus' words in the Gospels.
Matthew 26:28This parallel account of the Last Supper highlights Jesus' words about His blood being shed for the remission of sins, further emphasizing the sacrificial nature of the new covenant.
pooleLuke 22:20: "Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you."
See Poole on "Luke 22:15"
ellicottLuke 22:20: "Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you."
(20) This cup is the new testament in my blood. —Better, New Covenant. The adjective is, in the best MSS., peculiar to St. Luke, as also is the “shed for you” instead of “shed for many.” The participle is in the present tense, which is being shed, like the being given, in Luke 22:19 . St. Paul and St. Luke agree in placing the giving of the cup “after they had supped.” (Se…
Jesus emphasizes that the cup represents the "new covenant in my blood," which is being poured out for you. This present tense highlights that the sacrifice is not just a future event, but an active, ongoing reality that seals this covenant right then and there. It’s not just a symbol of a past or future act, but a present impartation of God's grace through His imminent sacrifice.
Jesus is instituting a new meal, the Lord's Supper, during Passover. Having just shared bread as a symbol of his body given for them, he now lifts the cup after they've eaten. This cup, filled with wine, represents his blood and the establishment of a new covenant between God and humanity, sealing it through his imminent sacrifice.
Jesus is instituting a new meal, the Lord's Supper, during Passover. Having just shared bread as a symbol of his body given for them, he now lifts the cup after they've eaten. This cup, filled with wine, represents his blood and the establishment of a new covenant between God and humanity, sealing it through his imminent sacrifice.
"And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood." — Jesus emphasizes that the cup represents the "new covenant in my blood," which is being poured out for you. This present tense highlights that the sacrifice is not just a future event, but an activ…
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Last reviewed October 2026