Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
When Jesus said, "This is my body," he wasn't just pointing to a symbol. He was initiating a profound exchange, offering himself as a living reality that the disciples were meant to spiritually "take" and "eat." This act wasn't merely about remembering a past event, but about receiving Christ himself, in his brokenness, as the very nourishment for their souls.
Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is sharing his final meal with his disciples before his crucifixion, which happens to coincide with the Passover feast. As they eat, he institutes a new ritual, using the bread as a powerful symbol to represent his own body, which is about to be broken for them. This moment marks a profound shift from the Passover remembrance of deliverance from Egypt to a remembrance of his sacrifice for humanity's salvation.
Jesus took a common meal and turned it into something extraordinary. What was so significant about this moment?
Jesus intentionally chose a moment during a Passover meal to institute the Lord's Supper. This wasn't just a casual act; it was a deliberate, profound act of remembrance and revelation.
Why did Jesus break the bread? It wasn't just to share it easily. There's a deeper meaning tied to His upcoming suffering.
The physical act of breaking the bread by Jesus was deeply symbolic, pointing directly to the suffering and sacrifice that His body would endure.
Ask a follow-up
Jesus gave thanks before breaking the bread. What does this act of giving thanks reveal about His heart and our response?
Jesus' actions at the Last Supper were rooted in deep gratitude and set a pattern for how believers should approach this sacred meal.
Understand the original words
sōma · Greek Noun
The physical or spiritual substance of a person; in a sacrificial context, it signifies the personal presence and offering of one's self.
The institution of the Lord's Supper occurred during the Passover feast, a deeply significant Jewish festival commemorating God's deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt. This context highlights Jesus' act of providing a new, greater deliverance through His own sacrifice, transforming a remembrance of past liberation into a memorial of His ultimate redemption.
c. AD 30— this verse
The Last Supper
Jesus shares a final meal with his disciples during Passover, instituting the Lord's Supper as a memorial of his sacrifice.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Arrest and Crucifixion
Jesus is betrayed, arrested, tried, and crucified, fulfilling the prophetic significance of the Passover lamb.
c. AD 30-33
Resurrection and Post-Resurrection Appearances
Jesus is resurrected and appears to his disciples, demonstrating the reality of his victory over death.
c. AD 49
Council of Jerusalem
The early church leaders address issues of Gentile inclusion, clarifying the relationship between Jewish law and Christian faith.
c. AD 55
Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians
Paul writes to the Corinthian church, addressing issues within the community, including their celebration of the Lord's Supper.
This passage directly quotes Paul recounting the institution of the Lord's Supper, providing a parallel account that emphasizes the 'remembrance' aspect of the bread and cup.
Luke 22:19-20Luke's Gospel also records Jesus' words at the institution, adding the crucial phrase 'which is given for you' and 'which is shed for you,' highlighting the sacrificial nature of Jesus' body and blood.
John 6:48-51In this discourse, Jesus speaks of himself as the 'bread of life,' a concept that prefigures and helps explain the symbolic meaning of the bread He later breaks during the Last Supper.
Exodus 12:8The Passover meal, from which Jesus draws the imagery for the Last Supper, involved eating the roasted lamb, which was a memorial of God's deliverance. This connection highlights how Jesus is creating a new memorial meal.
henryMatthew 26:26-30: "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body."
26:26-30 This ordinance of the Lord's supper is to us the passover supper, by which we commemorate a much greater deliverance than that of Israel out of Egypt. Take, eat; accept of Christ as he is offered to you; receive the atonement, approve of it, submit to his grace and his government. Meat looked upon, be the dish ever so well garn…
clarkeMatthew 26:26: "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body."
Jesus took bread - This is the first institution of what is termed the Lord's Supper. To every part of this ceremony, as here mentioned, the utmost attention should be paid. To do this, in the most effectual manner, I think it necessary to set down the text of the three evangelists who have transmitted the whole account, collated with that…
When Jesus said, "This is my body," he wasn't just pointing to a symbol. He was initiating a profound exchange, offering himself as a living reality that the disciples were meant to spiritually "take" and "eat." This act wasn't merely about remembering a past event, but about receiving Christ himself, in his brokenness, as the very nourishment for their souls.
Jesus is sharing his final meal with his disciples before his crucifixion, which happens to coincide with the Passover feast. As they eat, he institutes a new ritual, using the bread as a powerful symbol to represent his own body, which is about to be broken for them. This moment marks a profound shift from the Passover remembrance of deliverance from Egypt to a remembrance of his sacrifice for humanity's salvation.
Jesus is sharing his final meal with his disciples before his crucifixion, which happens to coincide with the Passover feast. As they eat, he institutes a new ritual, using the bread as a powerful symbol to represent his own body, which is about to be broken for them. This moment marks a profound shift from the Passover remembrance of deliverance from Egypt to a remembrance of his sacrifice for humanity's salvation.
"Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”" — When Jesus said, "This is my body," he wasn't just pointing to a symbol. He was initiating a profound exchange, offering himself as a living reality that the disciples were meant to spiritually "take…
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Last reviewed October 2026