Matthew 26:26
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)
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The phrase "this is my body" doesn't mean the bread literally became Jesus' body, but rather it represented his body as it was being given and broken for them. This understanding aligns with the Jewish way of speaking, where "is" often meant "represents," and highlights the profound significance of the act as a symbol of Christ's sacrificial love.
Jesus is sharing a final meal with his disciples, which is deeply intertwined with the Passover celebration. As they eat, He institutes a new sacrament, taking the bread and declaring it to be His body, which is about to be given and broken for them. This solemn moment occurs amidst the somber knowledge of His impending betrayal and suffering, setting the stage for His crucifixion.
Jesus didn't just share a meal; He initiated something profound. This wasn't a casual moment, but a deliberate act with eternal significance.
In the midst of a Passover meal, Jesus took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to his disciples. This action wasn't just a symbolic gesture; it was the institution of the Lord's Supper, a sacred ordinance that would serve as a perpetual memorial of His sacrifice.
When Jesus said, 'this is my body,' He wasn't talking about a magical transformation. He was using language that points to a profound spiritual reality.
Jesus declares the broken bread 'is my body.' This is not a statement of literal, physical transformation (transubstantiation), but a powerful symbolic representation.
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 Passover, linking Jesus' sacrifice to the Old Testament's liberation narrative. The bread broken by Jesus directly represented his body about to be broken, a profound symbol for his followers to remember.
c. AD 30— this verse
The Last Supper
Jesus institutes the Lord's Supper with his disciples during the Passover meal, sharing bread and wine as symbols of his body and blood.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Crucifixion
Jesus' body is broken and his blood is shed on the cross, fulfilling the prophetic symbolism of the bread and wine.
c. AD 33
Pentecost and the Early Church
The Holy Spirit empowers the early followers of Jesus, who continue to practice the Lord's Supper as commanded, remembering Christ's sacrifice.
c. AD 50-60
Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians
The Apostle Paul writes to the church in Corinth, offering detailed instructions on the proper celebration of the Lord's Supper and its significance.
This passage is Paul's direct account of the institution of the Lord's Supper, emphasizing the 'broken' body and 'shed' blood as a remembrance of Christ's death.
Exodus 12:1-14This details the institution of the Passover lamb, which Jesus transformed into the Lord's Supper, showing how the bread symbolically represents the sacrifice that saves.
John 6:35Jesus declares Himself to be the 'bread of life,' foreshadowing the spiritual nourishment believers receive through His body and blood, as symbolized in the Supper.
Genesis 41:26This demonstrates the biblical pattern of using 'is' to mean 'represents,' as in the seven cows representing seven years, providing a linguistic parallel for Jesus' statement about the bread.
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…
The phrase "this is my body" doesn't mean the bread literally became Jesus' body, but rather it represented his body as it was being given and broken for them. This understanding aligns with the Jewish way of speaking, where "is" often meant "represents," and highlights the profound significance of the act as a symbol of Christ's sacrificial love.
Jesus is sharing a final meal with his disciples, which is deeply intertwined with the Passover celebration. As they eat, He institutes a new sacrament, taking the bread and declaring it to be His body, which is about to be given and broken for them. This solemn moment occurs amidst the somber knowledge of His impending betrayal and suffering, setting the stage for His crucifixion.
Jesus is sharing a final meal with his disciples, which is deeply intertwined with the Passover celebration. As they eat, He institutes a new sacrament, taking the bread and declaring it to be His body, which is about to be given and broken for them. This solemn moment occurs amidst the somber knowledge of His impending betrayal and suffering, setting the stage for His crucifixion.
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"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.”" — The phrase "this is my body" doesn't mean the bread literally became Jesus' body, but rather it represented his body as it was being given and broken for them. This understanding aligns with the Je…
