for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus isn't just talking about a symbolic drink; he's invoking the ancient practice of sealing a covenant with blood, but in a new way. The wine represents his blood, which will establish a new covenant with God, offering forgiveness for our sins. This act is the ultimate ratification, not of a contract between people, but of God's profound agreement to reconcile us through His Son.
for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is sharing his final Passover meal with his disciples, instituting a new sacred practice that will forever symbolize his upcoming sacrifice. He takes the cup of wine and explains that it represents his blood, which will soon be shed as a new covenant to forgive sins. This act is a profound, forward-looking declaration of his mission, tying together the ancient covenant rituals with his ultimate act of love.
Jesus calls the wine 'my blood of the covenant.' But what exactly is a covenant in this context? It's far more than a simple agreement.
When Jesus says 'this is my blood of the covenant,' he's tapping into a deep Old Testament concept. In the Old Testament, a covenant was a solemn agreement, often sealed with a sacrifice. Think of Abraham’s covenant with God in Genesis 15, where animals were cut in two, and God himself passed between the pieces, signifying the seriousness and the penalty for breaking the agreement. The Hebrew word for covenant often related to 'cutting.' This wasn't just a handshake; it was a life-or-death commitment. Jesus is establishing a new covenant, a new agreement between God and humanity. But this time, the sacrifice isn't an animal; it's His own blood, poured out. This wine isn't just grape juice; it's the symbol of a profound, divine agreement ratified by the ultimate sacrifice, bringing about forgiveness.
Jesus says His blood is shed 'for many.' Does 'many' mean just a select few, or is there a broader implication?
The phrase 'for many' can sound a bit exclusive, but in Scripture, it often signifies a large, indeterminate number, rather than a strict limitation. Think about the prophecy in Isaiah 53, which Jesus is fulfilling here. It speaks of the Suffering Servant bearing 'the iniquities of many.' This isn't about limiting God's saving grace, but about acknowledging that the sacrifice is sufficient to cover a vast multitude, encompassing people from all nations and backgrounds. It points to the universality of God's plan of salvation, even though not everyone will choose to receive it. Jesus' sacrifice is powerful enough for everyone, a profound act of love extended to the whole world.
Ask a follow-up
The ultimate purpose of this covenant blood? 'For the forgiveness of sins.' What does this 'forgiveness' truly entail?
Jesus explicitly states the purpose: 'for the forgiveness of sins.' This isn't just a casual pardon; it's a profound cleansing and restoration. The original language points to the removal or taking away of sins, not just overlooking them. This act of forgiveness, initiated by Christ's blood, leads to justification (being declared righteous before God) and sanctification (being made holy and set apart for God's purposes). It’s the foundation for our entire relationship with God, enabling us to approach Him with confidence. The wine, as a symbol of Christ's poured-out blood, represents this complete work of atonement that deals with sin at its root, opening the way for a new life in relationship with God.
Understand the original words
diathēkē · Greek Noun
A solemn agreement or relationship between God and humanity, often ratified by a sacrifice, defining the terms of God's interaction with His people.
haima · Greek Noun
The life force of a living being; in a sacrificial and covenantal context, it signifies the offering of life to atone for sin.
aphesis · Greek Noun
The act of releasing a debt, transgression, or offense, restoring a relationship between the offender and the offended.
hamartia · Greek Noun
The state of moral failure or falling short of God's perfect standard, necessitating atonement and reconciliation.
Jesus' words at the Last Supper intentionally echo the Old Testament covenant ratification at Sinai, but transform it. The wine representing his blood signifies a new, internal covenant – not based on animal sacrifice, but on his own atoning sacrifice, bringing forgiveness and a deeper relationship with God.
c. 1446 BC
The Old Covenant ratified at Sinai
After the Exodus from Egypt, God established a covenant with Israel at Mount Sinai, sealing it with the blood of animal sacrifices sprinkled on the people. This event, recorded in Exodus 24, served as the model for all future covenant ratifications.
c. 700 BC
Jeremiah prophesies a New Covenant
The prophet Jeremiah foretold a future covenant that God would make with His people, not by external laws, but by writing His laws on their hearts, promising forgiveness of sins. This prophecy, found in Jeremiah 31, points to a deeper, internal relationship with God.
c. AD 30— this verse
The Last Supper
During the Passover meal, Jesus instituted a new memorial meal for his followers, using bread and wine to symbolize his body and blood. He declared this to be the 'blood of the new covenant,' poured out for the forgiveness of sins.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Crucifixion
Jesus was crucified, fulfilling the prophecy of the Suffering Servant. His sacrificial death, the 'pouring out' of his life, becomes the means by which the new covenant is ratified and sins are forgiven.
c. AD 30-60
Early Church Preaching
The apostles, empowered by the Holy Spirit, preached the Gospel, emphasizing Jesus' atoning sacrifice and the forgiveness of sins through faith in him, echoing the promise of Jeremiah's new covenant.
This passage describes Moses sprinkling the blood of the covenant animals to ratify the Old Covenant with Israel, paralleling Jesus' blood ratifying the New Covenant.
Isaiah 53:10-12This prophecy speaks of the Suffering Servant's life being poured out for sin and justifying many, directly anticipating Jesus' words about His blood being shed for the forgiveness of sins.
Jeremiah 31:31-34This prophecy foretells a New Covenant where God's law will be written on people's hearts, a promise fulfilled and sealed by the shedding of Jesus' blood for the forgiveness of sins.
Luke 22:20This parallel account also states 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood,' reinforcing the connection between the cup of wine and the covenant ratified by Christ's sacrificial blood.
1 Corinthians 11:25Paul's account of the Last Supper also includes 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood,' underscoring the significance of Jesus' blood in establishing this new relationship with God.
vincentMatthew 26:28: "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."
Testament (διαθήκης)From διατίθημι, to distribute; dispose of. Hence of the disposition of one's property. On the idea of disposing or arranging is based that of settlement or agreement, and thence of a covenant. The Hebrew word of which this is a translation is primarily covenant, from a verb meaning to cut. Hence the phrase, to make a covenant, in connection with dividing the victim…
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…
Jesus isn't just talking about a symbolic drink; he's invoking the ancient practice of sealing a covenant with blood, but in a new way. The wine represents his blood, which will establish a new covenant with God, offering forgiveness for our sins. This act is the ultimate ratification, not of a contract between people, but of God's profound agreement to reconcile us through His Son.
Jesus is sharing his final Passover meal with his disciples, instituting a new sacred practice that will forever symbolize his upcoming sacrifice. He takes the cup of wine and explains that it represents his blood, which will soon be shed as a new covenant to forgive sins. This act is a profound, forward-looking declaration of his mission, tying together the ancient covenant rituals with his ultimate act of love.
Jesus is sharing his final Passover meal with his disciples, instituting a new sacred practice that will forever symbolize his upcoming sacrifice. He takes the cup of wine and explains that it represents his blood, which will soon be shed as a new covenant to forgive sins. This act is a profound, forward-looking declaration of his mission, tying together the ancient covenant rituals with his ultimate act of love.
"for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." — Jesus isn't just talking about a symbolic drink; he's invoking the ancient practice of sealing a covenant with blood, but in a new way. The wine represents his blood, which will establish a new cov…
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Last reviewed October 2026