Matius 26:26-30

The Lord’s Supper

26:26 While ¹  they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it, gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat, this is my body.” 26:27 And after taking the cup and giving thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, 26:28 for this is my blood, the blood ²  of the covenant, ³  that is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 26:29 I ⁴  tell you, from now on I will not drink of this fruit ⁵  of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 26:30 After ⁶  singing a hymn, ⁷  they went out to the Mount of Olives.

[26:26]  ¹ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[26:28]  ² tn Grk “for this is my blood of the covenant that is poured out for many.” In order to avoid confusion about which is poured out, the translation supplies “blood” twice so that the following phrase clearly modifies “blood,” not “covenant.”

[26:28]  ³ tc Although most witnesses read καινῆς (kainhs, “new”) here, this is evidently motivated by the parallel in Luke 22:20. Apart from the possibility of homoioteleuton, there is no good reason for the shorter reading to have arisen later on. But since it is found in such good and diverse witnesses (e.g., Ì^37,45vid א B L Z Θ 0298^vid 33 pc mae), the likelihood of homoioteleuton becomes rather remote.

[26:28]  sn Jesus’ death established the forgiveness promised in the new covenant of Jer 31:31. Jesus is reinterpreting the symbolism of the Passover meal, indicating the presence of a new era.

[26:29]  ⁴ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[26:29]  ⁵ tn Grk “produce” (“the produce of the vine” is a figurative expression for wine).

[26:30]  ⁶ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[26:30]  ⁷ sn After singing a hymn. The Hallel Psalms (Pss 113-118) were sung during the meal. Psalms 113 and 114 were sung just before the second cup and 115-118 were sung at the end of the meal, after the fourth, or hallel cup.