Luke 22:16

KJV

For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

KJV (with Strong's)

For {G1063} I say {G3004} unto you {G5213},{G3754} I will {G5315} not {G3765} any more {G3364} eat {G5315} thereof {G846}{G1537}, until {G2193}{G3755} it be fulfilled {G4137} in {G1722} the kingdom {G932} of God {G2316}.

Complete Jewish Bible

For I tell you, it is certain that I will not celebrate it again until it is given its full meaning in the Kingdom of God.”

Berean Standard Bible

For I tell you that I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

American Standard Version

for I say unto you, I shall not eat it, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jesus declares during the Passover meal that he will not eat of it again until its fulfillment in the kingdom of God. This profound statement transforms the traditional Passover, shifting its focus from a historical commemoration of Israel's deliverance to an eschatological anticipation of the ultimate Messianic banquet in God's fully established reign, thereby foreshadowing the institution of the Lord's Supper and pointing to the glorious consummation of God's redemptive plan.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** [Luke 22:16](/luke/22-16 "Luke 22:16 - Jesus' Vow at the Last Supper") is spoken by Jesus during the Last Supper, a pivotal event narrated in [Luke 22:7-38](/luke/22-7-38 "Luke 22:7-38 - The Last Supper and Jesus' Teachings"). Immediately preceding this verse, in [Luke 22:15](/luke/22-15 "Luke 22:15 - Jesus' Desire for the Passover"), Jesus expresses his fervent desire to eat this Passover with his disciples before his suffering. This sets a tone of profound significance for the meal. Following [Luke 22:16](/luke/22-16 "Luke 22:16 - Jesus' Vow at the Last Supper"), Jesus takes the cup and then the bread, instituting the New Covenant in his blood, as described in [Luke 22:17-20](/luke/22-17-20 "Luke 22:17-20 - Institution of the Lord's Supper"). Thus, [Luke 22:16](/luke/22-16 "Luke 22:16 - Jesus' Vow at the Last Supper") serves as a crucial bridge, transitioning from the Old Covenant Passover to the New Covenant meal, while simultaneously pointing forward to its ultimate eschatological fulfillment.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Passover meal was the most significant annual Jewish feast, commemorating God's deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt, as detailed in [Exodus 12](/exodus/12 "Exodus 12 - The First Passover"). It was a highly ritualized meal, imbued with deep historical and theological meaning, serving as a reminder of God's covenant faithfulness and redemptive power. By Jesus' time, the Passover had also acquired strong messianic overtones, with many Jews anticipating a future, greater deliverance that would usher in the Messianic Age. The concept of a "Messianic banquet" was a common motif in Jewish eschatology, envisioning a joyous feast in the future kingdom of God where the righteous would dine with the Messiah. Jesus' words in [Luke 22:16](/luke/22-16 "Luke 22:16 - Jesus' Vow at the Last Supper") would have resonated deeply with these cultural and religious expectations, reinterpreting them through the lens of his own person and mission.

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several major themes within Luke's Gospel and broader biblical theology. It highlights the theme of **fulfillment**, indicating that Jesus is the culmination of Old Testament types and shadows, particularly the Passover itself. It strongly emphasizes the **Kingdom of God**, a central theme in Jesus' teaching throughout Luke (e.g., [Luke 4:43](/luke/4-43 "Luke 4:43 - Preaching the Kingdom"), [Luke 17:20-21](/luke/17-20-21 "Luke 17:20-21 - The Kingdom of God is Among You")). Here, the Kingdom is presented as a future, fully realized reality, though also present in Jesus' ministry. The verse also introduces the theme of **eschatological anticipation**, pointing forward to Christ's return and the ultimate consummation of salvation history. Finally, it sets the stage for the **New Covenant**, showing how the old covenant rituals are transformed and given new meaning in Christ's redemptive work, particularly through the Lord's Supper, which looks both backward to his sacrifice and forward to his glorious return.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **fulfilled (Greek, _plēróō'_):** From G4137, meaning "to make replete, i.e. to cram, level up, or figuratively to furnish, satisfy, execute, finish, verify." In this context, it signifies that the Passover, with all its symbolic meaning and prophetic anticipation, will reach its ultimate completion and realization in the kingdom of God. It implies that the shadow will give way to the substance, and the promise will become a perfect reality.
* **kingdom (Greek, _basileía'_):** From G932, meaning "royalty, i.e. rule, or concretely a realm." This refers to God's sovereign reign, which is both a present spiritual reality inaugurated by Christ's first coming and a future, complete manifestation when Christ returns in glory. Jesus' statement points to the latter, the full, glorious establishment of God's reign where all things are perfectly aligned with His will.
* **God (Greek, _theós'_):** From G2316, referring to the supreme Divinity. The "kingdom of God" is thus explicitly identified as the realm where God's ultimate authority and righteous rule are perfectly exercised and universally acknowledged. This highlights the divine origin and nature of the kingdom that Jesus anticipates.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For I say unto you":** This introductory phrase, "For I say unto you," (Greek: `G1063` `gár` `G3004` `légō` `G5213` `hymîn`) emphasizes the solemnity and authority of Jesus' declaration. It signals that what follows is a weighty pronouncement, not merely a casual remark, but a divine truth being revealed.
* **"I will not any more eat thereof":** Jesus declares his immediate cessation from partaking in the Passover meal (Greek: `G3765` `oukéti` `G5315` `phágō` `G1537` `ek` `G846` `autós`). This is a profound and startling statement, as the Passover was central to Jewish identity and worship. His abstinence underscores that the old order is passing away, and something new and greater is about to be inaugurated through his impending sacrifice. It signifies a break with the past ritual in its current form.
* **"until it be fulfilled":** This clause (Greek: `G2193` `héōs` `G3755` `hótou` `G4137` `plēróō`) sets a condition for Jesus' future participation. The Passover, in its Old Testament form, has not yet reached its ultimate purpose. The term "fulfilled" (G4137, _plēróō_) suggests that the Passover was a type or shadow that would find its complete and perfect reality in a future event. It implies a culmination, a bringing to completion of all that the Passover symbolized.
* **"in the kingdom of God":** The ultimate context for this fulfillment is "the kingdom of God" (Greek: `G1722` `en` `G932` `basileía` `G2316` `theós`). This phrase points to the full and glorious manifestation of God's sovereign reign. It is an eschatological reference, looking forward to a time when God's rule is fully established, evil is vanquished, and perfect fellowship with God is realized. This is the ultimate Messianic banquet, where Jesus will once again "eat" with his redeemed people.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 22:16 employs several significant literary devices. **Foreshadowing** is prominent, as Jesus' words anticipate not only his imminent suffering and death but also the ultimate consummation of his redemptive work in the future kingdom. The Passover meal itself functions as **Symbolism**, representing God's past deliverance and now pointing forward to the greater deliverance wrought by Christ. Jesus' declaration of abstinence creates a powerful **Irony**, as the one who is about to inaugurate the New Covenant by his sacrifice abstains from the Old Covenant meal, signaling its obsolescence and the dawn of a new era. Furthermore, the verse is steeped in **Eschatological Language**, directing the listener's gaze to the future, the "kingdom of God," and the ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 22:16 profoundly reorients the understanding of the Passover, shifting its primary focus from a historical commemoration to an eschatological anticipation. Jesus' declaration signifies that the Old Covenant ritual, while divinely ordained, was a temporary shadow pointing to a greater reality. His impending sacrifice would inaugurate the New Covenant, and this new covenant would find its ultimate expression and fulfillment not merely in the present Lord's Supper, but in the glorious future when God's kingdom is fully established. This verse thus connects the historical act of redemption (Exodus) with the present reality of Christ's sacrifice and the future hope of his return and the consummation of all things, emphasizing the continuity and progression of God's redemptive plan through the ages.

* [Matthew 26:29](/matthew/26-29 "Matthew 26:29 - Jesus' Vow in Matthew")
* [Mark 14:25](/mark/14-25 "Mark 14:25 - Jesus' Vow in Mark")
* [Revelation 19:9](/revelation/19-9 "Revelation 19:9 - The Marriage Supper of the Lamb")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jesus' words in [Luke 22:16](/luke/22-16 "Luke 22:16 - Jesus' Vow at the Last Supper") offer believers a profound source of hope and a call to live with an eternal perspective. They remind us that our present experiences, including our participation in the Lord's Supper, are not ends in themselves but foretastes and pointers to a glorious future. Just as the Passover looked back to Egypt and forward to the Messiah, so too the Lord's Supper looks back to Christ's sacrifice and forward to his return. This verse encourages us to cultivate patient anticipation for the full establishment of God's kingdom, where all sorrow will cease, and perfect fellowship with Christ will be realized. It challenges us to live in light of that coming reality, allowing the hope of the kingdom to shape our values, priorities, and actions today, fostering a deeper longing for Christ's return and the complete renewal of all things.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding the future fulfillment of the Passover in the Kingdom of God change your perspective on the Lord's Supper (Communion)?**
* **In what ways does this verse encourage you to live with a greater sense of anticipation for Christ's return and the full establishment of His kingdom?**
* **What practical steps can you take to align your daily life more closely with the values and realities of the coming Kingdom of God?**

### FAQ

**What does Jesus mean by "eat thereof" if he's referring to the Passover meal?**

Answer: When Jesus says, "I will not any more eat thereof," he is referring to the traditional Passover meal he has just shared with his disciples. His statement signifies that this specific, Old Covenant observance of the Passover is reaching its culmination and will be superseded. He is not saying he will never eat again, but rather that he will not partake in the Passover meal *in its current form* until its ultimate purpose is realized in the "kingdom of God." This foreshadows the institution of the Lord's Supper, which replaces the Passover as the New Covenant meal, and ultimately points to the future Messianic banquet.

**What is the "kingdom of God" that Jesus refers to in this verse?**

Answer: The "kingdom of God" (or "kingdom of heaven" in Matthew) is a central theme in Jesus' teaching. It refers to God's sovereign reign and rule, which is both a present reality inaugurated by Jesus' first coming and a future, complete manifestation. In [Luke 22:16](/luke/22-16 "Luke 22:16 - Jesus' Vow at the Last Supper"), Jesus primarily refers to the future, fully established kingdom of God, often envisioned as the Messianic banquet (e.g., [Revelation 19:9](/revelation/19-9 "Revelation 19:9 - The Marriage Supper of the Lamb")) where believers will feast with Christ in perfect fellowship. It is the glorious consummation of God's redemptive plan, a time when all things are made new and God's perfect will is fully realized.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
[Luke 22:16](/luke/22-16 "Luke 22:16 - Jesus' Vow at the Last Supper") finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in multiple layers, all stemming from Jesus' identity and redemptive work. First, Jesus himself is the ultimate Passover Lamb (cf. [1 Corinthians 5:7](/1_corinthians/5-7 "1 Corinthians 5:7 - Christ Our Passover")). His impending sacrifice on the cross, which occurred immediately after this Passover meal, was the true and final act of deliverance, far surpassing the deliverance from Egypt. By shedding his blood, he inaugurated the New Covenant (cf. [Luke 22:20](/luke/22-20 "Luke 22:20 - The New Covenant in His Blood")), making possible a new relationship with God based on grace and forgiveness. Second, the "kingdom of God" in which the Passover will be "fulfilled" is fundamentally centered on Christ. His death and resurrection established his reign (cf. [Acts 2:36](/acts/2-36 "Acts 2:36 - Jesus is Lord and Christ")), and the church, his body, is a present manifestation of that kingdom (cf. [Colossians 1:13](/colossians/1-13 "Colossians 1:13 - Delivered into the Kingdom")). The ultimate fulfillment, however, awaits his glorious second coming, when he will return to fully establish his kingdom, bringing about the new heavens and new earth (cf. [Revelation 21:1-4](/revelation/21-1-4 "Revelation 21:1-4 - New Heavens and New Earth")) and partaking in the joyous Messianic banquet with his redeemed people (cf. [Revelation 19:9](/revelation/19-9 "Revelation 19:9 - The Marriage Supper of the Lamb")). Thus, Jesus' words in [Luke 22:16](/luke/22-16 "Luke 22:16 - Jesus' Vow at the Last Supper") are a direct prophecy of his own redemptive work culminating in his glorious return and the eternal reign of God.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Revelation 19:9

And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed [are] they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

Luke 14:15

¶ And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed [is] he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

Luke 22:30

That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

John 6:50

This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.

John 6:58

This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

1 Corinthians 5:7

¶ Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

1 Corinthians 5:8

Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened [bread] of sincerity and truth.