Luke 22:16

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

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}.

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.”

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

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

Context of Luke 22:16

Luke 22:16 is uttered by Jesus Christ during the solemn and pivotal event known as the Last Supper, which was a Passover meal He shared with His disciples. The Passover itself was an ancient Jewish feast commemorating Israel's deliverance from slavery in Egypt. In the verses immediately preceding this, Jesus expresses His intense desire to eat this Passover with them (Luke 22:15). This verse marks a crucial transition, as Jesus moves from the historical commemoration of the Passover to its ultimate, eschatological fulfillment within His coming kingdom, foreshadowing the institution of the Lord's Supper.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Anticipation of the Kingdom of God: The central message of this verse is Jesus' forward-looking declaration. He is not merely observing a past event but transforming it, pointing to a glorious future. His statement, "I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God," highlights the profound shift from the rituals of the old covenant to the ultimate reality of His divine reign.
  • Future Fulfillment and Messianic Banquet: This verse powerfully anticipates a future celebratory meal, often referred to as the Marriage Supper of the Lamb or the Messianic banquet. It promises a time of perfect fellowship and joy where believers will feast with Christ in His perfected kingdom. This looks beyond the present suffering to ultimate victory and restoration.
  • The Consummation of the New Covenant: While the Last Supper inaugurated the New Covenant in His blood (as detailed later in Luke 22), this verse looks to the covenant's full and glorious consummation. It signifies that the spiritual realities initiated by Christ's sacrifice will reach their complete expression when His kingdom fully arrives.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "fulfilled" is pleroo (πληρόω), which conveys the idea of bringing something to completion, filling it up, or actualizing its full potential. In this context, it means that the Passover meal, and indeed all Old Testament shadows and prophecies, find their ultimate meaning and culmination in Christ's kingdom. The phrase "kingdom of God" (Greek: basileia tou theou, βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ) refers to God's sovereign reign and rule, which is both a present spiritual reality and a future, complete manifestation when Christ returns in glory.

Related Scriptures

Parallel accounts of this statement can be found in Matthew 26:29 and Mark 14:25. The Apostle Paul's instruction on the Lord's Supper in 1 Corinthians 11:26 reinforces this forward-looking perspective, stating that believers "do shew the Lord's death till he come." This highlights the eschatological dimension of Christian communion, connecting it directly to Christ's return and the full establishment of His kingdom.

Practical Application

  • Source of Hope: This verse instills profound hope in believers. It reminds us that our present sufferings and temporary joys are but a prelude to a glorious future. It points to a time when all things will be made new, and we will share in perfect fellowship with Christ in His eternal kingdom.
  • Understanding Communion: When Christians partake in the Lord's Supper (Communion or Eucharist) today, they are not only looking back at Christ's sacrificial death but also looking forward with anticipation to His glorious return and the fulfillment of all things in His kingdom. It serves as a foretaste of the ultimate heavenly banquet.
  • Living with Kingdom Perspective: Jesus' words call us to live with an eternal perspective. Our daily lives should be shaped by the reality of the coming Kingdom of God, encouraging us to seek first His kingdom and righteousness (Matthew 6:33) and to live in a manner worthy of our future inheritance.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 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.
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