Matthew 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.

And {G1161} as they {G846} were eating {G2068}, Jesus {G2424} took {G2983} bread {G740}, and {G2532} blessed {G2127} it, and brake {G2806} it, and {G2532} gave {G1325} it to the disciples {G3101}, and {G2532} said {G2036}, Take {G2983}, eat {G5315}; this {G5124} is {G2076} my {G3450} body {G4983}.

While they were eating, Yeshua took a piece of matzah, made the b'rakhah, broke it, gave it to the talmidim and said, "Take! Eat! This is my body!"

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.”

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it; and he gave to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

Matthew 26:26 records a foundational moment in Christian history: the institution of what is commonly known as the Lord's Supper or Communion. This verse captures Jesus' actions and words as He shared a final meal with His disciples before His crucifixion.

Context

This pivotal event occurred during the Passover feast, an annual Jewish celebration commemorating God's deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt. Jesus and His disciples were gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem, observing this ancient tradition. However, Jesus transformed the meal, giving it new meaning as a prefiguration of His impending sacrifice. This intimate setting highlights the solemnity and significance of His final teachings and actions before His arrest and subsequent crucifixion.

Key Themes

  • Institution of the Lord's Supper: This verse marks the beginning of the Christian ordinance of Communion, a sacred act of remembrance and participation in Christ's sacrifice.
  • Sacrifice and Atonement: The breaking of the bread, representing Jesus' body, powerfully symbolizes His physical suffering and death on the cross as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of humanity. It foreshadows the ultimate act of love and redemption.
  • Remembrance and Presence: Jesus instructs His disciples to "Take, eat," establishing an act of remembrance. Through this, believers recall His sacrifice and acknowledge His spiritual presence among them.
  • The New Covenant: While the blood is mentioned in the following verse (Matthew 26:28), the giving of His body is integral to the establishment of the new covenant, where God's law is written on hearts, and forgiveness is offered through Christ's blood (Hebrews 9:15).

Linguistic Insights

  • The word "blessed" (Greek: eulogesen) indicates that Jesus gave thanks to God, consecrating the bread. It's an act of worship and acknowledgment of God's provision.
  • "Brake" (Greek: eklasen) is a simple description of breaking bread for consumption, yet in this context, it takes on profound symbolic meaning, pointing to the breaking of Jesus' physical body on the cross.
  • "This is my body": This phrase has been interpreted in various ways throughout Christian history. For a general understanding, it signifies that the bread *represents* or *symbolizes* Jesus' physical body, which would soon be offered as a sacrifice. It communicates a deep spiritual identification between the elements and Christ's person and work.

Related Scriptures

The account of the Last Supper is also found in other Gospel narratives and Paul's epistles, emphasizing its importance:

Practical Application

For believers today, Matthew 26:26 underscores the enduring significance of the Lord's Supper. It serves as a powerful reminder of Jesus' love, His sacrificial death, and the new life offered through Him. Participating in Communion is an act of obedience, a public declaration of faith, and a moment of communal worship that fosters unity within the Christian body. It calls us to reflect on the immense cost of our redemption and to live lives worthy of His great sacrifice, anticipating His second coming.

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.

  • 1 Corinthians 11:23

    ¶ For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the [same] night in which he was betrayed took bread:

  • 1 Corinthians 11:29

    For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:16

    The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

  • 1 Corinthians 10:17

    For we [being] many are one bread, [and] one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

  • Luke 22:18

    For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

  • Luke 22:20

    Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup [is] the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

  • John 6:33

    For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

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