Matthew 26:19

Commentary on Matthew 26:19 (KJV)

Matthew 26:19 describes a moment of simple yet profound obedience and preparation, setting the stage for one of the most significant events in Christian history: the Last Supper. The verse states, "And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover."

Context

This verse immediately follows Jesus' detailed instructions to His disciples regarding the preparation for the Passover meal. The Jewish Passover was an annual festival commemorating God's liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, as recorded in Exodus 12. It involved specific rituals, including the sacrifice of a lamb, eating unleavened bread, and bitter herbs. For centuries, it had been a central observance in Jewish life.

At this point in Matthew's Gospel, Jesus and His disciples are in Jerusalem during the week leading up to His crucifixion. The specific details Jesus provided for finding the room (Matthew 26:18) highlight His divine foreknowledge and sovereignty, even in the face of impending betrayal and suffering. This preparation was not merely for a traditional meal, but for the crucial transition from the Old Covenant Passover to the New Covenant sacrament of the Lord's Supper. Parallel accounts can be found in Mark 14:16 and Luke 22:13.

Key Themes and Messages

• Obedience to Christ: The verse emphasizes the disciples' direct and unquestioning obedience to Jesus' instructions. They simply "did as Jesus had appointed them." This highlights the importance of obedience to Christ as a foundational aspect of discipleship.
• Divine Foreknowledge and Sovereignty: Jesus' ability to know exactly where and how the Passover would be prepared underscores His divine omniscience and control over all circumstances, even those seemingly mundane.
• Preparation for a Pivotal Event: The act of "making ready the Passover" was not an ordinary task. It was the necessary prelude to the institution of the Lord's Supper (Matthew 26:26-28), where Jesus would reinterpret the Passover elements—bread and wine—as symbols of His body and blood, signifying the new covenant established through His sacrifice.
• Transition from Old to New Covenant: This Passover meal serves as the bridge between the Old Testament practices and the New Testament reality. The Passover lamb, which provided deliverance from death in Egypt, prefigured Jesus, the "Lamb of God" who would take away the sin of the world.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "appointed them" comes from the Greek word syntasso (συντάσσω), which means "to arrange with," "to ordain," or "to command." It conveys the idea of a precise and authoritative instruction given by Jesus, indicating that the disciples were following a specific divine plan. "Made ready" translates hetoimazo (ἑτοιμάζω), a common verb meaning "to prepare" or "to make ready," emphasizing the practical steps taken by the disciples.

Practical Application

Matthew 26:19 offers several practical insights for believers today:

• The Value of Simple Obedience: Often, God calls us to simple acts of obedience that may seem small but are crucial steps in His larger plan. The disciples' faithfulness in preparing the meal paved the way for a monumental spiritual event.
• Trust in God's Providence: Just as Jesus knew the details of the Passover preparation, we can trust that God is sovereign over the details of our lives and circumstances, even when we don't fully understand them.
• Preparation for Spiritual Moments: This verse reminds us of the importance of preparing ourselves, both physically and spiritually, for significant encounters with God and for acts of worship, such as communion or prayer.