Luke 22:14-18

The Lord’s Supper

22:14 Now ¹  when the hour came, Jesus ²  took his place at the table ³  and the apostles joined ⁴  him. 22:15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired ⁵  to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 22:16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again ⁶  until it is fulfilled ⁷  in the kingdom of God.” ⁸  22:17 Then ⁹  he took a cup, ¹⁰  and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves. 22:18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit ¹¹  of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” ¹² 

[22:14]  ¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.

[22:14]  ² tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[22:14]  ³ tn Grk “reclined at table,” as 1st century middle eastern meals were not eaten while sitting at a table, but while reclining on one’s side on the floor with the head closest to the low table and the feet farthest away.

[22:14]  ⁴ tn Grk “the apostles with him.”

[22:15]  ⁵ tn This phrase parallels a Hebrew infinitive absolute and serves to underline Jesus’ enthusiasm for holding this meal (BDF §198.6).

[22:16]  ⁶ tn Although the word “again” is not in the Greek text, it is supplied to indicate that Jesus did indeed partake of this Passover meal, as statements in v. 18 suggest (“from now on”). For more complete discussion see D. L. Bock, Luke (BECNT), 2:1720.

[22:16]  ⁷ sn Jesus looked to a celebration in the kingdom to come when the Passover is fulfilled. This reference could well suggest that some type of commemorative sacrifice and meal will be celebrated then, as the antecedent is the Passover sacrifice. The reference is not to the Lord’s supper as some argue, but the Passover.

[22:16]  ⁸ sn The kingdom of God here refers to the kingdom in all its power. See Luke 17:20-37.

[22:17]  ⁹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[22:17]  ¹⁰ sn Then he took a cup. Only Luke mentions two cups at this meal; the other synoptic gospels (Matt, Mark) mention only one. This is the first of the two. It probably refers to the first cup in the traditional Passover meal, which today has four cups (although it is debated whether the fourth cup was used in the 1st century).

[22:18]  ¹¹ tn Grk “the produce” (“the produce of the vine” is a figurative expression for wine).

[22:18]  ¹² sn Until the kingdom of God comes is a reference to the kingdom in all its power. See Luke 17:20-37. Jesus awaits celebration with the arrival of full kingdom blessing.