Luke 22:18
For I say vnto you, I will not drinke of the fruit of the Uine, vntill the kingdome of God shall come. Luke 22:18 (KJV)
For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
This verse is spoken during the Last Supper discourse, when Jesus shares a final meal with His disciples before His crucifixion. In this setting He institutes the Lord’s Supper, also known as Holy Communion, and explains the significance of the bread and wine. By mentioning His abstinence from drinking the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes, Jesus points to the deeper meaning of the elements and His forthcoming sacrifice.
In Jewish tradition the phrase “fruit of the vine” refers to wine, an integral part of the Passover feast that symbolized joy, celebration, and God’s blessings. Jesus uses this familiar metaphor to allude to His imminent death and resurrection, linking the wine to the blood that will be shed for humanity’s redemption.
Jesus’ voluntary abstinence is a declaration of His commitment to fulfill God’s plan. He will not partake in the celebratory wine until the kingdom of God is fully established, indicating His willingness to endure suffering for the sake of humanity’s salvation.
The anticipation of the kingdom is a recurring theme in Jesus’ teaching. The kingdom of God denotes both the reign of God in the hearts of believers now and its future consummation in the world. By connecting the drinking of wine with the arrival of the kingdom, Jesus underscores the importance of His redemptive work and the ultimate fulfillment of God’s purposes.
Spiritually, the verse calls believers to live in forward‑looking hope. While we remember the Lord’s Supper and partake in its physical elements, we also look ahead to the future joy when God’s kingdom is fully realized. This forward‑looking posture should motivate Christians to actively participate in bringing about the kingdom by sharing the Gospel, loving others, and embodying kingdom values.
Application: Reflect on the sacrificial nature of Christ’s death and resurrection and the Lord’s Supper as a remembrance of that sacrifice. Hold fast to the hope of the coming kingdom, allowing it to shape daily decisions and relationships. Engage in evangelism, compassion, and righteous living as expressions of the kingdom’s advance.
Fact‑Check Summary: The quoted verse is recorded verbatim in Luke 22:18 (KJV). Luke 22:14‑23 narrates the Last Supper, confirming the contextual setting. “Fruit of the vine” is a well‑attested Jewish idiom for wine, and wine was central to Passover celebrations, symbolizing joy and divine blessing. All factual statements are verified; theological interpretations are presented as matters of belief.
