Luke 22:17

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:

Luke 22:17 (KJV)

Context

This verse is part of the account of the Last Supper, the final meal Jesus shared with His disciples before His crucifixion. It took place during the Jewish feast of Passover, when Jesus gathered with His disciples to observe this significant festival. During the meal, Jesus instituted the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, also known as the Eucharist or Communion.

Meaning

In the Jewish Passover tradition, multiple cups of wine were consumed throughout the meal, each with its own significance. Here Jesus takes one of these cups, gives thanks, and instructs His disciples to divide it among themselves. The act of giving thanks, from the Greek word eucharisteo, highlights Jesus’ gratitude to the Father for His provision and sets an example for His disciples to express gratitude in all circumstances.

Jesus’ command to divide the cup among themselves emphasizes the communal nature of the gathering and the shared participation in the blessings of what is to come. This action points to the unity of believers and the fellowship expected within the Christian community. The cup also foreshadows Jesus’ sacrificial death, as it represents His blood shed for many and the New Covenant established through Him.

Biblical connections

This moment reinterprets the Passover elements in light of Jesus’ impending sacrifice. The instruction to share the cup and the emphasis on thanksgiving connect to the later institution of the Lord’s Supper, where believers are called to remember and proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes, as articulated in 1 Corinthians 11:26.

Application

Believers are reminded to approach God with thanksgiving and to partake in communion with reverence and self-examination. The communal nature of the meal calls Christians to mutual care and unity, recognizing the profound spiritual reality of the New Covenant in Christ’s blood.

Reflection

This verse captures a pivotal moment when Jesus, as host and provider, gives thanks and shares the cup with His disciples. It serves as a precursor to the institution of the Lord’s Supper, which holds profound spiritual meaning for Christians today. The act of taking the cup and giving thanks reminds believers to express gratitude and to participate in the blessings of communion in fellowship with one another.