#1317 Matthew 26 Part 3 The New Covenant

 

26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.” Matthew 26: 26-29 ESV

Matthew 26: 26-29 The Lord's Supper

Now as they were eating - This is important because this is the Passover supper, and here begins a huge theological transition. Jesus is the Paschal Lamb, the One without spot, His betrayal has been announced to us, and His betrayer. They are all eating together at this table, have all been in the same and greatest seminary ever, but much of what transpires here will not be understood by them till later. 

28All this happened at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30This is He of whom I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’… John 1: 28-30

…6Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven works through the whole batch of dough? 7Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8Therefore let us keep the feast, not with the old bread, leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and of truth.… 1 Corinthians 5: 6-8

…5Your lamb must be an unblemished year-old male, and you may take it from the sheep or the goats. 6You must keep it until the fourteenth day of the month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel will slaughter the animals at twilight. 7They are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.… Exodus 12: 5-7

Jesus took bread - They used unleavened bread, for reason of necessity and speed, that they were fleeing their old life in Egypt, breaking those ties with Godlessness. The leaven also represented sin, as we read in 1 Cor. "malice and wickedness", and so Christ is offering us something without sin, Himself, that we share in His pure life, that we take to ourselves a righteousness that is not our own. 

Take, eat; this is My body - Do you see it yet? In the OT Christ's was always represented in the sacrifices, the giving of life, for without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. They used an actual living creature, a lamb without spot, Abraham was provided a ram to offer instead of his son. This was a shadow and figure of the Messiah to come, a real animal, with a real body and real blood was the picture to show that Christ's would offer His actual life. This is a great transition, a new covenant, because the properties change once the reality has been achieved. He is instituting the New Covenant which will be ratified by His own body and blood. To consume this, to share in this, is to believe in Christ, to be of a humble faith, desirous of repentance. Remember, it is, "do this in remembrance of Me," not, "bring Me down and sacrifice Me anew," no, Christ died once for all, and so this doctrine of transubstantiation taught by the Roman Catholic Church only strengthens their label as a cult. Come out of her.

…4because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me. 6In burnt offerings and sin offerings You took no delight.… Hebrews 10: 4-6

…45A temporary resident or hired hand shall not eat the Passover. 46It must be eaten inside one house. You are not to take any of the meat outside the house, and you may not break any of the bones. Exodus 12: 45-46

[2.] What they should have with it; This is my body, not outos-this bread, but touto-this eating and drinking. Believing carries all the efficacy of Christ's death to our souls. This is my body, spiritually and sacramentally; this signifies and represents my body. He employs sacramental language, like that, Ex. 12:11. It is the Lord's passover. Upon a carnal and much-mistaken sense of these words, the church of Rome builds the monstrous doctrine of Transubstantiation, which makes the bread to be changed into the substance of Christ's body, only the accidents of bread remaining; which affronts Christ, destroys the nature of a sacrament, and gives the lie to our senses. We partake of the sun, not by having the bulk and body of the sun put into our hands, but the beams of it darted down upon us; so we partake of Christ by partaking of his grace, and the blessed fruits of the breaking of his body. - Matthew Henry

…23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, 24and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”… 1 Corinthians 11: 23-25

…9For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God. 11So you too must count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.… Romans 6: 9-11

This is My blood of the covenant - Only God has the authority to change or alter His original covenant of the law. Jesus does not here do away with the law, but He fulfills it, thus negating the need for the Passover sacrifice. Instead of the live animal which pointed forward to His life being taken, now we have the fruit of the vine, which points backward, saying that His life was taken. Our faith rest in Christ as the satisfaction of the law which we are all transgressors of. 

…21In the same way, he sprinkled with blood the tabernacle and all the vessels used in worship. 22According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. 23So it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.… Hebrews 9: 21-23

Poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins - It is effectual in it's ministry, certain in it's recovery. It is the only way, He is the door, and by His life and death we who believe are forgiven and do live forevermore. 

…7Then Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” “Here I am, my son,” he replied. “The fire and the wood are here,” said Isaac, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 8Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two walked on together. 9When they arrived at the place God had designated, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar, atop the wood.… Genesis 22: 7-9

5“Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7If you had known Me, you would know My Father as well. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”… John 14: 5-7

I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine - He is coming back, and the language of the prophets and Christ point to a literal kingdom. We have this ordinance until He returns, and so let us not participate in unbelief, nor let us take the cup in an unworthy manner. We should never look lightly upon these things, but come in humble repentance, earnest for the forgiveness and companionship of God. 

Others understand it of the joys and glories of the future state, which the saints shall partake of in everlasting communion with the Lord Jesus, represented here by the pleasures of a banquet of wine. That will be the kingdom of his Father, for unto him shall the kingdom be then delivered up; the wine of consolation (Jer. 16:7) will there be always new, never flat or sour, as wine with long keeping; never nauseous or unpleasant, as wine to those that have drank much; but ever fresh. Christ will himself partake of those pleasures; it was the joy set before him, which he had in his eye, and all his faithful friends and followers shall partake with him. - Matthew Henry

…8And on that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it toward the Eastern Sea and the other half toward the Western Sea, in summer and winter alike. 9On that day the LORD will become King over all the earth— the LORD alone, and His name alone. 10All the land from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem will be turned into a plain, but Jerusalem will be raised up and will remain in her place, from the Benjamin Gate to the site of the First Gate to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the royal winepresses.… Zechariah 14: 8-10

6Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years. 7When the thousand years are complete, Satan will be released from his prison,… Revelation 20: 6-7