Luke 22:19

Luke 22:19

In Luke 22:19, Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper during the Passover meal with his closest followers. He takes bread, gives thanks, breaks it, and offers it with the words, “This is my body, which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.” The act is deeply symbolic: bread, a staple of daily life, becomes a sign of Jesus’ impending sacrifice. The timing—during Passover—connects Jesus to the biblical story of deliverance from Egypt, but reframes it around a true deliverer who would give his life for many. Luke emphasizes Jesus’ intentionality: a prepared meal, a shared act, and a message of remembrance. The phrase “given for you” foreshadows substitutionary sacrifice and personal participation in the grace Jesus offers. For Luke’s audience, common meals become sacraments that bind community around shared memory of Jesus’ mission.

This verse anchors the Christian understanding of the Lord’s Supper (Eucharist) as a practice of remembrance, gratitude, and anticipation. The “body” symbolizes Jesus’ real humanity and his voluntary suffering for others. The act is not mere symbolism; it communicates grace received through faith and participation. Luke’s emphasis on remembrance aligns with God’s covenant-faithfulness—recalling what God has done shapes identity and action. The ordinance points to substitution and reconciliation: Christ’s body given for many mirrors the atonement. It also invites ongoing worshipful obedience—an act to be repeated, not merely a one-off event. In the broader New Testament, this meal becomes a communal meal that unites believers across time with Christ and with one another.

Practically, this verse invites believers to center meals and gatherings around Jesus’ sacrifice. In churches and homes, the Lord’s Supper becomes a rhythm that reinforces grace, repentance, and gratitude. It’s an invitation to examine heart motives, confessing sins and seeking reconciliation. It also calls for unity: the meal binds diverse people as one body. For everyday life, think of “bread moments” where ordinary routines become reminders of Jesus’ love—sharing a meal with someone who is lonely, or providing food for someone in need as a way of living out the body that was broken for others. Remembering Jesus’ body helps us resist cynicism and fear, fostering trust in the sufficiency of Christ. In practice, approach the Lord’s Supper with reverence, expectant faith, and a readiness to forgive and be reconciled.

Cross-References: Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 6:51; Luke 24:30-31