The Meaning of Luke 22:20 Explained

Luke 22:20

KJV: Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

YLT: In like manner, also, the cup after the supping, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, that for you is being poured forth.

Darby: In like manner also the cup, after having supped, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

ASV: And the cup in like manner after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, even that which is poured out for you.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Likewise  also  the cup  after  supper,  saying,  This  cup  [is] the new  testament  in  my  blood,  which  is shed  for  you. 

What does Luke 22:20 Mean?

Context Summary

Luke 22:14-23 - The Feast Of Love And Its Shadow
The human soul of Jesus needed this sweet fellowship with loyal friends to nerve it for its sorrows; and He desired to transmit it as a perpetual legacy for His Church in after-days. We may think of that table being elongated till it reaches down the centuries to where we are seated. Look down the long vista and at the end behold the Master Himself!
These two allusions to the kingdom of God, Luke 22:16; Luke 22:18, point onward to the marriage supper when the full purpose of redemption will be consummated. As we partake of bread for our natural strength, so spiritual strength to suffer, to resist temptation and to serve is possible only in proportion as we feed on Christ by meditation and appropriation. And let us never forget that the wine is the emblem of His blood, by which the new covenant was sealed. See Hebrews 9:18. When therefore at the sacred feast we place the wine to our lips, we may quote the provisions of that covenant, and hold God pledged to fulfill them. See Hebrews 8:8, etc. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 22

1  The leaders conspire against Jesus
3  Satan prepares Judas to betray him
7  The apostles prepare the Passover
19  Jesus institutes his holy supper;
21  covertly foretells of the traitor;
24  rebukes the rest of his apostles from ambition;
31  assures Peter his faith should not fail;
34  and yet he should deny him thrice
39  He prays in the mount, and sweats blood;
47  is betrayed with a kiss;
50  he heals Malchus' ear;
54  he is thrice denied by Peter;
63  shamefully abused;
66  and confesses himself to be the Son of God

Greek Commentary for Luke 22:20

After the supper [μετα το δειπνησαι]
Preposition μετα — meta and the accusative articular infinitive. The textual situation here is confusing, chiefly because of the two cups (Luke 22:17, Luke 22:20). Some of the documents omit the latter part of Luke 22:19 and all of Luke 22:20. It is possible, of course, that this part crept into the text of Luke from 1 Corinthians 11:24. But, if this part is omitted, Luke would then have the order reversed, the cup before the bread. So there are difficulties whichever turn one takes here with Luke‘s text whether one cup or two cups. [source]
The New Covenant [ε καινη διατηκη]
See note on Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24 for “covenant.” Westcott and Hort reject “new” there, but accept it here and in 1 Corinthians 11:25. See Luke 5:38 for difference between kainē and nea “The ratification of a covenant was commonly associated with the shedding of blood; and what was written in blood was believed to be indelible” (Plummer).Poured out (καινη — ekchunnomenon). Same word in Mark 14:24; Matthew 26:28 translated “shed.” Late form present passive participle of νεα — ekchunnō of εκχυννομενον — ekcheō to pour out. [source]
Poured out [καινη]
Same word in Mark 14:24; Matthew 26:28 translated “shed.” Late form present passive participle of νεα — ekchunnō of εκχυννομενον — ekcheō to pour out. [source]
The cup []
See on Mark 14:23. [source]
Testament [διαθήκη]
See on Matthew 26:28. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 22:20

Matthew 26:28 Testament [διαθήκης]
From διατίθημι , to distribute; dispose of. Hence of the disposition of one's property. On the idea of disposing or arranging is based that of settlement or agreement, and thence of a covenant. The Hebrew word of which this is a translation is primarily covenant, from a verb meaning to cut. Hence the phrase, to make a covenant, in connection with dividing the victims slain in ratification of covenants (Genesis 15:9-18). Covenant is the general Old Testament sense of the word (1 Kings 20:34; Isaiah 28:15; 1 Samuel 18:3); and so in the New Testament. Compare Mark 14:24; Luke 1:72; Luke 22:20; Acts 3:25; Acts 7:8. Bishop Lightfoot, on Galatians 3:15, observes that the word is never found in the New Testament in any other sense than that of covenant, with the exception of Hebrews 9:15-17, where it is testament. We cannot admit this exception, since we regard that passage as one of the best illustrations of the sense of covenant. See on Hebrews 9:15-17. Render here as Rev., covenant. [source]
Luke 22:20 After the supper [μετα το δειπνησαι]
Preposition μετα — meta and the accusative articular infinitive. The textual situation here is confusing, chiefly because of the two cups (Luke 22:17, Luke 22:20). Some of the documents omit the latter part of Luke 22:19 and all of Luke 22:20. It is possible, of course, that this part crept into the text of Luke from 1 Corinthians 11:24. But, if this part is omitted, Luke would then have the order reversed, the cup before the bread. So there are difficulties whichever turn one takes here with Luke‘s text whether one cup or two cups. [source]
1 Corinthians 11:25 After supper [μετα το δειπνησαι]
Μετα — Meta and the articular aorist active infinitive, “after the dining” (or the supping) as in Luke 22:20. [source]
1 Corinthians 11:25 The new covenant [η καινη διατηκη]
For διατηκη — diathēkē see note on Matthew 26:28. For καινος — kainos see Luke 5:38 and note on Luke 22:20. The position of εστιν — estin before εν τωι αιματι — en tōi haimati (in my blood) makes it a secondary or additional predicate and not to be taken just with διατηκη — diathēkē (covenant or will). As oft as ye drink it (οσακις αν πινητε — hosakis an pinēte). Usual construction for general temporal clause of repetition (αν — an and the present subjunctive with οσακις — hosakis). So in 1 Corinthians 11:26. [source]
Hebrews 13:20 That great shepherd of the sheep [τὸν ποιμένα τῶν προβάτων τὸν μέγαν]
The Greek order is, “the shepherd of the sheep the great (shepherd).” Comp. John 10:2, John 10:11, John 10:14; 1 Peter 2:25, and see Isaiah 63:11. Of God, Zechariah href="/desk/?q=zec+9:11&sr=1">Zechariah 9:11. The phrase eternal covenant N.T.oCommon in lxx; see Genesis 9:16; Genesis 17:19; Leviticus 24:8; 2 Samuel 23:5; Jeremiah 32:40; Ezekiel 16:60. Const. with the great shepherd of the sheep. It may be granted that the raising of Christ from the dead, viewed as the consummation of the plan of salvation, was in the sphere of the blood of the covenant; nevertheless, the covenant is nowhere in the N.T. associated with the resurrection, but frequently with death, especially in this epistle. See Matthew 26:28; Luke 22:20; Hebrews 9:15, Hebrews 9:16, Hebrews 9:17, Hebrews 9:20. The connection of the blood of the covenant with Christ's pastoral office gives a thoroughly scriptural sense, and one which exactly fits into the context. Christ becomes the great shepherd solely through the blood of the covenant. Comp. Acts 20:28. Through this is brought about the new relation of the church with God described in Hebrews 8:10ff. This tallies perfectly with the conception of “the God of peace”; and the great Shepherd will assert the power of the eternal covenant of reconciliation and peace by perfecting his flock in every good work to do his will, working in them that which is well pleasing in his sight. With this agree Jeremiah 50:5, Jeremiah 50:19; Ezekiel 34:25, and the entire chapter, see especially Ezekiel 34:12-15, Ezekiel 34:23, Ezekiel 34:31. In these verses the Shepherd of the Covenant appears as guiding, tending his flock, and leading them into fair and safe pastures. Comp. Isaiah 63:11-14, and Revelation 7:17, see note on ποιμανεῖ shallshepherd. Ἑν αἵματι “in the blood,” is in virtue of, or in the power of the blood. [source]
Hebrews 13:20 The God of peace [ο τεος της ειρηνης]
God is the author and giver of peace, a Pauline phrase (6 times) as in 1 Thessalonians 5:23. Who brought again from the dead Second aorist active articular participle of αναγω — anagō (cf. Romans 10:7), the only direct mention of the resurrection of Jesus in the Epistle, though implied often (Hebrews 1:3, etc.). That great shepherd of the sheep This phrase occurs in Isaiah 63:11 except τον μεγαν — ton megan which the author adds as in Hebrews 4:14; Hebrews 10:21. So here, “the shepherd of the sheep the great one.” With the blood of the eternal covenant This language is from Zechariah 9:11. The language reminds us of Christ‘s own words in Mark 14:24 (Matthew 26:28; Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25) about “my blood of the covenant.” [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 22:20 mean?

and the cup likewise after which having supped saying This - cup [is] the new covenant in the blood of Me which for you is being poured out
καὶ τὸ ποτήριον ὡσαύτως μετὰ τὸ δειπνῆσαι λέγων Τοῦτο τὸ ποτήριον καινὴ διαθήκη ἐν τῷ αἵματί μου τὸ ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν ἐκχυννόμενον

ποτήριον  cup 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ποτήριον  
Sense: a cup, a drinking vessel.
ὡσαύτως  likewise 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ὡσαύτως  
Sense: in like manner, likewise.
μετὰ  after 
Parse: Preposition
Root: μετά  
Sense: with, after, behind.
δειπνῆσαι  having  supped 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: δειπνέω  
Sense: to sup.
λέγων  saying 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
Τοῦτο  This 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
τὸ  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ποτήριον  cup  [is] 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: ποτήριον  
Sense: a cup, a drinking vessel.
καινὴ  new 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: καινός  
Sense: new.
διαθήκη  covenant 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: διαθήκη  
Sense: a disposition, arrangement, of any sort, which one wishes to be valid, the last disposition which one makes of his earthly possessions after his death, a testament or will.
αἵματί  blood 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: αἷμα  
Sense: blood.
μου  of  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἐκχυννόμενον  is  being  poured  out 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: ἐκχέω 
Sense: to pour out, shed forth.