to eat of that bread and drink of that cup, which the Lord has commanded to be received.
Notes. Lukb XXII. 14—23.
1 1. — [Tfie twelve apostJ^s with him.] It is clear from this expres- sion that at this time Judas Iscariot was one of the company.
IT). — [With desire I have desired, dc] This is a Hebrew form of speech, signifying '* I have desired exceedingly." The reason of our Lord's great desire is not distinctly stated, and we are left to conjecture it. Some refer it to the whole work of redemp- tion which He was about to accomplish that week, and the strong desire which He felt to accomplish it. — Others refer it to the institution of the Lord's supper, and the ati'ectionate desire which our Lord felt to leave this parting memorial of Himself among His disciples, before He died.
[Before I suffer.] Alford remarks that this is the only place in the Gospels where this absolute use of the word "suffered" is found. It is like the expression in the Apostle's creed, *' He suflPered." The word is elsewhere found in some such active form as '* He suffered these things, &c."
Hi. — [Until it be fulfilled, dc] The meaning of this expression is that our Lord " would never eat of the passover again." Mack- night observes, " The particle ' until,' both here and in the 18th verse, does not imply that after the accomplishment of the salva- tion of men our Lord was to eat the passover. It is a Hebrew fonn of expression, signifying that the thing mentioned was no more to be done for ever. So it is said in Samuel, (I Sam. xv. 85.) ' Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of hi«= death.' That is he saw him no more at all."
17. — [He took the cup, dc.] Let it be noted that the action des- cribed in this and the following verse took place in the passover feast, and that the appointment of the Lord's supper does not be- gin till the 19th verse. The meaning, as before said, appears to be " that our Lord's days of eating and drinking with His disciples were coming to an end." He was about to be taken from them, and to drink the cup of thanksgiving with them for the last time.
19. — L^^^* ** ^y body.] It is almost needless to remark tliat the Protestant view of these words is the only satisfactory one : " This represents and is an emblem of my body." To a Jewish ear the expression would be simple and intelligible. There is no word in the Syriac or Hebrew which expresses, to " signify," or *' represent." See Gen. xl. 12. Daniel vii. 24. Pev. i. :20. John XV. 1 — 6.