THE BLOOD COVENANT

Matthew 26:17-30 / Keywords 26:28

This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

 26:17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

18 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”

22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”

23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?”

Jesus answered, “You have said so.”

26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the[b] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

1. A betrayer at the Passover meal (17-25)

Jesus loved his disciples and he wanted to spend one more Passover with them. Preparations for the meal were miraculously made in Jerusalem. But while they were eating together that evening, Jesus was troubled. A betrayer was among them. When Jesus warned the Twelve about his betrayer, each one realized the possibility of betrayal in himself. Judas was the betrayer. To the end, Jesus tried to help Judas to turn away from future disaster.

 

2. Forgiveness of sins (26-30)

Jesus taught his disciples the meaning of his death using bread and wine. The bread represented his body and the wine represented his blood. His body was broken and his blood was poured out for the forgiveness of our sins. All who receive Jesus have their sins forgiven and enter into a new covenant relationship with God. Jesus also planted hope in God’s kingdom in his disciples, and we have this same hope when we receive Jesus.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for the forgiveness of sins and for the covenant we have with you in Jesus’ blood.

One Word Covenant in Jesus’ blood