Luke 22:20
ESV
And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
NIV
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
NASB
And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, 'This cup, which is poured out for you, is the new covenant in My blood.
CSB
In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
NLT
After supper he took another cup of wine and said, 'This cup is the new covenant between God and his people — an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.
KJV
Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
NKJV
Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.
What does Luke 22:20 mean?
As Jesus presents the third cup of wine at the Passover seder, He talks about the new covenant. This was already promised in the Old Testament (Jeremiah 31:31–34), and Jesus is the means to fulfill it.The covenants of God are promises made to certain people. Some of these involved actions which people needed to perform. In all cases, however, and in all times and places, people must have faith in God and what He has revealed to them in their place and time to be saved. Looking through Hebrews 11:7–12, we see that Noah displayed his faith by building an ark. Abraham showed His faith by being willing to offer his son. In the new covenant, we must believe that Jesus' death paid for our sins. If we admit we have sinned against God, desire to stop sinning against Him, and ask Jesus to forgive our sins—if we have faith in Jesus—He will forgive our sins and we will be reconciled to God (John 3:16–18; Romans 10:9–13; Ephesians 2:1–10).
Neither the Abrahamic nor Mosaic covenants involved taking blood from a live animal. Both required killing animals (Genesis 15:7–10; Exodus 12:3–6). When the Bible talks about Jesus' "shed blood," it's not literally speaking about body fluid. The emphasis is on His sacrificial death. Jesus says the wine is "poured out." Genesis 9:5 says that blood means life. Isaiah 53:12 says, "he poured out his soul to death."
Crucifixion doesn't typically involve massive bleeding. It was designed to induce unimaginable pain, exposure, and eventual suffocation. The beatings and scourging (John 19:1–3) caused Jesus' blood to flow freely. When the guard puts his spear into Jesus' side (John 19:34), blood and water flow out. Jesus' "blood sacrifice" refers to His death and not merely His literal blood.
Jeremiah 31:31–40 describes the new covenant. It promises the people will have the law written on their hearts. They shall all know Him. Jerusalem—all of Israel—will be restored. The new covenant is possible because Jesus died. We participate in Communion—eating bread and drinking wine (or grape juice) with fellow believers—to "proclaim the Lord's death until he comes" (1 Corinthians 11:23–26).
Luke 22:14–20 records the Last Supper. Bible scholars debate at what point, exactly, Judas left this gathering, raising the unanswered question of whether he, too, participated in what we now call "communion." Jesus has warned the disciples of the hardships they will face. Yet He promises they will not perish and encourages them to remain faithful (Luke 21). The Last Supper gives them the symbols to remind them their faith is not in vain: Jesus gave His life for them, ushered in the new covenant, and rose from the dead, and He will return. The disciples' fear and doubt described in the following verses are a demonstration of our need for Jesus' work on the cross (Luke 22:21–34). Parallel accounts of the Last Supper include Matthew 26:20, 26–29; Mark 14:17, 22–25; and 1 Corinthians 11:23–26.
Luke 22 is a long chapter which records events leading to Jesus' political trials and crucifixion. He has successfully taught crowds at the temple and proved His authority over the religious leaders (Luke 19:47—20). Meanwhile the leaders have spent the week planning to arrest Jesus and have Him killed (Luke 19:47–48). This chapter records the Last Supper, the arrest on the Mount of Olives, and the trials before the Jewish religious leaders. Matthew 26, Mark 14, and John 18 cover much of the same information.
