30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
lUKE 22 14-20 PARTAKING OF THE LORD’S SUPPER 07 Luke 22 17-19 The new covenant
📖 Luke 22:14-20
*FRIEND OF GOD*
Thu22Jul2021 - *The new covenant* - _Luke 22:14-20_ – PARTAKING OF THE LORD’S SUPPER (07) – Bible reading: _Hebrews 9:13-20_
Even as we begin looking into the details of the Lord’s supper, we realise that there is much that our Lord desires for us to understand. We must be ready to grasp the truth that the Lord is revealing to us, appreciate the insights and apply ourselves to live by what we learn.
_Luke 22:17-20 Then *He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves*; (18) for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." (19) And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." (20) Likewise *He also took the cup after supper, saying, "*This cup is the new covenant in My blood*, which is shed for you*.
In the narrative in the gospel of _Luke 22:17_ we see that Jesus took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to the disciples to divide it among themselves. He again gave the cup to the disciples in _vs20_. He gave the cup to the disciples, twice.
Whereas in the rendering in Matthew and Mark we read that it was the bread that Jesus broke first and then gave the cup to the disciples to drink.
Though there seems to be a difference in the sequence of events, we will follow the narrative in Luke.
_Matthew 26:28 For *this is My blood of the new covenant*, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Mark 14:24 And He said to them, "*This is My blood of the new covenant*, which is shed for many._
What is the meaning of the new covenant? What is a covenant?
The words covenant and testament have the same meaning. A testament or covenant is a will. The Old Testament and the New Testament are the will of God.
We must remember that when we refer to the Old or the New Testament, we are referring to the will of God, by which we inherit His blessings and provisions. The Lord left for us His will. It is a legal document.
When a person is alive, he writes out a will and the will comes into force at the death of this person, who has written his will.
The provisions, benefits and inheritances provided in the will are inherited at the death of the one, who writes the will. The inheritances are provided for the ones to whom the testator or benefactor has specified in his will. The stipulations also include conditions that the beneficiaries will need to comply with, in order to profit from the provisions of the will.
*If we have this understanding, we will read the Bible with great diligence and excitement, for the Bible is God’s will for us*.
_Proverbs 13:22 *A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children*, But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous._
The core essence or substance of this will of God for us can be understood from the following passage.
_Hebrews 9:13-20 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, (14) *how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God*? (15) And for this reason *He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death*, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, *that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance*. (16) *For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator*. (17) *For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives*. (18) Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. (19) For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, (20) saying, "THIS IS THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT WHICH GOD HAS COMMANDED YOU."_
The writer to the Hebrews is taking us to the Old Testament, covenant or will and comparing and contrasting the Old with the New Testament, covenant or will that God has now placed in effect.
_Hebrews 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh,_
In the Old Testament, precepts were given but the people were not able to meet the righteous requirement of God by keeping the law, by their flesh. So, the blood of bulls and goats and ashes of a heifer was sprinkled on the unclean as a temporary measure, signifying that the person is counted righteous before God. This blood of an animal, without blemish, was not a perfect means for the atonement of a person or persons.
The Old Testament was limited in its provisions for our atonement. It was given as an imperfect replica of the actual and perfect atonement that would take place for man, through the New Testament, covenant or will.
(14) *how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God*?
This is what the blood of Christ has provided for us and that is how He sealed for us the new covenant, testament or will.
Let us be thankful to God for the New Covenant, His new will for us.
When we participate in the Lord’s supper, we remind ourselves of His will that God has bestowed on us.
*Thought to ponder*
```Are you thankful to God for His will for you?```