Luke 22 · a question people ask
Luke tells of a cup twice at the table (22:17, 22:20). Why two?
Luke doesn't say. Here is what he tells, in order. "He received a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves, for I tell you, I will not drink at all again from the fruit of the vine, until God’s Kingdom comes.”" (22:17-18). Then "He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in memory of me.”" (22:19). "Likewise, he took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." (22:20) (tap covenant). Mark and Matthew each tell of the cup once at the table, after the bread (Mark 14:22-24; Matthew 26:26-28), and give Jesus's words about the fruit of the vine after it (Mark 14:25; Matthew 26:29). Luke doesn't say how his two cups are related, and these notes don't either. What the bread and the cup are is a question Favor's Mark 14 asks, setting out the main readings and choosing none.
The verses
“He received a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves, for I tell you, I will not drink at all again from the fruit of the vine, until God’s Kingdom comes.” He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in memory of me.” Likewise, he took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”
“As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had blessed it, he broke it and gave to them, and said, “Take, eat. This is my body.” He took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave to them. They all drank of it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many. Most certainly I tell you, I will no more drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in God’s Kingdom.””
“As they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks for it, and broke it. He gave to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, “All of you drink it, for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins. But I tell you that I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s Kingdom.””