Matthew 26:17-30

< Back to Matthew Index


TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Celebration of the Passover, and the Institution of the Lord’s Supper

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. The Last Supper commemorated the Exodus from Egypt.

  2. The Lord’s Supper commemorates the death of Christ.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Let’s sing hymns as a way of life.

QUESTIONS

  1. How are Passover and the Feast of the Unleavened Bread related?

  2. The Jewish day always begins at sunset. Trace the events of the Lord’s last day.

  3. What does leaven represent in the Bible?

  4. How do the Passover and the Feast of the Unleavened Bread look forward to the work of Christ?

  5. Is the bread literally the Lord’s body, and the wine literally His blood?

  6. What was the Lord’s point in Matthew 26:29?

ANSWERS

  1. Passover is one day, and the Feast of the Unleavened Bread occurs the following week. The whole week is often referred to as “Passover Week.”

  2. In the evening (Thursday), the Lord ate the Passover meal with His disciples. He was arrested later that night and tried before Pilate early on Friday. He was crucified on Friday afternoon, before the Passover day ended at sunset.

  3. Leaven is symbolic of corruption and evil.

  4. Christ, the Lamb of God, has been sacrificed as our Passover lamb. We should therefore clean out the leaven of malice and wickedness in our lives and live with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. See I Corinthians 5:6-8.

  5. No, the Lord was saying this while present in His physical body. He was speaking figuratively, giving these symbols as a reminder for us.

  6. He will come again to establish His earthly kingdom. When He comes there will be much cause for celebration.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Review the institution of the Passover and the Feast of the Unleavened Bread in Exodus 12. Both of these events were to remind the Israelites how God had delivered them from bondage in Egypt. Without these regular reminders, the Israelites would have forgotten God’s work for them. As believers we often forget God’s past faithfulness, especially when our lives are going well. Discuss reminders to look back on God’s faithfulness. Perhaps the best is the Lord’s idea of taking bread and wine to remember His death for us.

  2. The Lord Jesus sang with His disciples when He was about to be betrayed. Paul and Silas sang in prison (Acts 16:25). The early Christians sang when they came together for many occasions. Refer to Colossians 3:16. Songs can be a great comfort, exhortation, or reminder. Discuss the role singing has had in your life.

CHALLENGE

  1. Have you had the blood of the true Passover lamb applied to your life? God told the Israelites in Exodus 12:13, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” In the same way, if we have believed on the Lord Jesus and His work on our behalf, God will see His blood as payment for our sin. Don’t delay; accept Christ’s sacrifice for you.

KEY VERSES

  • “So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.” Matthew 26:19

  • “Take, eat; this is My body.” Matthew 26:26

  • “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Matthew 26:28



Matthew, Talks, New TestamentDeb HarmsMatthew 26:17-30