MAT 26:20-30

The Last Supper

20When evening came, he was reclining at table with the twelve disciples. [26:21] And as they were eating, he said: "Truly I tell you, one of you will hand me over." [26:22] They became very grieved and began saying to him one by one, "Surely not I, Lord?" [26:23] He answered: "The one who dips his hand in the dish with me will hand me over. [26:24] The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is handed over! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born." [26:25] Judas, who would hand him over, answered: "Surely not I, Rabbi?" He said to him: "You have said it." [26:26] Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after speaking well of it — invoking divine favor with thanksgiving — he broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said: "Take, eat; this is my body." [26:27] And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying: "Drink of it, all of you, [26:28] for this is my blood of the covenant — the solemn binding agreement — which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. [26:29] I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." [26:30] And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st century, reclining at a meal was a practice reserved for formal, intimate gatherings, often signaling honor and fellowship. The Passover meal, rooted in Jewish tradition, was a communal act of remembrance and covenant renewal. Jesus’ declaration that one of the Twelve would betray Him (, ‘hand over’) would have been deeply unsettling. In a culture governed by honor-shame dynamics, betrayal by a close associate was a grave dishonor. The dipping of bread in the dish (a shared act) heightened the intimacy of the betrayal, underscoring its personal and shocking nature. Jesus’ reference to the Son of Man’s fate aligns with Jewish apocalyptic expectations, where suffering and vindication were intertwined. The mention of a ‘covenant’ evoked both the Exodus narrative and the legal concept of a binding testament, suggesting a new, enduring relationship established through His sacrifice. The meal’s ritual elements—blessing , bread, and wine—would have resonated with Jewish practices while pointing to a transformative reimagining of Passover.

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How other translations render this

MAT 26:20

KJV: Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.
BSB: When evening came, Jesus was reclining with the twelve disciples.
Koinōnos: When evening came, he was reclining at table with the twelve disciples.

MAT 26:21

KJV: And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
BSB: And while they were eating, He said to them, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray Me.”
Koinōnos: And as they were eating, he said: "Truly I tell you, one of you will hand me over.

MAT 26:22

KJV: And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?
BSB: They were deeply grieved and began to ask Him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?”
Koinōnos: They became very grieved and began saying to him one by one, "Surely not I, Lord?

MAT 26:23

KJV: And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.
BSB: Jesus answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with Me will betray Me.
Koinōnos: He answered: "The one who dips his hand in the dish with me will hand me over.

MAT 26:24

KJV: The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
BSB: The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed. It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
Koinōnos: The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is handed over! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.

MAT 26:25

KJV: Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.
BSB: Then Judas, who would betray Him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said it yourself.”
Koinōnos: Judas, who would hand him over, answered: "Surely not I, Rabbi?" He said to him: "You have said it.

MAT 26:26

KJV: And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
BSB: While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.”
Koinōnos: Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after speaking well of it — invoking divine favor with thanksgiving — he broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said: "Take, eat; this is my body.

MAT 26:27

KJV: And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
BSB: Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.
Koinōnos: And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying: "Drink of it, all of you,

MAT 26:28

KJV: For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
BSB: This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Koinōnos: for this is my blood of the covenant — the solemn binding agreement — which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

MAT 26:29

KJV: But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.
BSB: I tell you, 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 Fatherʼs kingdom.”
Koinōnos: I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

MAT 26:30

KJV: And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
BSB: And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Koinōnos: And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

MAT 26:20

He was reclining:The word translated 'He was reclining' describes the common dining posture of the time, where people would lean on their left elbow on low couches around a table, rather than sitting upright in chairs.

MAT 26:21

will betray:The term translated 'will betray' carries the sense of handing someone over, often to an enemy or to authorities, implying a deliberate act of delivery rather than just a simple act of treachery.

MAT 26:26

and:The word translated 'blessed' here means to speak well of, to praise, or to invoke divine favor upon something, often with an accompanying prayer of thanksgiving.

MAT 26:28

of the:The word translated 'covenant' refers to a solemn agreement or testament, often established by a superior party, that sets out terms and obligations, much like a will or a treaty.