Matthew Henry Commentary Matthew 26:26-30

"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it; and he gave to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took a cup, and gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many unto remission of sins. But I say unto you, I shall not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father`s kingdom. And when they had sung a hymn, they went out unto the mount of Olives." — Matthew 26:26-30 (ASV)

This ordinance of the Lord's supper is to us the Passover supper, by which we commemorate a much greater deliverance than that of Israel out of Egypt. Take, eat; accept Christ as he is offered to you; receive the atonement, approve of it, and submit to his grace and his government. Food merely looked at, however well garnished the dish may be, will not nourish; it must be eaten. So too, the doctrine of Christ must be received. This is my body; that is, spiritually, it signifies and represents his body.

We partake of the sun, not by having the sun put into our hands, but by its beams darted down upon us; so we partake of Christ by partaking of his grace and the blessed fruits of the breaking of his body. The blood of Christ is signified and represented by the wine. He gave thanks, to teach us to look to God in every part of the ordinance.

This cup he gave to the disciples with a command, Drink ye all of it. The pardon of sin is that great blessing which, in the Lord's supper, is conferred on all true believers; it is the foundation of all other blessings. He takes leave of such communion; and assures them of a happy meeting again at last; Until that day when I drink it new with you, may be understood as referring to the joys and glories of the future state, which the saints will share with the Lord Jesus. That will be the kingdom of his Father; the wine of consolation will there always be new.

While we look at the outward signs of Christ's body broken and his blood shed for the remission of our sins, let us recollect that the feast cost him as much as though he had literally given his flesh to be eaten and his blood for us to drink.