The Last Supper and Jesus

The last supper is one of the incidents in Jesus' life which is described by all four of the gospel writers. Comparing the individual narratives helps reveal both the writer's purpose and the readers' reactions to and questions about what the writer wrote. Each writer seemed to be familiar with those who worked before and responded to those works, adding to them through his unique view of the same risen savior.

The Christian bishops and writers in the first three centuries, who are the ones who would know, all agreed that Matthew was the first gospel written. His account of the last supper begins immediately after the five-chapter message called "The Olivet Discourse" with a 19-verse introduction that sets the scene, especially explaining Judas' actions during the supper. (Mark, on the other hand, merely summarizes the financial agreement Judas makes.) Matthew then quotes Jesus' repetition of His warning and prediction in 26:1: "Now when the evening was come, he sat down with the twelve. And as they were eating, he said, Verily I say to you, that one of you shall betray me" (Matt. 26:20-21). However, the apostles are no more prepared here than when they heard this news before, and Matthew (26:22) includes himself in this confused group who, though innocent, suspect themselves as capable of such a crime.

Judas is identified (26:25), and Matthew jumps immediately to the institution of the last supper (26:26-28). At that time, this ceremony was more important to the fledg

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and wine are introduced: "And he said to them, I have earnestly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer. For I say to you, I will not any more eat of it, until it shall be fulfilled in the kingdom of God" ( 22:15-16). Luke is also showing how Jesus gave the same message many times (such as repeatedly prophesying His death by crucifixion) because His disciples were unusually slow to learn. Thus Luke quotes Jesus adding, "For I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come" (22:18). Luke also seems to reverse the order of presentation, having the cup first (22:17) and then the bread (22:19), until one reads that more than one cup is in the Passover ritual. Luke is giving more detail of the ceremony for the benefit of his Gentile audience who, unlike Matthew's mostly Jewish readership, is unfamiliar with, and perhaps unaware of, Passover. Jesus apparently spoke a message or lesson over each cup as it was passed around. Luke also adds, for the benefit of his Gentile readers, another description of the apostles before the Holy Spirit empowered them. Seeing how much the apostles were like other people may encourage converts: "And there was also a strife among them, which

Category: Philosophy - T