The Plot against Jesus

221 Now the feast of unleavened bread, which [is] called the passover, drew nigh, 2 and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people. 3 And Satan entered into Judas, who was surnamed Iscariote, being of the number of the twelve. 4 And he went away and spoke with the chief priests and captains as to how he should deliver him up to them. 5 And they were rejoiced, and agreed to give him money. 6 And he came to an agreement to do it, and sought an opportunity to deliver him up to them away from the crowd.

Jesus Eats the Passover with His Disciples

7 And the day of unleavened bread came, in which the passover was to be killed. 8 And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare the passover for us, that we may eat [it]. 9 But they said to him, Where wilt thou that we prepare [it]? 10 And he said to them, Behold, as ye enter into the city a man will meet you, carrying an earthen pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he goes in; 11 and ye shall say to the master of the house, The Teacher says to thee, Where is the guest-chamber where I may eat the passover with my disciples? 12 And he will shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. 13 And having gone they found it as he had said to them; and they prepared the passover. 14 And when the hour was come, he placed himself at table, and the [twelve] apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I say unto you, that I will not eat any more at all of it until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 17 And having received a cup, when he had given thanks he said, Take this and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I say unto you, that I will not drink at all of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God come. 19 And having taken a loaf, when he had given thanks, he broke [it], and gave [it] to them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 In like manner also the cup, after having supped, saying, This cup [is] the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

21 Moreover, behold, the hand of him that delivers me up [is] with me on the table; 22 and the Son of man indeed goes as it is determined, but woe unto that man by whom he is delivered up. 23 And they began to question together among themselves who then it could be of them who was about to do this.

The Dispute about Greatness

24 And there was also a strife among them which of them should be held to be [the] greatest. 25 And he said to them, The kings of the nations rule over them, and they that exercise authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But ye [shall] not [be] thus; but let the greater among you be as the younger, and the leader as he that serves. 27 For which [is] greater, he that is at table or he that serves? [Is] not he that is at table? But I am in the midst of you as the one that serves. 28 But ye are they who have persevered with me in my temptations. 29 And I appoint unto you, as my Father has appointed unto me, a kingdom, 30 that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Peter's Denial Foretold

31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to have you, to sift [you] as wheat;

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 22:1-31

Commentary on Luke 22:1-6

(Read Luke 22:1-6)

Christ knew all men, and had wise and holy ends in taking Judas to be a disciple. How he who knew Christ so well, came to betray him, we are here told; Satan entered into Judas. It is hard to say whether more mischief is done to Christ's kingdom, by the power of its open enemies, or by the treachery of its pretended friends; but without the latter, its enemies could not do so much evil as they do.

Commentary on Luke 22:7-18

(Read Luke 22:7-18)

Christ kept the ordinances of the law, particularly that of the passover, to teach us to observe his gospel institutions, and most of all that of the Lord's supper. Those who go upon Christ's word, need not fear disappointment. According to the orders given them, the disciples got all ready for the passover. Jesus bids this passover welcome. He desired it, though he knew his sufferings would follow, because it was in order to his Father's glory and man's redemption. He takes his leave of all passovers, signifying thereby his doing away all the ordinances of the ceremonial law, of which the passover was one of the earliest and chief. That type was laid aside, because now in the kingdom of God the substance was come.

Commentary on Luke 22:19-20

(Read Luke 22:19-20)

The Lord's supper is a sign or memorial of Christ already come, who by dying delivered us; his death is in special manner set before us in that ordinance, by which we are reminded of it. The breaking of Christ's body as a sacrifice for us, is therein brought to our remembrance by the breaking of bread. Nothing can be more nourishing and satisfying to the soul, than the doctrine of Christ's making atonement for sin, and the assurance of an interest in that atonement. Therefore we do this in rememberance of what He did for us, when he died for us; and for a memorial of what we do, in joining ourselves to him in an everlasting covenant. The shedding of Christ's blood, by which the atonement was made, is represented by the wine in the cup.

Commentary on Luke 22:21-38

(Read Luke 22:21-38)

How unbecoming is the worldly ambition of being the greatest, to the character of a follower of Jesus, who took upon him the form of a servant, and humbled himself to the death of the cross! In the way to eternal happiness, we must expect to be assaulted and sifted by Satan. If he cannot destroy, he will try to disgrace or distress us. Nothing more certainly forebodes a fall, in a professed follower of Christ, than self-confidence, with disregard to warnings, and contempt of danger. Unless we watch and pray always, we may be drawn in the course of the day into those sins which we were in the morning most resolved against. If believers were left to themselves, they would fall; but they are kept by the power of God, and the prayer of Christ. Our Lord gave notice of a very great change of circumstances now approaching. The disciples must not expect that their friends would be kind to them as they had been. Therefore, he that has a purse, let him take it, for he may need it. They must now expect that their enemies would be more fierce than they had been, and they would need weapons. At the time the apostles understood Christ to mean real weapons, but he spake only of the weapons of the spiritual warfare. The sword of the Spirit is the sword with which the disciples of Christ must furnish themselves.