After the same manner also he took the cup
That is, off from the table, or out of the hands of the master of
the house, and blessed or gave thanks, as he did before when he
took the bread; see ( Matthew
26:27 ) ( Mark 14:23 ) , "when he
had supped"; the Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, read,
"when they had supped"; which give a true sense, though not a
literal translation; for both Christ and his disciples had
supped, having both eaten the passover supper, and the bread, the
principal part in the Lord's supper, when he took the cup, gave
thanks, and gave it to them:
saying, this cup is the New Testament,
or covenant,
in my blood;
alluding to the old covenant, which was ratified and confirmed by
the blood of bulls, and which was called "the blood of the
covenant", ( Exodus 24:8 ) but the
new covenant was established with Christ's own blood, of which
the wine in the cup was a sign and symbol; for neither the cup,
nor the wine in it, can be thought to be the covenant or
testament itself, by which is meant the covenant of grace, as
administered under the Gospel dispensation; called new, not
because newly made, for it was made from everlasting; or lately
revealed, for it was made known to our first parents immediately
after the fall, and to other saints in succeeding ages, though
more clearly exhibited by Christ under the present dispensation;
but it is so called in distinction from the old covenant, or
former mode of administration of it, under the Mosaic economy;
and it is always new, and will be succeeded by no other; and it
provides for and promises new things, and which are famous and
excellent, and preferable to all others. Now this is said to be
"in the blood" of Christ; that is, it is ratified, and all its
blessings and promises are confirmed by his blood: hence his
blood is called "the blood of the everlasting covenant", (
Hebrews
13:20 ) , pardon and righteousness, peace and reconciliation,
and entrance into the holiest of all, all come through this
blood, and are secured by the same; and to which the faith of the
saints is directed in this ordinance, to observe, receive, and
enjoy for themselves:
this do ye as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of
me;
of his soul's being poured out unto death; of his blood being
shed for the remission of sins; and of his great love in giving
himself an atoning sacrifice to divine justice, and laying such a
foundation for solid peace and joy in the hearts of his people.