For I tell youThis phrase indicates a solemn declaration by Jesus, emphasizing the importance and certainty of what He is about to say. In the Gospels, Jesus often uses "I tell you" to introduce significant teachings or prophecies, underscoring His authority as the Son of God.
that I will not eat it again
Jesus is referring to the Passover meal, which He is sharing with His disciples. This statement highlights the finality of this particular meal, as it is the last Passover Jesus will partake in before His crucifixion. The Passover meal commemorates Israel's deliverance from Egypt, and Jesus is about to fulfill its ultimate meaning through His sacrificial death.
until it is fulfilled
The fulfillment Jesus speaks of points to the completion of God's redemptive plan. The Passover finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus' death and resurrection, which inaugurates the new covenant. This phrase also suggests a future aspect, where the full realization of God's kingdom will be experienced.
in the kingdom of God.
The kingdom of God is a central theme in Jesus' teaching, representing God's sovereign rule and the realization of His divine purposes. This phrase indicates that the next time Jesus partakes in such a meal, it will be in the eschatological fulfillment of God's kingdom. This points to the Messianic banquet, a future event prophesied in Isaiah 25:6-9 and echoed in Revelation 19:9, where believers will celebrate with Christ in His eternal kingdom.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Jesus ChristThe central figure in this passage, Jesus is speaking to His disciples during the Last Supper, a pivotal moment before His crucifixion.
2.
The DisciplesThe twelve men chosen by Jesus to follow Him, learn from Him, and carry on His mission. They are present at the Last Supper, sharing in this intimate and prophetic moment.
3.
The Last SupperThis event takes place in an upper room in Jerusalem, where Jesus shares the Passover meal with His disciples, instituting the Lord's Supper.
4.
The Kingdom of GodA central theme in Jesus' teachings, representing God's sovereign rule and the fulfillment of His divine plan.
5.
PassoverA Jewish festival commemorating the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt, which Jesus reinterprets in light of His impending sacrifice.
Teaching Points
Anticipation of FulfillmentJesus' words remind us that the Last Supper is not just a historical event but a forward-looking promise of the kingdom's fulfillment. Believers are called to live in anticipation of Christ's return and the complete realization of God's kingdom.
The Significance of CommunionThe Lord's Supper is a profound act of remembrance and proclamation. It is a time to reflect on Christ's sacrifice and look forward to His return, reinforcing our faith and hope.
Living in the Kingdom NowWhile the kingdom of God will be fully realized in the future, believers are called to live under God's rule now, embodying kingdom values in their daily lives.
Unity in ChristThe Last Supper was a moment of unity among Jesus and His disciples. Today, communion serves as a reminder of the unity we share as the body of Christ, transcending differences and divisions.
Hope in Christ's ReturnJesus' promise to eat again in the kingdom of God assures us of the certainty of His return. This hope should inspire us to live faithfully and expectantly.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Luke 22:16?
2. How does Luke 22:16 foreshadow the fulfillment of God's kingdom promises?
3. What does "until it is fulfilled" in Luke 22:16 signify about Jesus' mission?
4. How does Luke 22:16 connect to Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah?
5. In what ways can we prepare for the fulfillment mentioned in Luke 22:16?
6. How does understanding Luke 22:16 impact our anticipation of Christ's return?
7. What does Jesus mean by "I will not eat it again" in Luke 22:16?
8. How does Luke 22:16 relate to the concept of the Messianic banquet?
9. Why is the Passover significant in the context of Luke 22:16?
10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Luke 22?
11. What were the teachings of Jesus?
12. How do Psalms foreshadow Jesus Christ's life and mission?
13. What activities will we engage in Heaven?
14. How can Ezekiel 37:25-28's everlasting covenant and sanctuary be understood when there seems to be no clear historical or present-day fulfillment matching this depiction?What Does Luke 22:16 Mean
For I tell you• Jesus speaks with divine authority; every word is trustworthy and binding (John 14:6).
• This personal declaration underscores that He fully knows the future, echoing earlier predictions of His death and resurrection (Luke 18:31-33).
• By prefacing with “I tell you,” He stresses that what follows is not speculation but certain fact, just as earlier statements about His sufferings were fulfilled (Luke 22:37).
that I will not eat it again• “It” refers to the Passover meal He has just shared (Luke 22:15).
• His abstinence highlights the finality of this particular Passover: the true Lamb is about to be sacrificed (John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7).
• This vow also affirms the once-for-all nature of His atoning work—no further sacrificial meals will be needed after His death and resurrection (Hebrews 9:26-28).
until it is fulfilled• “Fulfilled” points to a specific, future accomplishment: the complete realization of God’s redemptive plan begun in the Exodus and finished in Christ (Luke 24:44).
• The word signals certainty and completion, paralleling His later cry from the cross, “It is finished” (John 19:30).
• Fulfillment includes the global proclamation of the gospel (Matthew 24:14) and the gathering of all the redeemed (Ephesians 1:10).
in the kingdom of God• The kingdom Jesus envisions is a literal, future reign where He will physically share table fellowship with His people (Matthew 26:29; Revelation 19:9).
• This promise anticipates the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, a celebratory feast marking the full arrival of God’s rule (Isaiah 25:6-9).
• Believers are invited to look ahead with confidence, knowing that just as the first Passover meal pointed to the cross, so this promise directs eyes to Christ’s visible return and reign (Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 11:26).
summaryLuke 22:16 shows Jesus, the truthful Lord, declaring that He will abstain from the Passover meal until the final, literal fulfillment of God’s kingdom. His words seal the certainty of the cross, guarantee the completion of redemption, and focus believers’ hope on the coming, tangible feast in His future reign.
(16)
Until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.--The words are obviously the expression of the same thought as those in
Matthew 26:29, where see Note. Here the word "fulfilled" presents a new depth of meaning. The "Passover" was fulfilled in the kingdom of God: (1) in the sacrifice on the cross; (2) in every commemoration of that sacrifice by the acts which He appointed. Every such act was one of Communion, not only of the disciples with each other, but with Him, and in it He is, as it were, joining in the feast with them. Hereafter, as in the promise of
Revelation 3:20, "I will sup with him, and he with Me," there will be a yet fuller consummation. (Comp.
Luke 22:18.)
Verses 16-18. -
For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. There was yet one other reason for the Master's special desire once more to eat the solemn Passover with his chosen disciples. He would, by some significant action and word, show that the great Jewish feast, for so many centuries the central act of the ritual observances under the Mosaic Law, from henceforth would be superseded by a new and a yet more solemn religious rite. The Jewish Passover was to give place to the Christian sacrament. He, their Master, would with them share in the Passover meal that evening for the last time. The next time that he would partake would be still with them, but it would be in the kingdom of God, that is to say, in the Church of God, which was to be founded after his resurrection. The kingdom of God commenced with the resurrection of Jesus. The constant celebration of the Holy Eucharist commenced from that time; it is more than probable that our Lord partook of it, after his resurrection, with his own (see
Luke 24:30;
Acts 10:41).
I will not any more eat thereof, until... I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until, etc. These statements, which speak of a final partaking (eating and drinking), are closely parallel to the command contained in vers. 19, 20. The first statement seems solemnly to close the celebration of the Passover Feast; the second, to institute with equal solemnity a new feast in its place - With
desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer (ver. 15); for -
The Passover Feast is solemnly put an end to. I will not any more
eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God (ver. 16). I will not
drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come (ver. 18).
The Holy Eucharist is solemnly instituted. He took
bread,... and brake it, and gave unto them: ... This do in remembrance of me (ver. 19). Likewise also the cup after Supper (ver. 20). It was in the course of the great ritual Supper on some of the occasions when the cup was passed round, and the unleavened bread formally broken or dipped in one of the Passover dishes, that the Lord found his opportunity solemnly to announce the formal abrogation of the old Paschal Supper and the institution of the new communion feast. The above
literal interpretation of the Lord's mystic words, "until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom" (
Matthew 26:29), or, as St. Luke reports them, "I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come " - which literal interpretation in the main is that preferred by Dean Mansel (Commentary on
Matthew 26:29); see, too, St. Chrysostom in Matthew Hom. 72, who adopts the same literal interpretation - does not exclude a yet deeper and more spiritual meaning which lies beneath the surface, and which speaks of another and spiritual banquet in the heavenly realm, which not only the Redeemer, but also his redeemed, will partake cf. Heaven-life under the form of a banquet was imagery well known and often painted by the Jewish masters in the old rabbinic schools before and contemporary with the earthly life of Christ. The New Testament writers in several places have adopted the similar imagery, notably in
Matthew 8:11;
Luke 22:30;
Revelation 19:9. How widespread and well loved was this Jewish representation of the heaven-life under the form of a banquet is clear from the three above-quoted references taken from SS. Matthew, Paul (Luke), and John.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
Forγὰρ (gar)Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.I tellλέγω (legō)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. youὑμῖν (hymin)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.thatὅτι (hoti)Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.I will not eatφάγω (phagō)Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 5315: A primary verb; to eat.itαὐτὸ (auto)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Neuter 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.again untilἕως (heōs)Preposition
Strong's 2193: A conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until.it is fulfilledπληρωθῇ (plērōthē)Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4137: From pleres; to make replete, i.e. to cram, level up, or to furnish, satisfy, execute, finish, verify, etc.inἐν (en)Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.theτῇ (tē)Article - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.kingdomβασιλείᾳ (basileia)Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 932: From basileus; properly, royalty, i.e. rule, or a realm.of God.”Θεοῦ (Theou)Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.
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NT Gospels: Luke 22:16 For I tell you I will no (Luke Lu Lk) 
