Matthew 26:20

he sat down with the twelve Rather, reclined with. This posture had not only become customary at ordinary meals, but was especially enjoined in the passover ritual. The Paschal ceremonial, so far as it bears on the Gospel narrative, may be described as follows:

(a) The meal began with a cup of red wine mixed with water: this is the firstcup mentioned, Luke 22:17. After this the guests washed their hands. Here probably must be placed the washing of the disciples" feet, John 13.

(b) The bitter herbs, symbolic of the bitter bondage in Egypt, were then brought in together with unleavened cakes, and a sauce called charoseth, made of fruits and vinegar, into which the unleavened bread and bitter herbs were dipped. This explains "He it is, to whom I shall give a sop," John 13:26.

(c) The secondcup was then mixed and blessed like the first. The father then explained the meaning of the rite (Exodus 13:8). This was the haggadahor "shewing forth," a term transferred by St Paul to the Christian meaning of the rite (1 Corinthians 11:26). The first part of the "hallel" (Psalms 113, 114) was then chanted by the company.

(d) After this the paschal lamb was placed before the guests. This is called in a special sense "the supper." But at the Last Supper there was no paschal lamb. There was no need now of the typical lamb without blemish, for the antitype was there. Christ Himself was our Passover "sacrificed for us" (1 Corinthians 5:7). He was there being slain for us His body was being given, His blood being shed. At this point, when according to the ordinary ritual the company partook of the paschal lamb, Jesus "took bread and blessed it, and gave it to his disciples" (Matthew 26:26).

(e) The thirdcup, or "cup of blessing," so called because a special blessing was pronounced upon it, followed: "after supperhe took the cup" (Luke). "He took the cup when he had supped" (Paul). This is the "cup" named in Matthew 26:27.

(f) After a fourthcup the company chanted (see Matthew 26:30) the second part of the "hallel" (Psalms 115-118). (Lightfoot Hor. Hebr.Dr Ginsburg in Kitto's Encycl., Dr Edersheim Temple Services.)