Catholic Commentary on Luke 22

"This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." (Luke 22:19)

The Plot and the Betrayal

Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. Luke's statement is starkly theological: the betrayal is not merely a human failure. It is the entry point of the adversary into the inner circle. Judas goes to the chief priests and officers and agrees to betray Jesus for money. He watches for an opportunity to hand Jesus over when no crowd is present. Meanwhile Jesus sends Peter and John to prepare the Passover: a man carrying a jar of water, the specified sign, will lead them to the room. The preparations for the greatest act of treachery in history and the preparation of the most sacred meal in history occur simultaneously.

The Last Supper and the Eucharist

At the table Jesus takes bread, gives thanks, breaks it, and gives it to them: This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me. After supper he takes the cup: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. The word translated "remembrance," anamnesis, does not mean merely a mental recollection. In the Jewish liturgical tradition, anamnesis means a re-presentation: the Passover Seder did not merely recall the Exodus; it made the worshippers present to it. When the Church does this in remembrance of Jesus, it does not merely remember his death. It makes present the one sacrifice of Christ, offered once for all at Calvary (CCC 1362). This is the theology of the Mass: not a repetition of Calvary but a participation in it, the one sacrifice made present across time.

Gethsemane

Luke alone records that Jesus' sweat fell like great drops of blood during his agony in the garden, and that an angel appeared to strengthen him. Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done. This prayer, Luke tells us, was prayed with greater intensity after the angel's visit, not less. The strengthening does not remove the suffering; it enables him to bear it fully. This is what divine consolation does in the life of the soul: not an escape from the cross but the strength to embrace it.

Peter, James, and John sleep. Jesus finds them and says, in Luke's version: Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The sleeping disciples who fail to pray will fail when the test comes. Peter will deny three times within hours. The connection is not coincidental.

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, Do this in remembrance of me. Every Mass is the fulfilment of this command. The bread broken and the cup poured out are not symbols of a past event. They are the presence of the one who was broken and poured out for you, offered again not in suffering but in glory, making accessible to you now the grace of that one unrepeatable sacrifice. Come to Mass with everything you are. You are coming not to a memorial but to a meeting.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, on the night before you died you gave us your body and blood and told us to do this in memory of you. We come to your table with gratitude we cannot fully express. Make us worthy to receive you. And in the garden of our own agony, give us your prayer: not my will but yours. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

22
The Plot to Kill Jesus
(Matthew 26:1–5; Mark 14:1–2; John 11:45–57)
Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread,* 22:1 Literally the feast of the Unleavened; see Exodus 12:14–20. called the Passover, was approaching, and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death; for they feared the people.
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
(Matthew 26:14–16; Mark 14:10–11)
 
Then Satan entered Judas Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve. And Judas went to discuss with the chief priests and temple officers how he might betray Jesus to them. They were delighted and agreed to give him money. Judas consented, and began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them in the absence of a crowd.
Preparing the Passover
(Matthew 26:17–19; Mark 14:12–16)
 
Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare for us to eat the Passover.”
 
“Where do You want us to prepare it?” they asked.
 
10 He answered, “When you enter the city, a man carrying a jug of water will meet you. Follow him to the house he enters, 11 and say to the owner of that house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?’ 12 And he will show you a large upper room, already furnished. Make preparations there.”
 
13 So they went and found it just as Jesus had told them. And they prepared the Passover.
The Last Supper
(Matthew 26:20–30; Mark 14:17–26; 1 Corinthians 11:17–34)
 
14 When the hour had come, Jesus reclined at the table with His apostles. 15 And He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before My suffering. 16 For I tell you that I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
 
17 After taking the cup, He gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.”
 
19 And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
 
20 In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you. 22:20 Some manuscripts end verse 19 after This is My body and do not include verse 20.
 
21 Look! The hand of My betrayer is with Mine on the table. 22 Indeed, the Son of Man will go as it has been determined, but woe to that man who betrays Him.”
 
23 Then they began to question among themselves which of them was going to do this.
Who Is the Greatest?
 
24 A dispute also arose among the disciples as to which of them would be considered the greatest. 25 So Jesus declared, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority over them call themselves benefactors. 26 But you shall not be like them. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines? But I am among you as one who serves.
 
28 You are the ones who have stood by Me in My trials. 29 And I bestow on you a kingdom, just as My Father has bestowed one on Me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
(Matthew 26:31–35; Mark 14:27–31; John 13:36–38)
 
31 Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
 
33 “Lord,” said Peter, “I am ready to go with You even to prison and to death.”
 
34 But Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.”
 
35 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out without purse or bag or sandals, did you lack anything?”
 
“Nothing,” they answered.
 
36 “Now, however,” He told them, “the one with a purse should take it, and likewise a bag; and the one without a sword should sell his cloak and buy one. 37 For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ 22:37 Isaiah 53:12 For what is written about Me is reaching its fulfillment.”
 
38 So they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.”
 
“That is enough,” He answered.
Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives
(Matthew 26:36–46; Mark 14:32–42)
 
39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed Him. 40 When He came to the place, He told them, “Pray that you will not enter into temptation.”
 
41 And He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, where He knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.”
 
43 Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. 44 And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.§ 22:44 Some manuscripts do not include verses 43 and 44.
 
45 When Jesus rose from prayer and returned to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” He asked. “Get up and pray so that you will not enter into temptation.”
The Betrayal of Jesus
(Matthew 26:47–56; Mark 14:43–52; John 18:1–14)
 
47 While He was still speaking, a crowd arrived, led by the man called Judas, one of the Twelve. He approached Jesus to kiss Him. 48 But Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
 
49 Those around Jesus saw what was about to happen and said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
 
51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And He touched the man’s ear and healed him.
 
52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple officers, and elders who had come for Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against an outlaw? 53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts,* 22:53 Literally the temple and you did not lay a hand on Me. But this hour belongs to you and to the power of darkness.”
Peter Denies Jesus
(Matthew 26:69–75; Mark 14:66–72; John 18:15–18)
 
54 Then they seized Jesus, led Him away, and took Him into the house of the high priest. And Peter followed at a distance.
 
55 When those present had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated in the firelight and looked intently at him. “This man also was with Him,” she said.
 
57 But Peter denied it. “Woman, I do not know Him,” he said.
 
58 A short time later, someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”
 
But Peter said, “Man, I am not.”
 
59 About an hour later, another man insisted, “Certainly this man was with Him, for he too is a Galilean.”
 
60 “Man, I do not know what you are talking about,” Peter replied.
 
While he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter.
 
Then Peter remembered the word that the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
(Isaiah 50:4–11; Matthew 27:27–31; Mark 15:16–20; John 19:1–15)
 
63 The men who were holding Jesus began to mock Him and beat Him. 64 They blindfolded Him 22:64 BYZ and TR include and were striking Him on the face. and kept demanding, “Prophesy! Who hit You?” 65 And they said many other blasphemous things against Him.
Jesus before the Sanhedrin
(Matthew 26:57–68; Mark 14:53–65; John 18:19–24)
 
66 At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and scribes, met together. They led Jesus into their Sanhedrin 22:66 Or their Council and said, 67 “If You are the Christ, tell us.”
 
Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe. 68 And if I ask you a question, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”§ 22:69 See Psalms 110:1.
 
70 So they all asked, “Are You then the Son of God?”
 
He replied, “You say that I am.”
 
71 “Why do we need any more testimony?” they declared. “We have heard it for ourselves from His own lips.”

*22:1 22:1 Literally the feast of the Unleavened; see Exodus 12:14–20.

22:20 22:20 Some manuscripts end verse 19 after This is My body and do not include verse 20.

22:37 22:37 Isaiah 53:12

§22:44 22:44 Some manuscripts do not include verses 43 and 44.

*22:53 22:53 Literally the temple

22:64 22:64 BYZ and TR include and were striking Him on the face.

22:66 22:66 Or their Council

§22:69 22:69 See Psalms 110:1.