Luke 22

Chapter 22 of Luke marks the point at which the Passion narrative of Jesus begins in earnest. After Jesus teaches about the destruction of the Temple and the end of the age in the previous chapter, a plot to kill him comes to light as the Passover approaches.

Outline

• Verses 1–6 The chief priests and scribes seek a way to put Jesus to death. Judas Iscariot, into whom Satan has entered, agrees to accept money and looks for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them.
• Verses 7–13 Jesus sends Peter and John to prepare the Passover meal in an upper room.
• Verses 14–23 Sharing the cup and the bread, Jesus says, "This do in remembrance of me," and calls the cup the new covenant. He then foretells his betrayal (Last Supper).
• Verses 24–30 When the disciples dispute over which of them is the greatest, Jesus teaches that the greatest must be as one who serves. He also promises that the disciples will judge the twelve tribes of Israel.
• Verses 31–34 Jesus tells Simon that he has prayed for him, that his faith fail not, and foretells that Simon will deny him three times before the cock crows.
• Verses 35–38 Jesus tells the disciples to take a purse and a sword, quoting the words of Isaiah. When the disciples produce two swords, he replies, "It is enough."
• Verses 39–46 Jesus prays on the Mount of Olives. An angel appears and strengthens him, and his sweat falls like great drops of blood.
• Verses 47–53 Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss. One of the disciples cuts off the right ear of the high priest's servant, and Jesus heals the ear.
• Verses 54–62 In the courtyard of the high priest's house, Peter denies Jesus three times; when the cock crows, he goes out and weeps bitterly.
• Verses 63–71 The men guarding Jesus mock and beat him. At daybreak the council interrogates him, and Jesus answers, "Ye say that I am."

Key Verses

• Luke 22:19–20 "This is my body which is given for you … This cup is the new testament in my blood." These words form the basis of the Lord's Supper as practiced by the church today (Luke 22:19–20).
• Luke 22:42 "Not my will, but thine, be done." This verse is frequently cited as a model of obedient prayer.
• Luke 22:27 "I am among you as he that serveth." This verse is often invoked in discussions of servant leadership.

Characters and Places

• Jesus Christ refers to himself as the Son of man and answers the question of whether he is the Son of God.
• Captains of the Temple: officials responsible for guarding the Temple, who take part in the arrest.
• The servant of the high priest: his ear is cut off and then healed.
• The maid (servant girl): the first to recognize Peter in the courtyard.
• The upper room: the place within Jerusalem where the Passover meal was eaten.
• The high priest's house: the place to which Jesus was led, in whose courtyard Peter's denial took place.

Points for Reflection

• Luke mentions the cup twice (verses 17 and 20). Some ancient manuscripts are known to lack the latter part of verse 19 and verse 20.
• Denominations differ in how they understand the words "This is my body." The Roman Catholic Church holds that the substance of the bread and wine is changed. Lutherans hold that the body and blood of Christ are truly present together with the elements. Reformed churches hold that Christ is spiritually present, while the Zwinglian tradition emphasizes remembrance (Eucharistic controversy). The same words of institution also appear in 1 Corinthians 11:20–26.
• Verses 43–44 (the angel and the sweat like drops of blood) are absent from some ancient manuscripts, and several modern translations mark them with brackets or a footnote.
• Luke identifies the place of prayer only as the Mount of Olives. The name "Gethsemane" appears in Matthew and Mark (Prayer in Gethsemane).
• Luke does not name the disciple who struck off the ear or the servant. Their names, Peter and Malchus, are given in John 18:10. By contrast, the healing of the ear is recorded only in Luke.
• The two swords (verse 38) are read by some as actual weapons and by others as a figure urging preparation for the suffering to come. In the Middle Ages, the passage was also used as a basis for the "two swords" theory, which applied the image to ecclesiastical and secular power.
• Verse 37 quotes Isaiah 53:12, linking Jesus with the Suffering Servant.

In the Korean Church

In the celebration of the Lord's Supper, verses 19–20 of this chapter are read as the words of institution together with 1 Corinthians 11. The chapter is also frequently used as a sermon text during Holy Week. Verse 42 is widely cited in personal prayer and preaching as an expression of commitment to obedience.