Matthew 26:28

“for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
Matthew 26:28 · direct translation from the Greek

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With the Greek beneath

forγάρthisτοῦτοisἐστινmy bloodτὸ αἷμά μουof the covenant,τῆς διαθήκηςwhichτὸis poured outἐκχυννόμενονforπερὶmanyπολλῶνforεἰςthe forgivenessἄφεσινof sins.ἁμαρτιῶν

Allusion · Exodus 24:8

Go to Exodus 24:8

Both texts say “the blood of the covenant”: Moses, when sprinkling the people at Sinai; Jesus, of the cup: “my blood of the covenant.”

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

αἷμάhaimaG129דָּםdamH1818“blood”
διαθήκηςdiathēkēsG1242בְּרִיתberitH1285“covenant”

Covenantבְּרִית / διαθήκηברית diathēkē

A solemn commitment between two parties, with obligations and often with an oath, sacrifice or sign. God makes a covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15:18; 17:10) and with Israel at Sinai, sealed with blood (Exodus 24:8); Jeremiah announces a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31). In Hebrews 9:16-17 the Greek word is used in the sense of “testament.”

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Allusion · Jeremiah 31:31-34

Go to Jeremiah 31:31-34

Both texts join the covenant and the forgiveness of sins; Jeremiah 31:31-34 announces a new covenant and ends: “I will forgive their iniquity.”

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

διαθήκηςdiathēkēsG1242בְּרִיתberitH1285“covenant”
ἄφεσινaphesinG859אֶסְלַחeslajH5545“forgiveness, release”
ἁμαρτιῶνhamartiōnG266חַטָּאתָjatataH2403“sin”

Matthew 26:28, word by word

isἐστινestin

To be: says who or what something is.

Where else “estin” appears

my bloodαἷμάhaima

blood

The red fluid that runs through the bodies of people and animals.

Where else “haima” appears

of the covenantδιαθήκηςdiathēkēs

covenant

The agreement with promises and obligations that God makes with his people.

Where else “diathēkēs” appears

is poured outἐκχυννόμενονekchynnomenon

pour out

To empty out a liquid, like wine or blood.

Where else “ekchynnomenon” appears

manyπολλῶνpollōn

many

A great number of people or things.

Where else “pollōn” appears

the forgivenessἄφεσινaphesin

forgiveness

God no longer holds your sins against you.

Where else “aphesin” appears

of sinsἁμαρτιῶνhamartiōn

sin

Doing what God does not want, and the guilt it leaves.

Where else “hamartiōn” appears

Translation note

“The blood of the covenant” are the words of Exodus 24:8; compare the new covenant of Jeremiah 31:31-34.

Parallel passages

Other books that tell the same thing or quote these words.

The Last Supper

Mark 14:22-25 Luke 22:14-20

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Matthew 26:26-29

²⁶And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessing, he broke it and giving it to the disciples, he said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” ²⁷And taking a cup and giving thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, ²⁸for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. ²⁹But I tell you, I will never drink from now on of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in the kingdom of my Father.”

Mark 14:22-25

²²And as they were eating, taking bread and blessing, he broke it and gave it to them and said, “Take; this is my body.” ²³And taking a cup and giving thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. ²⁴And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. ²⁵Truly I tell you that I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

Luke 22:14-20

¹⁴And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. ¹⁵And he said to them, “With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. ¹⁶For I tell you that I will never eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” ¹⁷And having received a cup, and given thanks, he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; ¹⁸for I tell you, I will never drink from now on of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” ¹⁹And taking bread, and giving thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁰And the cup likewise after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

The context

27And taking a cup and giving thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you,

28 · This verse (above)

29But I tell you, I will never drink from now on of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in the kingdom of my Father.”

Read all of Matthew 26

To study Matthew 26 in a group

1. What it says
What did the woman do with the jar of perfume, and what did Jesus say about it (vv. 7, 10–13)?
2. What it means
What does Jesus say about his blood as he gives the cup to the disciples (vv. 27–28)?
3. How I live it
Peter said he would never deny him, and then did (vv. 33–35, 69–75). How can you start over after failing someone?

How to use it