Mark 14:23

Modern

Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it.

Traditional

And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.

Literal

And having taken the cup, having given thanks, He gave to them, and they all drank of it.

Latin

Et accepto calice, gratias agens dedit eis: et biberunt ex illo omnes.

Greek

English

Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it.

The Last Supper began with a blessing. Today, many Christians ask God to bless the food before a meal. In the time of Jesus, Jewish people commonly blessed God for providing the food by saying, “Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.”
this is My body … This is My blood: Ever since the Protestant Reformation, there have been three main interpretations of the words of Jesus about the bread and wine:
1. Transubstantiation: The bread and wine are believed to change into the actual body and blood of Christ, while still appearing to be bread and wine.
2. Real Presence: Christ is understood to be truly present in the sacrament in a mysterious but real way that is beyond human understanding.
3. Memorial or Symbolic View: The bread and wine are seen as symbols. The act of sharing them recalls Christ’s death and resurrection, and believers receive spiritual benefit through faith.
See also John 6:53–63.

The preparation for the Passover meal (14:12–16) introduces the story of the Last Supper (22–25).
The Last Supper is associated with the Passover meal (14:12, 14, 16; Matthew 26:17–19; Luke 22:7–8, 11, 13, 15; compare John 18:28; 19:14). Many people traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. This was where God's temple was located (see Deuteronomy 16:2).

Theme notes and profiles

Mark 14:22
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it; this is My body.”
Matthew 26:27
Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.
1 Corinthians 10:16
Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
Luke 22:17
After taking the cup, He gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves.
Romans 14:6
He who observes a special day does so to the Lord; he who eats does so to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.