Matthew 26:26

ἐσθ. δὲ αὐτῶν : same phrase as in Matthew 26:21, with δὲ added to introduce another memorable incident of the paschal supper. No details are given regarding that meal, so that we do not know how far our Lord followed the usual routine, for which consult Lightfoot, Hor. Heb., or Smith's Dictionary, article Passover. Neither can we with certainty fix the place of the Holy Supper in the paschal meal, or in relation to the announcement of the traitor. The evangelists did not concern themselves about such subordinate matters. λαβὼν, etc., having taken a cake of bread and given thanks He broke it. The benediction may have been an old form put to a new use, or original. εὐλογήσας has not ἄρτον for its object, which would in that case have been placed after it. δοὺς, etc., giving to the disciples; the cake broken into as many morsels, either in the act of giving or before the distribution began. λάβετε φάγετε, take, eat. λάβετε only in Mk. (W. and H [138]). φάγετε probably an interpretative addition, true but unnecessary, by our evangelist. τοῦτό ἐστιν τὸ σῶμά μου, this is my body. The ἐστι is the copula of symbolic significance. Jesus at this sacred moment uses a beautifully simple, pathetic, and poetic symbol of His death. But this symbol has had the fate of all religious symbolism, which is to run into fetish worship; in view of which the question is raising itself in some thoughtful minds whether discontinuance, at least for a time, of the use of sacraments would not be a benefit to the religion of the spirit and more in harmony with the mind of Christ than their obligatory observance.

[138] Westcott and Hort.