Luke 22:19 (KJV)

What does Luke 22:19 mean?

Luke 22:19 describes Jesus taking bread, giving thanks, breaking it, and giving it to his disciples, saying that the bread represents his body given for them, and telling them to do this in remembrance of him. This verse shows Jesus establishing a symbolic act for his followers to remember his sacrifice.

In this scene, Jesus is speaking to his closest followers during a meal on the night before his crucifixion. The act of breaking bread and sharing it is given new meaning by Jesus, who connects the bread to his own body and upcoming death. The instruction to "do this in remembrance of me" sets up a practice for his followers to recall his life and sacrifice together.

The Greek behind Luke 22:19

• "Remembrance" (ἀνάμνησις, anamnēsis) means more than just recalling a memory; it often carries the sense of an active, purposeful remembering that brings the past event into the present experience.
• "Given" (δίδωμι, didōmi) is used here to show that Jesus’s body is something offered or handed over for the benefit of others, highlighting the idea of a voluntary sacrifice.
• "Body" (σῶμα, sōma) in Greek refers to the whole person, not just physical flesh, so Jesus is offering his whole self for his followers.

Why Luke 22:19 matters

• Luke 22:19 clarifies that the act of breaking and sharing bread is not just a meal, but a meaningful symbol tied to Jesus’s own life and death.
• The verse emphasizes that remembering Jesus is not a passive act, but something his followers are called to do together, as a community.
• This moment connects to the wider story of Jesus’s final hours and sets the foundation for a key Christian practice known as Communion or the Lord’s Supper.