Matthew 26:26
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
Cross-references
In Matthew 14:19, Jesus similarly takes, gives thanks, breaks, and gives bread to the crowd — a clear parallel to the Last Supper.
In Matthew 15:36, Jesus again takes, gives thanks, breaks, and gives bread — another parallel to the institution of the Lord's Supper.
1 Corinthians 11:26-29 expands on this supper — proclaiming Christ's death and warning against unworthy participation.
1 Corinthians 11:23-25 provides Paul's account of the institution, emphasizing the covenant in his blood.
1 Corinthians 10:17 draws the implication that the one loaf represents the unity of believers in Christ's body.
1 Corinthians 10:16 explains that the broken bread is participation in Christ's body, directly echoing the Last Supper.
Luke 22:19 adds the command 'do this in remembrance of me' to the same Last Supper institution.
Luke 22:20 records the parallel cup saying with 'new covenant in my blood' — highlighting the covenant aspect.
John 6:47-51 expands on Jesus' flesh as bread given for the world, directly anticipating the Last Supper.
Exodus 12:8 describes eating unleavened bread at the first Passover — the feast during which Jesus later institutes the Lord's Supper.
John 6:53 teaches the necessity of eating Jesus' flesh and drinking his blood, providing theological grounding for the sacrament instituted here.
Proverbs 9:5 has Wisdom inviting to eat bread and drink wine — a foreshadowing of Christ's invitation at the Last Supper.
Genesis 14:18 shows Melchizedek offering bread and wine — a typological foreshadowing of Christ's institution.
John 6:33-35 identifies Jesus as the bread of life, providing theological basis for 'this is my body'.
In Luke 24:30, Jesus repeats the breaking of bread after resurrection, echoing the Last Supper and prompting recognition.
Acts 2:46 shows the early church continuing the breaking of bread practice, rooted in the Last Supper.
Acts 20:7 shows believers gathering on the first day to break bread, continuing the Last Supper tradition.
Mark 8:6 records Jesus blessing, breaking, and giving bread in the feeding miracle, mirroring the eucharistic actions here.
In Mark 6:41, Jesus gives thanks and breaks bread in the feeding miracle, prefiguring the Eucharist.