August 15, 2026 · David Farmer
The Bread Given
“And he took bread, and when he had given 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.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table.”
Luke 22:19-21 →
## The Betrayer’s Bread is the Covenant’s Bread
Matthew (26:23) and Mark (14:20) also comment about the “one who is dipping bread into the dish with me” being the betrayer. What I thought interesting here is He took the bread, broke it, and handed it out (Luke 22:19). We know from 22:7 it was Unleavened Bread. The Exodus Passover rules would state that no leaven would be found in the house at this time; the only bread on the table was unleavened. Leaven is a picture type of sin; a symbol of what is not kosher, a reference to what is outside of God’s Covenant. So unleavened bread would be a picture type of sinlessness; a symbol of what is kosher, a reference to being within God’s Covenant. Jesus uses leaven idiomatically to reference the teachings of the Pharisees (Matthew 16). Could it be that He was suggesting their teachings had gone so far off base of the intentions of the Old Covenant? It was unleavened bread that Jesus offered for the New Covenant to Judas, His Betrayer. John 13:11 “For He knew who was to betray Him... 18 ... But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’” This quotes from Psalm 41. Read these curious surrounding verses... Psalm 41:7 “All who hate me whisper together about me... 8 They say, ‘...He will not rise again...’ 9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me. 10 But you, O Lord, be gracious to me, and raise me up...”
## Self-Check
So what did Jesus do? How do we act like Him? Jesus offers kosher sinlessness within God’s New Covenant even to one He knows is going to sin against Him in the future. How often do we extend forgiveness to people that have done us wrong? How often do we extend friendship to people that are doing us wrong? How often do we extend covenant to people that we know well and good are going to do us wrong? As Psalm 41 encourages us that no matter who comes against your life, no matter who hates you, it is the Lord Who is gracious to you. It is the Lord Who raises up.
## G.O.A.T