The Last Passover Supper. What Did

Jesus Really Break and Distribute to His Disciples?

Only Grain Bread or the Bread of the Sacrificial Lamb?

Article dB

Part 1

This part of the article extensively considers the word bread, and what it pertained to in old times. Many Scriptures appear to use the word bread in denoting food in general and even including meat, rather than speaking only of grain derived bread. Many Scriptures in speaking of bread make statements similar to, "the king set forth bread and wine" (Gen 14:18), "they sat down to eat bread" (Gen 37:25), "invite him in that he may eat bread" (Ex 2:20), while if the word bread in Scriptures like these would strictly mean grain bread (as we Americans think of bread), these type of Scriptures would mean that these ancient people lived on a mere bread diet, which clearly is not true. Jesus prayed that God would give us our daily bread and thereby quite obviously thinking of all wholesome foods, rather than only of grain breads. God in Leviticus 26:3-5 promised His people if they were faithful to Him the trees and land would yield their increase, and said they would eat bread to the full, and clearly speaking of foods in general rather than only speaking of grain bread. dB-1

The Bible says the Egyptians would not eat bread with the Hebrews, quite obviously meaning the Egyptians simply would not eat with the Hebrews, rather than meaning they would still eat foods other than bread with them (Gen 43:32). The Bible several places says Moses didn't eat bread or drink water for many days, quite obviously meaning he did not eat any food at all rather than meaning he only refrained from grain bread (Ex 34:28, Deu 9:9&18). The Bible often speaks of God punishing His people by taking away their staff of bread, and meaning a deprivation of all foods rather than meaning just depriving them of grain bread! Obviously the Biblical word bread can mean any food, rather than only grain bread. dB-2

After Samson's father had told the angel to tarry while he prepared a kid to eat, the angel said he would not eat of his bread, using the word bread to denote the meat of the kid. This Scripture reads "And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, I pray thee, let us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee. 16 And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread:...". (Judges 13:15-16). Carefully note how here meat is referred to as bread. What food is the Bible speaking of where it speaks of Jesus breaking bread and giving it to His disciples and while saying this is my body which is given for you? Was it the sacrificial Passover Lamb or the unleavened bread? dB-3

In examining the original Greek Scriptures, one finds that the Greek word "artos" basically always underlies the word bread in our New Testament (KJV), and basically always is translated into the English word bread therein. Thus as in KJV New Testaments, the Greek word "artos" and the English word bread are fully in correspondence with one another. Yet comparing the Old Testament KJV with the Greek Septuagint, the Greek word "artos", is not only translated into the English word bread but also quite often is translated into the words food, victuals, fruit, and meat (Gen 24:33, Lev 22:11-13, Deu 21:18, 2 Sam 12:3, 1 King 5:9, 1 King 11:18, Job 24:5, Psa 78:25, Psa 104:14, Isa 65:25, Jer 11:19, Jer 44:17, Ezek 48:18). It here very much should be realized that the Septuagint clearly speaking of the meat sacrifices of the Priest's and of those who are eligible to eat this sacrifical meat, uses the Greek word "artos" (which underlies our word bread) in speaking of this sacrificial meat (Lev 22:11-13)! Jesus in John 6 emphatically and repeatedly spoke of His flesh being bread from heaven which humanity must participate in to be saved. Here again flesh is referred to as bread. Jesus very much had reason to speak of His flesh being bread or food from heaven, which humanity needed to eat to be saved, as He knew He was the real and final Passover Lamb from heaven, the very Lamb to which all Passover Lambs throughout all history had always pointed to! Jesus clearly knew that the death of the Passover Lamb and eating it's flesh, had always symbolized how He would need to die and His flesh and blood be Spiritually eaten for humanity to be saved! Would Jesus at the last supper, knowing this then have taken the unleavened bread rather than the Passover Lamb and said, take eat this is my body which is given for you (Luke 22:19)?! dB-4

Part 2

This second part of the article considers the special position, and purpose of sacrificial meat in old times. In old times in Israel, the Israelites very much were expected and required to eat the meat of the sacrifices. The Priests were even commanded to eat such meat in the Holy place of the Tabernacle. Following are Scriptures that reveal such; dB-5

(Lev 6:16) And the remainder thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat: with unleavened bread shall it be eaten in the holy place; in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation they shall eat it. dB-6

(Lev 7:5-6) And the priest shall burn them upon the altar for an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a trespass offering. 6 Every male among the priests shall eat thereof: it shall be eaten in the holy place: it is most holy. dB-7

(Lev 10:16-18) And Moses diligently sought the goat of the sin offering, and, behold, it was burnt: and he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron which were left alive, saying, 17 Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin offering in the holy place, seeing it is most holy, and God hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the LORD? 18 Behold, the blood of it was not brought in within the holy place: ye should indeed have eaten it in the holy place, as I commanded. dB-8

Not only was the meat of the Israelites' routine sacrifices an important issue, but also the meat of the Passover Lamb was a most important issue. This Lamb was to be eaten in their special and annual Passover Feast. The death of the Passover Lamb and eating it was an important issue for the Israelites. Not a bone of the Passover Lamb was to be broken, and what ever portion of this Lamb was not eaten within this special meal was to be discarded after the meal. The Passover lamb was the focal issue of the Passover celebration, and his meat was the focal food of the Passover meal rather than any grain bread. Yet in the Passover meal unleavened bread was to be eaten with the Passover Lamb, as well as throughout the whole week after the Passover meal, during what was called the feast of unleavened bread. The Passover Lamb obviously was the peculiar or particular food for the Passover Meal rather than the unleavened bread. Following are several Scriptures which reveal the importance of the Passover Lamb and the eating of it. dB-10

(Ex 12:8&10) "And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire." dB-11

(Ex 12:43&46) "And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof: 46 In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof." dB-12

(Num 9:10-13) "...he shall keep the passover unto the LORD. 11 The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 12 They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it. 13 But the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he brought not the offering of the LORD in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin." dB-13

(Deu 16:2-4) "Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the LORD shall choose to place his name there. 3 Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it... 4 And there shall be no leavened bread seen with thee in all thy coast seven days; neither shall there any thing of the flesh, which thou sacrificedst the first day at even, remain all night until the morning." dB-14

The tradition of the Passover continued from the time of Moses till Christ being about 1450 years. During all these 1450 years as the Israelites broke and distributed the meat of the Passover lamb, this always very much symbolized the death of Jesus the real Passover Lamb of God and how humanity must participate in Him to have the death angel pass over them and be saved eternally. Although the Jews during these 1450 years really did not understand this, yet Jesus very much did. Jesus very much realized He was the real Passover Lamb from heaven which would need to die, and which humanity needed to participate in to be saved. Jesus speaking of these things said, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 55For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 57 ....he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 58This is that bread which came down from heaven: (John 6:51&55&57-58). Apostle Paul accordingly wrote "...For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us (1Cor 5:7) dB-15

Jesus later at the special Last Supper Passover just preceding His crucifixion, and while having the vital Passover Lamb before Him (as well as the unleavened bread), took some "artos" which largely means food and blessed it and brake and gave to His disciples saying, take eat this is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19, Matt 26:26, Mark 14:22). Just what was this "artos"?! Would Jesus here in the presence of His disciples, who still did not understand how the Passover Lamb during the last 1450 years had always signified, Christ's sacrificial death and how man must partake of Him to be saved, now strangely have left this special symbolical meat on the table and taken the mere unleavened grain bread, and broke it saying "take eat this is my body which is given as a sacrifice for you"? At this special time wherein Jesus had a wondrous and final opportunity to reveal to His disciples how slaying and eating the Passover Lamb, throughout all history had always symbolized His sacrificial death and participating in Him to be saved, would Jesus then have turned His focus on the unleavened bread (and left the Passover Lamb lay by) and said this grain bread which never lived or died symbolizes my broken body and sacrificial death for you?! Oh may God help us understand! After 1450 years of annual Passovers and wherein the death of the Passover Lamb and eating it had always symbolized Jesus sacrificial death and participating in Him to be saved, does it not almost seem impossible that Jesus here just prior to the actual fulfillment of this most vital sacrificial symbol would have suddenly taken grain bread (rather than the lamb) and said this symbolizes my body being given as a sacrifice for you?! dB-17

Just because the Scriptures use the word "artos" in speaking of the substance that Jesus broke and distributed, does not need to mean it was grain bread! One should here remember how the Greek word "artos" can mean meat, or food of any kind, and further is distinctly used in speaking of sacrificial meat in the Septuagint, and which Bible text appears to be the very text Jesus and the Apostles used (Lev 22:11-13). One should neither forget how the Angel speaking to Manoah, correspondingly called the meat of Manoah's kid bread (Judges 13:15-16)! As Jesus the Lamb of God called His own Sacrificial Flesh "artos" (bread), why should we think it strange if the sacrificial flesh of the Passover lamb would also be referred to as "artos" (bread)? One should also consider that the unleavened bread was not even special and particular to the Passover meal as was the Passover Lamb, as it was eaten for seven days following the Passover meal! Yet today basically all Christianity throughout the world is under the impression that Jesus broke and distributed mere grain bread at the last Passover Supper, and while saying this is my body which was given for you, (rather than the Passover Lamb), and thus is commemorating Christ's life and body which was given as a living sacrifice for humanity with the substance of grain rather than the substance of flesh, life, and death. Why is this? One should here remember that very many and great errors have been handed down to Christianity by the Roman Church which largely ruled the world for 1260 years and which has greatly misguided Christendom. Is this just another one of those many errors? dB-17

Meats really are not a prestigious or heavenly food, and simply because meat very much pertains to death, while in heaven there will be no death (Rev 21:4). Meat is very different than the foods from plants and trees, as plant foods do not relate to or involve death and will be eaten in heaven where their is no death (Rev 22:2, Matt 26:29). In conclusion, may God help Christians to rightly understand Jesus' activities in the last Passover Supper, and understand how to properly commemorate the Lamb of God, who died that they might participate in Him and live, as they commemorate Him in their communion services. God bless and farewell. dB-18

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