Luke 22 18

Luke 22:18 kjv

For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

Luke 22:18 nkjv

for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."

Luke 22:18 niv

For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."

Luke 22:18 esv

For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."

Luke 22:18 nlt

For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come."

Luke 22 verses

Luke 22 18 Meaning

Luke 22:18 records Jesus' solemn declaration during the Passover meal with His disciples, signifying His purposeful abstinence from the "fruit of the vine" until the ultimate realization of the Kingdom of God. This statement is a profound theological anchor, transforming the Passover celebration into a prophetic anticipation of the Messianic banquet and the full, glorious reign of God, which would culminate in His presence with His redeemed people. It marks a clear separation from the current age and points towards a future consummation of God's redemptive plan.

Luke 22 18 Context

Luke 22:18 occurs within the narrative of Jesus's Last Supper, specifically after He distributes the first cup of wine and bread (which He identifies with His body) to His disciples, establishing the practice of what would later become the Lord's Supper or Eucharist. The verse immediately follows Luke 22:17, where Jesus instructs them to "Take this and divide it among yourselves." While the synoptic parallels (Matt 26:29, Mk 14:25) clearly place this vow after the institution of the bread and the second cup (the "cup of the new covenant"), Luke's ordering here suggests Jesus' initial renunciation of partaking of the fruit of the vine applies to the whole Passover meal that evening and its symbolism. The broader historical context is the Passover celebration, commemorating Israel's deliverance from Egyptian bondage. Jesus transforms this traditional festival by connecting its ancient symbols (bread and wine) with His impending sacrificial death and the dawn of a new, spiritual Exodus, culminating in the Kingdom of God. This redefinition signals the transition from the old covenant to the new, fulfilled in Him.

Luke 22 18 Word analysis

• For I tell you (Γὰρ λέγω ὑμῖν - Gar legō hymin):

  • Gar (Γὰρ): "For." Indicates a reason, explanation, or emphatic statement flowing from the previous thought (Lk 22:17).
  • legō (λέγω): "I say" or "I tell." An authoritative declaration from Jesus, signifying the importance and certainty of His statement. It demands attention and belief from the hearers.
  • hymin (ὑμῖν): "to you" (plural). Directly addressed to His disciples present at the supper, underscoring the intimate yet profound nature of the teaching.

• that from now on (ὅτι ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν - hoti apo tou nun):

  • hoti (ὅτι): "that." Introduces the direct content of what Jesus is saying.
  • apo (ἀπὸ): "from." Indicates a point of origin, in this case, a temporal starting point.
  • tou nun (τοῦ νῦν): "the now," hence "now" or "this time." It marks a decisive break. From this very moment of the Passover supper, Jesus's actions concerning the wine will be different. It signifies the imminence of His suffering and the initiation of a new epoch.

• I will not drink (οὐ μὴ πίω - ou mē piō):

  • ou mē (οὐ μὴ): A very strong double negative in Greek, making the statement emphatically negative, equivalent to "I will certainly not drink" or "I shall never drink." This is not a casual promise but a solemn vow.
  • piō (πίω): "I drink" (first person singular aorist subjunctive, functioning as a strong future indicative here). Refers to the act of consuming.

• of the fruit of the vine (ἀπὸ τοῦ γεννήματος τῆς ἀμπέλου - apo tou gennēmatos tēs ampelou):

  • apo (ἀπὸ): "of" or "from." Denotes the source or type.
  • tou gennēmatos (τοῦ γεννήματος): "the fruit" or "product." This is a common biblical idiom for grape juice or wine. It's not explicitly fermented wine, but in the Passover context, fermented wine was typically used.
  • tēs ampelou (τῆς ἀμπέλου): "of the vine." Clearly identifies the source as grapes.
  • Significance: This phrase identifies the Passover wine, a symbol of joy and redemption in Jewish tradition. By abstaining, Jesus signals a profound change or transition associated with that tradition, specifically His redemptive work.

• until the kingdom of God comes (ἕως ὅτου ἔλθῃ ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ - heōs hotou elthē hē basileia tou theou):

  • heōs hotou (ἕως ὅτου): "until" or "until such time as." Sets a clear condition or timeframe for the end of His abstinence.
  • elthē (ἔλθῃ): "may come" (aorist subjunctive of erchomai, "to come"). While subjunctive, in this construction, it clearly anticipates a definite future event.
  • hē basileia tou theou (ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ): "the kingdom of God." This is the central theme of Jesus's ministry, signifying God's sovereign rule. It's a kingdom that is "already" present in Jesus's person and ministry, but "not yet" fully consummated. The "coming" here refers to its full manifestation, glorification, and establishment on earth, most clearly at His Second Coming and the new heavens and new earth. It anticipates a glorious future.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "from now on I will not drink...until the kingdom of God comes": This forms a stark contrast between Jesus' present reality (imminent suffering and departure) and His future, glorious presence with His people. It transforms a solemn vow of abstinence into a statement of eschatological hope, where the future feast of the Kingdom will surpass any present earthly celebration. This signifies that something momentous is about to happen (His crucifixion) and that a new reality will dawn.

Luke 22 18 Bonus section

• This verse undergirds the ongoing practice of Communion or the Eucharist, giving it an eschatological dimension. Each time believers partake of the cup, they are reminded not only of Jesus' sacrifice but also of their shared future hope of feasting with Him when His Kingdom fully comes (1 Cor 11:26).
• The "Kingdom of God" in Jesus' teaching is a complex reality: it is "already" present through His person, teachings, and miraculous works (Lk 17:20-21; Col 1:13), but "not yet" fully consummated in power and glory. This verse clearly speaks to the "not yet" aspect, the future, glorious display of God's total sovereignty.
• Jesus’ action foreshadows the imminent outpouring of His blood, initiating the New Covenant (Lk 22:20). He will not drink the joyous cup again until His sacrifice has borne its ultimate fruit in the perfect consummation of the Kingdom, implying His glorification will precede that shared banquet.
• Jewish messianic expectations included a grand feast with the Messiah at the culmination of the ages (Isa 25:6). Jesus, through this vow, subtly confirms His identity as that Messiah and the divine certainty of that future feast, which He himself will lead and participate in.

Luke 22 18 Commentary

Luke 22:18 captures a pivotal moment in Jesus's Last Supper, deeply connected to the institution of the Lord's Supper and His overarching redemptive plan. Jesus’ solemn vow to refrain from the fruit of the vine "from now on until the kingdom of God comes" transforms the traditional Passover cup into a powerful sign pointing to the future. This is not simply a personal pledge, but a profound prophetic act. By abstaining, Jesus marks the end of an old era—the Passover as a commemoration of physical deliverance—and the beginning of a new one, inaugurated by His atoning sacrifice.

His abstinence anticipates His immediate suffering and death, moving beyond earthly joys to a divine purpose. Yet, it simultaneously ignites a powerful hope: the "until" clause points definitively to the future, to the full and glorious establishment of God's Kingdom. This "coming" implies the consummation of His reign, His return in glory, and the joyous fellowship that believers will share with Him in the New Creation. The earthly meal becomes a proleptic (anticipatory) glimpse of the heavenly feast—the "marriage supper of the Lamb"—where believers will eternally share in the full presence of Christ. Thus, the verse compels believers to look forward with eager expectation to the Kingdom's ultimate arrival, reminding them that current suffering or temporary absence of their Lord will give way to everlasting celebration and communion in His glorious presence. It provides comfort in the present hardship, looking toward the definitive, joy-filled reality of God's complete reign.