64. At what meal did Jesus institute the Lord's Supper?

There has been much discussion concerning the meal at which the Lord's Supper was instituted, as to whether it was the Paschal supper, according to the Jewish law.

The first three Gospels indicate that the use of the guest chamber was secured in the manner customary with those who came from a distance to keep the festival.

The three evange­lists state that "they made ready the Passover," and Jesus himself calls the meal "this Passover" (Luke 22:15,16).

After a thanksgiving he passed around the first cup, and when the supper was ended there was the usual "cup of blessing" and a hymn was sung, presumably the last part of the Hallet.

John's Gospel, however, would seem to imply that the Lord's Supper took place the day preceding the usual Jewish Pas­chal meal (John 13:1,2).

In John 19:14, when our Lord was before Pi­late and about to be led out to Calvary, we are told that it was the "preparation" of the Passover, and again, after the crucifixion (verse 31), the Jews were solicitous because it was still "the preparation."

Further, the law of Ex. 12:22 was that none should go out of the door of his house until the morning after the Paschal supper, although this law may have come into disuse.

Lightfoot, a leading authority, claims that the supper was held two days before the Jewish Passover, while Bengel held that it was eaten the evening before the Passover.

The ques­tion is an open one, and in view of conflicting opinions of commenta­tors it will probably so continue.