Luke 22:19 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

This do, &c.— From our Lord's words here recorded, and from those wherewith the apostle has concluded his account of the sacrament, 1 Corinthians 11:26. (—for as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come,— καταγγελλετε, ye preach,—ye declare the Lord's death, ye assure the world of the truth of it,)—it appears that the sacrament of the supper was instituted, not only to bring Christ's sufferings, and the happy consequences thereof, to the remembranceof his disciples, but to demonstrate the truth of these things to the world in all ages. In this view the sacrament of the last supper is a most strong proof of our Lord's integrity, and of the truth of his mission. For if he had been an impostor, and was to have suffered death on account of his deluding the people, is it to be imagined that he would have instituted any rite with a view to preserve the memory of his having suffered punishment for the worst of crimes. This is beyond all human belief; and therefore, since by this institution he has perpetuated the memory of his own sufferings, it is a strong proof (though such proofs are not wanted) that he was conscious of his own innocence; that his character was really what the evangelists have represented it to be; and that our faith in him, as the Son of God,is well founded.