Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist
by Brant Pitre
“This is my body.” What would a first-century Jew have heard in those words? Dr. Brant Pitre, a Catholic biblical scholar, sets out to answer, and he takes you deep into the world of ancient Jewish hope to do it.
Pitre works with three traditions. First, the Passover lamb, which was not only sacrificed but eaten. Second, the manna from heaven, which Jews expected the Messiah to bring back. Third, the mysterious bread of the Presence kept in the Temple. In each case he shows how Jesus' words at the Last Supper and in the Bread of Life discourse fulfill what came before. The result is a biblical case for the Eucharist as Christ's true body and blood, the new Passover.
It suits catechumens preparing for First Communion, Protestant inquirers who see the Eucharist as a symbol, and catechists looking for fresh material on the Mass. Pitre writes clearly and with obvious enthusiasm. It's scholarly in substance and easy to read.
Key Takeaways
- Why the Passover lamb had to be eaten.
- The Jewish hope for new manna from heaven.
- The bread of the Presence in the Temple.
- A biblical case for the Real Presence.
It shows how the Last Supper fulfills the Passover.
