730. The case of the Holy Supper is similar to that of a treaty, which having been agreed and signed is finally sealed. The Lord Himself teaches us that His blood is a covenant, for He said when He took the cup and gave it:

Drink of it, all of you. This is my blood, the blood of the new testament, Matthew 26:27-28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20.

The new testament is the new covenant. This is why the Word written by means of the Prophets before the Lord's coming is called the Old Testament or covenant, and the Word written after His coming by means of the Evangelists and Apostles is called the New Testament or covenant. Blood, and likewise wine in the Holy Supper, means the Divine truth of the Word; see above in 706, 708. The Word too is the actual covenant which the Lord has made with man, and man with the Lord. For the Lord came down as the Word, that is, as Divine truth. It is because this is His blood, that blood in the Israelite church, which represented the Christian church, was called 'the blood of the covenant' (Exodus 24:8; Zechariah 9:11) and the Lord was called 'the Covenant of the people' (Isaiah 42:6; 49:8; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Psalms 111:9).

[2] It is in keeping with the way things are arranged in the world, that there should be a signing as a guarantee, and this follows discussion of the terms. How can anyone have a commission or a will without a signature? How can one have a judgment without a signed decision to make it effective? How can one reach high office in a kingdom without letters patent? How can one get advancement to any office without written confirmation? How can one own a house without a bill of sale or an agreement with the owner? How can one advance towards an end or chase after a goal and so win a prize, unless there is some end or goal where the prize may be won? Or unless the presiding officer has somehow confirmed his offer? These last examples are only added as an illustration to enable even a simpleminded person to grasp that the Holy Supper is a kind of guarantee, seal, token and evidence of commission, to show, even in the sight of angels, that they are sons of God. It is in addition like a key to a home in heaven, where they may reside for ever.

708. WINE MEANS MUCH THE SAME AS BLOOD, AS IS PERFECTLY CLEAR FROM THE LORD'S WORDS:

Jesus taking the cup, saying, This is my blood. Matt. chapter 26; Mark chapter 14; Luke chapter 22.

Also from these passages:

He washes his clothing in wine, and his covering in the blood of grapes, Genesis 49:11.

This is said of the Lord.

Jehovah Zebaoth will make for all peoples a banquet of fatness, a banquet of lees (that is, of sweet wine) ¹ . Isaiah 25:6.

This is about the institution of the sacrament of the Holy Supper by the Lord. Again:

Everyone who is thirsty, go to the waters, and he who has no money, go, buy and eat; and buy wine without money, Isaiah 55:1.

The offspring of the vine which they were to drink new in the heavenly kingdom (Matthew 26:29; Mark 14:25; Luke 22:18) means nothing but the truth of the new church and of heaven. This is why in many passages in the Word the church is called a vineyard (for instance, Isaiah 5:1, 24; Matthew 20:1-13), and the Lord calls Himself the true vine, and the people who are grafted on to it are called branches (John 15:1, 6, and many other passages).

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