<p>26:20&nbsp;<i>Now when evening had come, he was dining with the twelve disciples-</i>&nbsp;&quot;Dining&quot; is &quot;reclined&quot;. Joachim Jeremias gives a whole string of quotes from Rabbinic and historical writings that indicate that &ldquo;At the time of Jesus the diners sat down&quot; to eat. Yet the Gospel records are insistent that Jesus and the disciples&nbsp;<i>reclined</i>&nbsp;at the last supper (Mt. 26:20; Mk. 14:18; Lk. 22:14; Jn. 13:12,23,25,28). Yet at the Passover, it was apparently common to recline, because as Rabbi Levi commented &ldquo;slaves eat standing, but here at the Passover meal people should recline to eat, to signify that they have passed from slavery to freedom&quot;. The breaking of bread is thus stressed in the records as being a symbol of our freedom from slavery. It should not in that sense be a worrying experience, taking us on a guilt trip. It is to celebrate the salvation and release from bondage which has truly been achieved for us in Christ our Passover.</p><p>&quot;With the twelve&quot; doesn't mean that only the twelve partook or were present. Matthew's record may simply be focusing upon them. There are reasons to think that there were others present too.</p>