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Questions & Answers

Kingdom of Heaven

Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › Our Lord and the Faith › Kingdom of Heaven

The question

What is meant by "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom" (Matthew 26:29). Are Christians going to drink wine in Heaven with Jesus?

The answer

We should not take it literally that our Lord will partake with them of real fruit of the vine; but in what it metaphorically represents. The fruit of the vine is an important part of the feast of the Passover, and of all feasts. The kingdom of heaven is often likened to a great feast. Here, our Lord is preparing His disciples for His crucifixion and the joy brought about thereafter. "Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross" (Heb 12:2). It is the joy set before Him, right before His eyes, (the salvation of mankind through His death on the cross) which He will partake of with them in heaven. He and His disciples (and subsequently all the believers in His redemptive act) will share together the honors and happiness of the heavenly world.

Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)

Related questions

Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 778 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.