After supper, Jesus and his disciples would often sing hymns together. The Scriptures mention this tradition in several places, including Matthew 26:30 which says “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”
But what exactly did they sing? Let’s explore some possibilities.
Psalms
One of the most likely options is that Jesus and his disciples sang psalms together after supper. The book of Psalms was an important part of Jewish worship, and many of the psalms were written to be sung. In fact, several psalms are specifically referred to as “songs” in their titles (such as Psalm 46: “To the choirmaster.
Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song”).
It’s possible that Jesus and his disciples had certain psalms that they liked to sing together, or that they simply chose a different one each time. Some possible candidates include Psalm 23 (“The Lord is my shepherd”), Psalm 130 (“Out of the depths I cry to you”), or Psalm 136 (“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good”).
Hymns
Another option is that Jesus and his disciples sang hymns together after supper. While we don’t have any specific examples of what these hymns might have been (since they weren’t recorded in Scripture), we do know that early Christians wrote and sang hymns as part of their worship.
Some scholars believe that the early Christian hymn known as the “Christ Hymn” (found in Philippians 2:6-11) may have been sung by Jesus and his disciples at the Last Supper. This hymn praises Christ for humbling himself and becoming obedient even unto death on a cross.
Conclusion
While we may never know for sure what Jesus and his disciples sang after supper, it’s clear that music was an important part of their worship. Whether they sang psalms, hymns, or something else entirely, the act of singing together would have helped to unify them as a group and focus their hearts and minds on God.
So the next time you sit down to eat with friends or family, consider taking a cue from Jesus and his disciples and incorporating some singing into your mealtime routine. You might be surprised at how uplifting and meaningful it can be!
- Psalms
- Hymns