Matthew 26:1,2
JESUS PREDICTS HIS CRUCIFIXION (26:1-2).... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS PREDICTS HIS CRUCIFIXION (26:1-2).... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And it came about that when Jesus had finished all these words, he said to his disciples,' ‘And it came about.' This is Matthew's regular way of immediately following Jesus' main discourses (compare Matthew 7:28; Matthew 11:1; Matthew 13:53; Matthew 19:1). Distinctive, however, here is his referen... [ Continue Reading ]
THROUGH SUFFERING TO TRIUMPH (26:1-28). Matthew's description of what follows in the next few days is very much abbreviated compared with Mark's and Luke's. While seemingly following Mark or his source in general, much of the time he abbreviates, while at the same time continually introducing new i... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS PREDICTS HIS CRUCIFIXION AND THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND ELDERS PLOT HIS DEATH (26:1-5). This last section of the Gospel opens by revealing the plot. On the one hand Jesus declares that He is to be ‘delivered up' by His Father to be crucified, and on the other we discover the gathering of the Chief... [ Continue Reading ]
PREPARATION FOR WHAT LIES AHEAD (26:1-19). In this subsection we see Jesus' (and God's) preparations for what lies ahead which are interspersed with indications of the activities of the Chief Priests concerning Him. This first subsection may be analysed as follows: a JESUS tells His disciples tha... [ Continue Reading ]
“You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of man is delivered up to be crucified.” Matthew is constantly aware of Jesus' exact words (compare Matthew 26:27; Matthew 26:31), and of words spoken by others (Matthew 26:15; Matthew 26:61; Matthew 26:66; Matthew 26:71), the latter... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Then were gathered together the chief priests, and the elders of the people, to the court/palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,' This gathering took place in the palace of the High Priest, which would be built around a central courtyard. It is possible that they gathered in the courty... [ Continue Reading ]
MEMBERS OF THE SANHEDRIN MEET IN ORDER TO PLOT JESUS' DEATH (26:3-5). Matthew now passes quickly from Jesus confident declaration concerning His ‘delivering up' to the to-ing and fro-ing of the Jewish leaders. It is clear that they did not share His certainty. They were not sure quite what to do. A... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And they took counsel together that they might take Jesus by subtlety, and kill him.' The purpose of their gathering was in order to discuss together how they could deal with the menace in their midst. But they were aware of how ticklish the situation was, for unfortunately, as they knew, the main... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But they said, “Not during the feast, lest a tumult arise among people.” ' They had the sense to recognise that it could not be done during the Feast as the public arrest of One Whom many saw as a prophet would undoubtedly arouse the fanaticism of many in the crowds. Indeed those sent to arrest Hi... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,' It would appear probable that Jesus and His disciples had been invited to Simon's house for a meal. Quite probably Simon had been healed of leprosy by Jesus, and his name may well be mentioned as a reminder that as the Coming One Jesu... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE FACE OF THEIR UNCERTAINTY GOD ARRANGES FOR JESUS TO BE ANOINTED FOR HIS BURIAL AS HIS PLAN GOES SMOOTHLY FORWARD (26:6-13). Meanwhile attention turns back on Jesus and His disciples. They had been invited for a meal at the house of Simon the Leper in Bethany, a village on the lower slopes of... [ Continue Reading ]
‘There came to him a woman having an alabaster cruse of very valuable perfumed oil, and she poured it on his head, as he reclined at meat.' As they reclined at the table a woman came in with an alabaster cruse of very valuable perfumed oil (liquid spikenard) and poured it on His head. The thin-neck... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “To what purpose is this waste? For this perfumed oil might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.” ' While John tells us that Judas was prominent in this indignation, there is no reason to doubt that he was not the only one, as M... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But Jesus perceiving it said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? for she has wrought a good work on me.” ' When Jesus saw their attitude He instantly intervened. He knew the true love in her heart and it was an encouragement to Him at this hour of tension, at a time when He was aware of so man... [ Continue Reading ]
“For you have the poor always with you, but me you do not always have,” He reminded them that this was a special time. They would always have the poor with them, but He would not be with them for much longer. So someone who had recognised this, and had wanted to demonstrate her love, was not to be... [ Continue Reading ]
“For in that she poured this perfumed oil on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.” Even as the woman had performed her act Jesus knew why His Father had arranged for this to happen. He was preparing His body for burial (as a condemned criminal His body would not be anointed when the time c... [ Continue Reading ]
“Truly I say to you, Wherever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, what this woman has also done will be spoken of for a memorial of her.” Jesus then points out that this is so precious a moment that it will never be forgotten, and thereby takes the opportunity of reminding His disciple... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests,' ‘One of the twelve.' The words have an ominous ring to them. Out of twelve men chosen by the Lord of the Universe for His service, one was a turncoat and a traitor (John 6:70). His name was Judas Iscariot, which may... [ Continue Reading ]
JUDAS SEEKS TO BETRAY JESUS IN RETURN FOR SILVER (26:14-16). The overflowing love and generosity of the woman contrasts vividly with the behaviour of Judas. Here was one of the chosen twelve whose heart was so hardened that he would sell Jesus for far less than the woman had sacrificed out of love... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And said, “What are you willing to give me, and I will deliver him to you?” Approaching the chief priests he put to them his proposition. For the right sum he would enable them to arrest Jesus somewhere where it was quiet. The question was as to how much it was worth to them. It may well be that he... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And from that time he sought the opportunity to deliver him to them.' And with the money in his hands Judas went away and began to plot Jesus' betrayal, keeping his eyes open for any opportunity that would enable him to fulfil his promise. ‘To deliver Him.' The ‘delivering' of Matthew 26:2 was thu... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS' TIME IS AT HAND AND THE LAST FATAL PASSOVER IS MADE READY BY THE DISCIPLES (26:17-19). This subsection had begun with, ‘after two days the Passover comes and the Son of Man is to be delivered up to be crucified' (Matthew 26:2). Now Jesus sends His disciples to prepare for that Passover, with... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Now on the first day of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where do you wish that we make ready for you to eat the Passover?” ' While initially the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread had been two separate feasts combined, they had gradually come to be seen as one and th... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he said, “Go into the city to such a man, and say to him, “The Teacher says, “My time is at hand. I keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.” As they again probably expected (it would not be the first time) Jesus had already made arrangements for a house in the city in which to obser... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And the disciples did as Jesus appointed them, and they made ready the Passover.' Note the emphasis on the obedience of the disciples. The Lord was always to be obeyed. Their obedience was to be an example to all. Matthew never put in redundant words. And the result was that they made all the nece... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Now when evening was come, he was reclining at meat with the twelve disciples,' The evening introduced the new day of the 15th of Nisan, the time for partaking in the Passover (the Jewish day began in the evening). At this meal it was specifically required that they ‘recline', that is, lay on cush... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS REVEALS THAT HE IS ABOUT TO BE BETRAYED (26:20-25). In accordance with his usual method Matthew gives an abbreviated account of that Passover meal at which they ‘eat the Passover', concentrating only on what he sees as essential for the picture that he wants to build up. It is a picture of Je... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FINAL PASSOVER AND THE DECLARATION OF THE NEW COVENANT (26:20-35). This second subsection is carefully patterned around the Passover meal. It commences with a warning of Jesus' coming betrayal, describes the Passover and the establishing of the Lord's Supper, and concludes with a warning of the... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And as they were eating, he said, “Truly I say to you, that one of you will betray me.” And it was during this meal that Jesus dropped His first bombshell, declaring that one of those present was about to betray Him, that is, was about to ‘deliver' Him up. This must have occurred at some time afte... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And they were deeply sorry, and began to say to him, every one, “Is it I, Lord?” ' The seriousness with which Jesus said it struck home to all present except one, and they were all deeply sorry at the thought. Indeed such was their awareness of their own weakness that each thought it just possible... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he answered and said, “He who dipped his hand with me in the dish, the same will betray me.” ' In the place where normally mention would be made of Israel's betrayal by Egypt Jesus then replied that the one who would betray Him would be one of those who was dipping his hand in the dish with Him... [ Continue Reading ]
“The Son of man goes, even as it is written of him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! Good were it for that man if he had not been born.” ‘Even as it is written.' Jesus expresses His confidence that what is to happen is what has already been foretold and purposed by God. H... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Judas, who betrayed him, answered and said, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He says to him, “You have said.” ' At His words Judas the Betrayer looked at him, being no doubt not a little disturbed, and challenged Him saying, ‘Rabbi, is it I?' And Jesus replied, ‘It is you who have said it.' It was an indirec... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and he gave to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” ' Before launching into what lies behind this symbolic gesture we should perhaps just pause for a moment in awe at these words. For centuries the Jews had brok... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS INSTITUTES THE LORD'S SUPPER AND ESTABLISHES THE NEW COVENANT IN HIS BLOOD (26:26-30). We are so used to the Lord's Supper that this moment can almost pass us by unmoved. It was, however, as sensational as anything within the career of Jesus. He had made many remarkable claims, as we have see... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he took a cup, and gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, “Drink you all of it, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many unto remission of sins.” Jesus then took the cup. It was the normal custom at Passover for each participant to have his own cup, but it would appea... [ Continue Reading ]
“But I say to you, I will not from now on drink of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingly rule.” Here we have the fourth aspect of Jesus' words that is emphasised by Matthew in his summary of the Last Supper. First there was the betrayal, then the... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the mount of Olives.' The celebration coming towards its end it closes as usual with the Hallel (Psalms 115-118), after which they leave the city proper and return to the Mount of Olives (but still remaining within the bounds allowed during the Passo... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Then Jesus says to them, “All you will be offended in me this night, for it is written, ‘I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered abroad'.” ' Jesus once again stresses the failure of His disciples. ‘All you will be offended in Me' or ‘will fall away because of Me' or... [ Continue Reading ]
THE OUTWORKING OF THE PASSOVER FEAST (26:31-32). In the words that follow Jesus puts in clear terms what His words at the Passover have signified, following the same previous pattern of betrayal, death and Kingly Rule as before. He will be ‘betrayed' by His disciples, His blood will be shed as the... [ Continue Reading ]
“But after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.” However, Jesus now makes clear that the smitten Shepherd is Himself, and that once He has been smitten He will be raised up, for God will raise Him up. And then like a shepherd going on ahead of His sheep to survey the ground and seek ou... [ Continue Reading ]
PETER PROTESTS THAT HE WILL CERTAINLY REMAIN FAITHFUL. HE WILL NOT BE ONE WHO IS SCATTERED (26:33-35). This is the final part of the Matthaean sandwich which began at Matthew 26:20 (betrayal, Lord's Supper, denial), bringing home that God's wonderful provision in salvation has come to a world steep... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But Peter answered and said to him, “If all shall be offended in (caused to stumble by) you, I will never be offended.” ' Peter was clearly upset at the suggestion that he would allow himself to be unfaithful. He protests that even if all the others prove to be so, he will not. He is not the stumb... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, that this night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” ' Jesus gently puts him right. Even before the night has passed Peter will certainly deny Him three times. ‘Before the cock crows.' The middle watch of the night was called cockcrow by th... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Peter says to him, “Even if I must die with you, yet will I not deny you.” Likewise also said all the disciples.' But at this stage this was unknown to Peter. He had yet to know himself. And so he refutes Jesus and declares that whatever happens, even if it means dying with Him, he will not deny Je... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Then comes Jesus with them to a place called Gethsemane, and says to his disciples, “You sit here, while I go over there and pray.” ' We should note as we go through the passage the tenses of the verbs. The present tenses indicate what are almost respites in His turmoil, (He says to them -- He say... [ Continue Reading ]
AGONY IN THE GARDEN (26:36-46). Jesus and His disciples arrive in Gethsemane. We who know what to expect recognise that the crucial hour has come, but it is salutary to recognise that prior to His ordeal Jesus finds it necessary to pray. Aware of something of what lies ahead His prayer is agony as H... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and sore troubled.' He now took the inner three apart with Him. It is quite clear that He feels in need of their company to support Him in what lies ahead. These are the three He usually takes with Him in unusual sit... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Then he says to them, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even to death, you remain here, and watch with me.” Then, reaching a second point He leaves the three, speaking of His anguish which is so great that He feels almost that He will die, and calling on them to remain there and watch with Him. He w... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he went forward a little, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” ' Then He moved on further and, falling on His face He prayed. His attitude of prayer emphasises the desperateness of... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he comes to the disciples, and finds them sleeping, and says to Peter, “What, could you not watch with me one hour?” ' Taking a brief respite from His agony He returns to the inner three, but only to find them asleep, even Peter who had been so vociferous in his promises not to deny Him. If th... [ Continue Reading ]
“Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Jesus, knowing how very important it is for them, tells them that they must not only ‘watch' but must also ‘pray'. Testing lies ahead for them, testing of a supreme kind (see Luke 22:31), and... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Again a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away, except I drink it, your will be done.” ' Then Jesus moves away again and His words reveal that He is still fighting His way through to full understanding of His Father's will, which He now senses that He ha... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.' And once again He returns to the three and finds them asleep, for their eyes just would not stay open. Their weakness of flesh was constantly overcoming their spirit. (Old age especially brings out this weakness of the flesh wh... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he left them again, and went away, and prayed a third time, saying again the same words.' The same pattern is repeated, but Matthew feels that he has already said enough to convey the essence of what happened. Unlike Luke he does not bring out the growing intensity of Jesus' anguish. He has pa... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Then comes he to the disciples, and says to them, “Sleep on from now on, and take your rest. Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.” ' After more prayer, His course now made clear, His soul is at peace, and He returns to the eleven. All are asleep em... [ Continue Reading ]
“Arise, let us be going forward. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand.” We do not know how long Jesus then waited there for His disciples to enjoy their rest, but inevitably the moment came when He looked up and saw the torches of a large crowd of men coming up the mountain towards them, moving wit... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And while he yet spoke, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great crowd with swords and staves, from the chief priest and elders of the people.' The description is both awesome and contemptuous at the same time. Awesome because it depicts a great crowd, armed to the teeth with swords... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Now he who betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, “Whoever I shall kiss, that is he. Take him.” ' We now learn of the arrangement that Jesus had made. It is clear that there was a fear that in the dark, and among a group of people, all with beards, and with their heads covered, the wrong person mi... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And immediately he came to Jesus, and said, “Hail, Rabbi,” and kissed him.' As Judas arrived on the scene he went immediately to Jesus and kissed him. There was no hesitation. And he said to Him, ‘Hail, Rabbi'. In Matthew the title Rabbi is reserved for Judas' lips, probably in order to indicate t... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.' Jesus' reply is equally significant. He only uses ‘friend' of those who are in a doubtful position and as used by a superior to an inferior (Matthew 20:13; Matthew 22:12). Perhaps this... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear.' But things did not go quite so smoothly as they had hoped, for one of Jesus' disciples drew a sword, probably with the intention of getting Jes... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Then Jesus says to him, “Return your sword into its place, for all they who take the sword will perish with the sword.” ' Jesus then turned to His disciple and said firmly, “Return your sword into its place, for all those who take the sword will perish with the sword.” It was a timely warning tha... [ Continue Reading ]
“Or do you think that I cannot beseech my Father, and he will even now send me more than twelve legions of angels?” Then He reminded His disciples that they were not so see what happened to Him as evidence of His failure to achieve His aims. Had they not realised Who He was? Did they not remember th... [ Continue Reading ]
“How then would the scriptures be fulfilled that thus it was necessary for it to be?” For if angels (or even puny men) intervened, how could the Scriptures be fulfilled which said that this had to happen (Isaiah 50:6; Isaiah 53:8)? This emphasis of the fulfilment of Scripture to the full is common... [ Continue Reading ]
‘In that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Are you come out as against a robber with swords and staves to seize me? I sat daily in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me.” ' This verse deliberately reverts back to Matthew 26:45. ‘In that hour.' Which hour? The hour in which the Son of Man was... [ Continue Reading ]
“But all this is come about, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him, and fled.' But it was not to be seen as too surprising, for it was necessary in order that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. We must see from the description ‘prop... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And those who had taken Jesus led him away to the house of Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.' After a private examination under the shrewd Annas (John 18:19), probably in his private rooms in Caiaphas' palace (he was Caiaphas' father-in-law), a pre-... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ARRAIGNMENT OF JESUS BEFORE SELECTED MEMBERS OF THE SANHEDRIN (26:57-68).. What follows is not an official meeting of the Sanhedrin which could only meet by day, but a gathering of enemies of Jesus who were members of the Sanhedrin, meeting under the chairmanship of Caiaphas the High Priest, tog... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But Peter followed him at a distance, to the court of the high priest, and entered in, and sat with the officers, to see the end.' Meanwhile Peter and another disciple (John 18:15) followed the arresting party at a distance, and entering the court of the High Priest's palace, (the other disciple w... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death,' Then the Chief Priests and the whole of the council who were present (only twenty three were required to make it official) sought to amass a case by which they could have Jesus sentenc... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And they did not find it, although many false witnesses came. But afterward came two, and said, “This man said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.” ' Seemingly a good number of witnesses came to present their case against Jesus, no doubt expecting suitable reward... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And the high priest stood up, and said to him, “Do you answer nothing? What is it which these witness against you?” ' It would appear that the tribunal then set about trying to question Jesus on the matter, only to be met with what they saw as an obstinate silence. And this went on until in exasper... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” ' But Jesus continued to say nothing until eventually the High Priest in desperation, and probably totally exasperated, overstepped the mark and... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Jesus said to him, “You have said. Nevertheless I say to you, From now on you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” ' Jesus then seemingly played right into their hands. He could not remain silent when He was being questioned about His ver... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Then the high priest tore his clothing, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy, what further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” They answered and said, “He is worthy of death.” ' What Jesus had said was sufficient for the High Priest and the assemble... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Then they spat in his face and hit him, and some smote him with the palms of their hands, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah. Who is he who struck you?” ' Having obtained the verdict that they needed Jesus was first openly repudiated by symbolic actions (spitting was an acknowledged way of showin... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Now Peter was sitting outside in the court, and a maid came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus the Galilaean.” ' As Peter was sat in the courtyard in the semi-darkness, surrounded by men who, if they discovered who he was, would, in his view, unquestionably have had him apprehended, he must... [ Continue Reading ]
PETER DENIES JESUS THREE TIMES AS HE GOES IN A CONTINUAL DOWNWARD SPIRAL (26:69-75). It is probably not accidental that the mockery of Jesus concerning His being unable to prophesy is now followed by an example of the fulfilment of one of His prophecies (Matthew 26:34). Even as they mocked Him one... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But he denied before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.” ' Peter told her that he did not know what she was talking about. Luke goes further and indicates that he also said, ‘I know Him not'. He must in fact have said something like that otherwise it would not really have been a... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and says to those who were there, “This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth.” ' Deciding to move away from what had become the danger spot Peter went to the porch area, where again he was spotted by a servant girl. It is interesting, a... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the man.” ' This time Peter was more disturbed. It was bad enough being spotted by servant girls, but it was dangerous to be drawn to the attention of the men. So this time He denied that he knew Jesus with an oath. Here was a more vociferous denial... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And after a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, “Of a truth you also are one of them, for your speech exposes you.” ' Unfortunately for him by this time interest had been aroused and he was now under observation Thus one of the men approached him and pointed to his accent as de... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Then he began to curse and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the cock crowed.' So he began to deny Jesus vehemently, reinforcing his words with oaths and curses. His denial had reached its ultimate depth. And at that point the cock crowed. In fact cocks would have crowed at variou... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “Before the cock crow, you will deny me three times.” And he went out, and wept bitterly.' The sound of the cock crow drew to Peter's mind the words that Jesus had spoken to him, ‘before the cock crow you will deny me three times'. And smitten in... [ Continue Reading ]