Matthew 26

Matthew’s Good News

Matthew’s *Gospel

Hilda Bright

Chapter 26

Plans to kill Jesus 26:1-5

v1 When Jesus had finished teaching those things, he spoke again to his *disciples. v2 ‘As you know, the *Passover is two days from now’, he said. ‘At that time people will hand over the *Son of Man to die. They will fix him on a wooden *cross with nails.’

v3 Then the chief *priests and the other leaders of the people met together. They met in the palace of the chief *priest, whose name was Caiaphas. v4 They made plans to arrest Jesus in a clever, secret way. They wanted to kill him. v5 ‘But we must not arrest him during the *feast’, they said. ‘The people might cause trouble.’

Verse 1 The story about the sheep and the goats ended the last teaching section in Matthew’s *gospel. Each section finished with similar words. (See Matthew 7:28; Matthew 13:53; Matthew 19:1.)

Verse 2 Jesus warned his *disciples again. He said that he would die during the *Passover. The *Jews kept this important ceremony each year. During the ceremony, they remembered how God had rescued their people from Egypt long ago.

Verses 3-5 The *Romans controlled the *Jews, so they appointed the chief *priest. The *priest called Caiaphas was chief *priest for 18 years. This was a long time that he remained friends with the *Roman rulers. So Caiaphas must have been very skilled while he worked with them. He would have lost his job if there was any form of trouble in the city. There were thousands of *Jews in Jerusalem for the *Passover ceremony. And many came from Galilee, where Jesus was popular. So Caiaphas decided to wait. They could arrest Jesus later when it would cause less trouble.

A woman poured *perfume on Jesus at Bethany 26:6-13

v6 Jesus was eating at Simon’s house in the village called Bethany. Simon had a skin disease, so he was called Simon the Leper. v7 A woman came to where Jesus was at the table. She was carrying a special jar of very expensive *perfume. Then she poured the *perfume on Jesus’ head.

v8 When the *disciples saw this, they became annoyed. ‘Why did she waste this *perfume?’ they asked each other. v9 ‘She could have sold this *perfume for a large sum of money. Then that money could have helped poor people.’

v10 Jesus knew what they were saying. So he spoke to them. ‘Do not bother this woman.’ he said. ‘She has done a beautiful thing to me. v11 You will always have poor people with you, but I will not always be here. v12 She has poured this *perfume on me to prepare my body because they are going to bury my body. v13 What I tell you is true. People will tell about her action everywhere in the whole world. When they tell the good news about me, people will tell this story. They will always remember her.’

Verse 6 Simon would not have been with other people if he actually had a skin disease at that time. Perhaps he used to have a skin disease and he had recovered. Maybe Jesus had healed him. Or he may have become ill later, but before Matthew wrote this.

Verses 7-9 The woman’s expensive gift showed how much she loved Jesus. The *disciples could not understand this.

Verses 10-11 Jesus used words from Deuteronomy 15:11. There would always be poor people and they could be generous to such people. But Jesus would not always be with them. The woman had used this opportunity. She had shown that she loved Jesus in this special way. Sometimes there are many opportunities to do something good. But sometimes there is only one opportunity.

Verse 12 Jesus was called the *Messiah, which means that God had chosen him for this special job. When God chose someone in Israel, their custom was to pour oil or *perfume on that person’s head. God sent Samuel to do this for king David long ago (1 Samuel 16:1-13) and for other men. This was called ‘anointing’ a person. Nobody had ‘anointed’ Jesus during his life. This woman had shown by her action that he was the *Messiah. Jesus said that she had ‘anointed’ his body. She had done this even before he died. Usually women ‘anointed’ a dead body by rubbing it with special *perfumes. Some women wanted to do this for Jesus after he died. So they went to the place where the men had buried him. But they could not ‘anoint’ Jesus’ body because Jesus had already come back to life (Mark 16:1-6: Luke 24:1-3).

Verse 13 Jesus knew that Christians would tell the good news about him everywhere in the world. What the woman had done for him was part of the good news. She had shown that Jesus was the *Messiah. He was a king who would die. People would always remember her action. They would remember how much she loved Jesus.

Judas plans to hand over Jesus to his enemies 26:14-16

v14 Then one of the 12 *disciples went to the chief *priests. That *disciple’s name was Judas Iscariot. v15 ‘What will you give me if I hand over Jesus to you?’ he asked them. So they counted out 30 silver coins and they gave the coins to him. v16 After that, Judas watched for the right time, so that he could hand over Jesus to them.

Verse 14 Judas and the *priests made a plan. Their actions contrast with the woman who ‘anointed’ Jesus (see note about verse 12). She acted because she loved Jesus. They acted because they hated Jesus. Judas belonged to the 12 *disciples. Jesus had taught Judas for three years. And Jesus had trusted him as a friend. This emphasises how wicked Judas’s action was. He was not loyal to Jesus. Judas knew where Jesus went to get away from the crowds. So he went to tell the *priests where they could arrest Jesus. Nobody knows why Judas agreed to help the *priests. Some possible reasons for his action are:

• He was greedy to get more money. John says that Judas looked after the *apostles’ money. He used to steal small amounts for himself (John 12:6). He may have expected more than the 30 silver coins. He asked how the *priests would reward him (verse 15).

• His name ‘Iscariot’ may mean that he was a ‘man from Kerioth’. The village called Kerioth was in the Judea region. The other *disciples came from the Galilee region. Perhaps Judas thought that he was more important than them. Perhaps he thought that he deserved special honour. But Jesus had not given him that honour. Instead, Peter, James and John had been with Jesus on some special occasions.

• He may have been a secret member of the ‘Zealots’. They were a *Jewish group who wanted to free the nation from the *Roman rulers. And they were prepared to use force. Perhaps Judas thought that Jesus would become a political king or ruler on earth. Judas wanted to be important. He may have hoped that he would have an important position in Jesus’ government. But then he saw that Jesus did not intend to make himself king. So Judas would have been disappointed. Perhaps that was why he turned against Jesus. Or he may have wanted to force Jesus to show his power. He thought that he knew what Jesus should do.

• Judas realised that Jesus would soon be in serious trouble. He wanted to protect himself, so he helped the *priests.

Verse 15 A slave cost 30 pieces of silver (Exodus 21:32). That was also the amount that they paid to God’s special servant (Zechariah 11:12). He worked for God and looked after Israel’s people. But they only paid him 30 pieces of silver as an insult.

Preparations for the *Passover meal 26:17-19

v17 It was the first day of the ceremony when they ate bread without *yeast. The *disciples came to talk to Jesus. ‘Where do you want to eat the *Passover meal?’ they asked him. ‘Where shall we prepare it for you?’

v18 ‘Go into the city and talk to a certain man for me’, Jesus said. ‘Tell him that the teacher says, “My time is near. I and my *disciples will eat the *Passover meal at your house.” ’ v19 So the *disciples did what Jesus had told them to do. And they prepared the *Passover meal at the man’s house.

Verse 17 The ceremony when they ate bread without *yeast’ is also called the ‘*feast of *unleavened bread’. It reminded the *Jews about the past. Long ago, their people had escaped from the country called Egypt. God had rescued them, but they had to leave very quickly. So they had no time to make proper bread with *yeast in it (Exodus 12:17-20). Usually they put *yeast in the mixture to make it grow. On the first day of the *Passover ceremony, the *Jews removed all the *yeast from their houses.

Verse 18 Jesus had made plans already. Matthew speaks only of a ‘certain man’. He does not give the details. Mark and Luke write about a man who was carrying a jar of water (Mark 14:13; Luke 22:10). But Matthew includes an important detail. Jesus said, ‘My time is near.’ In the *Greek language, there are two different words for ‘time’. ‘Chronos’ refers to the hours, days and years. ‘Kairos’ means the special time when something important happens. Jesus used ‘kairos’ because the special time had come for him. It was right for him to end his work on earth.

Verse 19 The *disciples had to obtain everything necessary for the meal. They needed the special leaves that tasted unpleasant. The *Jews had suffered as slaves in Egypt and these leaves reminded them about this. They had to make a mixture of fruit and nuts to remind them about the ground in Egypt. The *Jewish slaves had made bricks for their masters from the mud there. The *disciples also had to provide wine. They had to fill four cups and pass them round during the meal. They had to eat a young sheep for the main part of the *Passover meal.

Jesus says that someone will hand him over to his enemies 26:20-25

v20 Jesus was eating with his 12 *disciples that evening. v21 While they were eating, he spoke to them. ‘I tell you the truth. One of you will certainly hand me over to my enemies’, he said

v22 The *disciples became very sad. One after the other, they asked him this question. ‘Surely you do not mean me, *Lord?’

v23 Jesus replied to them. ‘One of you men who has put his hand into the dish with me will hand me over. v24 The *Son of Man will die exactly as they wrote about me long ago. But how terrible for that man who hands over the *Son of Man to his enemies. It would be better for that man if he had never lived.’

v25 Judas was the man who would hand over Jesus to his enemies. Then he said, ‘Surely you do not mean me, Teacher?’

And Jesus answered him. ‘Yes, it is you.’

Verses 20-21 To share a meal was a mark of friendship. To hand over a friend to their enemies is especially wicked. Jesus probably remembered the words in Psalms 41:9. ‘Even my close friend has turned against me. He was the man that I trusted. He shared my food.’

Verse 22 The *disciples could not believe that one of them would hand over Jesus like this. Nobody suspected that Judas would do such a thing. Their question to Jesus meant, ‘I cannot believe that I would hand you over to the enemy!’

Verse 23 There was a dish that contained the mixture of fruit and nuts. People usually put their bread into it to eat it.

Verses 24-25 Jesus’ words were a last appeal to Judas to change his decision. Jesus also warned them about the terrible fate that was waiting for his enemies. That fate would also happen to the person who handed him over to them. Jesus could have stopped Judas. The other *disciples would have helped him at once, if they had known about Judas. But Jesus knew that his death was in God’s plan. At the same time, Judas was responsible for his own actions. God did not force him to help Jesus’ enemies. Jesus knew what Judas had planned. But Judas was free to make his own decisions. To know that something will happen does not make it happen.

Judas asked the same question as the other *disciples asked Jesus. They would have noticed if he had said nothing. Jesus did not allow the other *disciples to suspect Judas. So Jesus probably replied quietly, so that only Judas could hear.

The *Lord’s Supper 26:26-30

v26 While they were eating, Jesus took some bread. He thanked God and he broke the bread in pieces. Then he gave it to his *disciples. ‘Take this and eat it’, he said to them. ‘This is my body.’

v27 Then he took the cup of wine. He thanked God and he offered the cup to them. ‘All of you, drink from this’, he said. v28 ‘This is my blood to represent your new agreement with God. I will pour out my blood so that he can forgive the *sins of many people. v29 I am telling you the truth. I shall not drink wine again until I drink it with you where my Father rules.’

v30 Then they sang a song to God and they went out to the *Mount of Olives.

Verse 26 The head of a family thanked God before a meal. Jesus would probably have said the same prayer. ‘Thank you, *Lord our God. You are King of the world, and you bring food from the earth.’ Jesus broke the bread in pieces and called it his body. This was a picture way to tell them about his death. He was telling them that he was going to die for them. He told them to take the bread. They must eat it. This showed that they accepted God’s agreement. They were free to do so. God would forgive their *sins because Jesus died.

Verse 27 They used four cups of wine at the *Passover meal. These drinks reminded the *Jews about the promises that God had made long ago. He had promised to rescue them from the country called Egypt. And he promised to make them his special people (Exodus 6:6-7). Jesus probably spoke at the time of the last cup of wine because they drank it at the end. Paul also wrote about this in 1 Corinthians 11:23-25. He said that Jesus took the cup ‘after supper’. ‘All’ the *disciples had to drink from the same cup of wine. That was to show their unity.

Verse 28 Jesus said that the wine represented his blood. It poured out from his body when he was on the *cross. The relationship between God and Israel’s people depended on how much they obeyed God’s *Law (Exodus 24:3-8). But Israel’s people had broken that relationship. Jeremiah spoke about a new agreement (Jeremiah 31:31-34). An animal’s blood represented ‘the old agreement’. When Jesus gave his life, he represented the new agreement. He made it possible for God to forgive people’s *sins. And that mends their relationship with God. Then people want to obey God. They realise how much he loves them. The old agreement had been just between God and the *Jews. The new agreement is for ‘many’ people.

The Christian *Church has always remembered what Jesus did at this special supper. They use bread and wine too. Different churches call it different names like: the *Lord’s Supper, the Eucharist, Holy Communion, the Breaking of Bread.

Verse 29 Jesus spoke about his death. But he knew that it was not the end. He spoke about the time when he would drink wine with his *disciples in the future. That would be where his Father rules. He knew that he would come to life again. At the *Passover, *Jews thanked God that he had made wine. So Jesus was using the picture language about the *Messiah’s special meal.

Verse 30 This song was one of the Psalms that they sang at special events. It may have been Psalms 118. Then they ‘went out’ from their *worship. They went outside the city to the hill where *olive trees grew. This was called the Mount of Olives. Jesus knew that he would soon be suffering.

Jesus warned Peter 26:31-35

v31 Then Jesus spoke to his *disciples. ‘Tonight you will all turn away from me’, he said. ‘Someone wrote about this night long ago. “I will strike the man who looks after the sheep. Then all his sheep will scatter”, they wrote. v32 But after I have died, I will come back to life. Then I will go ahead of you into the Galilee region.’

v33 Peter replied to him. ‘All the other *disciples may turn away from you, but I will never turn away’, he said.

v34 ‘I am telling you the truth’, Jesus said to Peter. ‘Tonight, you will say three times that you do not know me. You will say it before the male chicken calls.’

v35 But Peter answered him. ‘I will never say that I do not know you. I may even have to die with you, but I will not deny you.’

And all the other *disciples said the same thing.

Verse 31 Jesus knew how easily the *disciples would lose their courage. They would say that they did not know him. He had looked after them carefully exactly as if they were his sheep. A man who looks after sheep is called a ‘shepherd’. When he is not there, the sheep scatter. Jesus used this sheep and shepherd picture from Zechariah (Zechariah 13:7).

Verse 32 Jesus was confident because he knew the future. He would die, but he would become alive again. He said that he would go ‘ahead’ of them. A ‘shepherd’ in that country always walked in front of his sheep. Matthew records that Jesus met his *disciples later in the Galilee region (Matthew 28:10; Matthew 28:16). They were still his ‘sheep’, even after they had failed him.

Verses 33-35 Peter believed that he was strong like a rock. He was confident that he would always remain loyal to Jesus. It was easy to say that he would die with Jesus. But when it became a really dangerous situation, he was afraid. The male chicken calls very early in the morning. But this ‘chicken’ might refer to the *Roman soldiers’ *trumpet call. It sounded at the end of the third period while they were on guard during the night. That was at 3 o’clock in the morning. Before the night was over, Peter would have broken his promise. The other *disciples agreed with Peter that they would not run away from Jesus.

Jesus’ prayer 26:36-46

v36 Then Jesus went with his *disciples to a place called Gethsemane. He spoke to them there. ‘Sit here. I will go over there and pray’, he said.

v37 He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons with him. He began to be very sad and anxious. v38 Then he spoke to them about it. ‘I am very sad deep inside me. I feel as if I am dying now. Stay here and stay awake with me.’

v39 Then he went a little way further. He fell down with his face on the ground and he prayed. ‘My Father, if it is possible, do not make me suffer like this. But do not do what I want. Do what you want to do.’

v40 Then he returned to his *disciples. He saw that they were asleep. ‘You men, surely you could stay awake with me for one hour’, he said to Peter. v41 ‘Stay awake and pray now. Then you will not fail when you are tested. I know that you want to do the right thing. But your bodies are weak.’

v42 Jesus went away a second time to pray. ‘My Father, is it possible that I would not have to suffer like this?’ he said. ‘But if there is no other way, I am willing. I want what you want to happen.’

v43 Then he came back to the three *disciples. He saw that they were asleep again. They could not keep their eyes open. v44 So he left them and he went away once more. He prayed to his Father for the third time and he prayed the same thing. v45 Then he returned to the *disciples. ‘You should not still be sleeping and resting’, he said. ‘Look, the time has come now. The bad people are coming to arrest the *Son of Man. v46 Get up! Let us go! Here comes the man who will hand me over to them.’

Verse 36 Gethsemane was a place on the hill called the Mount of Olives. The name Gethsemane means that there was special equipment there. It was a place where they squeezed the oil from the *olive fruit. John said that Jesus often went there with his *disciples (John 18:2).

Verses 37-39 Jesus took his three closest friends with him. He knew that he must die. When they fixed people on a *cross with nails, they caused the person to suffer in terrible ways. Jesus’ body will hurt. But he will suffer in other ways. In the *Old Testament, the *prophets wrote about God’s judgement ‘cup’ as punishment for *sin (Isaiah 51:17). As the *Messiah, Jesus was the ‘Servant who Suffered’. Jesus knew the words in Isaiah chapter 53. There the servant suffered and died because other people *sinned. Jesus had deep mental pain. He knew that he would carry the responsibility for other people’s *sins. He was the only person who never *sinned. But he knew that he would be responsible for everyone’s *sin. That caused his great mental struggle. But he was willing to die in this painful way in order to do what his Father wanted.

Verses 40-41 Jesus’ warned them that there was going to be a test. He was thinking especially about Peter. The only way to be strong was to pray. Jesus knew that they were willing to help him. But they were very tired. So they had not been able to control their desire to sleep.

Verses 42-45 Jesus was disappointed three times that his friends had not stayed awake with him. And they had not prayed for him or for themselves. Later that night, Peter denied that he knew Jesus three times. Perhaps he remembered the three times that he had not prayed for strength.

‘The time has come now’ meant that the special time had arrived. Jesus would complete his work for his Father. He knew that Judas was coming. And Judas was going to hand over Jesus to his enemies.

The men arrest Jesus 26:47-56

v47 While Jesus was still speaking, Judas arrived. He was one of the 12 *disciples. A large crowd came with him and they were carrying swords and heavy sticks. The chief *priests and the people’s other leaders had sent them. v48 Judas, who was going to hand over Jesus, had arranged a signal with them. ‘The person that I kiss is the man’, he had said. ‘Arrest him.’

v49 So Judas went to Jesus at once. ‘Greetings, Teacher!’ Judas said as he kissed him.

v50 ‘Friend, do what you came to do’, Jesus replied.

Then the men stepped forward. They seized Jesus and they arrested him. v51 So one of Jesus’ companions grasped his sword and he struck the high *priest’s servant with it. He cut off the servant’s ear. v52 ‘Put your sword back in its place’, Jesus said to him. ‘Many people use the sword to fight. And they will die by the sword. v53 You know that I can call to my Father for help. He would send a huge army of his *messengers to help me. v54 But then all that they wrote about me in the *scriptures long ago would not come true. They said that this must happen.’

v55 Then Jesus spoke to the crowd. ‘I am not leading a band of dangerous criminals. You do not need to come with swords and heavy sticks when you arrest me. Every day I sat in the *Temple and I taught people there. You did not arrest me there. v56 But all this has happened exactly as God’s special servants wrote about it long ago. Now their words have come true.’

Then all the *disciples left him and they ran away.

Verse 47 Matthew identifies Judas as ‘one of the 12 *disciples’. This again emphasises how wicked Judas was. He handed Jesus over to his enemies. But the *religious leaders expected that Jesus would fight. They thought that his *disciples might defend him. So they had sent their soldiers ready to fight them. People were saying that Jesus was the *Messiah. So the leaders were afraid that he might try to establish himself as a political king by force.

Verses 48-50 Judas had arranged to kiss Jesus. Then the soldiers would know who was the right person. Then they could arrest him. It was probably dark among the *olive trees. So it was difficult to identify Jesus. Judas did not appear at Jesus’ *trial, and soon after this he killed himself.

Verses 51-52 John tells us more details (John 18:10-11). It was Peter who attacked the servant. The servant was Malchus, and the high *priest was Caiaphas. Luke tells us also that Jesus healed the servant’s ear (Luke 22:51). Jesus did not want his *disciples to defend him. It was not like a war. That only leads to more war. Jesus had chosen to show how much he loved people.

Verses 53-54 In the *Old Testament *scriptures, God spoke about his purpose. Jesus knew that it must come true. He spoke about God’s special servants from long ago (also verse 56) whose words must come true. He could have asked God for thousands of his *messengers to protect him. But in Gethsemane, he had accepted his Father’s purpose for him.

Verses 55-56 Jesus said that they could have arrested him on any day in the *Temple. He had been teaching there every day. But they had come secretly when it was dark. And they came ready to fight. He told them that he was not a criminal like the Zealots. (The Zealots were *Jews. They wanted to use force to remove the *Romans from their country. Their actions caused war.) The *disciples had all said that they would remain loyal to Jesus (verse 35). But Jesus’ words of warning came true (verse 31). The *disciples all ran away.

They took Jesus to Caiaphas 26:57-68

v57 The people who had arrested Jesus took him to the high *priest’s house. This high *priest’s name was Caiaphas. The men who taught the *Law and the other leaders had come together at his house. v58 But Peter followed Jesus at a distance as far as the high *priest’s yard. Then he went into the yard and he sat down with the guards. He wanted to see what would happen.

v59 The chief *priests and the whole *Jewish government wanted to kill Jesus. So they were looking for false evidence against him. v60 Many false witnesses came to them and lied about him. But the leaders could not find any real evidence against him. At last, two more witnesses came and spoke to them. v61 ‘This person said, “I am able to destroy God’s *Temple, and I can build it again in three days” ’, the men told them.

v62 Then the high *priest stood up and he spoke to Jesus, ‘Are you not going to answer these men? What can you say about this?’ he asked him.

v63 But Jesus remained silent. So the high *priest spoke to him again. ‘I order you to answer me. God, who is alive, is watching! So tell us the truth! Tell us whether you are the Christ or not. Are you God’s Son?’

v64 ‘Yes, what you say is true’, Jesus replied. ‘But I say this to all of you. In the future, you will see the *Son of Man. He will be sitting in the important place at the right side of the powerful God. And he will be coming on the clouds from heaven.’

v65 Then the high *priest tore his clothes. ‘This man has spoken evil words against God!’ he said. ‘We do not need any more witnesses. You have heard him claim to be God. v66 What do you think now?’

‘He is guilty and he ought to die’, they answered.

v67 Then they *spat in his face. Some men hit him with their fists and other men slapped him. v68 ‘*Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit you?’ they said to him.

Verse 57 The *Jewish government was called the ‘Sanhedrin’. That was the chief *Jewish court and it had the power to deal with *religious matters. But the court broke many of the rules when they made their judgement that night. They were meeting in the high *priest’s house, but they should have been meeting in a special hall in the *Temple. It was night and an official *trial should not have happened at night.

Verse 58 Peter had the courage to follow. He wanted to know what would happen to Jesus. Peter did not realise that he was in a dangerous place. It would be very hard for him to admit that he was one of Jesus’ *disciples.

Verse 60 The witnesses told lies about Jesus. But they did not agree because they all told different lies. And the law said that one witness could not make a person guilty by himself. Two or three witnesses had to agree with each other in every detail (Deuteronomy 17:6).

Verses 60-61 Finally, two witnesses accused Jesus about a serious crime. Jesus had warned the people that someone would destroy the *Temple (Matthew 24:1-2). Also he had spoken to the *Pharisees. ‘Something greater than the *Temple is here’, he had said (Matthew 12:6). The *Jews did not understand what he meant. ‘Destroy this *temple and in three days I will build it up again’, he had said (John 2:19-22). Jesus had said ‘*temple’, but he was referring to his own body. The *Jews could kill his body, but he would come alive again. The *Jews thought that he meant to do a wicked thing. They thought that he would destroy their *Temple.

Verses 62-63 Jesus did not answer the high *priest’s question. He knew that no reply would be of any use. The *Sanhedrin had decided to kill him. Long ago Isaiah had written a poem about God’s special servant:

‘A sheep makes no sound when people are cutting its wool.

So he did not open his mouth’ (Isaiah 53:7).

Jesus was God’s special servant and he was like the sheep.

Verse 63 The high *priest was guilty because he broke their law again. He should not have ordered Jesus to answer while God was watching. This is called ‘under oath’. Jesus told them the truth. But they said that he was guilty.

Verse 64 Jesus agreed that he was the *Messiah. He used the name ‘*Son of Man’ when he referred to himself. Then he used words about his important position. He would be with God, who is powerful. He would sit at God’s right side. This is the place that has honour. He said that he would come in the clouds and with power. He was using words from Psalms 110:1 and from Daniel 7:13 to refer to himself. Jesus knew that the *Jewish authorities could judge him now. But in the future, he would have the power to judge them.

Verse 65 The high *priest chose to describe Jesus’ words as ‘evil words against God’, which are also called ‘blasphemy’. Then the high *priest tore his clothes. This showed that he was both angry and sad. He thought that Jesus had insulted God.

Verses 66 They said that Jesus was guilty. But they should have waited until the next day before they gave their decision. Again, they did not behave in the correct legal way towards Jesus.

Verses 67-68 Mark tells us that they covered Jesus’ eyes. So he could not see when they hit him (Mark 14:65). Then they asked him, ‘Who hit you?’ He had said that he was God’s special servant. So he should know the answer, they thought.

Peter denies Jesus 26:69-75

v69 While Peter was sitting outside in the yard, a servant girl came to him. ‘You also were with Jesus who comes from Galilee’, she said.

v70 But in front of them all Peter said that he was not with Jesus. ‘I do not know what you are talking about’, he said.

v71 Then he moved over to the gate that led to the yard. And another woman servant saw him there. So she said to the people, ‘This man was with Jesus who comes from Nazareth.’

v72 Again Peter said that he was not with Jesus. ‘God is my witness that I am telling you the truth. I do not know the man!’ he said to them.

v73 After a little time, the people standing there went up to Peter. ‘You must be one of them’, they said. ‘We know that from the way that you talk.’

v74 Then Peter told them. ‘I want God to punish me if I do not tell the truth to you. God is my witness! And I say that I do not know the man!’

Immediately a male chicken called. v75 Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said earlier. ‘You will say three times that you do not know me. You will say it before the male chicken calls.’

So Peter went outside. And he wept as if he could never stop crying.

The record about Peter’s failure is in all four *gospels. Matthew’s account is very similar to Mark’s account. But Mark’s *gospel has even more details (Mark 14:66-72). Many people think that Mark wrote what Peter told him. So Peter was honest about his failure.

Verses 69-70 Peter had the courage to follow Jesus into the yard of the high *priest’s house. But the servant girl said that he was with Jesus from Galilee. Then Peter lost his courage. The girl may not have been accusing Peter. She may have just been curious about him. But Peter told his first lie and he denied his master.

Verses 71-72 He did not leave the yard, but moved away to the gate. Perhaps he thought that people would not notice him there so much. He told his second lie with the knowledge that God was watching him. He might have said ‘by heaven’ or ‘by the *Temple’ to support his answer (Matthew 5:34-37).

Verses 73-74 The people who lived in the *Judea region spoke with a particular accent. The people who came from the Galilee region spoke with a different accent. So Peter’s accent showed that he came from Galilee. Jesus came from Galilee too. When they asked him for a third time, Peter was very afraid. So he asked God to punish him if he was lying.

Verse 75 The bird cried out or the *Roman *trumpet sounded. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said to him. His tears showed that he was very sad. He had said that he did not know his close friend and master.

This incident warns us how easy it is to fail to be loyal to Jesus. Peter may have told it to show that even a close *disciple can fail. But Peter was very sorry. And Jesus promises to forgive everyone who is really sorry. So this incident is a promise too.

gospel ~ 1. good news; 2. one of the first four books in the New Testament.

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, which the writers wrote after the life of Jesus.
disciples ~ those who follow another person to learn from him.
Passover ~ the time when the Jews remember that God freed them from Egypt.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes the faith of the Jews, called Judaism.
faith ~ belief in someone or something; things that people believe about Jesus.

'Son of Man ~ a name that Jesus called himself. see Daniel 8:17.
cross ~ two pieces of wood that someone has fixed together in the shape of a cross.
priest ~ a man whom God chose to do a special work for him. The priests worked in the Temple.
Temple ~ the special building in Jerusalem where the Jews worshipped God.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes the faith of the Jews, called Judaism.
worship ~ show honour to God, usually with other people.
faith ~ belief in someone or something; things that people believe about Jesus.
feast ~ a special meal; a religious ceremony.
religious ~ something that people do as part of the worship of God.
worship ~ show honour to God, usually with other people.
gospel ~ 1. good news; 2. one of the first four books in the New Testament.

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, which the writers wrote after the life of Jesus.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes the faith of the Jews, called Judaism.
faith ~ belief in someone or something; things that people believe about Jesus.
Roman ~ Rome was the capital city of the rulers at that time. That which belonged to Rome was Roman.
perfume ~ something that smells nice to put on the skin.
Messiah ~ the Jews' word for the king who would come and rescue them.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes the faith of the Jews, called Judaism.
faith ~ belief in someone or something; things that people believe about Jesus.
apostle ~ one of the 12 special men that Jesus sent out.
Jewish ~ a word that describes a Jew or anything to do with a Jew.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes the faith of the Jews, called Judaism.
faith ~ belief in someone or something; things that people believe about Jesus.
yeast ~ people put yeast into flour and water in order to make bread. The yeast grows in the bread and it makes the bread bigger. It spreads through all the bread, so Jesus compared it with other things that spread.
unleavened ~ without yeast.
yeast ~ people put yeast into flour and water in order to make bread. The yeast grows in the bread and it makes the bread bigger. It spreads through all the bread, so Jesus compared it with other things that spread.
Greek ~ the language in which the authors wrote the New Testament.

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, which the writers wrote after the life of Jesus.
Lord ~ master; a name that we call God or Jesus; we call God or Jesus Lord when we obey them.
sin ~ when we do not obey God's commands.
Mount ~ a short word for mountain; small mountain.
Law ~ the rules that God gave to Moses for the Jews.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes the faith of the Jews, called Judaism.
faith ~ belief in someone or something; things that people believe about Jesus.
church ~ a group of Christians who meet together. A church is not just the building that they meet in. It can also mean all the Christians in the world.
worship ~ show honour to God, usually with other people.
olive ~ a tree with small fruits (or the fruits themselves) that people use to make oil. They use the oil to cook food.
trumpet ~ musical instrument; you blow into a tube.'Old Testament ~ the first part of the Bible, which the writers wrote before the life of Jesus.
prophet ~ a person who told people what God wanted.
messenger ~ a person who gives a message.
scriptures ~ the books in the Old Testament or in the Bible.

Old Testament ~ the first part of the Bible, which the writers wrote before the life of Jesus.
Temple ~ the special building in Jerusalem where the Jews worshipped God.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes the faith of the Jews, called Judaism.
worship ~ show honour to God, usually with other people.
faith ~ belief in someone or something; things that people believe about Jesus.
religious ~ something that people do as part of the worship of God.
worship ~ show honour to God, usually with other people.
trial ~ a legal examination by which a judge decides if a person is guilty of a crime; the examination of a person in a court of law to discover whether he is guilty or not of a crime.'spit, spat ~ to make water come out of your mouth very quickly.
prophesy ~ tell people what God thinks and will do; to tell about things before they happen; to speak with God’s (or a false god’s) help and on God’s (or a false god’s) behalf.
Pharisee ~ one of a group of Jews who thought that they obeyed all God’s rules. They did not like the things that Jesus taught. They thought that they did not do any wrong things. So, they thought that they were very important and clever.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes the faith of the Jews, called Judaism.
faith ~ belief in someone or something; things that people believe about Jesus.
Temple ~ the special building in Jerusalem where the Jews worshipped God.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes the faith of the Jews, called Judaism.
worship ~ show honour to God, usually with other people.
faith ~ belief in someone or something; things that people believe about Jesus.
Sanhedrin ~ the group of Jewish priests and other leaders.
Jewish ~ a word that describes a Jew or anything to do with a Jew.
priest ~ a man whom God chose to do a special work for him. The priests worked in the Temple.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes the faith of the Jews, called Judaism.
Temple ~ the special building in Jerusalem where the Jews worshipped God.
faith ~ belief in someone or something; things that people believe about Jesus.
worship ~ show honour to God, usually with other people.
Judea ~ a part of the country where the Jews lived.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes the faith of the Jews, called Judaism.
faith ~ belief in someone or something; things that people believe about Jesus.