Matthew 26 - Introduction
Matthew 26:1 See also Mark 14:1; Luke 22:1; John 12:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 26:1 See also Mark 14:1; Luke 22:1; John 12:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER TWO DAYS IS - the feast of the Passover. See the notes at Matthew 12:1. The festival of the Passover was designed to preserve among the Jews the memory of their liberation from Egyptian servitude, and of the safety of their first-born in that night when the firstborn of the Egyptians perished,... [ Continue Reading ]
See also Mark 14:12; Luke 22:7. Matthew 26:17 THE FIRST DAY ... - The feast continued “eight” days, including the day on which the paschal lamb was killed and eaten, Exodus 12:15. That was the fourteenth day of the month Abib, answering to parts of our March and April. OF UNLEAVENED BREAD - Called... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE EVEN WAS COME - The lamb was killed “between the evenings,” Exodus 12:6 (Hebrew) - that is between three o’clock, p. m., and nine in the evening. The Jews reckoned two evenings - one from three o’clock p. m. to sunset, the other from sunset to the close of the first watch in the night, or n... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THEY DID EAT ... - The account contained in these verses is also recorded in Mark 14:18; Luke 22:21; John 13:21. John says that before Jesus declared that one of them should betray him, “he was troubled in spirit, and testified;” that is, he “felt deeply” in view of the greatness of the crime tha... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST SAID - That is, thou hast said the truth. It is so. Thou art the man. Compare Matthew 26:64 with Mark 14:62.... [ Continue Reading ]
See also Mark 14:22; Luke 22:15; 1 Corinthians 11:23. Matthew 26:26 AS THEY WERE EATING - As they were eating the paschal supper, near the close of the meal. Luke adds that he said, just before instituting the sacramental supper, “With desire have I desired to eat this passover with you before I... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS FORETELLS THE FALL OF PETER - This is also recorded in Mark 14:27; Luke 22:31; John 13:34. Matthew 26:31 THEN SAITH JESUS UNTO THEM - The occasion of his saying this was Peter’s bold affirmation that he was ready to die with him, John 13:36 Jesus had told them that he was going away - that i... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS’ AGONY IN GETHSEMANE - This account is also recorded in Mark 14:32; Luke 22:39; John 18:1. Matthew 26:36 THEN COMETH ... - After the institution of the Lord’s Supper, in the early part of the night, he went out to the Mount of Olives. In his journey he passed over the brook Cedron John 18:1... [ Continue Reading ]
RISE, LET US BE GOING - That is, probably, “with them.” Let us go wheresoever they shall lead us. The time when “I must die” is come. It is no longer proper to attempt an escape, and no more time can be given to repose.... [ Continue Reading ]
The account of Jesus’ being betrayed by Judas is recorded by all the evangelists. See Mark 14:43; Luke 22:47; John 18:2. Matthew 26:47 JUDAS, ONE OF THE TWELVE, CAME - This was done while Jesus was addressing his disciples. John informs us that Judas knew the place, because Jesus was in the habit... [ Continue Reading ]
PETER FOLLOWED AFAR OFF - By this he evinced two things: * Real attachment to his Master; a desire to be near him and to witness his trial. * Fear respecting his personal safety. He therefore kept so far off as to be out of danger, and yet so near as that he might witness the transactions respec... [ Continue Reading ]
FALSE WITNESS - That is, they sought for witnesses who would accuse him of crime of violation of the laws of the land or of God. We are not to suppose that “they wished” them to be “false” witnesses. They were indifferent, probably, whether they were true or false, if they could succeed in condemnin... [ Continue Reading ]
FOUND NONE - That is, they found none on whose testimony they could with any show of reason convict him. The reason was, as Mark says Mark 14:56, that “their witnesses agreed not together.” They differed about facts, times, and circumstances, as all false witnesses do. Two witnesses were required by... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAID, THIS FELLOW SAID ... - Mark has recorded this testimony differently. According to him, they said, “We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another. made without hands.” Probably both forms of giving in the testimony were used... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS HELD HIS PEACE - Was silent. He knew that the evidence did not even appear to amount to anything worth a reply. He knew that they were aware of that, and that feeling that, the high priest attempted to draw something from him on which they could condemn him. I ADJURE THEE BY THE LIVING GOD - I... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST SAID - This is a form of assenting or affirming. Thou hast said the truth; or, as Luke Luke 22:70 has it, “Ye say that I am.” This was not, however, said “immediately.” Before Jesus acknowledged himself to be the Messiah, he said to them Luke 22:67, “If I tell you ye will not believe, and... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE HIGH PRIEST RENT HIS CLOTHES - The Jews were accustomed to rend their clothes as a token of grief. This was done often as a matter of form, and consisted in tearing a particular part of the garment reserved for this purpose. It was not lawful for the high priest to rip his clothes, Leviticu... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT THINK YE? - What is your opinion? What sentence do you pronounce? As President of the Sanhedrin he demanded their judgment. HE IS GUILTY OF DEATH - This was the form which was used when a criminal was condemned to die. The meaning is, he is guilty of a crime to which the law annexes death. This... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN DID THEY SPIT IN HIS FACE - This, among the Jews, as among us, was significant of the highest contempt and insult, Numbers 12:14; Isaiah 50:6; Job 30:10. AND BUFFETED HIM - That is, they struck him with their hands closed, or with the fist. OTHERS SMOTE HIM WITH THE PALMS OF THEIR HANDS - The... [ Continue Reading ]
SAYING, PROPHESY UNTO US ... - Mark informs us that before they said this they had blindfolded him. Having prevented his seeing, they ridiculed his pretensions of being the Messiah. If he Was the Christ, they supposed he could tell who smote him As he bore it patiently and did not answer, they doubt... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW PETER SAT WITHOUT IN THE PALACE - Mark says the first denial took place while Peter was “beneath in the palace.” This “palace” was the large hall or court belonging to the residence of the high priest. The part of it where Jesus and the council were was “elevated,” probably above the rest for a... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE DEEDED BEFORE THEM ALL ... - He denied that he was a disciple; he denied that he knew Jesus; he denied (Mark) that he understood what was meant - that is, he did not see any reason why this question was asked. All this was palpable falsehood, and Peter must have known that it was such. This i... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE WAS GONE OUT INTO THE PORCH - The “entrance,” or the small apartment between the outer door and the large hall in the center of the building. See plan of a house, Notes, Matthew 9:1. Peter was embarrassed and confused by the question, and to save his confusion from attracting notice, he went... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AFTER A WHILE - That is, about an hour after (Luke). Peter by this time had returned into the palace or hall, and stood warming himself by the fire, John 18:25. THY SPEECH BEWRAYETH THEE - Your language makes it manifest that you are of his company. That is, as Mark adds, he was a “Galilean,” a... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN BEGAN HE TO CURSE ... - Peter was now irritated beyond endurance. He could no longer resist the evidence that he was known. It had been repeatedly charged on him. His language had betrayed him, and there was a positive witness who had seen him. He felt it necessary, therefore, to be still more... [ Continue Reading ]
AND PETER REMEMBERED THE WORD OF JESUS ... - Luke has mentioned a beautiful and touching circumstance omitted by the other evangelists, that when the cock crew, “Jesus turned and looked upon Peter,” and that then he remembered his words. They were in the same room - Jesus at the upper end of the hal... [ Continue Reading ]