_Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh_ Being to be celebrated within two days after our Lord had delivered the prophecies and admonitions recorded above. Concerning this feast, see on Matthew 26:2. _The chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him_ See on Matthew 26:3. _But they f... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed_ They called the day on which the passover was killed, one of the days of unleavened bread, and the first day thereof, because it was preparatory to that feast; though, properly speaking, the first day began with the passover-s... [ Continue Reading ]
_When the hour was come_, &c. When the evening approached, Jesus left Bethany; and every thing being prepared by the time he came into the city, they all sat down at the appointed hour. _And he said, With desire I have desired_ That is, I have earnestly desired it. He desired it, both for the sake o... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he took bread_ Namely, some time after, when the supper was ended, wherein they had eaten the paschal lamb. _And gave thanks, and brake it_ Matthew and Mark say, _Blessed and brake it._ They do not say, _Blessed it:_ for the word _it_, though supplied in our translation in Matthew, is not in th... [ Continue Reading ]
_But behold_ Πλην ιδου. This particle (πλην, _verumtamen, nevertheless_, or notwithstanding) “is a proof,” says Bengelius, “that Judas was present at the Lord's supper;” for it shows that Christ's discourse is continued without interruption; and it appears, from Luke 22:14, that when he sat down to... [ Continue Reading ]
_And there was also a strife among them_, &c. Of the kind of contentions here spoken of there are two instances recorded by the evangelists, evidently different from each other, and each attended with very different circumstances. The former is mentioned by Matthew 18:1; by Mark 9:33; and by Luke 9:... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye have continued with me in my temptations_ Εν τοις πειρασμοις μου, _in my trials_ and afflictions: and his whole life was little else than one continued series of them, particularly from the time of his entering on his public ministry. _And I appoint unto you a kingdom_ I will preserve you in all... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the Lord said_, &c. To make his disciples humble and watchful, and kindly affectionate one to another, Christ assured them, that Satan was seeking to destroy them all by his temptations. As if he had said, _O Simon, Simon, behold Satan_ As in the case of Job; (Job 2:4;) _hath desired to have yo... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he said, When I sent you without purse_, &c. “Our Lord, having finished what he had to say to Peter in particular, now turned to the other disciples, and put them in mind how they had been prohibited, when they were first sent out, to make any provision for their journey, and directed to rely w... [ Continue Reading ]
_He went, as he was wont_ As was his custom every night; _to the mount of Olives_ See on Matthew 26:30. _And when he was at the place_ When he had entered the garden of Gethsemane; _he said, Pray that ye enter not into temptation_ Having forewarned them of the lamentable effect which his sufferings... [ Continue Reading ]
_And when he rose up from prayer_ After this dreadful conflict; _and was come to his disciples_ Namely, the third time; notwithstanding the repeated admonitions he had given them, _he again found them sleeping_ And that, as the evangelist says, _for sorrow_ The sensations of grief which they felt at... [ Continue Reading ]
_And while he yet spake, behold, a multitude_ had entered the garden, consisting of persons of very different stations and offices in life; and _Judas went before them_ To lead them to the place, and show them the man they wanted, by kissing him. See on Matthew 26:47; Mark 14:43. _Betrayest thou the... [ Continue Reading ]
_When they which were about him saw what would follow_ That the band was just going to seize Jesus, or had already seized him, and were about to lead him away; _they said, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?_ Thou didst allow us to have two swords, shall we now make use of them? Surely never can th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jesus said unto the chief priests, captains_, &c. The soldiers and servants were sent to apprehend Jesus, but these chief priests, &c. came of their own accord; and, it seems, kept at a distance during the scuffle, but drew near when they understood that Jesus was taken. _Be ye come out as against... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then took they him, and brought him into the high-priest's house_ See on Matthew 26:57; and Mark 14:53; Mark 14:51. _When they had kindled a fire, Peter sat down among them_ See the story of Peter's three-fold denial of Christ elucidated at large in the notes on Matthew 26:69; and Mark 14:66. _Anot... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the men that held Jesus mocked him_ What has just been related concerning Peter, passed while the priests examined Jesus, of which examination, before Luke gives an account, he mentions the following remarkable circumstance, namely, that the men who held Jesus _mocked him and smote him. And whe... [ Continue Reading ]
_And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people, and the chief-priests, &c., came together_ When the band of soldiers arrived at the high-priest's with Jesus, they found many of the chief-priests, and the scribes, and the elders assembled there. (Mark 14:53.) Some persons of distinction, howeve... [ Continue Reading ]