_After two days was the feast of the passover_ For an explanation of
these verses, see the notes on Matthew 26:1. _Of ointment of
spike-nard, very precious_ “Either the word πιστικη,” says
Dr. Whitby, “answers to the Syriac, _pisthaca_, and then it may be
rendered, _nardus spicata, ointment made of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Judas went unto the chief priests_, &c. Immediately after this
reproof, having anger now added to his covetousness. See these verses
explained in the notes on Matthew 26:14. _There shall meet you a man
bearing a pitcher of water_ It was highly seasonable for our Lord to
give them this additional pr... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the evening he cometh with the twelve_ See notes on Matthew 26:20.
_This is my blood of the new testament_ Or, _covenant;_ that is, this
I appoint to be a perpetual sign and memorial of my blood, as shed for
establishing the new covenant, that all who shall believe in me, may
receive all its gra... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they went out into the mount of Olives_ At the conclusion of the
supper; Jesus and his disciples sung a proper psalm, or song of
praise, together, as was customary at the close of the passover, and
then he set out for the mount of Olives, choosing to retire thither,
that he might prevent a riot... [ Continue Reading ]
_They came to Gethsemane_ For an explanation of these verses see the
notes on Matthew 26:36. _And began to be sore amazed_ Greek,
εκθαμβεισθαι, _to be in a consternation._ The word implies
the most shocking mixture of terror and amazement: the next word,
αδημονειν, which we render, _to be very heavy... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he went away and spake the same words_ It is plain, by comparing
Mark 14:35, with Matthew 26:42, that the words were not entirely the
same; and it is certain that λογος, here rendered _word_, often
signifies _matter._ So that no more appears to be intended than that
he prayed to the same purpos... [ Continue Reading ]
_Immediately, while he yet spake_ And gave his disciples the alarm
just mentioned; _Judas came, and with him a great multitude_ Persons
of different stations and offices in life, sent with authority _from
the chief priests, with swords and staves_ Or _clubs_, as it seems
ξυλων ought here to be rende... [ Continue Reading ]
_They laid their hands on him, and took him_ After they had first
_gone backward, and fallen to the ground_, upon Jesus's saying, _I am
he_, as is recorded John 18:5. This paragraph is explained in the
notes on Matthew 26:51.... [ Continue Reading ]
_There followed him a certain young man_ The ancients, or at least
many of them, supposed, that the young man here mentioned by Mark was
one of the apostles; though Grotius wonders how they could entertain
such an idea, and apprehends it was some youth who lodged in a
country-house, near the garden,... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they led Jesus away to the high-priest_ To Annas first, who had
been high-priest, and afterward to his son-in-law, Caiaphas, who then
sustained the office. _And with him were assembled all the chief
priests, the elders, and the scribes_ Or the chief persons of the
sanhedrim, with their proper o... [ Continue Reading ]
_And all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to
death_ Which they were determined to do. They had seized him as a
malefactor; and now they had him, they had no indictment to prefer
against him, no crime to lay to his charge: but _they sought for
witnesses against him._ They artfu... [ Continue Reading ]
_The high-priest stood up in the midst_, &c. See notes on Matthew
26:62, where this paragraph is largely explained. _Art thou the
Christ, the Son of the Blessed_ Here one of the peculiar attributes of
the Deity is used to express the divine nature. Supreme happiness is
properly considered as belongi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then the high-priest rent his clothes_ Rending of clothes was an
expression sometimes of deep grief, sometimes of holy zeal. The
precepts, Leviticus 10:8; Leviticus 21:10; forbidding the high-priest
to rend his clothes, relate only to the pontifical garments and to
private mourning: that is, mourni... [ Continue Reading ]
_And as Peter was beneath in the palace_ This whole paragraph
respecting Peter's three-fold denial of Christ is explained at large
in the notes on Matthew 26:69. _When he thought thereon he wept_ In
the original it is, και επιβαλων εκλαιε, which words
are interpreted very differently by different co... [ Continue Reading ]