CHAPTER XXVI. _Christ predicts his being betrayed and crucified_, 1, 2. _The chief priests, scribes, and elders consult about his death_, 3-5. _A woman anoints his head at Bethany, at which the disciples are_ _offended, but Christ vindicates her conduct_, 6-13. _Judas, for thirty pieces of sil... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:2. _THE PASSOVER_] A feast instituted in Egypt, to commemorate the destroying angel's _passing over_ the houses of the Israelites, when he slew the firstborn of the Egyptians. See the whole of this business largely explained in the Notes on Exodus 12:1. This feast began on the four... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:3. _THEN ASSEMBLED TOGETHER THE CHIEF PRIESTS_] That is, during the two days that preceded the passover. _THE HIGH PRIEST, WHO WAS CALLED CAIAPHAS_] _Caiaphas_ succeeded _Simon_, son of _Camith_, about A. D. 16, or, as Calmet thinks, 25. He married the daughter of _Annas_, who was... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:4. _AND CONSULTED THAT THEY MIGHT TAKE JESUS BY SUBTILTY_] The providence of God frustrated their artful machinations; and that event which they wished to conduct with the greatest _privacy_ and _silence_ was transacted with all possible _celebrity_, amidst the thousands who resorte... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:5. _NOT ON THE FEAST_ DAY, _LEST THERE BE AN UPROAR_] It was usual for the Jews to punish criminals at the public festivals; but in this case they were afraid of an insurrection, as our Lord had become very popular. The providence of God directed it thus, for the reason given in the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:6. _IN BETHANY_] For a solution of the difficulties in this verse, about the _time_ of the anointing, see the observations at the end of this chapter. _SIMON THE_ LEPER] This was probably no more than a surname, as Simon the CANAANITE, Matthew 10:4, and _Barsabas_ JUSTUS, Acts 1:23... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:7. _THERE CAME UNTO HIM A WOMAN_] There is much contention among commentators about the transaction mentioned here, and in John 12:3; some supposing them to be different, others to be the same. Bishop Newcome's view of the subject I have placed at the end of the chapter. Some thin... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:8. _HIS DISCIPLES_] One of them, viz. _Judas_. This mode of speaking was common among the Hebrews. So, Matthew 27:44, _the thieves also_, i.e. _one_ of them. So, Matthew 28:17, _some doubted_, i.e. _one_, Thomas. See also Genesis 8:4; Judges 12:7; Nehemiah 6:7, c. By a figure calle... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:9. _AND GIVEN TO THE POOR._] How often does charity serve as a cloak for covetousness! God is sometimes robbed of his right under the pretence of devoting what is withheld to some charitable purpose, to which there was no intention ever to give it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:10. _WHY TROUBLE YE THE WOMAN?_] Or, _Why do ye put the_ _woman to pain_? See this sense of κοπους παρεχειν, established by _Kypke_ in loco. A generous mind is ever _pained_ when it is denied the opportunity of doing good, or when its proffered kindness is refused.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:11. _YE HAVE THE POOR ALWAYS WITH YOU_] And, consequently, have the opportunity of doing them good at any time; _but me ye have not always_; my bodily presence is about to be removed from you for ever. The woman, under a presentiment of my death is preparing me for my burial.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:12. _SHE DID_ IT _FOR MY BURIAL._] Or, _She hath done it to_ _embalm me _- ενταφιασαι με. The Septuagint use ενταφιαστης for the person whose office it was to _embalm_, Genesis 50:2, and ενταφιαζω for the Hebrew הנט which signifies to _prepare with spices_, or _aromatics_, Genesis 5... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:13. _WHERESOEVER THIS GOSPEL SHALL BE PREACHED_] Another remarkable proof of the prescience of Christ. Such a matter as this, humanly speaking, depended on mere _fortuitous_ circumstances, yet so has God disposed matters, that the thing has continued, hitherto, as firm and regular a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:14. _THEN - JUDAS_] After this supper at Bethany, Judas returned to Jerusalem, and made his contract with the chief priests.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:15. _THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER._] τριακοντα αργυρια, _thirty_ _silverlings_; but στατηρας, _staters_, is the reading of the Codex Bezae, three copies of the _Itala, Eusebius_, and _Origen_ sometimes; and στατηρας αργυριου, _silver staters_, is the reading of the famous Basil MS. No. 1... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:16. _HE SOUGHT OPPORTUNITY_] ευκαιριαν, a convenient or fit opportunity. Men seldom leave a crime imperfect: when once sin is _conceived_, it meets, in general, with few obstacles, till it brings forth _death_. How deceitful, how deeply damning, is the love of money! Well might a he... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:17. _NOW THE FIRST_ DAY _OF THE_ FEAST OF _UNLEAVENED BREAD_] As the feast of unleavened bread did not begin till the day after the passover, the _fifteenth_ day of the month, Leviticus 23:5-3; Numbers 28:16-4, _this_ could not have been, properly, the _first_ day of that feast; bu... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:18. _GO - TO SUCH A MAN_] τον δεινα It is probable that this means some person with whom Christ was well acquainted, and who was known to the disciples. _Grotius_ observes that the Greeks use this form when they mean some _particular person_ who is so well known that there is no nee... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:19. _AND THE DISCIPLES DID_] The disciples that were sent on this errand were Peter and John. See Luke 22:8. _THEY MADE READY THE PASSOVER_] That is, they provided the lamb, c., which were appointed by the law for this solemnity. Mr. Wakefield justly observes, "that the Jews consi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:20. _NOW WHEN THE EVEN WAS COME, HE SAT DOWN WITH THE_ _TWELVE._] It is a common opinion that our Lord ate the passover some hours before the Jews ate it; for the Jews, according to custom, ate theirs at the _end_ of the _fourteenth_ day, but Christ ate his the preceding even, whic... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:21. _ONE OF YOU SHALL BETRAY ME._] Or, _will deliver me up_. Judas had already _betrayed_ him, Matthew 26:15, and he was now about to _deliver_ him into the hands of the chief priests, according to the agreement he had made with them.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:22. _THEY WERE EXCEEDING SORROWFUL_] That is, the _eleven_ who were innocent; and the hypocritical traitor, Judas, endeavoured to _put on_ the appearance of sorrow. Strange! Did he not know that Christ knew the secrets of his soul! Or had his love of money so far blinded him, as to... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:23. _HE THAT DIPPETH HIS HAND_] As the Jews ate the passover a whole family together, it was not convenient for them all to dip their bread in the _same_ dish; they therefore had several little dishes or plates, in which was the juice of the bitter herbs, mentioned Exodus 12:8, on... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:24. _THE SON OF MAN GOETH_] That is, is about to die. _Going, going away, departing_, c., are frequently used in the best Greek and Latin writers, for _death_, or _dying_. The same words are often used in the Scriptures in the same sense. _IT HAD BEEN GOOD FOR THAT MAN_] Can this... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:25. _JUDAS - SAID, MASTER, IS IT I?_] What excessive impudence! He knew, in his conscience, that he had already _betrayed_ his Master, and was waiting now for the servants of the chief priests, that he might _deliver_ him into their hands; and yet he says, (hoping that he had transa... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:26. _JESUS TOOK BREAD_] This is the first institution of what is termed the LORD's SUPPER. To every part of this ceremony, as here mentioned, the utmost attention should be paid. To do this, in the most effectual manner, I think it necessary to set down the text of the three evang... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:27. _AND HE TOOK THE CUP_] μετα το δειπνησαι, _after having_ _supped_, Luke 22:20, and 1 Corinthians 11:25. Whether the supper was on the _paschal lamb_, or whether it was a _common_ or _ordinary meal_, I shall not wait here to inquire: see at the end of this chapter. In the parall... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:28. _FOR THIS IS MY BLOOD OF THE NEW TESTAMENT_] This is the reading both here and in St. Mark; but St. Luke and St. Paul say, _This cup is the New Testament in my blood_. This passage has been strangely mistaken: by _New Testament_, many understand nothing more than the _book_ com... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 29. _I WILL NOT DRINK HENCEFORTH OF THIS FRUIT OF THE_ _VINE_] These words seem to intimate no more than this: We shall not have another opportunity of eating this bread and drinking this wine together; as in a few hours my crucifixion shall take place. _UNTIL THAT DAY WHEN I DRINK IT NEW WI... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 30. _AND WHEN THEY HAD SUNG A HYMN_] υμνησαντες means, probably, no more than a kind of _recitative_ reading or chanting. As to the _hymn_ itself, we know, from the universal consent of Jewish antiquity, that it was composed of Psalms 113, Psalms 114, Psalms 115, Psalms 116, Psalms 117, and P... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 31. _ALL YE SHALL BE OFFENDED_] Or rather, _Ye will all be_ _stumbled _- παντες υμεις σκανδαλισθησεσθε - ye will all forsake me, and lose in a great measure your confidence in me. _THIS NIGHT_] The time of trial is just at hand. _I WILL SMITE THE SHEPHERD_] It will happen to you as to a floc... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 32. _BUT AFTER I AM RISEN AGAIN_] Don't lose your confidence; for though I shall appear for a time to be wholly left to wicked men, and be brought under the power of death, yet I will rise again, and triumph over all _your_ enemies and mine. _I WILL GO BEFORE YOU_] Still alluding to the case... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 33. _PETER - SAID UNTO HIM, THOUGH ALL MEN SHALL BE_ _OFFENDED _- YET _WILL I NEVER_] The presumptuous person imagines he can do every thing, and can do nothing: thinks he can excel all, and excels in nothing: promises every thing, and performs nothing. The humble man acts a quite contrary pa... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 34. _JESUS SAID_] Our Lord's answer to Peter is very emphatic and impressive. _Verily _- I speak a solemn weighty truth, _thou wilt_ not only be _stumbled, fall off_, and _forsake_ thy Master, but thou wilt even _deny_ that thou _hast_, or ever _had_, any _knowledge_ of or _connection_ with me... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 35. _THOUGH I SHOULD DIE WITH THEE, YET WILL I NOT DENY_ _THEE._] He does not take the warning which his Lord gave him - he trusts in the warm, sincere attachment to Christ which he now feels, not considering that this must speedily fail, unless supported by the power of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 36. _A PLACE CALLED GETHSEMANE_] A garden at the foot of the mount of Olives. The name seems to be formed from גת _gath, a_ _press_, and סמן _shemen, oil_; probably the place where the produce of the mount of Olives was prepared for use. The garden of the oilpress, or olive-press. _SIT YE HER... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 37. _AND HE TOOK WITH HIM PETER AND THE TWO SONS OF_ _ZEBEDEE_] That is, James and John; the same persons who had beheld his transfiguration on the mount - that they might contemplate this agony in the light of that glory which they had there seen; and so be kept from being stumbled by a view... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 38. _THEN SAITH HE_] _Then saith - Jesus_: - I have added the word _Jesus_, ὁ Ιησους, on the authority of a multitude of eminent MSS. See them in _Griesbach_. _MY SOUL IS EXCEEDING SORROWFUL_, (or, _is surrounded with_ _exceeding sorrow_,) _EVEN UNTO DEATH._] This latter word explains the tw... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 39. _FELL ON HIS FACE_] Luke 22:44. This was the ordinary posture of the supplicant when the favour was great which was asked, and deep humiliation required. The head was put between the knees, and the forehead brought to touch the earth-this was not only a humiliating, but a very _painful_ po... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 40. _HE - SAITH UNTO PETER_] He addressed himself more particularly to this apostle, because of the profession he had made, Matthew 26:33; as if he had said: "Is this the way you testify your affectionate attachment to me? Ye all said you were ready to die with me; what, then, cannot you watch... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 41. _THAT YE ENTER NOT INTO TEMPTATION_] If ye cannot endure a little fatigue when there is no suffering, how will ye do when the temptation, the great trial of your fidelity and courage, cometh? _Watch _- that ye be not taken unawares; and _pray _- that when it comes ye may be enabled to bear... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 42. _O MY FATHER, IF THIS CUP MAY NOT PASS AWAY FROM ME_] _If it be not possible _- to redeem fallen man, _unless I drink this_ _cup_, unless I suffer death for them; _thy will be done _- I am content to suffer whatever may be requisite to accomplish the great design. In this address the _huma... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 43. _THEIR EYES WERE HEAVY._] That is, they could not keep them open. Was there nothing _preternatural_ in this? Was there no influence here from the powers of darkness?... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 44. _PRAYED THE THIRD TIME_] So St. Paul - I besought the Lord THRICE that it might depart from me, 2 Corinthians 12:8. This _thrice_ repeating the same petition argues deep earnestness of soul.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 45. _SLEEP ON NOW, AND TAKE YOUR REST_] Perhaps it might be better to read these words interrogatively, and paraphrase them thus: _Do ye sleep on still_? Will no warnings avail? Will no danger excite you to watchfulness and prayer? _My hour _- in which I am to be delivered up, is at _hand_; th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 46. _RISE, LET US BE GOING_] That is, to meet them, giving thereby the fullest proof that I know all their designs, and might have, by flight or otherwise, provided for my own safety; but I go willingly to meet that death which their malice designs me, and, through it, provide for the life of... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 47. _JUDAS, ONE OF THE TWELVE_] More deeply to mark his base ingratitude and desperate wickedness - HE _was_ ONE _of the_ TWELVE-and he is a TRAITOR, and one of the _vilest_ too that ever disgraced human nature. _A GREAT MULTITUDE WITH SWORDS AND STAVES_] They did not come as officers of just... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 48. _GAVE THEM A SIGN_] How _coolly deliberate_ is this dire apostate! The man _whom I shall kiss _- how deeply _hypocritical_! That is he, _hold him fast, seize him _- how diabolically _malicious_! _HAIL, MASTER_] A usual compliment among the Jews. Judas pretends to wish our Lord continued _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 50. _JESUS SAID - FRIEND_] Rather, _companion_, εταιρε, (_not_ FRIEND,) _wherefore_, rather, _against whom_ (εφ' ὃ, the reading of all the best MSS.) _art thou come_? How must these words have cut his very soul, if he had any sensibility left! Surely, thou, who hast so long been my _companio... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 51. _ONE OF THEM WHICH WERE WITH JESUS_] This was Peter-_struck a servant of the high priest's_, the servant's name was Malchus, John 18:10, and smote off his ear. In Luke 22:51, it is said, _Jesus touched and healed it_. Here was another miracle, and striking proof of the Divinity of Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 52. _PUT UP AGAIN THY SWORD INTO HIS PLACE_] Neither Christ nor his religion is to be defended by the secular arm. God is sufficiently able to support his ark: Uzzah need not stretch out his hand on the occasion. Even the _shadow_ of public justice is not to be resisted by a private person, wh... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 53. _MORE THAN TWELVE LEGIONS OF ANGELS?_] As if he had said, Instead of you _twelve_, one of whom is a traitor, my Father can give me more than _twelve legions of angels_ to defend me. A legion, at different times, contained different numbers; 4,200, 5,000, and frequently 6,000 men; and from... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 54. _BUT HOW THEN_] Had I such a defence - _shall the_ _Scriptures be fulfilled_, which say, _that thus it must be_? That is, that I am to suffer and die for the sin of the world. Probably the Scriptures to which our Lord principally refers are Psalms 22, Psalms 69, and especially Isaiah 53, a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 55. _ARE YE COME OUT AS AGAINST A THIEF_] At this time Judea was much infested by robbers, so that armed men were obliged to be employed against them-to this our Lord seems to allude. Matthew 26:52, Matthew 26:52. _I SAT DAILY WITH YOU_] Why come in this hostile manner? Every day, for four da... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 56. _BUT ALL THIS WAS DONE_] This is probably the observation of the evangelist. Matthew 2:23. _THEN ALL THE DISCIPLES FORSOOK HIM AND FLED._] O what is man! How little is even his utmost _sincerity_ to be depended on! Jesus is abandoned by all! - even _zealous_ Peter and _loving_ John are am... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 57. _THEY - LED HIM AWAY TO CAIAPHAS_] John says, John 18:13, that they led him _first to Annas_; but this appears to have been done merely to do him honour as the father-in-law of Caiaphas, and his colleague in the high priesthood. But as the Sanhedrin was assembled at the house of Caiaphas,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 58. _PETER FOLLOWED HIM AFAR OFF_] Poor Peter! this is the _beginning_ of his dreadful fall. His _fear_ kept him from _joining_ the company, and publicly acknowledging his Lord; and his _affection_ obliged him to follow at a _distance_ that he might see the end. _AND SAT WITH THE SERVANTS, TO... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 59. _ALL THE COUNCIL SOUGHT FALSE WITNESS_] What a prostitution of justice! - they first resolve to ruin him, and then seek the proper means of effecting it: they declare him criminal, and after that do all they can to fix some crime upon him, that they may appear to have some shadow of justic... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 60. _THOUGH MANY FALSE WITNESSES CAME_] There is an unaccountable confusion in the MSS. in this verse: without stating the variations, which may be seen in _Griesbach_, I shall give that which I believe to be the genuine sense of the evangelist. _Then_ _the chief priests and elders, and all t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 61. _I AM ABLE TO DESTROY THE TEMPLE OF GOD_] 1st. These words were not fairly quoted. Jesus had said, John 2:19, _Destroy this temple, and I will build it again in three days_. 2dly. The _inuendo_ which they produce, applying these words to a pretended design to destroy the temple at _Jerus... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 62. _ANSWEREST THOU NOTHING?_] The accusation was so completely frivolous that it merited no notice: besides, Jesus knew that they were determined to put him to death, and that his hour was come; and that therefore remonstrance or defence would be of no use: he had often before borne sufficien... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 63. _I ADJURE THEE BY THE LIVING GOD_] I put thee to thy oath. To this solemn adjuration Christ immediately replies, because he is now called on, in the name of God, to bear _another_ testimony to the truth. The authority of God in the most worthless magistrate should be properly respected. Ho... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 64. _THOU HAST SAID_] That is, I _am_ the Christ, the promised _Messiah_, (Matthew 26:25, Matthew 26:25;) and you and this whole nation shall shortly have the fullest proof of it: for _hereafter_, in a few years, _ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right_ _hand of power_, fully invest... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 65. _THE HIGH PRIEST RENT HIS CLOTHES_] This rending of the high priest's garments was expressly contrary to the law, Leviticus 10:6; Leviticus 21:10. But it was a common method of expressing violent grief, Genesis 37:29; Genesis 37:34; Job 1:20, and _horror_ at what was deemed _blasphemous_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 66. _HE IS GUILTY OF DEATH._] ενοχος θανατου εστι, _he is_ _liable to death_. All the _forms_ of justice are here violated. The judge becomes a _party_ and _accuser_, and proceeds to the verdict without examining whether all the prophecies concerning the Messiah, and the innumerable miracles w... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 67. _THEN DID THEY SPIT IN HIS FACE_] This was done as a mark of the most profound contempt. See Job 16:10; Job 30:10; Isaiah 50:6; Micah 5:1. The judges now delivered him into the hands of the _mob_. _AND BUFFETED HIM_] Smote him with their fists, εκολαφισαν. This is the translation of Theop... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 68. _PROPHESY UNTO US, THOU CHRIST_] Their conduct toward him now was expressly prophesied of, by a man whose Divine mission they did not pretend to deny; see Isaiah 50:6. It appears that, before they buffeted him, _they bound up his eyes_, See Mark 14:65.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 69. _A DAMSEL CAME UNTO HIM_] _A maid servant_, παιδισκη. See this translation vindicated by _Kypke_. _THOU ALSO WAST WITH JESUS_] What a noble opportunity had Peter now to show his zeal for the insulted cause of truth, and his attachment to his Master. But, alas! he is shorn of his strength.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:70. _BUT HE DENIED BEFORE_ THEM _ALL_] So the evil principle _gains ground_. Before, he followed _at a distance_, now he _denies_; this is the _second_ gradation in his fall.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:71. _UNTO THEM THAT WERE THERE_] Instead of λεγει τοις εκει. και, more than one hundred MSS., many of which are of the first authority and antiquity, have λεγει αυτοις. εκει και, _she_ _saith unto them, this man was_ THERE _also_. I rather think this is the genuine reading. τοις mig... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:72. _AND AGAIN HE DENIED WITH AN OATH_] This is a _third_ gradation of his iniquity. He has told a _lie_, and he _swears_ to support it. A liar has always some suspicion that his testimony is not credited, for he is conscious to his own falsity, and is therefore naturally led to sup... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:73. _THY SPEECH_] _Thy manner of speech_, η λαλια σου, _that dialect of thine _- his _accent_ being different from that of Jerusalem. From various examples given by _Lightfoot_ and _Schoettgen_, we find that the Galileans had a very corrupt pronunciation, frequently interchanging ת... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:74. _THEN BEGAN HE TO CURSE AND TO SWEAR_] Rather, _Then he_ _began positively to affirm _- καταθεματιζειν, from κατα intensive, and τιθημι, _I lay down, place, affirm_. But the common reading is καταναθεματιζειν, which signifies _to wish curses on himself_. The former reading is s... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 26:75. _PETER REMEMBERED THE WORD OF JESUS_] St. Luke says, Luke 22:61, _The Lord turned and looked upon Peter_. So it appears he was nigh to our Lord, either at the time when the cock crew, or shortly after. The _delicacy_ of this reproof was _great _- he must be _reproved_ and _alarm... [ Continue Reading ]