Matthew 26

 

The Plot Against Jesus

1When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he told his disciples, 

 

Jesus finished teaching His eschatological parables.

 

2“You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” 

 

The Son of Man was the messianic title given to Jesus by the prophet Daniel. The Son of Man was predicted to crush the last Gentile empire of the Antichrist and establish a 1000 year Millennial Kingdom. Instead, Jesus predicted that He (the Son of Man) would be handed over to the current Roman Empire government to be crucified. Crucifixion was the capital offense execution method of Rome’s most terrible criminals.

 

3Then the chief priests and the elders of the people met together in the palace of the high priest, who was named Caiaphas. 

 

Caiaphas was a liberal Sadducee who was appointed by Rome because of his Roman allegiance. Caiaphas could be compared to an Italian mafia leader.

 

4They planned to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. 

 

The religious leaders did not want to arrest Jesus in front of the crowds who flocked to hear Him teach every day.

 

5But they said, “Not during the feast, so that there won’t be a riot among the people.”

 

Believing Jews from all over the Roman Empire traveled to Jerusalem twice a year to celebrate the feasts. They had all heard and seen the teachings and miracles of Jesus during the last three years of the festival. Jesus was extremely popular. The crowds believed Him to be a prophet from God.

 

Jesus’ Anointing

6Now while Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, 

 

Jesus never slept in Jerusalem. He usually stayed overnight with friends in Bethany, which was located outside of Jerusalem. Simon was most likely one of the lepers whom Jesus healed.

 

7a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of expensive perfumed oil, and she poured it on his head as he was at the table. 

 

All Jewish kings were anointed by prophets, However, Jesus was being anointed for death.

 

8When the disciples saw this, they became indignant and said, “Why this waste? 

 

This middle-eastern perfume was very rare and expensive.

 

9It could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor!” 

 

This rare perfume could have been sold to pay for their expenses.

 

10When Jesus learned of this, he said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a good service for me. 

 

Jesus condemned His disciples and praised the woman.

 

11For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me! 

 

Jesus looks at poverty differently than that of the world. The poor only exist in the satanic world system. When the Millennial Kingdom arrives, there will be no more poor. Jesus would only be with the disciples for a short time, so they needed to concentrate on His teaching instead of feeding the poor. God has promised all believers food, clothing, and shelter, so the emphasis needs to be on discipling.

 

12When she poured this oil on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 

 

This one woman understood what the other disciples did not understand.

 

13I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

 

Matthew recorded this incident in writing so that all could read it. 

 

The Plan to Betray Jesus

14Then one of the twelve, the one named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 

 

Judas was a zealot. He was hoping that Jesus would be the Messiah who would overthrow Rome by force. Once Jesus began teaching that He was going to die for the sins of the people, then Judas was not interested in this type of Messiah.

 

15and said, “What will you give me to betray him into your hands?” So they set out thirty silver coins for him. 

 

This was an insult. According to the Mosaic Law, if a slave was killed, then there was to be 30 pieces of silver paid as restitution. Jesus was valued at the price of a dead slave.

 

16From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray him. 

 

Judas would betray the Messiah of Israel and the God of the universe for thirty pieces of silver, the price of a dead slave. This was similar to Esau exchanging the messianic birthright for a bowl of stew. 

 

The Passover

17Now on the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 

 

The Feast of Unleavened Bread was an eight day feast. Jesus was the host, so He would lead the feast. Jesus did not have a home of His own, so He would have to borrow the home of one of His friends.

 

18He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near. I will observe the Passover with my disciples at your house.”’” 

 

Jesus had already made preparations for His last Passover.

 

19So the disciples did as Jesus had instructed them, and they prepared the Passover. 

 

The Passover was prepared.

 

20When it was evening, he took his place at the table with the twelve. 

 

The Jewish day began at evening, when the third star could be seen. The Passover occurred on the Sabbath evening, which would be a Friday night. The twelve disciples were invited to share the Passover with Jesus. The story of the redemption of Israel from the slave pits of Egypt would be memorialized in this Passover event.

 

21And while they were eating he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.” 

 

Usually, the Passover was a joyous celebration. Jesus shocked the disciples and announced His coming betrayal.

 

22They became greatly distressed and each one began to say to him, “Surely not I, Lord?” 

 

All of the disciples were filled with a sin nature. They were all capable of betraying Jesus. They hoped that they were not the one to betray Him.

 

23He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 

 

Jesus gave Judas one last chance to repent. If Judas dipped His hand into the bowl, then it meant that Judas had made up his mind. He would proceed with the betrayal.

 

24The Son of Man will go as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for him if he had never been born.” 

 

Judas was not a saved man. He will burn in the Lake of Fire forever.

 

25Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus replied, “You have said it yourself.”

 

Judas must have been shocked that Jesus knew his motives.

 

The Lord’s Supper

26While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it, gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat, this is my body.” 

 

The Lord’s Supper is a Gentile title to steer others away from the Jewishness of Jesus. It should be called the Lord’s Last Passover. The unleavened bread that the Jews had been eating on Passover for the last 2000 years was a symbol of the body of Jesus, which would be broken for them.

 

27And after taking the cup and giving thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, 

 

The Passover cup would pass seven times.

 

28for this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, that is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 

 

The Passover cup was a symbol of the blood of Christ to be shed for the sins of mankind. The Jews had been practicing this ritual for over 2000 years.

 

29I tell you, from now on I will not drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 

 

Jesus did not drink the last cup of the Passover. This was a very unusual and unique break from the tradition of the Passover. Jesus will not drink the last cup of the Passover until the Millennial Kingdom begins on this earth.

 

30After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

 

The Hallel Psalms were Psalms 111-118. They were all sung during the Passover. All of these psalms pointed to Christ.

 

The Prediction of Peter’s Denial

31Then Jesus said to them, “This night you will all fall away because of me, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

 

Zechariah 13:7 predicted that Jesus would be struck and the disciples would all run away.

 

32But after I am raised, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 

 

Jesus predicted that He would be raised from the dead. Afterwards, He would meet the disciples in Galilee.

 

33Peter said to him, “If they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away!” 

 

Peter boasted that he would not run away.

 

34Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, on this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 

 

Peter was the most courageous disciple, but Jesus predicted that even Peter would run away and deny Him three times. 

 

35Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will never deny you.” And all the disciples said the same thing.

 

Peter told Jesus that He was wrong. The disciples all told Jesus that He was wrong. They did not think that they would be able to betray their Messiah.

 

Gethsemane

36Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”   

During the night before the crucifixion, Jesus and his disciples were camping in the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus went to God the Father in prayer. Humanly, He was going to have a tough next day.