Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Matthew Chapter 26



The Plot to Kill Jesus
1 When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he
said to his disciples, 2  “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.” 3  Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4  and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. 5 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.”

1. Finished all what sayings?
He has just finished the Olivet Discourse. He has answered their three questions, “When will the stones of the temple be thrown down, when will you come back and when will be the end of the age.”

2. Is this the first time He has announced his upcoming death?
Jesus tells His disciples that He is going to die. According to the record, this is the sixth time He has told them. Six months before this, beginning at Caesarea Philippi, He announced His impending death. And now He sets the time of His death. He tells them that He will die during the Passover. This was God’s chosen time for Christ to die. He was the antitype to which the Passover Lamb had always referred. Christ had always avoided His enemies’ plots to kill Him, but now it was His time The true Lamb of God would take away the sin of the world.

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!  John 1:29 (ESV)
Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household……………….. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. I am the Lord…………..The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt. Ex 12:2-13 (ESV)
3. Who was Caiaphas?
The high priest, who was called Caiaphas— Caiaphas had functioned as high priest since about 18 A.D. He had previously called for Jesus’ death (Jn 11:49, 50) He married the daughter of Annas, the previous high priest. About two years after our Lord’s crucifixion, Caiaphas and Pilate were both deposed by VITELLIUS, then governor of Syria, and afterwards emperor. Caiaphas, unable to bear this disgrace, and the stings of his conscience for the murder of Christ, killed himself about A.D. 35.
But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. [50] Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” [51] He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, [52] and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. [53] So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. (John 11:49-53 ESV)

Jesus Anointed at Bethany
6  Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. 8 And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.” 10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
4. Simon the leper?
Simon the leper. Simon was almost
certainly someone whom Jesus had healed of leprosy, for lepers were deemed unclean and therefore not permitted to socialize or even live in cities.
2 “When a person has on the skin of his body a swelling or an eruption or a spot, and it turns into a case of leprous disease on the skin of his body, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests, 3 and the priest shall examine the diseased area on the skin of his body. And if the hair in the diseased area has turned white and the disease appears to be deeper than the skin of his body, it is a case of leprous disease. When the priest has examined him, he shall pronounce him unclean. Lev 13:2-3 (ESV)
5. Who was this woman and what is going on here?
An alabaster vial of very costly perfume. Mark sets the value at “over three hundred denarii” ( Mk 14:5), nearly a year’s wages—very costly indeed. Even the expensive flask was broken (Mk 14:3), making the act that much more costly. “Alabaster” was a fine variety of marble, quarried in Egypt, which could be carved into delicate containers for storing costly perfumes. John tells us this woman was Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus (Jn 12:3); thus Martha and Mary were evidently serving the meal for Simon the leper. Matthew and Mark mention that she anointed his head. John adds that she anointed His feet and wiped them with her hair.

Given to the poor. What seems like a waste to the disciples, Jesus calls a beautiful thing. If the disciples’ real concern was for the poor, there would always be an opportunity to care for the poor because they will always have the poor with them. There would not be much opportunity, however, to demonstrate their love for Jesus. Given his impending death, the anointing of Jesus’ body becomes a dramatic foreshadowing of the events to come. prepare me for burial. In her act of devotion, Mary unknowingly prepares Jesus’ body for being laid to rest in the tomb.
Contrary to the liberal socialist propaganda of today, Jesus did not come to be a social activist demanding justice for the poor. He recognized that in a fallen world there will always be the rich and the poor. He did not come to change the world system of things, He came to die for the elect and change individuals.
Judas to Betray Jesus
14  Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.

6. What was the motivating factor that caused Judas to act at this time?
Here the word “then” probably identifies a logical connection with what preceded. Evidently Judas made these plans the same day that Jesus predicted His crucifixion in two days, namely, on Wednesday . None of the evangelists recorded Judas’ motives for betraying Jesus, but Judas may have taken offense at Jesus’ rebuke on the previous Saturday evening (vv. 10-13). Perhaps the fact that Jesus permitted Mary’s extravagant act without rebuke convinced him that Jesus was not the Messiah. This may have been part of his motivation. Some have suggested that Judas was the treasurer for the group and was angry that he would not be able to get his greedy hands on the money that the perfume could have been sold for.
3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. 4 He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. Luke 22:3-4 (ESV)

7. 30 pieces of silver?
thirty pieces of silver. In the OT, this was the penalty paid by the owner of an ox that gored a slave to death (Ex. 21:32). Equivalent to about four months’ wages for a laborer (about $7,500 in modern terms), this meager sum suggests the low esteem in which Jesus was held by both Judas and the chief priests. opportunity to betray him. Judas’s treachery reveals that he was not a true believer.

Then I said to them, “If it seems good to you, pay me my wages, but if not, forget it.” So they weighed out my payment – thirty pieces of silver. Zechariah 12:12

The Passover with the Disciples
17  Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’ ” 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover. 20  When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. 21 And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” 23 He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”

8. What is the feast of Unleavened Bread?
The first day of Unleavened Bread. The Passover lambs were killed on 14 Nisan  (Mar./Apr.). That evening, the Passover meal was eaten. The Feast of Unleavened Bread followed immediately after Passover, from 15–21 Nisan. The entire time was often referred to either as “Passover”, or as the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is the LORD’s Passover. [6] And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.(Leviticus 23:5-6 ESV)

Leaven represented sin, so this was a period was a picture of turning away from sin.


9. Could Judas have refused to betray Jesus or was he predestined by God for this purpose?
While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. John 17:12 (KJV)

Even my close friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me.  Psalm 41:9

13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” 14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. Romans 9:13-18 (ESV)
Even Judas’s betrayal took place in fulfillment of Scripture. The antecedent passage is primarily Ps. 41:9  applied to Jesus in John 13:18. Other Scriptures fulfilled through Judas are Ps. 69:25 and 109:8 (both are cited in Acts 1:20).

18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. John 13:18-19 (ESV)
Institution of the Lord’s Supper
26  Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
10. How does this body and blood thing work?
Jesus thus transformed the last Passover into the first observance of the Lord’s Supper. He is the central antitype in both ceremonies, being represented symbolically by both the paschal lamb of the Passover and the elements in the communion service. His statement, “this is My body” could not possibly have been taken in any literal sense by the disciples present that evening.

There have been various interpretations of what Jesus meant when He said, “This is my body.” There are four main views. Roman Catholics take it as a literal statement meaning the bread really becomes the body of Christ and the contents of the cup become the blood of Christ. This is true when duly authorized representatives of the church conduct the service properly. This is the transubstantiation view. Adherents believe God transfers the body and blood of Christ into the substance of the elements. The bread and wine really become the physical body and blood of Christ.

A second view is not quite so literal. It is the consubstantiation view and, as the word implies, its advocates see the body and blood of Christ as present “in, with, and under” the elements. Christ is really present, though not physically present, according to this Lutheran view.
The third major view is the spiritual presence view that Presbyterians and other followers of Calvin’s view of the Lord’s Supper hold. For them the spiritual presence of Christ is in the elements and, as in the former views, God ministers grace to the communicant in a concrete way through participation.

The fourth view is the memorial view. Advocates believe that when Jesus said, “This is my body,” he meant, “This represents my body.” In other words they understand His statement as completely metaphorical. A metaphor is a comparison in which one thing is likened to a different thing by being spoken of as if it were that other thing. Advocates view the elements as pictures or emblems
of the body and blood of
Christ. In contrast to the preceding views this one does not see Christ present in any special sense in the elements. Ulrich Zwingli, the Swiss reformer, promoted this view. Today most of the churches from the Anabaptist branch of Protestantism (i.e., Baptists, Methodists, Mennonites, independent Bible churches, Evangelical Free churches, et al.) hold this interpretation. I believe this view best represents the total revelation concerning the Lord’s Supper in Scripture.
“This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 1 Cor 11:24 (ESV)

Jesus Foretells Peter’s Denial
30  And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 33  Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” 34  Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35  Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.

11. Why didn’t the disciples and especially Peter support their leader to the end?
Jesus emphasized that the disciples would desert Him very soon, that very night. They would find Him to be a source of stumbling (Gr. skandalon, We get the word scandal form this word). Jesus’ arrest would trip them up, and they would temporarily stop following Him faithfully. They still did not understand that the Messiah must die. By quoting Zechariah 13:7 freely Jesus was telling them again that He would die and that their scattering from Him was something within God’s sovereign plan. This did not excuse their failure, but it prepared them for it and helped them recover after it.
“Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones. Zech 13:7 (ESV)
Peter fails to heed Jesus’ warning and underestimates the extreme test of faith they will all soon encounter. all the disciples said the same. They are swayed by Peter’s bravado.
Maybe the answer is in the next section: “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
36  Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he be
to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41  Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.
12. What would have happened if the Father had allowed this cup to pass from Jesus?
He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Cor 5:21 (HCSB)
This would not be true if the father had not poured out his wrath on the sin bearer.
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 1 Cor 15:17 (ESV)

We would still be dead in our sins and on the way to Hell.

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
47  While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” 49 And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. 50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. 51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his 
hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53  Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54  But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” 55 At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. 56 But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled

13. Peter always seems to be doing the wrong thing at the wrong time, what is the point of Jesus mentioning 12 legions of angels?
Peter’s couldn’t even handle a sword properly, missing the target and cutting off an ear instead of a head. Jesus contrasts this puny effort with His ability to call down 72,ooo angelic warriors if that was the plan, which it was not.

Jesus Before Caiaphas and the Council
57  Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. 58 And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. 59 Now the chief priests and the whole Council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, 60 but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward 61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’ ” 62 And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 63  But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” 67 Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?”

14. What was wrong with this trial?
If the ACLU is truly interested in justice, it could call for a retrial of Jesus Christ, for never in all history was so much done so wrong by so many so swiftly.  David M. Virkler. The Illegal Trial of Jesus
Now, here are some of the illegalities of this trial.
  1. If a man was arrested for a capital crime, he could never be arrested at night. It had to be in broad daylight. Jesus’ arrest took place between 1 and 2 o’clock at night.
  2. If a man was arrested for a capital crime, no one cooperating in the arrest could be in any way connected to the one who is accused. No arrest for a capital crime could be made based upon information given by a follower or colleague of the accused. Because they felt if the accused was guilty so were his followers. But the entire plot revolved around Judas, one of the followers. This law was blatantly and openly ignored.
  3. No Jewish trial could ever be held at night. The law stated that it must be held in the daytime. Listen to the code, which is taken from the Talmud: “The members of the court may not alertly and intelligently hear the testimony against the accused during the hours of darkness.” But, if you check the record, both before Annas and before Caiaphas, these trials were held in darkness.
  4. The members of the Jewish court, after hearing the testimony of true witnesses (none of which were ever brought before Jesus) in a capital crime, could not immediately act and judge. They were to go home and remain alone and separate from one another for two days (at the least, one full day), thinking about the testimonies they had heard. During that time, here’s what they were to do. Here’s the language of the code: “Eat like food, drink like wines, sleep well. And once again return and hear the testimony of the accused. Then, and only then, shall you render a vote.” They didn’t do that. They Jewish court never left the presence of Caiaphas!
  5. In fact, even the method of voting was specified! They never took an “all in favor say I, all opposed say no” kind of vote. Their vote was supposed to be taken from the youngest to the oldest so that the youngest wouldn’t be intimidated or influenced by the older votes. This never happened.
No trial could be held before only one judge, and never without a defense attorney. All of that was overlooked, openly, willfully ignored and disobeyed. Even though they were people of the book, they didn’t follow their own rules. In the history of jurisprudence, I don’t know of a more fallacious series of trials.

Peter Denies Jesus
69  Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” 71 And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” 73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” 74 Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
15.  So whatever happened to this coward named Peter?
But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: ………
Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24  God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it…………… So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. Acts 2 (ESV)
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished.   Acts 4:13 (ESV)
·          ESVN………….ESV Study Bible Notes 
           JFB…………..Jamieson  Fausset  Brown Commentary
·          VWS……………..Vincent Word Studies  
           MSBN…….MacArthur NASB Study Notes      
·          CMM………….Commentary on Matthew and Mark                    
NIVSN…..NIV Study Notes
·          BDB………….. Barclay’s Daily Study Bible (NT)                                   
JVM ….J Vernon McGee,
·          Darby………..John Darby’s Synopsis of the OT and NT                  
ACC …. Adam Clarke’s Commentary
·          Johnson………Johnson’s Notes on the New Testament.                   
  BN …..Barnes Notes
·          NTCMM…………..The New Testament Commentary:  Matthew and Mark.   
CN …… Constables Notes
·          IC……….Ironside Commentary 
  NET………Net Bible Study Notes.
·          JFB…………..Jamieson  Fausset  Brown Commentary



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