Matthew 26, Part 2
Notes
Transcript
Passover
Passover
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.”
Just as with the donkey, Jesus had already made preparations in the heart of the home owner where the Upper Room would be. They shared the Passover meal on the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread, kicking off a week-long celebration. This room, borrowed from an unidentified man, would be the place where the meat would be roasted and unleavened bread baked. The meal had to be eaten with cloak tucked under the belt, sandals on the feet, and staff in hand; and they had to eat in haste (12:11).
11 In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover.
The first Passover pointed to the urgency of their flight from Egypt and the nearness of God’s salvation. In the same way, Jesus’ meal with his disciples also pointed to the nearness of God’s salvation.
While eating this meal, Jesus pointed out one would betray Him. Each one asked Jesus if He was referring to him. Jesus simply answered “one of you who dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me”. Now, if we think, many of them would betray Jesus in their own way. Not in a betrayal leading to death, but betrayal in the loss of faith and one point or another in their life. Instead of pointing out who would betray Him and when, Jesus hid the betrayer. The disciples still didn’t have a clue. It was even pointed out that the person who would betray Jesus would have been better off not being born than to carry through with the act. He would no longer be able to enjoy life, knowing the weight of the betrayal would be on him. Then Judas asked whether HE was the one who would betray him…
Thinking back to the first part of Chapter 26, we already know that the religious leaders were seeking to kill Jesus. They knew it would be nearly impossible with over 2 million people gathered, many of whom were believers in Jesus and His ministry. But it was the anointing of Jesus that led to something changing or maybe being revealed in the heart of Judas. What will you give me if I deliver him over to you. Judas knew it was him, and still had the gall to ask. Was this a way to not draw attention to himself? Being the last one to ask… was it a way to divert attention to his silence? Judas knew He was guilty, Jesus knew he was guilty, and when asked Jesus simply answered “You have said so”. He might as well said “guilty as charged”. Jesus exposed the sin, but still did not identify the person to the rest of the disciples. The pastoral and contextual commentary points out “for him to address Jesus as “Rabbi” added to gravity of the offense, because even though he respectfully addressed Jesus, the evil he was planning shows his disrespect towards his master.” Even being pointed out as the betrayer, Judas remained and ate with Jesus and the disciples.
Lord’s Supper
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.”
30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
The body, the blood, the sacrifice... Look at how Jesus demonstrates each part. Taking the bread, he blesses it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples.
In John 6:35 Jesus says to His disciples:
John 6:35 (ESV)
35 “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
Jesus is the bread. He was blessed by the Father. He was physically beaten and broken by His enemies. He was given to all who would accept Him. Bread was a normal part of any meal, but it took on new significance when Jesus used it as a symbol for His body.
The cup was blessed, and given again to all to drink. His blood spilled for everyone who would accept Him as Savior.
18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
His blood cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Poured out freely so that we could be forgiven of our sin.
The meal concludes with a singing of a hymn. Singing was a part of Jewish Worship, it was part of Jesus’ worship with his disciples, it was part of the worship of the early Christians, and it remains a part of worship today.
Peter’s Denial Foretold
Peter’s Denial Foretold
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.
While they were at the Mount of Olives, Jesus predicted that the disciples would “fall away” or be scattered when he was arrested, and he did so by quoting from Zechariah 13:7. Zechariah’s prophecy included God’s promise of cleansing for his people, removal of idols and impurity, and an end to false prophecies. The prophet also announced that Jerusalem would be plundered, but added that the LORD would punish the nations that plundered Jerusalem. After which, “the LORD will be king over the whole earth” and there will only “be one LORD” and people will acknowledge only him as God. This suggests that even after Jerusalem’s fall, which might seem as if God had abandoned them, the reality was that God remained present with them.
The quotation from Zechariah points to the reality that God remained king despite the disciples’ abandonment of Jesus, and God’s sovereignty would be seen particularly in Jesus’ resurrection. The certainty of Jesus’ resurrection is seen in his instruction to his disciples to meet him in Galilee. At this point, Peter, followed by other disciples, promised that he would not abandon Jesus; and in response, Jesus predicted his denial.
Prayer in Gethsemane
Prayer 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 began 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.”
After Jesus’ prediction about the disciples abandoning him, he went to Gethsemane taking with him only Peter, James, and John (26:37). These three disciples were also with him during the Transfiguration (17:1). The Transfiguration pointed to his sufferings (see comments for Matthew 17:1–13), and his prayer in Gethsemane marked the beginning of the suffering leading to his death. In both instances, the three disciples had the privilege of being present with Jesus at significant points of his life.
Jesus did not call the three to accompany him because he was overwhelmed with sorrow. Matthew is clear that “he began to be sorrowful and troubled” only after he called these disciples to be with him. Nonetheless, the humanity of Jesus remains clear, especially as he requested the three disciples to “keep watch” or pray with him. His prayer, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will”, is an expression of his obedience. What he taught his disciples to do, he exemplified through his willingness to receive the “cup” of suffering. When Jesus found his disciples sleeping instead of praying with him, he reprimanded them, “Couldn’t you keep watch with me for an hour?”. Jesus was about to be arrested, so there was an urgency to pray, and sleeping was not an option for his disciples. Jesus also warned them, “Watch and pray sob that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak”. In this account, the temptations the disciples faced include the temptation to betray their teacher for money, the temptation to abandon and deny their teacher to save their own lives, and the temptation to prioritize their physical needs when they could be in solidarity with their teacher in his time of sorrow. Although it is clear what kinds of temptations the disciples faced during this period, the principle of praying in times of temptation is applicable whatever the temptation one faces.
Eventually, Judas arrived, accompanied by the soldiers who came to arrest Jesus. Jesus immediately called his disciples, “Look the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered (Greek, paradidōmi) into the hands of sinners”. Jesus’ statement recalled his earlier prediction that he would be delivered (Greek, paradidōmi) to the chief priests and scribes who would condemn him, and to the Gentiles who would mock, scourge, and crucify him. For the first time, Jesus referred to the religious leaders and the Romans as “sinners,” and their sins would be made clearer in the events that followed.
***If God would not answer Jesus’ prayer for the cup to be removed, then WHY do we feel He will always answer our prayer the way we want it answered? Notice the prayer of Jesus not MY will but THY will be done. We must learn to turn it over to God, and put our peace in His will.***
Betrayal & Arrest
Betrayal & Arrest
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.
52 Then 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.
When Matthew first introduced Judas as one of the Twelve, he disclosed the latter’s identity as the betrayer (Greek, paradidōmi) or “the one who delivers”. In this story, Matthew explains how he did it. After agreeing to deliver Jesus to the religious authorities for thirty pieces of silver, Judas accompanied an armed crowd sent by the chief priests and elders to arrest Jesus. It is unclear in Matthew when Judas left; he was still with them during the meal. John, however, specifies that Judas left while they were still eating. This means Judas was no longer with them when Jesus and the disciples went to Mount of Olives.
This may not be the first time Jesus went to Gethsemane to pray (WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME PRAYING IN MOUNT OF OLIVES), so Judas knew where to bring the soldiers to arrest Jesus. The “crowd” that came to arrest Jesus was clearly not the same group that listened to Jesus preach and came to Jesus for healing; if it was, they would have recognized him. Judas pre-arranged a signal with the arresting crowd that the one he kissed was the one they should arrest. For countries in eastern part of Asia, kissing is usually reserved for married couples, children-parents or immediate family members or close relatives. Filipinos show respect by taking the hand of the elderly and putting it on one’s forehead; the Chinese bow before the elderly. With Western influence, public hugging and cheek-to-cheek greetings have become socially acceptable. Ancient Jews and their ancestors kissed, not only as an expression of marital affection, but as a way of showing respect. Kissing was part of their welcome and farewell greetings. This practice was continued in the early church (composed of both Jews and Gentiles) because it was culturally acceptable. Once again, the gravity of Judas’ deceit is highlighted, for what was supposedly a sign of affection became a signal for betrayal, and this was aggravated by his respectful greeting, “Rabbi”. In response, Jesus called him “friend” or hetairos, a term which is used in this Gospel for rebuke.
While Jesus was being arrested, one of Jesus’ companions, whom John identified as Peter, took a sword and cut off an ear of one of the high priest’s servants. Jesus immediately reacted to this violent action of the disciple by reminding them that violence only leads to more violence. Moreover, Jesus reminded his disciples that he could call twelve legions of angels to help him. The size of the army of angels is not to be understood as the actual size of the heavenly armies or the size that is available to come to aid Jesus. The point was rather that his arrest was not a sign of his helplessness, but was necessary so that the Scripture might be fulfilled (26:54–56). No particular passage from the Scripture is specified, and it is best to assume that the reference here is to a general fulfillment of OT prophecy—the coming of the Messiah, the renewal of God’s covenant, and the offer of God’s forgiveness for everyone who acknowledged God as king.
Uytanlet, Samson L., and Kiem-Kiok Kwa. 2017. Matthew: A Pastoral and Contextual Commentary. Edited by Federico G. Villanueva, Steve Chang, Andrew Spurgeon, and Brian Wintle. Asia Bible Commentary Series. Carlisle, Cumbria; Manila, Philippines: Langham Global Library; Asia Theological Association.