Matthew 26:1-16 – The Plot
Jesus warned the disciples and the people about the coming corrupt religious leadership and remined His disciples of His suffering and crucifixion that was to come. The chief priests, elders and the high priest, Caiaphas plotted to arrest and kill Jesus. They decided to wait until the Passover was over so not to upset the people.
Jesus was staying in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper. It’s likely that Simon had been healed from his leprosy by Jesus. While He was there, a woman likely Mary the sister of Lazarus opened an expensive jar of perfume and poured it over Jesus. The disciples criticized her for doing this, but Jesus explained that she was doing it to prepare Him for burial. (Matt. 1-5) There is another account of this event which could be the be a different event or the same event in John 12:1-11. Both acts were extraordinary and extravagant. John said Mary also anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped it off with her hair. This act was an act of enormous honor, respect, and humility.
The disciples asked why the perfume was not sold and the money given to the poor. John 12 tells us that it was Judas who asked the question and that he was under the influence of Satan. He went to the chief priests and ask what they were will to do for him to give Jesus over to them. They gave him 30 silver coins. Then he watched for an opportunity to had Jesus over.
Judas was clearly he was not a genuine believer. We don’t know why Judas came to start following Jesus. Maybe he saw real power in Jesus’ movement and he wanted to use this power for material gain. He was motivated by fleshly desires. Perhaps he hoped to have a high position in Jesus’ kingdom and become rich. We really don’t know his reasons, but we do know that Judas was a greedy man. He saw the expensive perfume poured over Jesus as waste and that was probably his breaking point.
We learn from Judas that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Tim. 6:10). Satan is be the worst sinner of all of God’s creation, but Judas is the worst sinning human. He masqueraded as Jesus’ friend by following Jesus for three years, serving with Him, eating with Him, traveling with Him, talking with Him, listening to Him teach. As one of the disciples he preached the gospel and was an eye-witness of Jesus’ miracles. Yet he betrayed Jesus. I think he was worse than what the priests. They never pretended to follow Jesus or claim to serve God.
Principle: The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.
Matthew 26:17-35 – The Last Supper
It was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This was a weekend long celebration. Jesus told the disciples to make preparations. The Jewish day began at sundown so they needed to be ready to eat and celebrate together after sundown on Thursday evening. The disciples did as Jesus asked.
Jesus gave Judas one last opportunity to repent. In the middle of the Passover meal, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.” – Matt. 26:21. Each one of the disciples asked Jesus if he is the one. They were worried that Jesus’ prophecy might apply to them because they were used to Jesus giving them difficult teachings and realized the possibility of falling into sin. But only Jesus and Judas knew who would be guilty. When Judas ask if he was the one, Jesus answered, “Yes, it is you.” – Matt. 26:25b.
“Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body. Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.” – Matt. 26:26-29. John 13:27 tells us that as soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. When they finished the Passover meal, they ended with singing and when out to the Mount of Olives.
Jesus’ last meal became known as the Lord’s Supper or Communion. This was the last time Jesus and the disciples were all together for a meal before His arrest and crucifixion. This is how we remember what Jesus did for us. When we celebrate the Lord’s Supper we are to remember how He was broken, pierced, and beaten for our redemption. We are to remember and show gratitude that His blood was poured on Calvary for us for the forgiveness of our sins and we are looking forward to His return.
Jesus predicted the disciples would “fall away” that very night. He said this not to condemn them, but to show them He really was in command of the situation and the fulfillment of the Scriptures of Zech. 13:7. This was not betrayal like the traitor Judas, but they would leave Him all alone and run to save themselves.
Peter refuses to believe he would fall away and said he never would, but Jesus knew differently. “I tell you the truth, this very night before the rooster crows you will disown me three times.” – Matt. 26:34. All the other disciples said the same as Peter. They all overestimated their strength.
Pride goes before the fall. You should not be overconfident and trust yourself or your own spirituality. Instead know that you are in fact a weak sinner in need of grace and resolve yourself to continually pray to the Lord and seek His grace to cover over your own weakness.
Principle: Jesus faithfully prepared to be the Passover Lamb.
Matthew 26:36-46 – The Garden of Gethsemane
Jesus and the remaining 11 disciples went to a place called Gethsemane. He told them to sit down while He goes to another area to pray. He took Peter, James and John along with Him. These were His closest disciples. Remember, He took them with him to see His transfiguration in Matt. 17:1-2. He began to be sorrowful and troubled. Jesus has shown He is willing to die, but now He knows how difficult it will be for Him. He knows He must suffer a horrible difficult death. Luke 22:44 describes Jesus as sweating drops of blood. He knows that Judas will arrive soon with the chief priests and elders to arrest Him.
He told them to stay there and keep watch with Him. Jesus went a little farther and fell with His face to the ground and prayed. “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” – Matt. 26:38 The cup is often used to describes God’s judgment or a time of great suffering. Jesus didn’t want to experience these things. No human wants to suffer torture, humiliation and death, but Jesus was willing to do it for you and me. He would stand in the place of guilty sinners and receive all the punishment sinners deserve.
When Jesus returned, He found the disciples sleeping and asked, “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” – Matt. 26:40-41. For the second time He went away and returned and found them sleeping again. For the third time He left and returned and found them sleeping yet again. He said, “Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” – Matt. 26:45-46.
Jesus prayed three times for the total of three hours, not because God doesn’t know the heart of His own Son. He repeats this act because giving our requests to God is a way of sharing the mental and emotional burden with Him. After praying intensely three times, Jesus seems calm and collected. He is at peace and has accepted God’s will. It has eliminated the stresses from His mind.
The prophet Daniel and King David both prayed three times per day. Some of the apostles prayed three times a day as well. We should pray as often as our schedule allows. Just as Jesus prayed, we pray our stresses are relieved and we receive peace. We feel closer to God, our mind is eased, and we have more trust in Him.
How often do you pray?
We don’t have to pray in eloquent words. Sometimes in our grief we say the same words over and over. We don’t have to have new words. Our prayers often feel weak and we start losing hope. Ask God to help you believe and to strength your faith. Jesus will not let you go and will not criticize your prayers. So keep praying, keep kneeling, keep pleading. He always sees us and hears us.
There was not other way for men to be saved than through the willing suffering of Jesus. Jesus said it before that He was the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6). No man could come to the Father, except through Him, except through faith in His death on Calvary in the sinners place. If there was any other way, Jesus wouldn’t have gone to the cross and God the Father would not have sent Him.
Principle: Jesus willingly embraced His call to die for all sinful people.
Join me here next week as we continue our study of Matthew -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.
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