Matthew 26:1-46

 

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?

How long do you pray at one time, 15 minutes, 30 minutes?

Do you get distracted when you pray?  If so, what distracts you?

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.

______________________________________________________

 

If you have enjoyed my post and have found if helpful, please leave a comment or share this post with the buttons below.

Resources:

The Holy Bible – New International Version

Bible.org

Enduringword.com

BibleRef.com

My research and my insights are from BSF (Bible Study Fellowship)

Visit https: www.bstinternational.org for a class near you.

Matthew 25- Lesson 25

 

Last week Jesus told us the signs of the end of the age and of all the terrible things that must happen before He returns.  He told us we need to be prepared and ready, because we don't know the day or hour He will return.

Jesus told parables in Matthew 25 that relate to His return.  He warns us and tells us to be prepared for His unexpected return, that our rewards will be based on our faithfulness and the use of the talents He has given us, and that to love Him fully we need to put our faith into action.

Do you enjoy waiting?  We wait eagerly for lots of things.  We have hope and wait eagerly and are excited for a child to be born.  We get prepared by buying furnishing for the nursery and buying baby clothes.  Are you excited for Jesus to return?  As we are waiting for Jesus to return we are not to just to sit there.  As we wait we are to share and show Christ to others.  He wants us to be doing something.  He wants us to be prepared.  No matter what you are going through there is hope and encouragement to know we will be with Jesus someday. 

Matthew 25:1-13 - The Parable of the Ten Virgins

Jesus said at His return the kingdom of heaven will be like 10 virgins with lamps and oil who were waiting for the bridegroom to come to the wedding banquet.  "Five of them were foolish and five were wise.  The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.  The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps." - Matt. 25:2-4.  The bridegroom was a long time coming and they became drowsy and fell asleep.  When he finally came the foolish virgins ran out of oil and wanted the wise virgins to give them some of their oil, but they would not.  They were told to go buy oil.  While they were buying oil, the bridegroom came.  The wise virgins went in with the bridegroom to the banquet and the door was shut allowing the foolish virgins to not enter.

In this parable Christ is the Bridegroom, the ten virgins represent the entire body of Christians who claim to follow Jesus, the lamp represents our outward profession of faith, and the oil represents the Holy Spirit which produces light in our lives.  The Holy Spirit is a gift from God given to a person when he accepts Jesus as Savior.  The Bridegroom waited a longer time in coming than the foolish virgins had expected and they became less eager as they waited.  We are the same today.  We become preoccupied with life and all we have going on day to day and simply are not excited or eager at His return.

The wise virgins who were prepared and had plenty of oil couldn’t give oil to those who didn’t have oil.  We cannot give the Holy Spirit to another person.  Each one must receive the Holy Spirit himself.  When the Bridegroom came, it was too late to seek the oil.  When Jesus returns, it will be too late to receive Him and His Holy Spirit.  All people have the opportunity to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior and have eternal life with Him.  If we wait until He returns, it will be too late.

The foolish virgins never really had a relationship with the bridegroom.  They were over confident and fooled themselves thinking they were accepted by the bridegroom.  They were pretenders.  They didn't understand that the bridegroom would come in his timing and not theirs.  When the door was shut, they begged him to open the door and let them in.  "I tell you the truth, I don't know you.  Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." - Matt. 25:12-13.  Jesus knows our hearts.  The Shepherd knows which sheep are His.

This parable teaches us that Jesus is coming for sure.  He emphasizes that nobody knows the day or hour when He, the bridegroom, will return.  We need to be prepared and not surprised at His coming.  It teaches there are no second chances.  If you have not accepted Jesus as your Savior before He comes again, it will be too late to make that decision once He returns.  You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool Jesus.

Jesus gave no reason for the bridegroom's late arrival.  But Peter explained it.  "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.  He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." - 2 Peter 3:9.  Jesus didn't judge the foolish virgins for falling asleep, but because they didn't bring extra oil and were not prepared for the bridegroom’s coming.

Principle:  We are to be prepared and ready for Christ's return; if not, there are no second chances.

How are you prepared for His return?
Will He recognize you as His faithful follower?
How are you helping others get ready for His return?
Do you think you are saved, but not sure?
Will you ask God to reassure you?

Matthew 25:14-30 - The Parable of the Talents

Jesus said the kingdom of heaven will be like a man going on a journey who trusted his servants with his property.  He gave one 5 talents of money, to another 2 talents, and to another 1 talent.  In this parable Jesus is the master and His servants are His followers.  The talent represents God's truth, the Bible and the knowledge of Jesus Christ.  You can also look at talents as the gifts He gives us.  "To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability." - Matt. 25:15.  God owns everything and we own nothing.  He lets us use what He owns.  He trusts us to use it for His purposes.  The talents He gives us are different for each person according to our abilities.

The servant he gave 5 talents used it and gained 5 more talents.  He represents someone who knows the Bible, has many abilities, and has many opportunities to spread the gospel to others which he does. 

The servant he gave 2 talents used it and gained 2 more talents.  He represents someone who has average ability and average opportunities.  Maybe he is a quiet Christian, but influences others for Christ. 

The servant he gave 1 talent was fearful and buried it in the ground gaining nothing.  He represents someone who understood about God, but refused to take God's promises for himself.  He didn't want the responsibility.  He buried his knowledge and said "I can't do it".  His faith without works was dead.  To bury God's light and refuse salvation is to deserve hell. (Matt. 25:30).

When the master returned, he was pleased with the first 2 servants and rewarded them with many things.  They had been responsible, faithful, and diligent.  "Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with few things; I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share your master's happiness!" - Matt. 25:21, 23.  This teaches us that God is fair and just.  He is wise and rewards those who serve Him.  He expects us to serve Him with what He has given us.  We are to accept the talents He gives.  We don't need to compare our talents with the talents of others. 

The servant who hid his 1 talent was fearful, had excuses for everything, blamed the master, had a very legalistic view of the master, was angry and frustrated with the master for giving him talents, and didn't even want the responsibility.  He was lazy, bitter and chose to ignore the blessing he was given.  The master called him "wicked" and "lazy".  Then the master took his talent away and gave it to the servant with 10 talents and sent judgment on him.  "And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." - Matt. 25:30. 

Even though we go to church, read the Bible and hang out with believers, if we don't obey God we are worthless to Him. 

Principle:  Believers are called to take obedient risks for Christ to multiply their faith.

Are you using the knowledge of God's Word He has given you?

How are you putting that knowledge to work?
Do you bury what God has given you?
What risks is He asking you to take?

Matthew 25:31-46 – Judgment of Nations

Jesus said at His 2nd coming He will come with His angels and will sit on His throne in heavenly glory.  Jesus came the first time for salvation.  He will come the 2nd time for judgment.  This period will begin the Millennium as described in Revelation 20, which is Christ's 1,000 year reign on earth.  There will be 2 judgments.  One is the judgment of nations in Matt. 25 which takes place before the Millennium begins.  This will be a judgment on those who are alive at that time.  Those dead before He comes will either be already in heaven or hell (Rev. 20:4-6).  The last judgment to come is called the white throne judgment and will take place at the end of the Millennium (Rev. 20:111-15).  This is when non-believers of all ages whose names are not written in the book of life are raised for judgment.

"All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left." - Matt. 25:32-33.  Jesus will be the judge.  All nations are people still living when Christ returns. 

The sheep are believers.  They will be put on the right hand of the King Jesus, a place of honor.  They will inherit the blessing of the kingdom.  They are the ones still alive after the tribulation and who treated God's servants by giving them food when hungry, drink when thirsty, invited them in when a strange, clothes when needed, looked after them when sick, visited them in prison.  Jesus said by doing these things for them they were doing it for Him. (Matt. 25:34-40).  They will not be saved by their good deeds, but their good deeds will prove they have a saving faith in Christ.  Jesus recognizes work and help given to His people.  He rewards us even after He has saved us from sin and death.  He always knows our heart's motives.

The goats are unbelievers.  They will be put on the left and sentenced to punishment.  They are those who reject Jesus.  He says, "Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." - Matt. 25:41.  They did not feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, invite in a stranger, clothe when needed, look after the sick, or visit those in prison.  Therefore, they did not do it to Jesus. (Matt. 25:42-43).  Out of fear and self-preservation they did not expose themselves to helping God's people.   They were heartless and selfish.  Their actions will prove their lack of saving faith.  Hell is eternal punishment.  God doesn't send people to hell, people choose to go there.

How can we change our inner motives to be like His?  We can pray, fast, and obey.  We can study God's Word and follow Jesus' example.  We can accept and apply Jesus' teachings in our mind, heart, soul, and strength.  We can show compassion and love for others.  We can have a humble loving sacrificial heart and live by the Spirit, not by the flesh.

Principle:  The righteous will inherit the kingdom of heaven and go to eternal life, but the wicked will go to everlasting fire for eternal punishment.

What can you do to serve Jesus?

How are you loving Jesus through people in your church and community?
What assures you that you have been born again by God's Spirit?
Are you ready for His return?

Matthew 25 teaches us:

There is absolute certainty of judgment to come.

Keep watch because no one knows when Jesus will return.

The glory of Jesus Christ as Judge to come.

The separation of the righteous from the wicked on the day of judgment and into eternity.

The truth that works doesn’t save, but gives evidence of saving faith.

The identification of good works or talents – acts of charity toward God’s people.

It is necessary for God’s people to engage in good works.

There are 2 places where people will go for eternity – heaven or hell.

The blessedness of the righteous (the sheep are with Christ in heaven).

The misery of the unrighteous (the goats are cast into eternal punishment).

Join me here next week as we continue our study of Matthew -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

______________________________________________________

 

If you have enjoyed my post and have found if helpful, please leave a comment or share this post with the buttons below.

 Resources:

The Holy Bible – New International Version

Enduringword.com

Freegrace.ca

My research and my insights are from BSF (Bible Study Fellowship)

Visit https: www.bstinternational.org for a class near you.