Matthew 27:11-14

 ¹¹ Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” ¹² And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing. ¹³ Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” ¹⁴ But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.



Commentary
Matthew’s Gospel now moves the scene from the chief priests and the suicide of Judas Iscariot, to the governor’s residence where the Lord Jesus Christ has been taken by the chief priests and elders of the Jews for the execution of their death sentence against Him. Now in order to get this done by Pilate they have schemed to bring Jesus before him on the false charge of sedition against Rome, that is Jesus was claiming to be a king, and thus was undermining the Rule and Authority of Rome’s Emperor Caesar. Now they also laid many other false charges against Jesus, like He was telling people not to pay taxes to Rome (see Mark 12:13-17; Luke 23:2), but in Matthew it seems the one that they hoped would be grounds for Jesus’ Crucifixion death was His declaring Himself a King, something that would indicate to Rome that He was planning to lead the Jews into a rebellion against them, something that was not done, or going to happen by Him. Therefore, Pilate’s inquiry of Jesus here is simply to ask Him if He is a King, for to get Him to declare himself as much would be their grounds for His execution by Crucifixion. Jesus though knowing this does not directly do so, but simply replies to Pilate’s question “Are You the King of the Jews?” by saying, “It is as you say.” (vs. 11). Now with the Lord Jesus’ tactful answer the chief priests and elders begin to level all kinds of false accusations against Him, however Jesus answers both them, and Pilate nothing, which causes the governor to marvel greatly (vs. 12-14). Jesus then in no way will validate their trumped-up charges, or this process, or their perversion of justice, through which they seek to kill Him.


Scripture Quotations: 

The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson

Matthew 27:3-10

 ³ Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, ⁴ saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!” ⁵ Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself. ⁶ But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood.” ⁷ And they consulted together and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. ⁸ Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. ⁹ Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, ¹⁰ and gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.”

Commentary
Vs. 3-5 ³ Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, ⁴ saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!” ⁵ Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.

Judas then who in his greed betrayed the Lord Jesus Christ to the chief priests for thirty pieces of silver, now seeing that Jesus had been condemned feels remorseful, thus the intense feeling of guilt he is experiencing is the fruit his treachery has reaped him (see Matt. 26:24). Seeking then to escape the intense guilt Judas returns to the chief priests with the silver, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” The chief priests though are unmoved by his confession, saying to him, “What is that to us? You see to it!” And with that Judas throws the silver down in the temple and goes out and hangs himself.

Vs. 6-10 ⁶ But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood.” ⁷ And they consulted together and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. ⁸ Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. ⁹ Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, ¹⁰ and gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.”

With Judas’ departure the chief priests now pick up the silver thrown down by him; for though the price of blood may have been to much for him to bear, its not for them; reasoning then about what to do with it, the chief priests conclude that it is not lawful for them to put it in the Temple treasury. Instead consulting together, they decide to buy the potters field (the place where potters sought clay) to bury strangers (i.e. foreigners) in (vs. 6-7). Now that field became to be called the “Field of Blood,” and with the chief priests buying the field the Word of God spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, stating: “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, ¹⁰ and gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.” ^{vs. 9-10} (also see Zechariah 11:12-13). Therefore, though Judas Iscariot committed the act of treachery, his action only reflected the heart of those in the nation of Israel who do not believe, who sold their Messiah for thirty pieces of silver.

Scripture Quotations: 

The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson

Matthew 27:1-2

¹ When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. ² And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

Commentary
Having tried Jesus before the Sanhedrin council during the night and by false witnesses’ testimony deliberately and quiet intentionally found Jesus “guilty”, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews now plot together on how they are going to put Jesus to death. Now this they had to do since under Roman rule and law they were not permitted to execute anyone, therefore they needed to devise a plan by which they could convince Pontius Pilate the Roman governor who ruled them to execute Jesus for them.

Scripture Quotations: 

The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson

Matthew 26:70-75

 ⁶⁹ Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.” ⁷⁰ But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.” ⁷¹ And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.” ⁷² But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!” ⁷³ And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.” ⁷⁴ Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. ⁷⁵ And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly.

Commentary

Vs. 69-70 ⁶⁹ Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.” ⁷⁰ But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.”

While the Lord Jesus Christ is standing trial and then being condemned to death and beaten before the Sanhedrin counsel, Peter who had followed Him at a distance into the high priest’s courtyard now is sitting outside in the courtyard. It is here then that the Lord Jesus Christ’s Words that he would deny Him three times before the rooster crows, will now be fulfilled. Now Peter is not alone in this as looking back at Jesus’ Words “that before the rooster crows you will deny Me three times”, is essentially saying before daybreak (that is before the daybreaks in your hearts, Luke 1:78-79) you will deny Me 3 times. That is before you come to believe in Me and receive through Me the Holy Spirit and the regeneration that He brings and alone will change you, no matter how determined you (or anyone else are to follow Me); yet because the Divine Nature is not in you, you will deny Me, or as is common amongst people before they come to believe and receive the Lord Jesus Christ and experience the amazing grace and love of God for themselves, you will deny Me, or blasphemy Me, or mock Me, or persecute Me, or sin against Me. And so, Peter’s three denials here though inexcusable and tragic, must only be looked upon us as his being a righteous and well-intentioned man, who though wanting to do what was right, yet because of his own unregenerate heart and nature, he will only do what all unregenerate people would do if they too were faced with similar circumstances.

Vs. 69-70 (cont.) Therefore Peters previously bold and strongly assertive declaration that he would never deny the Lord Jesus Christ, even to death, is now to be tested. And in this first by a servant girl (one of the high priest’s servant girls, Mark 14:66) who seeing him in the courtyard now approaches Peter and says to him, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.” Peter then feeling the pressure of her question, of being taken into custody for having been there with Jesus; and with all those around him whose eyes are now fixated on him; quickly dismisses the girl by saying to her, “I do not know what you are saying.”

Vs. 71-72 ⁷¹ And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.” ⁷² But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!”

Leaving then that location in the courtyard, Peter now moves out of the gateway, away from that servant girl and those there, Peter then moves to an area where he thinks he can wait to see what will happen to Jesus in relative obscurity. However almost as immediately as he arrives there, the Scripture says another girl saw him, and seeing Peter there she says to those standing there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.” Peter then greatly fearing for himself, again denies Jesus, but this time with an oath, saying, “I do not know the Man!” This then is the second time that Peter has denied Jesus.

Vs. 73-75 ⁷³ And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.” ⁷⁴ Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. ⁷⁵ And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly.

Though Peters second denial with an oath appeased some, it didn’t fully convince all those who heard it, for the Scripture says, “And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.” ^{vs. 73} And with that panic now overtakes Peter, for this time the crowd noted to him that his speech; that is his Galilean accent; which would’ve been different than that of the Judeans there betrays him; for the twelve chosen by Jesus all had Galilean roots. Peter then in a last-ditch effort to save himself begins to curse and swear, using the strongest denial he can muster, vehemently saying to them all, “I do not know the Man!” Immediately then a rooster crows fulfilling Jesus Word about Peters foretold denials. Peter then recalling Jesus Word to him that, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times”, now goes out and weeps bitterly. Peter then cannot bear the fact that when faced with acknowledging that he was one of the Lord’s disciples or yielding to his own fears and “saving” himself, he chose the latter. Nonetheless though Peter weeps bitterly now in recalling to mind how he said to Jesus that he would never deny Him, will rejoice greatly when the Lord appears in His Resurrected body to him, and not only restores him, (in an amazing display of grace), but Jesus will also enable him by His Spirit to be one of His most effective apostles and leaders in the early church who will not only go on to preach the Gospel boldly and fearlessly (consider Acts 5:26-32); But Peter will become one of the most influential apostles of the early church; enduring beatings and imprisonment for the Lord Jesus Christ’s Names sake, and he will never again deny Jesus, even unto his own martyrdom death. 

Scripture Quotations: 

The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson

Matthew 26:57-68

⁵⁷ And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. ⁵⁸ But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest’s courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end. ⁵⁹ Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, ⁶⁰ but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward ⁶¹ and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’ ” ⁶² And the high priest arose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” ⁶³ But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!” ⁶⁴ Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” ⁶⁵ Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! ⁶⁶ What do you think?” They answered and said, “He is deserving of death.” ⁶⁷ Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, ⁶⁸ saying, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?”

Commentary

Vs. 57-58 ⁵⁷ And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. ⁵⁸ But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest’s courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end.

In Johns Gospel we learn that before Jesus appeared to Caiaphas the high priest He briefly appeared before Annas, Caiaphas’ father-in-law to be interrogated by him (John 18:12-14, 19-24). Now Annas had been disposed by the Romans Procurator of Judea as being high priest in A.D. 15; and though he had been officially removed; he continued to be one of the most influential priests in the Sanhedrin council, with his sons and then his son-in-law Caiaphas succeeding him as high priest. And so though officially disposed, he still unofficially shared in the power and the authority of the high priesthood. Therefore, having first interrogated Jesus, Annas now sends Him to Caiaphas his son-in-law the official ruling high priest, and that is where Matthew’s Gospel picks up the account of Jesus’ interrogation and trial. Now with Caiaphas the high priest were the scribes and the ruling elders of the Jews. The scribes being there to render their judgment on matters of law and doctrine, and the elders to render their authority and judgment in support of the high priest’s decision to condemn Jesus to death; something which had already been pre-schemed and determined. And so, it is here at Caiaphas’ the high priest’s residence where the Sanhedrin council (along with the ruling elders) have assembled themselves to give the Lord Jesus Christ a “trial” to determine His “guilt” so that they will have “just” grounds before turning Him over to the Romans for a Crucifixion death sentence to be executed by them. Now as Jesus is being taken into Caiaphas house, Peter follows Jesus at a distance, going into the high priest’s courtyard where he sat with some servants, waiting to see the end.

Vs. 59-61 ⁵⁹ Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, ⁶⁰ but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward ⁶¹ and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’ ”

The chief priests desire to condemn Jesus is so strong that they even go so low as to seek a false testimony against Jesus, so that they can “lawfully” condemn Him to death; (something itself which was to be punished by death under the Law, see Deut.19:16-19). Nonetheless even though they sought a false testimony against Jesus to condemn Him to death (and many false witnesses came forward trying to do so) they found none whose stories they could collaborate (vs. 60), that is until two false witnesses came forward; two being the least amount required under the law to condemn a man to death (Deut. 17:6). Now these men said that they heard the Lord Jesus say, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’ ” Now in misquoting and recalling Jesus’ Words they only wrongly state that Jesus had threatened to destroy the temple, and then rebuild it in three days, something He never said or did. For Jesus never said He would destroy the temple, rather He said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” That is destroy this temple (that is the Temple of His body) and in three days He would raise it up. Therefore, Jesus Words were never about destroying the Temple, but were His foretelling His own death at their hands, with His Promising to Rise from the dead after they had done so (see John 2:19-21). Something which they were now going to do, and He was going to fulfill.

Vs. 62-64 ⁶² And the high priest arose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” ⁶³ But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!” ⁶⁴ Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

In an absolute mockery of justice, the high priest now rises and demands that the Lord Jesus Christ answer the false accusations being leveled against Him, however the Lord Jesus will by no means participate in their charade, and so He remains silent (vs. 62-63). The high priest then being infuriated by Jesus’ silence now puts Him under oath by the living God demanding that He tell them if He is the Christ, the Son of God (vs. 63). Now the reason for his doing so is not an inquiry on his part, rather it is to get the Jesus to “self-incriminate”, that is by honestly answering his question that He is the Christ the Son of the Living God they would have grounds to condemn Jesus to death for “blasphemy”. Now the Lord Jesus in answering him does not directly declare His Person to them rather He says to them, … “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” ^{vs. 64}

The Lord Jesus’ answer then is not denying His Person, but it is also not declaring Himself to be the Son of God, so that they can use that to condemn Him to death for telling Him who He truly is (consider John 5:18). Rather Jesus in answering the high priest uses the prophesy in Daniel 7:13 (gleaned from BBC). And thus, Jesus uses the designation the Son of Man, aka the prophecy, to declare to them that they will see Him sitting at the right hand of the Power (meaning God the Father in heaven), and coming on the clouds of heaven. In essence Jesus is telling them that when they see Him next, it will be just as they have said, as the Son of God in all His Glory and Power.

Vs. 65-68 ⁶⁵ Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! ⁶⁶ What do you think?” They answered and said, “He is deserving of death.” ⁶⁷ Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, ⁶⁸ saying, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?”

The high priest then, in hearing Jesus’ reply, now in all the drama he can muster tears his clothes, and says, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! ⁶⁶ What do you think?” They answered and said, “He is deserving of death.” ^{vs. 65-66} Immediately then both the high priest Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin council condemn Jesus to death, and so their done with “witnesses”, and having then condemned Jesus to death, they spit in face and beat Him, while others surrounding Him begin to strike the Lord Jesus Christ with their hands, saying, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?” ^{vs. 68} This scene then, as cruel and evil and as unjust as it is, is only the beginning of His humiliation, for the Lord Jesus Christ having been condemned to death by the rulers of His own people must now face the Gentiles, and the Roman integration and trial, and ultimately His destiny with this worlds Cross.

Scripture Quotations: 

The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson

Matthew 26:47-56

⁴⁷ And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people. ⁴⁸ Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” ⁴⁹ Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. ⁵⁰ But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. ⁵¹ And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. ⁵² But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. ⁵³ Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴ How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?” ⁵⁵ In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. ⁵⁶ But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.

Commentary

Vs. 47 And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.

Now while Jesus is still speaking with the disciples, Judas Iscariot the disciple who agreed to betray Him to the chief priests, arrives with a great multitude of armed men (troops and officers, John 18:3), from the chief priests, Pharisees, and the elders of the people. These armed men then have been sent with Judas so as to make sure Jesus does not escape their plan to arrest and ultimately kill Him.

Vs. 48-50 ⁴⁸ Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” ⁴⁹ Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. ⁵⁰ But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.

Now Judas in preparing to make sure they seized Jesus had already told them that the One whom he kissed would be the One they should arrest (vs. 48). Thus, the sign by which he would reveal and betray the Lord Jesus Christ to them, a sign of love, would be used to betray God’s Loving Son. Judas then when He arrived where the Lord Jesus Christ was, immediately went up to Him, greeted Him, and kissed Him. Jesus then in a saddened tone, of being betrayed by one whom who has loved, only says to him, “Friend, why have you come?” With Judas gesture complete they now move in like wolves and lay their hands-on (i.e. seize with force) Jesus and take Him.

Vs. 51-54 ⁵¹ And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. ⁵² But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. ⁵³ Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴ How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?”

Now with their seizing Jesus, Matthews Gospel states that one of the disciples with Jesus stretched out his hand and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear (vs. 51). Now Johns Gospel states that this was Simon Peter (John 18:10). Thus, Peter in his impetuous and zeal, in trying and protect the Lord Jesus from them, was not intending to cut of the servant’s ear, but rather this was intended as a killing blow, something which the Lord Jesus Christ did not want to occur. Therefore, Jesus immediately rebukes Peter by saying to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” ^{vs. 52} Now Jesus’ Words to Peter must not be overlooked by us, because one thing that distinguishes true Christianity from every false way is that true Christian faith is not about conquering the world “by the sword,” but by redeeming and saving those in it through the Gospel. Luke’s Gospel makes this clear then when the Lord Jesus immediately heals the servants severed ear before rebuking the multitudes (Luke 22:51), which must have completely astonished him before the multitudes led Jesus away. Therefore, any Christian who bears the sword in defense of our Lord and Saviors Person or Name, or His Gospel, or His Word, is only acting contrary to the Lord’s Will for us all. Now in rebuking Peter for his striking the high priest’s servant who must have reached out his hand first to take Jesus, also says to him, “Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴ How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?” ^{vs. 53-54} Therefore the Lord Jesus Christ being taken by men is not that they were ever capable of overpowering Him, but that He was fully willing to let them do so, that the Scripture (the Word of God) might be fulfilled.

Vs. 55-56 ⁵⁵ In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. ⁵⁶ But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.

Having then allowed the multitudes to seize Him, the Lord Jesus Christ now says to them that they’re excess use of force and arms to come and take Him is totally unjustified and uncalled for. Since He never stole anything, nor did Jesus threaten anyone. Indeed, Jesus daily sat with them teaching in the Temple the Kingdom of Heaven to them, and no one suffered any harm from Him. And now here they are an assembled mob of thugs armed and ready for a violent confrontation. And yet as Jesus also says to them they could’ve very easily seized Him when He was in Temple and amongst them, and yet they did because as the Lord Jesus points out to them, “But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Therefore, the very people that once observed Jesus teaching and preaching in the Temple, and yet did not seize Him, did not do so because God did not permit them to do so. This then is their hour, the power of darkness (Luke 22:53). Having then seen the Lord Jesus Christ is in no way going to resist this evil mob, fearing for themselves, the disciples forsook Jesus and fled.

Scripture Quotations: 

The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson

Matthew 26:36-46

³⁶ Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” ³⁷ And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. ³⁸ Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” ³⁹ He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” ⁴⁰ Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? ⁴¹ Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” ⁴² Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” ⁴³ And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴ So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. ⁴⁵ Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”

Commentary

Vs. 36-38 ³⁶ Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” ³⁷ And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. ³⁸ Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”

The Lord Jesus Christ having led the disciples across the Kidron Valley to the Mount of Olives now arrives at the garden of Gethsemane, (John 18:1). Now upon arriving there Jesus tells the disciples to sit there and wait for Him while He goes into the garden to pray (vs. 36). Now as Jesus goes He takes Peter, James, and John into the garden with Himself (vs. 36-37; Mark 13:32-42). For they are the men He has repeatedly chosen to be His closest confidents and friends, because they are the ones to whom He will entrust all His disciples nurture and care to (John 21:15-17). Therefore, these three men follow Jesus into the garden at His request, with the backdrop of the beautiful olive grooves and trees surrounding them all there.

Vs. 36-38 (cont.) Having done so and drawn alone there with them into the garden the Lord Jesus Christ now becomes exceedingly sorrowful and distressed (vs. 37). It is then in that deeply troubled state that Jesus opens up to them like He has never done before, and says to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” ^{vs. 38} Peter, James, and John then are silent at this point because they are utterly ignorant of what is transpiring in Jesus’ heart and mind as He is preparing Himself for what He knows is coming. Therefore, though they likely at some level perceive the inner turmoil and deep struggle that He now is facing, they themselves cannot fathom all that the Lord Jesus Christ is preparing Himself to go through, to not only suffer and die on the Cross for us, but also to experience what He has never experienced before, separation from God His Father when He bears all our sins on the Cross at Calvary, the weight of which no man can measure, nor comprehend. And Yet Jesus’ request of them is only that they stay with Him and watch, watch not for those coming to arrest Him, but to watch Jesus Himself that He not falter and turn away from His destiny with the Cross.

Vs. 39 ³⁹ He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

Jesus then being deeply distressed now moves a little father away from the disciples so that He might make His supplication to His Father alone, and having done so He falls on His face and prays, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

Now the cup that Jesus is referring too is the cup of suffering, of Jesus Christ’s shed blood unto death on the Cross which is what God required for the redemption and salvation of all of believing humanity, through which the New Covenant would then be enacted and achieved. Therefore, Jesus’ from the depths of his soul and in His great despair now cries out to His Father in prayer wanting another way that salvation may be attained and achieved. But there is not other way, the Scripture must be fulfilled by Him and Him alone, for if it is not all of humanity (past, present, and future) will be eternally dammed, Therefore Jesus fully knowing this surrenders His Will to His Father’s and says to Him, “…nevertheless, not as I will but as You will.” Jesus surrender then will be the greatest act of self-sacrifice for the good of others; of those who are not just friends and relatives; but who are sworn enemies of Him and His Father that the world has ever seen and will ever see.

Vs. 40-41 ⁴⁰ Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? ⁴¹ Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Now in returning to the disciples Jesus does not find them watching as He asked of them. Instead He finds them sleeping, indicating that His wrestling with His own fears about the Cross was not done in a mere moment or two as the shortness of the narrative may imply, but rather this was a prolonged and intense struggle before the Lord initially returned to them (see Luke 21:41-44). Therefore, the Lord is exceedingly right in being displeased with them for as He says to them, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?” ^{vs. 40} For it is His hour, and the hour in which their and our own salvation and destinies rest upon. Having then rebuked their inattention, Jesus now warns them (and us all) “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” ^{vs. 41}

Vs. 42-46 ⁴² Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” ⁴³ And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴ So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. ⁴⁵ Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”

Therefore, leaving the disciples for a second time, Jesus again goes away from them and prays to His Father, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” ^{vs. 42} Jesus’ resolve then is growing more and more steadfast as He comes to accept that this cup cannot pass from Him, if He wants the salvation He so desires for them and for us all who believe in Him. Having then sought the Fathers Will while wrestling against His own instincts for self-preservation, Jesus once again returns to the disciples only to find them sleeping again, for as the Scripture says their eyes were heavy (vs. 43). Therefore, Jesus seeing that they could not wait and watch with Him again departs from them, and He again seeks His Father and prays this third time to His Father with the same Words (vs. 44). Having overcome the fleshes weakness and become confident and resolute in His decision to obey His Father even unto Crucifixion death, Jesus now returns to them, for His hour has now come, and so returning to them Jesus now says to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.” ^{vs. 45-46} Jesus then is going forward in faith to meet His betrayers, and ultimately the devil who is behind them, not in weakness like when He was tested in wilderness, but in Victory, Boldness, and Power for what He is about to achieve, by openly and knowingly facing the rejection and wrath of this world, culminating in His humiliation and His sufferings on the Cross for all our sins and transgressions.

Scripture Quotations: 

The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson

Matthew 26:30-35

³⁰ And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. ³¹ Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble 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 have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.” ³³ Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.” ³⁴ Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” ³⁵ Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples.

Commentary

Vs. 30 “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”

Here then is one of the most moving scenes pre-Crucifixion. Jesus with the disciples singing a hymn at the Table before He leads them out to the Mount of Olives and the garden of Gethsemane. The events then leading up to His Crucifixion will now move rapidly as there will be no more delay, the Lord Jesus Christ must fulfill God’s Word and Will during this Passover Feast.

Vs. 31-32 ³¹ Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble 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 have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”

Having done so the Lord Jesus now tells the disciples that they all will be made to stumble this night because of Him, though Peter usually bears the brunt of unbelieving people’s criticism for his later denials, all the disciples according to God’s prophetic Word will stumble, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ Thus, they will all unwittingly be fulfilling Zechariah 13:7 which foretold this. Now their stumbling here is not to be understood as the stumbling that Jews and their leaders incur in not believing and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ for themselves. The disciples stumble here then will be a cause for their refining by which greater faith and faithfulness will be the fruit made from it (consider Daniel 12:10). Therefore, the Lord Jesus also promises them, “But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.” ^{vs. 32} Thus assuring them that though they will strike Him to death (and all the disciples will abandon Him) He will be raised from dead and He will go before them. Assuring them that though they in their moment of fear and weakness they will all forsake Him, He will not forsake them. For no one who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ will ever be forsaken by Him (2 Tim. 2:13; Heb 13:5).

Vs. 33-35 ³³ Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.” ³⁴ Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” ³⁵ Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples.

Having heard the Lord’s declaration that all of the disciples will be made to stumble because of Him; the Apostle Peter now vehemently asserts to Him: “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.” ^{vs. 33} To which the Lord Jesus Christ quickly replies to him saying, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” ^{vs. 34} Thus, Peter who gave the strongest assertion that he would never deny Jesus, will be the one who will in fact deny Jesus three times before this night has ended. Nonetheless Peter is not convinced, and so he says to Jesus, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so, said all the disciples. ^{vs. 35} For Peter and the disciples could not fathom a circumstance where they would deny the Lord and Savior whom they had all come to both trust and love. However, God knows each one of us intimately and His Word here was not to discourage the disciples, but to make it clear that it would not be their faithfulness that would save them, but His.

Scripture Quotations: 

The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson

Matthew 26:26-29

 ²⁶ And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” ²⁷ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸ For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. ²⁹ But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

Commentary

With Judas’ departure, the Lord Jesus will now institute what we call and observe as the Lord’s Supper. Therefore, with the fulfillment of the Passover soon to be at hand (by the Lord’s own Crucifixion death), the foretold and promised New Covenant will be enacted for all who believe in Him. Therefore, in preparation of this, of setting up a remembrance of His Crucifixion death that all disciples are to observe, the Lord Jesus Christ now says to the disciples, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Having done so Jesus then takes the cup and giving thanks gives it to the disciples saying to them, “Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸ For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. ²⁹ But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.” ^{vs. 28-29}

The Lord Jesus Christ’s broken body and shed then by is the only means by which we have remission of all our sins and everlasting life (Acts 4:12). Anything else then added to it, or taken from it, from what the Lord Jesus accomplished for us all at Calvary on the Cross, is only the works of man, and or the doctrines of men, and is not the grace of God, and thus is to be rejected by all who believe Him. Therefore, in observing the Lord’s Supper, one does not receive salvation for themselves by doing so, rather by doing so we are remembering just how our salvation and eternal redemption was purchased and secured; by the Broken Body and the Precious blood of the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Now in instituting the Lord’s Supper Jesus also tells the disciples that the next time He will drink of the fruit of the vine it will be when we all drink of it together in the Kingdom of heaven. For it will only be then when we all who believe in Him will eat and drink at the Lord’s Victorious Table in forever celebration and bliss.

Scripture Quotations: 

The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson