Matthew 26

Surely Not I…

1When Jesus had finished all these words, He said to His disciples, 2“You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man is to be handed over for crucifixion.”

3Then the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, named Caiaphas; 4and they plotted together to seize Jesus by stealth and kill Him. 5But they were saying, “Not during the festival, otherwise a riot might occur among the people.”

6Now when Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, 7a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at the table. 8But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, “Why this waste? 9“For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” 10But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me. 11“For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. 12“For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. 13“Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.”

14Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15and said, “What are you willing to give me to betray Him to you?” And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him. 16From then on he began looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus.

17Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” 18And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near; I am to keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.”’” 19The disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.

20Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples. 21As they were eating, He said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.” 22Being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23And He answered, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. 24“The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” 25And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Jesus *said to him, “You have said it yourself.”

26While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 27And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness 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.”

30After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

31Then Jesus *said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE SCATTERED.’ 32“But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 33But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.” 34Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” 35Peter *said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” All the disciples said the same thing too.

36Then Jesus *came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and *said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. 38Then He *said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.”

39And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” 40And He *came to the disciples and *found them sleeping, and *said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? 41“Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

42He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.” 43Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. 45Then He *came to the 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“Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!”

47While He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him.” 49Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 50And Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.

51And behold, one of those who were with Jesus reached and drew out his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52Then Jesus *said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. 53“Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve *legions of angels? 54“How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?”

55At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me.56“But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets.” Then all the disciples left Him and fled.

57Those who had seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. 58But Peter was following Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and entered in, and sat down with the officers to see the outcome.

59Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death.60They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. But later on two came forward, 61and said, “This man stated, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.’” 62The high priest stood up and said to Him, “Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?” 63But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64Jesus *said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.”

65Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy; 66what do you think?” They answered, “He deserves death!”

67Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him, 68and said, “Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?”

69Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” 71When he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and *said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72And again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” 73A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away.” 74Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed. 75And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

MATTHEW 26:1-5

1When Jesus had finished all these words, He said to His disciples, 2“You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man is to be handed over for crucifixion.”

“The Son of Man is to be handed over for crucifixion”

A great leader always prepares his people for hardships to come. He or she never soft coats that any major goals worth really achieving are going to come with tough struggles. Jesus tells his disciples three times about his upcoming crucifixion [16:21-28], [17:22-23], [20:17-19].

It is especially true that anyone who is truly effective is going to be at odds with those who are the opposite. Many people go to great expense to explain away their incompetence—including building entire systems to protect their fragile viewpoints.

“Not during the festival, otherwise a riot might occur among the people”

The fact that these religious leaders were threatened by Jesus but afraid to make a move against him during the Passover (when the city swelled from 50,000 to 250,000) is a sign of Jesus’ influence. The leaders probably hoped to arrest Jesus after the feast but changed their minds when Judas came to them with his clandestine offer.

The priests were secretly gathering at the house of Caiaphas. He had served as high priest by Rome’s appointment for 18 years. This was longer than most priests served at Rome’s whim, which should tell us that he was good at pleasing Rome—even when it meant turning his back on his faith and his people.

Unfortunately he had served long enough to build a structure around protecting himself and surrounded himself with “yes men,” who would not challenge his ideology. Their modus operandi was focused on keeping Rome happy not growing the faith or well-being of his people.

MATTHEW 26:6-13

Simon the leper

Obviously, Simon was no longer a leper or he would not have been able to host anyone in his house. Perhaps it was Jesus who had healed him and now the Lord would forever be a welcome and favored guest—even when Jesus had become a targeted traitor to the Religious Leaders.

Bethany was just across the slope from Jerusalem (it is on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives with Jerusalem on the western slope). This is where Jesus chose to rest during his last week of life. His presence there would make the occupants of this house, supporters of Christ’s sedition.

Jesus chooses to spend the last days of his life dining with former lepers and other outcasts—this was where he was most comfortable. Would Jesus choose to dine with me? Would I be invited to the house of a leper and a social pariah? Would I be a friend of the outcast or the political insiders plotting simultaneously in Caiaphas’ house?

Isn’t it beautiful that Matthew lets us in on this moment of peace in the midst of all the plotting and rumors of death in this horrible week for humanity? John explores the event in greater detail in his account (John 12).

“Why this waste?”

The estimated value of the perfume poured out on our Lord’s feet was equivalent to a year’s wages. What would that equal today? The apostle’s saw this as an extravagant waste. Mary saw it as part of a burial rite for her king and Lord. Jesus reprimands the apostles for their response to Mary’s sacrificial offering.

In John’s gospel we are told more specifically that it was Judas who complained the most [John 12:4-6] as he was the treasurer and would skim from the pot. If so, then this was obviously the “last straw” for Judas for he immediately leaves to tell the Chief Priests where they can find the Lord.

Judas had a divided interest in his relationship with Jesus, one with Jesus and one with the money from Jesus’ outreach. Jesus’ response, “For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me,” is not an excuse to allow poverty to continue, it is a reprimand of losing sight of priorities.

Jesus knew where Judas was about to go and that he was skimming from the finances, yet, he makes no apparent attempt to stop him. From the very beginning of his public ministry, Jesus’ priorities were clear. He came to be good news to the poor [Luke 4:18-19]. He led his disciples to the poor and became a role model for them at the forefront of his ministry. Even in this last meal, he ate at the house of an outcast.

Once Peter named Jesus “You are the Christ [Matthew 16:16],” the Lord turns his face resignedly to Jerusalem and his final sacrifice.

Will I follow Jesus in these footsteps? Have the poor become my priority? Do I dine with the outcasts? Do they call me friend? Do I live as a role model sending others to find Christ among the outcast and rejected?

MATTHEW 26:14-25

“My time is near; I am to keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.”

According to Luke’s Gospel, Peter and John were sent to make preparations [Luke 22:8]. Mark tells that Jesus instructed them to look for a man carrying water [Mark 14:13]. Mark would know as tradition tells us the Passover meal on that Thursday was held at Mark’s house (the upper room).

A man carrying water would be an unusual sign. Carrying water is still a woman’s job in most developing nations. That is why so many young women cannot go to school; they spend hours everyday hiking to a water source and back with large/heavy clay jars of water. It is also a leading cause of disease for many of these young women as the areas where the water is found are often replete with disease-carrying mosquitos and other water-born dangers.

The right of women to make decisions about their own bodies and their own direction is one of the first principles undermined by most traditional religions of the world. Excerpts from the speeches of Osama bin Laden clearly show that the acts of terrorism he justified were tied to issues of what he believed was the undermining of women’s traditional place in the world and not economic or political issues. In his view, a woman should be at home having/raising babies and Western Culture was undermining his religious ideology with liberal permissiveness. I would hate to find myself explaining why I side with bin Laden.

The Lancet Study (2014) by Harvard Medical School shows that prohibiting the procedures of abortion is linked to slight increases in abortion rates but also a strong increase in unsafe medical practices for abortions even resulting in death.

When it comes to such issues, women should never be the minority vote or—in some cases—even without access to vote about their own bodies, safety and role in society.

Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples

Even though Jesus knew he was being arrested that night and tortured through the morning, he relaxes at the table with his disciples. Am I am calming presence in the face of high stress? Do I fall apart as trouble nears me?

Would Jesus feel comfortable reclining at my table? Would I be like the disciples castigating Mary for her balm or Martha bickering that Mary was relaxing instead of helping with the domestic chores?

MATTHEW 26:26-30

30After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

and given thanks

Given thanks [G2168 Eucharisteō]

Beyond the act of transubstantiation, Jesus uses the last supper to turn betrayal into thankfulness and sacrifice into joy. Why was Jesus thanking God? Our Lord was thankful to be able to sacrifice his life for us. Do I show gratitude in acts of Sacrifice?

After singing a hymn

Giving thanks and singing hymns, this is how Jesus confronts his death. He realizes that his sacrifice will swallow the victory from death. Paul realized this as well and relates the Great News to the Corinthian church.

1 Corinthians 15:54-56

54But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 55“O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us pray that Jesus gives us the attitude of gratefulness and songs of joy as we confront the challenges of our lives.

MATTHEW 26:31-46

“My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”

Though Jesus’ soul is, “deeply grieved, to the point of death,” he reveals to us the three intimate habits of the sincere prayer.

1. Gratitude

2. Song

3. Seeking God’s Will, not Mine

Here is the perfect way to start and end each day, to encounter each issue, to lead others to the joy of heaven.

“Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Keep Watching [G1127 Grēgoreō] this terms means to keep watching and stay alert. What are we watching for? That’s where the prayer part comes in.

And praying [G4336 Proseuchomai] prayer is a beautiful word; it is actually the combination of two powerful thoughts. Pros [G4314 Pros] this means to project forward. Pray [G2172 Euchomai] anytime we see Eu—as in Eucharisteō—we know it means good or even perfect.

Together theses two phrases would mean, “Be alert and think perfectly.” What is the perfect thought? God’s will, not mine.

Jesus is not instructing his closest friends and apostles to watch for Judas and the guards, he is telling them to keep centering on, “What is the perfect will of God in this situation?”

MATTHEW 26:47-56

“Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword”

David wanted to make Jerusalem the center of Israel and to do so, he had to move the Ark to the city. In the process, his Chief Priest, Uzzah, was struck dead. It is worth recounting the story.

2nd Samuel 6:3-11

3They placed the ark of God on a new cart that they might bring it from the house of Abinadab which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were leading the new cart. 4So they brought it with the ark of God from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Ahio was walking ahead of the ark. 5Meanwhile, David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all kinds of instruments made of fir wood, and with lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets and cymbals.

6But when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out toward the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen nearly upsetit. 7And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down there for his irreverence; and he died there by the ark of God. 8David became angry because of the LORD's outburst againstUzzah, and that place is called *Perez-uzzah to this day. 9So David was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, “How can the ark of the LORD come to me?” 10And David was unwilling to move the ark of the LORD into the city of David with him; but David took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 11Thus the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-edom and all his household.

Why would God strike Uzzah dead? First of all, Uzzah stuck the ark in an ox cart as if God were an animal needing transport. Instead of leading the cart, they should have carried it. Secondly, when the cart is nearly upset, Uzzah reaches out to correct, as if God needed his protection.

In this recollection of Peter, we are reminded again that God does not need our protection. It is a pretty weak God that needs us to fight his battles. Jesus teaches us that there are many reasons to throw my safety behind me in his name, but to kill in his name is not among the options presented.

Instead Jesus tells us to turn the other cheek.

Matthew 5:36-42

38“You have heard that it was said, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.’ 39“But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40“If anyone wants to sue you and take your *shirt, let him have your *coat also. 41“Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42“Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

Many world peace leaders adopted the techniques of Jesus include Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. On Gandhi’s march to the sea, the more the British mistreated him and his fellow marchers, the worse they looked in the eyes of the world. It was similar to King’s Freedom Marches. The worse local officials behaved (shooting water cannons and beating children and the elderly, the more the nation moved against racism.

Jesus picked the right cause for which to sacrifice, but there was no cause for which to kill. He also shows us that any cause beginning with violence must meet a violent end. Those who don’t control the means cannot control the ends.

Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me

Jesus mocks the Religious leaders who don't have the courage to arrest him in front of a crowd. Our Lord didn't hide his words or ways and didn't limit his public appearances. The leaders feared arresting him because he was so effective and they were not. Effectiveness speaks for itself and someone who is really effective will have the public's confidence but often the fear of politicians.

It is not that Jesus chose his enemies, he chose to be effective and let his enemies speak for themselves. We should expect conflict if we are effective. Am I befriended by the needy because of my effectiveness while being a thorn in the side of the impotent for the same reason?

MATTHEW 26: 57-68

67Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him, 68and said, “Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?”

Peter was following Him at a distance

Peter failed in big ways, but he failed in the right places.

· He professes Jesus Lord then tries to prevent him from his sacrificial ministry [Matthew 16:13-22]

· He tries to correct God at the transfiguration [Matthew 17:1-13]

· He attempts to save Jesus from being taken by the Roman guard and religious leaders [Matthew 26:47-54]

Though he denied Christ, at least he was with Christ. If I am to fail—and all of us will if we’re taking risks—will it at least be near Christ?

“You have said it yourself”

The Leaders had to have the corroborating evidence of at least two witnesses to condemn Jesus. They had plenty of witnesses, they just didn’t have anyone who agreed on the same story. Caiaphas tries to force Jesus into a corner in order to get Jesus to witness against himself in front of the entire gathered party. He asks Jesus directly, “And the high priest said to Him, ‘I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.’”

Jesus’s response affirms that he is the Son of God as prophesied in Psalm 110:1 (the Son of Man sitting at God’s right hand) and Daniel 7:13-14 (coming back on the clouds of heaven).

Have I clearly identified the place of Jesus in my life? If so, am I living in such a way that others feel welcomed to his love?

MATTHEW 26:69-75

“I do not know the man!”

Consider my most stressful situation. Surrounded by peers who disagree with my values or are even hostile, do I still do what I know is right?

Before you answer, consider that the vast of adults in North America say, “no,” according to the Pew Research Center and Reginald Bibby of the University of Lethbridge. Most adults make their values decisions based upon the situation or the people around them (situational and relational values).

How do we teach children values if our adults have no compass?

Our work with high-risk foster teens assumes that all people (including teens) have values—just most are unarticulated and not used in stressful decision making situations. We focus on helping young people get their values on paper (a values card) and then practice using those cards with the people around them, seeking non-manipulative peers and adults who will challenge them to live out their values.

It would be easy to frown on Peter, but again, he was failing where most wouldn’t even dare go, and living out how most people live—saying what he needs to in order to get along.