In Today's Email:
Matthew 26 Notes
In this chapter Christ is arrested and tried before the Jewish authorities.
vs. 1-5 – This parallels Mark 14:1-1, and Luke 22:1-2. I believe this is Tuesday, the 13th of Nisan. The Passover began at sunset the next day. The Jewish leaders are growing more desperate and determined to kill Christ. The High Priest then is Caiphas. He held this office from 18-36 under the Roman prefects Valerius Gratus and Pontius Pilate. The primary reason he had the position was because he was the son-in-law of Annas, the powerful former High Priest.
vs. 6-13 – This parallels Mark 14:3-9, and John 12:2-10. Some see Matthew and Mark discussing a different event than John, but I think the details are sufficient to see them as the same event. John identifies Mary, the sister of Lazarus, as the woman that anoints Christ’s feet with expensive spikenard oil. John also identifies the complaining disciple as Judas. This rebuke seems to be the final straw for him to betray Christ. Christ remarks that this act was a burial preparation because the crucifixion is only a day away.
vs. 14-16 – This parallels Mark 14:10-11, and Luke 22:3-6. Judas agrees to betray Christ to the Jewish leaders for the price of 30 shekels. The significance of this amount is that it is the value of a slave’s life in Exodus 21:32. This would be worth around $725 today.
vs. 17-19 – This parallels Mark 14:12-16, and Luke 22:7-13. I believe this is Tuesday, the 14th of Nisan, shortly after sundown. It is called the Day of Preparation, and though not technically part of the Passover or Feast of Unleavened Bread was a vital time of preparation for them. The Last Supper then is not the Seder meal of the Passover, which would take place the following evening.
vs. 20 – This parallels Mark 14:17, and Luke 22:14-18. The Last Supper begins with Christ and the twelve disciples gathered in an upper room. This is likely a structure like a gazebo built on top of a flat roof.
vs. 21-25 – This parallels Mark 14:18-21, Luke 22:21-23, and John 13:21-35. Christ declares that one of His disciples would betray Him. There was no indication that it was Judas as the disciples tried to discern who it could be. John’s account tells us that it was Peter that asked John to ask Christ who it was, and He responded by signaling that it was Judas when they sopped their bread in the same dish.
vs. 26-29 – This parallels Mark 14:22-25, and Luke 22:19-20. Christ institutes the Lord’s Supper as a memorial for His church to observe. The simple elements of wine and bread are used to signify His shed blood and broken body. This is not part of the Passover or a Christianization of Jewish customs. It is something new. Paul writes more about observing the Lord’s Supper in I Corinthians 11.
vs. 30 – This parallels Mark 14:26, Luke 22:39, and John 18:1. The Last Supper closed with the singing of a hymn, probably part of the Hallel from Psalms 113-118. They leave to go to the Garden of Gethsemane (“oil press”) on the Mount of Olives. It is probable this was a favorite refuge of Christ and familiar to the disciples.
vs. 31-35 – This parallels Mark 14:27-31, Luke 22:31-38, and John 13:36-38. Christ points to the prophecy of Zechariah 13:7 to say that all of the disciples would be ashamed and flee from Him in what was to come. He instructs them to meet Him in Galilee after the events to come. Peter boldly claims that he will not be ashamed of Christ, but Christ replies that before the cock crows Peter would deny Him three times.
vs. 36-46 – This parallels Mark 14:32-42, Luke 22:40-46, and John 18:1. This is before midnight on the Tuesday, the 14th of Nisan. Arriving at Gethsemane, Christ instructs the disciples to pray. He takes the inner circle of Peter, James, and John to pray with Him separately. Eventually He moves to a place alone. The disciples succumb to sleep while Christ consecrates Himself to the work ahead of Him.
vs. 47-56 – This parallels Mark 14:43-52, Luke 22:47-53, and John 18:2-12. Judas leads a mob to arrest Christ. He marks Christ by greeting Him with a kiss. In the confusion, Peter attempts to defend Christ by force, but is reprimanded. He tries to reassure them that what is happening is all part of God’s plan.
vs. 57-68 – This parallels Mark 14:53-72, Luke 22:54-62, and John 18:15-18,24-27. Christ is taken to before Caiphas the High Priest and the Sanhedrin to be condemned. While this is occurring, the focus of the narratives shifts to Peter. Peter followed at a distance and blended into the many servants to see what was happening. He is identified three times and denies knowing Christ three times, as Christ said would happen. Meanwhile, Christ is charged with heresy. The false witnesses could only get their stories to agree in one point: the claim Christ made about destroying the Temple and rebuilding it in three days found in John 2:19-20. It is a mockery of a trial that condemns Christ. Such a trial should not have been held at night, and the accused should not have been beaten. The High Priest also was commanded not to rend His garments (Leviticus 21:10). Still, this is preliminary proceeding to establish the charge and guilt before the full Sanhedrin met around sunrise.
Closing Thoughts
The events of this Passover week would be the greatest tragedy known to man if it had not been for the greatest purpose God had given it. The innocent and holy Christ is condemned as a sinner and made to suffer its penalty of death. But this is not the end of the story! Christ will shed His blood for us and then rise again in victory. God is moving in this darkest of nights for the most glorious of mornings.
Hymn for Today
Our hymn today is a personal favorite. “’Neath the Old Olive Trees” was written by B.B. McKinney in 1929. Too few songs have been written about Gethsemane, but it would be difficult to surpass this song.
1 'Neath the stars of the night
Walked the Saviour of light,
In the garden of dew-ladened breeze;
Where no light could be found,
Jesus knelt on the ground,
There He prayed 'neach the old olive trees.
Refrain:
'Neath the old olive trees,
'Neath the old olive trees,
Went the Saviour alone on His knees:
"Not My sill, Thine be done,"
Cried the Father's own Son,
As He knelt 'neath the old olive trees.
2 All the sin of the world
On the Saviour was hurled,
As he knelt in the garden alone;
Hear His soul-burdened plea,
Let this cup pass from Me,
"Even so, not My will, Thine be done." [Refrain]
3 My my song ever be
Of the love proffered me,
By my Lord all alone on His knees:
Praise His wonderful name,
He who bore all my blame,
As He knelt 'neath the old olive trees. [Refrain]