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.
Monthly Archive for April, 2009
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Matthew 26:69-75 shows how Peter handled pressure. All four gospels relate Peter’s disloyalty.
26:69 Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.”
As Peter sat with the soldiers and servants of the high priest a servant girl recognized him as being with Jesus.
26:70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.”
Peter’s denial of Christ revealed the accuracy of Jesus prediction that he would deny Jesus.
26:71 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.”
Yet another girl identifies Peter as having been with Jesus.
26:72 But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!”
This time Peter denied Jesus with an oath.
26:73 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.”
For the third time, a relative of Malchus (Peter cut off his ear in Gethsemane) insists that Peter had been with Jesus (Jn 18:26).
26:74 Then he began to curse (to call curse upon oneself) and swear (swear under oath), saying, “I do not know the Man!” Immediately a rooster crowed.
After Peter’s third denial the rooster crowed. Peter had manufactured his own misery.
26:75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”
The crowing of the rooster reminded Peter of Jesus’ words that he would deny the Lord three times that evening.
So he went out and wept bitterly.
Peter realized the sinfulness of his sin and genuinely repented.
PRINCIPLE: Realization of the sinfulness of sin brings us back into fellowship with God.
APPLICATION: Jesus restored Peter publically to fellowship after His resurrection (Jn 21:15-19). Forgiveness is a great gift. Without it there can be no fellowship with God. There are times when we need the trigger of an event to get our attention.
Peter asserted later in his ministry that it is necessary to walk in grace and maturity before the Lord:
2 Pe 3:17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
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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?”
The goon-squad now brings Jesus before Caiaphas (26:57-68). The trials of Jesus occur from 26:57 to 27:26.
26:57 And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
Caiaphas was high priest from A.D. 18 to A.D. 36. Annas (father-in-law of Caiaphas) was the main power behind the scenes. Both were Sadducees who did not believe in the resurrection. Matthew does not mention that they led Jesus to Annas first.
The Sanhedrin was hastily and illegally formed in verses 57 and 58. They formed privately in Caiaphas’ house; Jewish trials were to be public. They also indicted him before trail, which was illegal.
26:58 But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest’s courtyard.
Peter stealthily followed Jesus at a distance to the house of Annas and then to the courtyard of the high priest Caiaphas.
And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end.
Peter sat clandestinely with the officers and servants of the Sanhedrin.
26:59 Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death,
They assembled the Sanhedrin consisting of chief priests, elders, and scribes (Mark 14:53) to make Jesus’ trial appear legal. The “Council” (Sanhedrin) acted illegally by taking the roles of both prosecutor and judge.
26:60 but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward
The Sanhedrin could not find credible witnesses to give testimony against Jesus. Instead, they found two “false witnesses.” Matthew mentions twice that when it comes to credible witnesses they “found none.”
26:61 and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’ ”
The two false witnesses cited a statement Jesus made about raising the temple in three days after it was destroyed. Jesus, however, did not refer to the Temple in Jerusalem but to His own body.
26:62 And the high priest arose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?”
Caiaphas became frustrated because he could not find adequate evidence against Jesus.
26:63 But Jesus kept silent.
Jesus remained “silent” because he did not want to give this trial a sense of legitimacy. Since it was illegal to bring Him before trial without official charges, He would not answer them.
Jesus remained silent before the specific charge laid before Him. This fulfilled Isaiah 53: 7 “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.”
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!”
The high priest tried to put Jesus under an oath of the “living God” that he claimed to be “the Son of God.” This was an attempt at the charge of blasphemy. Blasphemy was subject to death (Lev 24:16).
26:64 Jesus said to him, “It is as you said.
This is tantamount to admitting He was the Son of God.
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.”
Jesus references Psalm 110:1 and Daniel 7:13 to Himself. He said in effect, “Not only am I the Son of God but I will return one day to be your judge.”
26:65 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!
Because Jesus was unambiguous about whom He was, the high priest charged Him with blasphemy. Caiaphas tore his clothes in dramatic fashion giving the appearance that he defended God’s honor. It was pure theater.
26:66 What do you think?” They answered and said, “He is deserving of death.”
They quickly came to the decision to put Jesus to death.
26:67 Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands,
Not operating by a sense of decency, they spit in His face and then beat Him.
26:68 saying, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?”
After blindfolding Jesus, they beat Him asking sarcastically who it was that hit Him.
PRINCIPLE: Nobility under trial is a testimony to the world.
APPLICATION: Jesus faced the Father’s appointed time with nobility. When he was reviled, He reviled not again.
1 Pe 2: 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
Read Introduction to Matthew
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.
26:51 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.
In a vain attempt to defend Jesus, Peter cut off Malchus’ ear with a sword (Jn 18:10). Malchus ducked when Peter aimed for his head cutting off his ear.
26:52 But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.
Jesus gave two reasons why believers are not to fight by human weapons:
1. Those who fight with the sword will die by the sword; that is, human authorities will deal with them by capital punishment.
Vigilante action is not Jesus’ way of dealing with problems. No Christian is justified in taking justice in his own hands.
26:53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions (a Roman legion was 6,000 soldiers) of angels?
2. Jesus could short-circuit His enemies by appealing to the Father to send twelve legions of angels to defend Him; He could draw on divine power.
Twelve legions of angels would be 72,000 angels. That would be quite a defense if Jesus’ needed it.
26:54 How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?”
Jesus’ betrayal and death was in God’s eternal plan; it was no accident.
26:55 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.
The goon-squad came in the dark of night to seize Jesus. He asked them why they did not take Him in the light of day. Evil men do not consider justice when they are bent on their destructive ways.
26:56 But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.
God has His plan even in the face of enemy plot against Jesus. God will fulfill His infallible Word no matter what machinations of man may hold. The disciples did not grasp this because they fled leaving Jesus with the goon-squad.
PRINCIPLE: The Lord’s battle is won by His power alone.
APPLICATION: Christians do not need to draw a weapon for spiritual warfare. Our weapons are “not of the flesh” (2 Co 10:4). A holy war is outside God’s system of addressing issues in the world.
Christians at times are more interested in political issues (albeit conservative issues) relating to Christianity than in God’s way of dealing with the world. Jesus kingdom is “not of this world” (Jn 18:36). The ultimate answer for this world’s woes is not political victory but personal redemption. It is amazing how many Christians in short order shifted their hope from what God can do to what politicians can do.
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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.
Now we come to the arrest of the Son of Man.
26:47 And while He was still speaking (to the three disciples), behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.
It is interesting that one of Jesus’ original disciples led the goon-squad to arrest Jesus. What infamy!
26:48 Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.”
Evidently the goon-squad did not recognize Jesus so Judas had to point Him out.
26:49 Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.
How ironic that Judas used a sign of affection as the method of betrayal. Demon possessed caused this treachery (Lu 22:3).
26:50 But Jesus said to him, “Friend (fellow, companion, comrade), why have you come?”
Jesus broke no Jewish or Roman law but the mob arrested Him anyway (Jn 19:4). His question to Judas places onus on his treachery.
Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.
Mobs in every age have aligned themselves against Christ. Group-think is an ongoing problem even to this day.
PRINCIPLE: No mob or group can daunt the plan of God.
APPLICATION: Jesus’ death for the sin of the world was in God’s eternal plan.
Ac 2: 23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;
Read Introduction to Matthew
9 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.”
Verses 39-45 show the interplay between Jesus going before the Father in prayer and keeping the three disciples alert to the enemy.
26:39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father,
The dominate name Jesus used of God in prayer was “Father.” Using the name Father was peculiar to Israel; it was a term of too much intimacy for them. Adding to the idea of intimacy is the word “My.”
if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me;
The “cup” here refers to the cross, God’s method of payment for sin. Jesus asked the Father if was possible for another way to pay for sin other than going to the cross.
Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
Jesus volitionally surrendered to the Father’s will about going to the cross.
26:40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?
The time was the middle of the night. Jesus reprimands Peter for not staying alert to watch for enemies. He is about to come to His last hours on earth yet they did not watch or pray for Him. Sleeping at the point of Jesus’ greatest grief added to that sorrow.
26:41 Watch and pray (Greek—keep watching and praying), lest you enter into temptation.
The disciples were to keep watch for enemies and to keep praying that God would not allow betrayal in trial. Jesus does not humiliate the disciples here but warns them of impending danger.
The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Jesus knew that the disciples were devoted to Him but He also knew how untrustworthy their hearts were.
26:42 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.”
Jesus went to pray a second time. This time He accepts the will of God to go to the cross—“Your will be done.”
26:43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.
After His admonishing the three disciples for lack of diligence, they fell asleep the second time. This time He does not awaken them.
26:44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
Jesus went to pray for the third time.
26:45 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.
Returning for the third time, Jesus woke the disciples and announced that his betrayal will occur shortly.
26:46 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”
Jesus made no effort to escape from His betrayer; He submitted Himself to the will of God. God answered His prayer that it was His will that Jesus go to the cross. He will become the sin offering to pay penalty for our sins.
PRINCIPLE: Spiritual diligence keeps us from spiritual lethargy.
APPLICATION: Sleep is often a way of escape from our problems. Instead of facing our problems, we run from them.
Lu 22: 45 When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow.
It is amazing how we can be indifferent in times of crisis. When we neglect prayer, we reject our dependence on God. Even Jesus needed to depend on God in prayer in time of duress. Sorrow is no excuse for lack of diligence. God always provides strength in sorrow and suffering.
All of us face special times of temptations or trials. These times threaten to consume us. The only person that we can ultimately turn to in these times is God Himself. Friends and family may help but turning to God is the only ultimate answer.
He 5: 7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear,
Prayer in the final analysis is yielding our will to the Father’s will. Jesus was a wonderful example of that.
Read Introduction to Matthew
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.”
Jesus now comes to the end of His ministry and life. He presents His case about not going to the cross to the Father one final time. The answer was He was to go to the cross to pay for sins (26:36-46).
26:36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane,
Gethsemane was a recurrent meeting place for Jesus and His disciples. Just across the Kedron Valley from Jerusalem, it was a garden of olive trees.
And said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.”
Jesus wanted His leadership to understand the importance of focus on God in prayer during times of duress.
26:37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.
Jesus left all the disciples to go to Gethsemane except for Peter, James, and John, the leaders of the group.
We must distinguish the humanity of Christ from the deity of Christ. Jesus never used His deity for His human function. That would violate His humanity. He was “tempted in all points” just like us. It was His humanity that died on the cross, not His deity.
26:38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.
Jesus anguish had to do with anticipation of the cross. The words “exceedingly sorrowful” means deeply grieved. It comes from two words: around and grieved. Jesus was surrounded by grief; it was all around Him. His grief went to the point of death.
He was indeed the “man of sorrows.” His sorrow involved separation from the Father for a few hours on the cross. This separation never occurred in all eternity.
Stay here and watch with Me.”
He asked the three disciples to watch for enemies.
PRINCIPLE: Sorrow or grief is proper for the Christian.
APPLICATION: Jesus was a “Man of sorrows.” Do you remember this old hymn by Philip Bliss?
Man of sorrows, what a name,
For the Son of God who came,
Ruined sinners to reclaim!
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Grief was part of Jesus’ life. It is appropriate for Christians to grieve. Their sorrow in loss of a believing loved one, for example, is not permanent. It is only a time before we see them again.
Is 53: 3 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Read Introduction to Matthew
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.
The storm about Jesus is about to thunder down on Jesus and His disciples. Jesus now prepares His disciples for the events surrounding the cross. Jesus predicts that His disciples will disown Him (26:31-35).
26:31 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble (fall away) because of Me this night,
All the disciples will stumble and desert Him because of fear of association with Him. Jesus said you will fall away “because of Me.” Judas had already departed, thus it was the remaining eleven that fell away. Now the eleven will fall away.
for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
Jesus quotes from Zechariah 13:7 to show the disciples that thunder clouds are coming and that they will disown Him in the process. It is all in God’s plan. It was God’s plan to “strike the Shepherd.”
26:32 But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”
After rising from the dead, Jesus will come to them again in Galilee. There is nothing more encouraging to the disciples that Jesus would raise from the dead. That is exactly what He did. They would rendezvous in Galilee after His resurrection.
Mt 28: 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”
26:33 Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.”
Peter, as the spokesman for the group, reacted strongly against Jesus’ suggestion that “all” of them would stumble because of Him. He made the rash pronouncement that he would never forsake the Lord even though everyone else defects from Jesus. Peter thought himself superior to others.
26:34 Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny (disown) Me three times.”
Jesus takes the wind out of the sails of Peter by saying that he will disown Him three times. Mark adds before the rooster crows “twice” Peter will do this. The rooster would crow in the morning. It would not be long before Peter denied the Lord three times that very night. His denial is imminent.
26:35 Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples.
Amazingly, Peter and “all the disciples” contradicted the Lord on the point of denial. He was firm that he would die rather than deny the Lord. This is pure presumption. Jesus did not pursue their presumption further at this time.
PRINCIPLE: There is a lot of crow but little courage among Christians.
APPLICATION: We often think we have greater loyalty to the Lord than we do. We are weaker than we think when it comes to spiritual things. We like to think that we would never deny the Lord but we may not have been in a situation where we face great cost to us personally. This is especially true when it comes to life or death. Our ministry has people in different parts of the world in jail. Some have been killed for sharing the gospel. This is a present reality.
2 Ti 1: 12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
It is encouraging to know that the Lord is realistic about our failure and that He is willing to welcome us back into His fellowship.
Read Introduction to Matthew
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.” 30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Now we come to the institution of the Lord’s Supper itself. Each of the three Synoptics account for the Jesus’ institution of Lord’s Supper.
26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said,
The breaking of bread was a normal part of the Passover but Jesus gives special meaning to the elements of the Passover meal. These elements are visual reminders of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins yet to take place.
“Take, eat; this (neuter) is My body(masculine).”
“Eat” here is a picture of faith. Jesus says in effect, “Place your trust in the sacrifice of My body and blood for the forgiveness of your sin.”
The original meaning of the Passover bread was severance from the old life in Egypt. Jesus gave the unleavened bread new meaning as representative of His broken body on the cross. He is obviously not offering his literal body; this is figurative of what would happen on the cross.
There is no transubstantiation here because Jesus at this time sat there offering the bread.
26:27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.
The “cup” represented what it contained. The contents represented the shed blood of Christ.
26:28 For(drink) this is My blood of the new covenant,
The Old Testament ratified a covenant with blood sacrifice. The covenant here is the “new covenant.” This covenant replaced the Mosaic Covenant. The New (omitted here is some manuscripts) Covenant is an unconditional covenant based on grace. Jesus blood is sufficient to forgive sins. The idea of a “new” covenant distinguishes it from previous covenants.
Jesus’ death for sin ratified the New Covenant of Jeremiah. Jeremiah prophesied that God would make a New Covenant with His people (Je 31:31-34; 32:37-40). The result was a covenant (contract) relationship between God and His people.
which is shed(literally—is being shed; that is, from this point to the cross) for many for(with reference to) the remission of sins.
Jesus blood effectively removed the sin of those who believe. It is the basis of forgiveness.
He 9: 22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.
1 Jn 1: 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
26:29 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(new in quality) with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
“My Father’s kingdom” is the millennial kingdom. Jesus will not eat this meal with them until after He returned to reign in the millennial kingdom.
26:30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
The hymn they sung may have been the hallelujah Psalms (115-118).
PRINCIPLE: Forgiveness comes through sacrifice.
APPLICATION: Nothing in a mysterious manner happens in the Lord’s Supper; it is simply a celebration of the work of Christ on the cross for our sins.
All sins, past, present, and future were forgiven the believer at the moment of his/her salvation. That is positional or forensic salvation. In order for a believer to walk with the Lord daily, he needs to confess sin by accepting the blood of Christ which already forgave him to cleanse him in an operational sense (1 Jn 1:9). This restores the believer to current fellowship (not eternal fellowship) with the Lord.
We approach the Lord’s Supper as those already redeemed by the blood of Christ but with a new desire for fellowship with Him. We are not worthy to fellowship at the Lord’s Supper; it is the blood of Christ that made us worthy.
Read Introduction to Matthew
20 When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve. 21 Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” 22 And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?” 23 He answered and said, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me. 24 The Son of Man indeed goes 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.” 25 Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “Rabbi, is it I?” He said to him, “You have said it.”
Jesus now sits down with the twelve for the Last Supper (26:20-30).
26:20 When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve.
The “evening” here is after sunset (6:00 p.m.) on the 14th of Nisan. Jesus and His disciples “sat down;” this means they reclined. The Passover meal symbolically represented some aspect of the exodus from Egypt.
26:21 Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.”
Jesus made the shocking point that one of the twelve sitting at the Passover meal will betray Jesus.
26:22 And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?”
Each disciple recognized that they had the capacity to betray Jesus. The betrayer could be themselves personally. Each had dipped into the bowl.
26:23 He answered and said, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me.
All of them ate with Jesus out of the same bowl. They could not clearly identify who was to betray Jesus.
26:24 The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!
The Old Testament predicted the coming betrayal of the Messiah. Jesus put His death into eternal perspective. His death was planned from eternity and recorded in Scripture.
It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”
With Judas’ choice, it would have been better for him not to have been born for he had to face eternal consequence of his decision.
26:25 Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “Rabbi, is it I?” He said to him, “You have said it.”
The disciples may not have heard Jesus answer to Judas that he was the man.
PRINCIPLE: The Lord’s Supper is central to worship.
APPLICATION: The church’s Passover is the Lord’s Supper. The two are linked. The bread represents the body and the cup represents the blood. The two representatives (bread and blood) are memorials of Christ’s life and death. It celebrates the person and work of our wonderful Lord.
Read Introduction to Matthew
17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.
Jesus celebrates His final Passover with the disciples in verses 17-19.
26:17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?”
The Feast of Unleavened Bread was a seven-day feast. Passover was the first of eight days. They sacrificed Passover lambs on this day. The seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread followed immediately after the Passover; sometimes the entire eight-day was called Passover week. Both feasts commemorated the exodus from Egypt.
26:18 He said, “Go into the city (Jerusalem) to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’”
Jesus sent Peter and John to make preparation for the Passover meal in Jerusalem (Lu 22:8). Matthew does not identify the “certain man.”
26:19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.
The disciples prepared food for Passover. Jesus made careful preparation to communicate His coming death on the cross by the blood that allowed judgment to pass over Israel. His shed blood would pay for the sin of man for all time.
PRINCIPLE: God uses unidentified people for His glory.
APPLICATION: There are people in every church that serves without recognition. They work behind the scenes without applause or even acknowledgement. These people will receive great reward in heaven.
