Matthew 28:1-20

What is the theme of this chapter?

The power of the King.

What is the key verse(s) of this chapter? Verse 18

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

What can I apply to my life from this chapter (things to do/avoid)?

Matthew 28:16-20

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

they saw Him - "they" may include the 500 of 1 Corinthians 15:6, as it is unlikely the apostles would be doubting at this point.

some doubted = can include the meaning of "hesitated," perhaps because they didn’t recognize Him in His glorified body until He began speaking.

go - in the original, this expresses an assumption — "as you are going"

name - singular — the Father, Son and Holy Spirit have one name

"Here is evidence for the trinity of God: one God (the name) who subsists in three Persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).  Each of the three is distinguished from the others; each possess all the divine attributes; yet the three are one.  This is a mystery that no analogy can illustrate satisfactorily.  The sun, sunlight, and the power of the sun may come close to a suitable illustration." (Ryrie)

"These were the 'poor of the flock' (Zechariah 11) to whom in distant Galilee and far from Jerusalem the Great Shepherd connected Himself, and whom He commissioned to proclaim His rights as King and the laws of His Kingdom throughout the whole earth. He assured them of the donation of all power given to Him both in heaven and in earth, and promised to be with them until the consummation of the age. That consummation would have then come if Israel had repented; but the two tribes in Jerusalem sent Stephen (Acts 7) to say 'We will not have this Man to reign over us,' and the ten tribes in Rome, the capital of the Dispersion, committed a similar message to Paul (Acts 28). Hence this commission is now in abeyance, but will be resumed, and obeyed, when Divine relations are once more resumed with Israel.  There is no Ascension in this Gospel, for all in it relates to the King and to the Kingdom which He proposed to set up upon the earth; and so He promises to be with them until the predicted hour came of the establishment of the kingdom. The interpretation of this commission belongs, therefore, to the Hebrew church, represented by the apostles and the five hundred brethren. The Church of God — the 'secret' revealed in Ephesians — does not here appear, for its home in heavenly, and its commission is to take out from both Hebrews and Gentiles an election to heavenly glory." (Williams)

That this "commission" cannot be intended for the body of Christ, the Church of the age of grace, can be seen by its contrast with 1 Corinthians 1:17, where Paul writes: For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Matthew 28:11-15

While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

guard - Pilate had put the Roman soldiers at the disposal of the Sanhedrin, so the guards reported to the Jews first.

all that had taken place - the earthquake and the appearance of the angel (vs 2-4)

satisfy him - protect them from punishment for failing in their duty

"The desperation of the Sanhedrin can be clearly seen in the explanation that was offered. These witnesses certainly could not support their testimony as to what had happened, for they were asleep. Their story was a best only a guess. A large sum of money would have been necessary to persuade the guards to perjure themselves because, if they were asleep as they stated, they could be executed by the governor for dereliction of duty. In spite of the obvious flimsiness of the testimony and the danger to life, the guards "took the money and did as they were directed" (v 15). Thus they put their lives into the hands of the Sanhedrin. Having committed themselves to this explanation, the leaders circulated the story widely in an effort to explain away the fact of the resurrection of Christ."

"It is significant that while the disciples disbelieved the reports of the resurrection and sought confirmation of it. The Sanhedrin believed the report and sought an explanation to deny it." (Pentecost)

'His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.' - If the guards were asleep as they said, how could they know what happened to the body?

"How would sleeping people know what had happened?  Would it be likely that all the soldiers were sleeping at the same time?  Why would Roman soldiers risk incriminating themselves even for a large bribe?  The story was self-contradictory!" (Ryrie)

Matthew 28:1-10

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

The resurrection also appears in Mark 16:1-20; Luke 24:1-12 and John 20:1-31. Each writer gives different details depending on the purpose of the book. Matthew’s is the shortest account.

after the Sabbath - the night of Saturday night and Sunday morning after the Sabbath ended at sundown on Saturday

"It was now Sunday morning, and the work of preparing Christ's body for permanent burial could be done." (Ryrie)

rolled back the stone - to reveal the empty tomb. Jesus was already risen and gone.

He has risen - "This simply stated fact is the basis of our Christ faith." (Ryrie)

as He said - See Matthew 16:21; 17:23; 20:19.

The resurrection is attributed to the Father (Hebrews 13:20); the Son (John 2:19-21; 10:17-18) and the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:11).

Matthew 27:1-66

What is the theme of this chapter?

The Death and burial of Jesus Christ.

What is the key verse(s) of this chapter? Verse 54

When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

What can I apply to my life from this chapter (things to do/avoid)?

Matthew 27:57-66

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb. The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.


rich man - in fulfillment of Isaiah 53:9

Arimathaea - about 25 miles away from Jerusalem in the hill country of Ephraim

"A town N of Lydda and E of Joppa." (Ryrie)

"The account given in all four gospels (Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42) indicates that Joseph of Arimathaea was a wealthy and influential man, a member of the Sanhedrin (Luke 23:51), and one who had been secretly a disciple of Jesus (John 19:38). He went boldly into Pilate, although this involved ceremonial defilement for a Jew during the feast, and requested the body of Jesus." (Walvoord)

"The word translated 'secretly' could be rendered 'secreted,' or hidden away … Christ made preparations for all events associated with His death so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. This word may indicate that Jesus has arranged with Joseph to make arrangements for His burial to fulfill and Old Testament prophecy. By way of preparation, Joseph had obtained space in a garden adjacent to the place of crucifixion; there was a new tomb here. He had arranged with a fellow counselor, Nicodemus, to provide the spices necessary for a proper burial (John 19:39). Joseph had provided the linen cloth in which to wrap the body of Jesus (Mark 15:46). Thus before the crucifixion all that was needed for burial had been provided. It may well be that Joseph had hidden himself away in the recesses of the garden where he could witness the events transpiring on Golgotha without being observed. At the moment Christ cried, 'It is finished' (John 19:30), and dismissed His spirit from His body, Joseph was ready to proceed with the burial. Haste was now required because it was late afternoon and the setting of the sun would bring the Sabbath." (Pentecost)

the tomb - "The sepulchre was probably a small chamber, along one side of which was a shelf cut in the rock, and on this shelf the body was laid. The 'great stone' was no doubt ready of ruse. It was these stones, forming the doors to tombs, that were whitewashed every spring to prevent passers-by from being made ceremonially unclean. The stones were sometimes round and flat, like millstones, laying upright against the face of the rock in which the excavation was made. They could then be easily rolled backwards and forwards, to open or close the aperture. As they went out, they rolled a great stone — the Golel — to close the entrance to the tomb, probably leaning against it for support a smaller stone — the so-called Dopheq. It would be where the one stone was laid against the other, that on the next day, Sabbath though it was, the Jewish authorities would have affixed the seal, so that the slightest disturbance might become apparent." (Pentecost)

"See Isa 53:9.  The stone was like a solid wheel that rolled in a channel or gutter." (Ryrie)

other Mary - "the mother of James and Joseph" from v 56

the next day = the sabbath

sealing the stone - "This was likely done by connecting the stone to the tomb with a cord and wax so that any tampering could easily be detected." (Ryrie)

"While none of the disciples seem to have found any comfort in Christ's predictions that He would rise again, yet the chief priests and the Pharisees understood and remembered, and were determined that no apparent fulfillment of such predictions should be accomplished by the disciples. 'Now on the morrow, which is after the Preparation.' The Preparation had already became a name for Friday as the eve of the sabbath. Matthew uses it without explanation, but Mark (15:42) tells his readers what it means. It looks as if Matthew employed this circumlocution in order to avoid using the word 'sabbath.' Did he shrink from saying in so many words that this miserable act of hostility, on the part of the Jewish hierarchy against the Messiah, took place on the sabbath? Months before this the Pharisees had been moved to take counsel to destroy Him, because He had done good on the sabbath (12:12-14); and now they do not scruple to do evil on the sabbath. The deputation address the Procurator with respect: 'Sir (21:30), it came to our minds (26:75).' And they speak of Him whom they have forced the Procurator to crucify with contemptuous abhorrence. They will not even name Him; they use a pronoun which indicates that He is far removed from them, and a substantive which stigmatizes Him as a seducer of the people: 'that deceiver' (compare John 9:28; 2 John 7:1). They quote His words in a manner which suggests the confidence with which they were spoken: 'After three days I rise again.' although the words recorded were spoken in private to the disciples, yet they may have been repeated until they reached the ears of His watchful enemies. The Pharisees, having suggested that the Body might be stolen, put into the mouth of the disciples the very expression which Herod Antipas is said to have used of Jesus: that He was the Baptist, who 'is risen from the dead' (14:2). 'The last error' means 'the last deceit' or 'the last seduction,' with direct reference to 'that deceiver' or 'seducer.' The Pharisees knew that they must use political considerations in order to influence Pilate. Just as they had charged Jesus with claiming to be King of the Jews, while they said nothing about His claiming to be the Son of God, so here they mean that, if the disciples persuaded people that Jesus had risen from the dead, they might cause a far more serious rising than had occurred at the triumphal entry in consequence of the persuasion that Jesus was the Messiah. That Pilate's words mean 'take a guard,' rather than 'Ye have a guard,' seems clear from the fact that the only guard which they had was the Temple-police, and this they could have employed without coming to the Procurator. Evidently they want something which required his permission; and it is Roman soldiers who are set to guard the tomb (28:12-15)." (Pentecost)

Matthew 27:50-56

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.


cried out again - probably "It is finished" (John 19:30)

yielded up His spirit = lit. "He sent His spirit away" — He died willingly, voluntarily, of His own will. (Luke 23:46; John 10:18).

"Christ was not directly killed by anyone, nor was He overcome by natural processes; He released His spirit (John 10:18)." (Ryrie)

curtain - the curtain separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies (Exodus 26:33; 38:18; Heb 9:3). This indicated that man now had direct access to God through Christ. Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:19-21).

"The veil itself was the sign that man was barred from coming to God; that heavy, solid veil, ever gave that testimony that it is impossible for man to approach God. The rent veil shows that it has been made possible. The rent veil declares that the great sacrifice on the cross of the spotless Lamb of God has been accepted. It is the first great answer of God to the majestic word of the dying Savior, 'It is finished.' It likewise shows that the Jewish ceremonial law is fulfilled and ended." (Gaebelein)

from top to bottom - "Showing that God did it, not man.  It signified that the new and living way was now open into the presence of God (Heb 10:20; Eph 2:11-22).  One probably result of this supernatural tearing of the veil is recorded in Acts 6:7b." (Ryrie)

saints - "As a careful reading of this account reveals, the raising of the bodies of the saints, although mentioned here, actually occurred after the resurrection of Jesus. This event is nowhere explained in the Scriptures but seems to be a fulfillment of the feast of the first fruits of harvest mentioned in Leviticus 23:10-14. On that occasion, as a token of the coming harvest, the people would bring a handful of grain to the priest. The resurrection of these saints, occurring after Jesus Himself was raised, is a token of the coming harvest when all the saints will be raised." (Walvoord)

I did notice that verse 52 says "many" of the saints, not "all."

centurion - the Roman soldier who was in charge of the squad who were guarding the hill at the time of the crucifixion.

the Son of God - We aren't told if this is a statement of the Centurion's faith. He literally said "a" son of God, so it may just have been recognition that Jesus was something more than a man.

"Very possibly this indicates that these soldiers believed in Him." (Ryrie)

Mary the mother of James and Joseph - the wife of Clopas (John 19:25)

mother of Zebedee's sons - Salome (Mark 15:40) - perhaps a sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus

Matthew 27:45-49

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.”

sixth hour = noon

ninth hour = 3 p.m.

darkness - supernatural

In Matthew, Jesus' cry (v 46) is partly in Hebrew (Eli = "My God") and the rest in Aramaic. The words are a quote from Psalm 22:1.

"These words mark the climax of the suffering of Christ for a lost world. Here He drank to the dregs the cup of sorrow, grief, and pain on our behalf. In these hours when the sun refused to shine upon suffering deity, Jesus found fitting expression to His feeling of desolation in the words of the Psalmist. Isaiah had given a vivid portrayal of the suffering Servant who was to be 'wounded for our transgressions.' John the Baptist pointed to Jesus as 'the Lamb of God that taketh away the collective sin of a world of sinners.' Christ gave Himself a 'ransom for many.' Him who knew no sin God 'made sin' for us. On the cross Christ became a 'curse for us' and so redeemed us from the curse of the law. We are 'redeemed by the precious blood of Christ' shed on Calvary. He gave Himself a 'ransom for all.' The writers of the Gospels make it plain that Jesus 'had a baptism to be baptized with' and a 'cup to drink.' Paul and other writers of the epistles lay out clearly the same plan of redemption. Jesus had to pay the price alone and tasted death — spiritual death — for every man. Spiritual death is broken communion. Jesus had a taste of such a broken communion, the first and last He ever experienced — in those desolate hours when darkness lay upon the earth and upon His soul. That is the reason He used the words of distressed astonishment: Eloi, eloi, lama sabachthani (Hebrew) — 'My God, My God, to what end or purpose hast Thou forsaken Me?' Christ’s cry, 'Why have you forsaken me?' testified to the fact that He had here entered into spiritual death — separation from God as the sinner's Substitute. His physical death would soon follow as He fully tasted death for every man (Hebrews 2:9)." (Pentecost)

Elijah - "Some listeners made a poor guess as to what Christ was saying and mistook 'Eli' for 'Elijah.'" (Ryrie)

put it on a reed - "To raise it to His lips." (Ryrie)

Matthew 27:35-44

And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

divided his garments among them - "The victim's clothes were spoils for his executions." (Ryrie)

casting lots - prophesied in Psalm 22:18

kept watch - stood guard

over His head - "A board on which the crime of the condemned was written was generally carried before the criminal, who was led forth to the place of execution through the crowded streets. This custom was most likely followed with our Lord. Pilate himself had the superscription drawn up and it was written in three languages: Latin, Greek and the Aramaean dialect of Hebrew. The one here in Matthew was undoubtedly the Latin inscription, while the fullest, as reported by John 'Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews' was written in Arameaen and the one in Mark 'The King of the Jews' is the Greek inscription. Pilate could not help himself, he had to write as he did, though he may have had the thought in mind to avenge himself and to mock the Jews." (Gaebelein)

"To the soldiers, the charge would be considered insurrection.  His cross was in the traditional shape pictured in Christian art, with room over the crossbeam for this sign." (Ryrie)

two robbers - prophesied in Isaiah 53:12

wagging their heads - A Near Eastern gesture of scorn - prophesied in Psalm 22:7-8

You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days - "See Matthew 26:61, where this accusation was made at Jesus' trial.  Jesus' statement is recorded in John 2:19." (Ryrie)

let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him - "On the Jews requiring a miraculous sign to believe, see Matthew 12:38; 16:1." (Ryrie)

Matthew 27:27-34

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him. As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 

The scarlet robe, crown and reed (vs 28-29) were to mock His claims to be a king.

Praetorium (the word some translations use in vs 27, but probably better translated "governor's headquarters") - "Pilate's residence in Jerusalem.  This was probably in the Castle of Antonia, near the Temple, though it may have been located near Herod's palace." (Ryrie)

whole battalion - "One-tenth of a legion, about 300-600 men." (Ryrie)

struck Him on the head - As many were astonished at you—his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—(Isaiah 52:14).

to crucify him - "A painful and slow means of execution that the Romans adopted from the Phoenicians.  The victim usually died after two or three days.  The process of dying included thirst, exhaustion, exposure, and, finally asphyxiation.  The hands were often nailed to the crossbeam, which was then hoisted up and affixed to the up-right, to which the feet were then nailed.  A peg, astride which the victim sat, supported the main weight of the body.  Death was sometimes hastened by breaking the legs, but not in Christ's case (John 19:33)." (Ryrie)

Cyrene - A Roman province in North Africa, the capital of Cyrenaica; home to many Jews.

to carry his cross - "The crossbeam was carried to the place of execution usually by the victim, but Jesus was too weakened by the tortures that had already been inflicted on Him." (Ryrie)

Golgotha - "Aramaic for 'skull,' indicating either that the place of crucifixion looked like a skull or that it was a place of execution where skulls accumulated.  Its location is uncertain." (Ryrie)

It was probably about two-and-a-half hours from when Jesus first appeared before Pilate until He arrived at Golgotha (6:30 am to 9:00 am).

wine...mixed with gall - prophesied in Psalm 69:21 — given to prisoners as an anesthetic to reduce suffering. Jesus refused it.

Matthew 27:15-26

Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” And he said, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!” So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves.” And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.

Barabbas = son of Abba, son of the father - We know from Mark 15:7 and John 18:40 that Barabbas was a thief and a murderer who had been involved in a rebellion of some sort. A few manuscripts give him the name "Jesus Barabbas." It’s possible he had portrayed himself as the messiah.

envy - Pilate knew the priests were jealous of Jesus because of His popularity with the people, so he appealed to the people to have Him released. But the priests convinced the people to call for His crucifixion.

"Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" - "Pilate, hoping he could release Jesus, miscalculated the intensity of the Jewish leaders' campaign to have Jesus crucified." (Ryrie)

Although Pilate was, in a sense, a victim of circumstances because he knew his career would probably be over if he acted on his, and his wife’s, conviction he was also a coward who, in the end, not only gave Jesus over to die, but had him scourged (perhaps in a last-ditch effort to appease the crowd with a lesser punishment for Jesus than death).

And all the people answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!" - (See Acts 3:12-26 —And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all. “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

washed his hands before the crowd - "A Jewish custom, which when used legitimately (though not so in Pilate's case) was a symbol of absolution of an innocent man from implication in a wrongful death." (Ryrie)

this man's blood - "Pilate found no political or military threat to Rome in Christ, and this was his only concern." (Ryrie)

all the people - "I.e., all those present, which was only a fractional part of the nation. Some of the leaders opposed the Crucifixion (Luke 23:51). See also Luke 23:34; Acts 5:28; 1 Cor 2:8." (Ryrie)

scourged - "Better, flogged by means of a leather whip that had pieces of bone or metal imbedded in its thongs. It was used by the Romans only on murderers and traitors." (Ryrie)

Matthew 27:11-14

Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

Jesus' appearance before Pilate is also in Mark 15:1-2; Luke 23:1-5 and John 18:28-38.

"The other gospels, in their description of the trial before Pilate, include some details not given by Matthew. Pilate, after a preliminary hearing of the case and on learning that Jesus was of Galilee, as a friendly gesture, sent Him to Herod, who was in Jerusalem at the time. Herod, after encountering complete silence from Jesus, sent Him back to Pilate to be judge. Jesus had three Roman trials, first before Pilate, then before Herod, and then again before Pilate. Matthew, Mark and John combine the two trials before Pilate. According to Luke 23:1-2, the trial began with various accusations being leveled against Jesus, including that He perverted the nation, forbade to give tribute to Caesar and claimed that He was a king. It is at this point that Matthew begins his record because of the special interest in the gospel of Matthew in Jesus Christ as King." (Walvoord)

"The Roman governor had absolute legal authority to deal with noncitizens, such as Christ, and to prescribe the death penalty, without fear of having his authority challenged. Several observations may be made concerning Pilate and the legality of the trial of Christ. First, since Pilate was governor of Judea, and this was to be a capital offense, he was the proper person to conduct the trial of Christ. Second, he was quite correct in initially declining to hear the case, since the first charge was so vague (see John 18:30). Third he acted in accordance with Roman law when there was an indictment for treason leveled against Christ (Luke 23:1), and he questioned Christ privately concerning this matter, deciding He was innocent. At this point Pilate had the legal authority to release Christ, but he did not." (Pentecost)

Pilate was in a tough spot. He apparently found Jesus to be guiltless and wanted nothing to do with the trial. But he had been in repeated difficulties with the Jews because of rulings he had made in the past and his superiors in Rome weren’t happy with the state of unrest. If Pilate had acted on his inclination and foiled the plot of the Jews, things would have been upset again and he may well have been recalled to Rome. This doesn’t excuse his behavior, but it does help explain it.

Matthew 27:1-10

When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor. Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money.” So they took counsel and bought with them the potter's field as a burial place for strangers. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me.”

took counsel against - Also found in Mark 15:1; Luke 23:1 and John 18:28.

Pontius Pilate - The Roman procurator of Judea from A.D. 26-37 under the Prefect of Syria. He was based in Caesarea but was in Jerusalem at this time for the Passover festival in case of trouble.

"Pilate was the Roman prefect, or governor, of Judea (usually referred to as a procurator), to which position he was appointed by Tiberius in A.D. 26.  He was in charge of the army of occupation, kept the taxes flowing to Rome, had power of life and death over his subjects, appointed the high priests, and decided cases involving capital punishment.  He was a capricious, weak governor who let personal and political considerations out-weigh his awareness that justice was not being done in Jesus' case.  He did not want another report to get to Rome that he had offended Jewish customs or could not control a situation—charges against him made to Tiberius earlier...His headquarters were in Caesarea, the city Herod built on the Mediterranean in honor of Caesar Augustus.  He had a palace in Jerusalem and was in the city at Passover time, when crowds would be huge and trouble always possible." (Ryrie)

saw that Jesus was condemned - "Perhaps Judas had only wanted to force Jesus to do something to confound His enemies, not to get Himself condemned." (Ryrie)

changed his mind = regret, remorse - not the same as the usual one meaning "change of mind"

temple = sanctuary - the entrance to the holy place

The death of Judas (v 5) is also mentioned in Acts 1:18-19.

"'He burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out' was probably due to Judas's ineptness in trying to hang himself (See Acts 1:18-19)." (Ryrie)

potter's field - a piece of waste land from which the clay has been removed for use by a potter.

"A field where potters dug clay for making pottery vessels.  It may have been full of holes so as to make it easy to bury people there who had not family tombs." (Ryrie)

spoken by the prophet Jeremiah - "These words are found in Zech 11:12-13 with allusions to Jer 18:1-4; 19:1-3.  They are ascribed to Jeremiah since, in Jesus' day, the books of the prophets were headed by Jeremiah, not Isaiah as now, and the quotation is identified by the name of the first book of the group, rather than by the name of the specific book within the group  Similarly in Luke 24:44, 'Psalms' includes all the books known as the 'Writings,' because it is the first book of the group." (Ryrie)

"The words 'the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced' are to be understood as a parenthesis. A similar explanatory parenthesis, had the price been twenty pieces of silver instead of thirty, might have been thus interjected: 'And they took the twenty pieces of silver (the price of him whom his brethren sold into Egypt) and they gave them' etc; Or, the verse might read: 'They took the thirty pieces of silver (the price given in Israel for an injured servant' and they gave them,' etc.)" (Williams)

Matthew 26:1-75

What is the theme of this chapter?

The Passion of the King: the preparation, the Passover, the betrayal, and the hearing before the high priest.

What is the key verse(s) of this chapter? Verse 39

"And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.'"

What can I apply to my life from this chapter (things to do/avoid)?

Matthew 26:69-75

Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

This account also appears in Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:54-62; John 18:15-18, 25-27.

courtyard - in the palace courtyard. The trials before Annas and Caiaphas were in the buildings that surrounded it.

"The palace or court of the high priest no doubt was constructed in the usual way. A gated porch admitted to a central courtyard on one side of which was the palace of Annas, and on the other side the palace of Caiaphas. Opposite the porch a raised columned pavement formed an audience chamber. Here Christ would stand as a prisoner before the high priest, and thus Peter was enabled to see Him and He to see Peter (Luke 22:1)." (Williams)

your accent betrays you - his Galilean accent (Galilean pronunciation differed from Judean.)

invoke a curse...and to swear - "Peter began to call down a curse on himself if he were lying." (Ryrie)

Peter remembered - The Lord turned (from where He was on the balcony) and looked at Peter (Luke 22:61).

The Lord’s look was probably not one of judgment but of sadness and love. When He warned Peter of his denials, He told him:

"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers" (Luke 22:31-32).

Peter failed, but his faith did not. He sinned, but his salvation was never in question.

Matthew 26:56-68

But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled. Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’” And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?”

Matthew doesn’t give an account of everything that occurred. See also Mark 14, Luke 22 and John 18. Jesus was taken before Annas (John 18:12-14, 19-23) before He was taken before Caiaphas.

"The order of Jesus' trials was as follows: (1) the hearing before Annas (John 18:12-14, 19-23); (2) the trial before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:57-68; 27:1); (3) the first appearance before (Matthew 27:2, 11-14); (4) an appearance before Herod (Luke 23:6-12); (5) a second trial before Pilate (Matthew 27:15-16)." (Ryrie)

disciples left him and fled - fulfilling the Lord’s prophecy in Matthew 26:31.

many false witnesses - "To establish a charge, two witnesses were required under Jewish law, and their testimony had to be in agreement." (Ryrie)

I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days. - The false witnesses (v 61) misstated what Jesus had said almost three years earlier (John 2:19, 21).

"Jesus had said this about three years before (John 2:19), but speaking of His body, not the temple building." (Ryrie)

Jesus remained silent - See Isa 53:7.

I adjure you by the living God - Jesus refused to respond to the false and illegal testimony of the witnesses. Caiaphas than put Him under oath, and under oath, Christ responded.

"Being under oath, Jesus had to reply." (Ryrie)

You have said so - the legal way of saying "yes"

but I tell you - probably in response to Caiaphas’ unbelief

Jesus’ response (v 64) is from Psalm 110:1 and Daniel 7:13. His reference to "coming on the clouds of heaven" may be a reference to His ascension to heaven to the place of power (see Daniel 7:13) or to His return. Or perhaps both.

the high priest tore his robes - "By the laws of the Hebrew people it was illegal for the Sanhedrin to meet in the night to try a case such as this, but they arraigned Him in the night. It was illegal for the Sanhedrin to pass sentence on the day that the prisoner was arrested, but they did it in this case in a few hours. It was distinctly ordered (Leviticus 21:10) that the high priest shall not rend his garments in the hour of sorrow or anguish." (Morgan)

By the act of tearing his robe, Caiaphas was, in effect, ending the Levitical priesthood for all time.

they spit in his face - See. Isa 50:6.

Prophesy to us - "Having blindfolded Him, they suggest He name His taunters (Luke 22:64)." (Ryrie)

"The regular place for the meeting of the Sanhedrin was in the temple, but they led Jesus away to the house of the high priest Caiaphas, situated in a place just outside the present wall of the city, where all the chief priests and elders and scribes had been summoned to meet. Nor was the legal hour of meeting for trials in the night. Other features in the illegality practiced in the trials of Jesus were: undue haste, seeking or bribing witnesses, neglecting to warn the witnesses solemnly before they should give evidence, forcing the accused to testify against Himself, judicial use of the prisoner’s confession, and failure to release the prisoner when there was failure of agreement between witnesses. In such a case as this, it was required that witnesses be found who could support the accusations made against the accused. The Sanhedrin had been quickly called together to conduct this trial and had had no opportunity to prepare witnesses. Thus, though many false witnesses bore testimony, the testimony bore no weight for it was not supported by two witnesses (Mark 14:56)." (Pentecost)

Matthew 26:45-55

Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me.

This account is also found in Mark 14:43-50; Luke 22:47-53 and John 18:3-11.

There was probably an interval of time between verses 45-46.

a great crowd - Roman soldiers with swords, Jewish temple guards with staves and perhaps a crowd of onlookers. They were probably afraid of His power and of the reaction of the crowd who so recently had been following and worshiping Him.

"The arrest of Jesus was effected by the Sanhedrists through the temple police, accompanied by a part of the cohort of Roman soldiers from the tower of Antonia. This cohort of some five hundred soldiers was kept in the tower to quell any tumult among the people and act as an emergency police force. It is possible that these soldiers were granted the Sanhedrists by Pilate, in order to effect the arrest without a tumult among the people. The arrangement of this matter would account for the delay in the coming of Judas and the armed force to Gethsemane until after midnight. The temple police were under direct orders as servant-officers from the chief priests and Pharisees." (Pentecost)

Greetings, Rabbi! - 'Oh, the joy! Rabbi!' as if happy to see Him, perhaps hoping to hide the evil of what he was doing

kissed = the original uses the tense for 'kissed again and again' or 'kissed warmly and fervently'

friend = comrade or companion (Not the word the Lord used for the disciples in John 15, which indicated endearment.) Jesus knew Judas’ heart, but He may have been issuing a final appeal to Judas to believe.

one of those - Peter (John 18:10 — written after Peter was dead. This verse also reveals that the servant’s name was Malchus.)

sword - "The disciples had informed Him that they had two swords (Luke 22:36-38). These swords were the small ceremonial daggers with which the disciples had prepared the Passover lamb. Peter was one of the two who carried this small weapon. He drew it and then struck a blow to deliver Christ from the large band of soldiers. The Romans carried broad swords into battle. These swords were approximately a yard long and had a handle that could be grasped with two hands. The sword was raised high and brought down on the head of an adversary in order to crush that one’s skull. Peter evidently tried to use the small dagger as a large broad sword and attempted to crush the head of the nearest adversary but succeeded in only cutting off his right ear (John 18:10). Without doubt Peter expected to lay down his life for Christ’s sake that night." (Pentecost)

twelve legions - A Roman legion contained 6,000 soldiers, so, 72,000 angels.

"Christ meant simply a very large, not an exact, number.  A Roman legion varied in number from 3,000 to 6,000." (Ryrie)

Scriptures - During the last day before His death and the first day after His resurrection, Jesus quoted Scripture 30 times.

Matthew 26:36-44

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me;nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.

Gethsemane - "The name means 'oil press.'  It was a garden, doubtless containing olive trees, on the side of the Mount of Olives." (Ryrie)

two sons of Zebedee - "I.e., James and John." (Ryrie)

"Asking eight of the disciples to sit down, Jesus took Peter, James and John, and they went farther into the garden. These three, who seem to form the inner circle, had been with Him on the mount of transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9), had seen the girl raised at the house of Jairus (Matthew 9:18-25), and were apparently the three from whom Jesus could most expect sympathy and understanding in this hour." (Walvoord)

sorrowful and troubled - "Most probably it has come from one word that means 'away from home.' He began to be sorrowful and away from home. It means more than that, of course; but that is the root idea, that of desolating loneliness. He began to enter into that consciousness of His absolute isolation." (Morgan)

keep watch = keep watching, stay awake, be alert

Christ’s prayer in the garden to have the cup pass from Him while at the same time submitting totally to the Father’s will has to be one of the most difficult to comprehend passages of Scripture. It certainly displays His total humanity while demonstrating His complete unity with the Father in deity. I don’t think it’s possible for us get to the bottom of what it means, but here are three attempts.

"The cup was all the suffering involved in the sinless Son of God taking upon Himself the sin of mankind, including the necessary, though temporary, separation from God (Matt 27:26).  He naturally shrank from this, though He willingly submitted to it." (Ryrie)

"That a sinless Being should have any contact with sin (John 8:46); and further, should be loaded with sin (1 Peter 2:24); and, most dreadful of all, should be constituted sin (John 3:14 and 2 Corinthians 5:21), must have been unspeakable agony. Hebrews 5:&, and several of the Psalms, support the belief that the horror of being forsaken by God (Psalm 22:1) and cast into hell was so great that He could not, as a man, have endured it but for added angelic strength Luke 22:43-44; yet was there no antagonism between His independent will and the will of the Father." (Williams)

"Adam’s penalty for sin was death. This included both physical and spiritual death. Men are born into the world spiritually dead and therefore are subject to physical death. If Christ was to provide salvation for sinners, He had to partake of death on their behalf (Hebrews 2:9). When He went to the cross, He vicariously bore both aspects of death for sinners. He endured spiritual death on the cross, that is, the separation of His soul from the Father. The evidence that He bore spiritual death is seen in His cry, 'My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?' (Matthew 27:45). Christ also experienced physical death (Matthew 27:50); John 19:33). Thus we see that Christ died both spiritually and physically because H died as the sinners' substitute. The penalty that God had intended for sinners fell on God’s own Son. The penalty for sin is eternal separation from God. This eternal separation is called 'the second death' (Revelation 20:14). God would have been just if He had demanded that Christ, who tasted death for every man, be eternally separated from Himself. Christ prayed that God might accept His death as a full payment of the sin of sinners and bring Him out of death and restore Him to life again. Thus the prayer should be understood to be a prayer for restoration to physical life by resurrection, and a restoration to full fellowship with His Father out of the spiritual death into which He would enter. The evidence that God answered Christ's prayer is seen, first, in the fact that Christ was raised from the dead on the third day and given a glorified body. Second, it is seen in the fact that on the fortieth day He ascended to the Father to be seated at His right hand in glory. If it be objected that restoration to life and to fellowship or deliverance from physical and spiritual death meant that God exacted less of Christ in payment for sin that God would exact from the sinner, let it be noted that the life that Christ offered to the father was His own eternal king of life. Therefore Christ made an eternal offering for sins even though that offering was accomplished in a few moments of time. This explanation seems to meet the demands of Hebrews 5:7, which states that His prayer was answered. It did involve physical death, being made sin, being separated from the Father, and entering into the fullness of death, both physical and spiritual, for us. While we cannot comprehend all that was entailed, we can take note of the unquestioned and implicit obedience of the Son, who said three times to His Father, 'Not what I will, but what you will' (Mark 14:36). Because of this, Paul could say He 'became obedient to death — even death on a cross!'" (Pentecost)

What we can be sure of is that Christ was not asking to be excused from the cross. That would be counter to His entire ministry. But that He was dreading His exposure to sin and His separation from the Father takes nothing away from His willingness to endure it.

Matthew 26:30-35

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.

hymn - probably part of the Passover celebration, the Hallel — Psalms 113-118.

will all fall away - from the Greek word from which we get "scandal"

The quote in verse 31 is from Zechariah 13:7 in the Septuagint

"All the disciples would desert Him before the night was over (v 56), not Peter only.  (See Zech 13:7)." (Ryrie)

go before you = lead you forth, go at your head as a shepherd leads his sheep

"He was preparing them by giving them to know before they should be offended, that He knew they would be offended. Christ was always making it easy for these men to get back presently; and when He told them the worst that was in them, and they did not believe Him; though they all personally declared they would not be offended, He did not argue; but He left something in the heart, and mind, and memory, which, returning presently, would make it easier for them. It is a great thing to be able to say within one’s own soul, Well, my friend knew and warned me, I will go back to Him. Christ was telling them the worst, But not only the worst. Mark the next words well, words flashing with light, 'but after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.'" (Morgan)

Matthew 26:26-29

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.”

this is my body - "Since His body was there present saying these words, the bread was not changed into His body but represented the body in which He lived a sinless life and thus qualified Himself to be the bearer of our sins." (Ryrie)

"During the Passover feast the Jewish householder took bread in his hand and said, “This is the bread of affliction which our fathers ate in the land of Egypt,” meaning, of course, that the one represented the other. By His words the Lord changed the whole significance and emphasis of the feast from looking back to the typical redemption from Egypt to faith in the redemption from sin accomplished by His death. Three cups were passed around by the Jewish householder during the Passover meal; the third, which is probably that referred to here, being known as as 'the cup of blessing.' My blood of the new covenant, taken from the LXX of Exodus 24:8 with allusions to Jeremiah 31 and Zechariah 9:11. The covenant in Exodus 24:8 was sealed with blood." (KJV Bible Commentary)

"Bread and wine were significant part of the Passover meal. Bread was used throughout the Old Testament as a symbol of God’s provision for His people. Wine was used throughout the Old Testament as a symbol of the joy that would be the experience of those in Messiah’s kingdom. The lamb signified the sacrifice by which God would provide a covering for sin so as to receive men into His kingdom. These elements played a significant part in the Passover Feast. It came as no surprise to the disciples that Christ used bread in the observance of the meal and that He passed the cup from which all drank. But now Christ departed from the normal use of these elements at the Passover Feast. He gave a new significance to the bread and wine. He wanted them, whenever and wherever they ate bread, to be reminded of His body that soon was to be given as a sacrifice on their behalf. The emphasis in Christ’s statement was on the covenant — the covenant that necessitated the blood that was shed. By these two statements Christ revealed that through His death He would institute the new covenant that Jeremiah had promised. The institution of the new covenant would terminate the old Mosaic covenant under which God had dealt with His people previously. Whenever and wherever these men would drink from the cup, they were to be reminded that a new covenant based on Christ’s shed blood had been instituted and they were to eat and drink in remembrance of Him. Christ would not Himself drink of the cup while He was at His Father’s right hand. However, He did promise that the time would come when He would drink of the cup with them again in His Father’s kingdom. Thus there would be two memorials to Christ in the future millennial kingdom. From Ezekiel 46:13-25 we know that Israel will offer memorial sacrifices in the millennial temple as memorials of the death of Christ. We know that church saints should periodically memorialize the death of Christ by breaking bread and drinking from the cup because the apostle Paul was told by special revelation that Christ’s church should do this (1 Corinthians 11:17-34)." (Pentecost)

Cf., 1 Corinthians 11-12 - "This was a special revelation for these Gentiles in the flesh (1 Corinthians 12:2). It was not a continuation of the Passover feast; it was not 'delivered' to a congregation which was mainly Jewish; he 'delivered' these instructions from the glorified Lord to these saved Gentiles. Further, this is by no means an ordinance; it is a glad celebration. He himself had written with regard to the ordinances of Judaism: 'Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances [i.e., the law], that was against us; which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross' (Colossians 2:14).'Again he says in Ephesians 2:15: 'having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances ...' Ordinances in Scripture are consistently 'things ordained,' i.e., for acceptance with God. This is not so with the Lord’s supper. The apostle [Paul] does not even command his readers to observe it. Rather all is left to grace as he naturally assumes that those so gloriously redeemed will want to celebrate the great sacrifice of their Redeemer." (Stam)

until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom - "The disciples' attention is directed toward their eventual reunion in the future millennial kingdom with its joy and fellowship." (Ryrie)

Matthew 26:14-25

Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him. 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?” 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.’” And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover. When it was evening, he reclined at the table with the twelve. And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I,Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”

The account of the meal also appears in Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22:7-13; John 13:1-29.

Thirty pieces of silver - about a month’s wages - Prophesied in Zechariah 11:12. - The price one had to pay for killing or making useless another’s slave (Exodus 21:32).

"The coin is unidentified.  If it was a denarius, this sum represented approximately five weeks' wages.  It could have amounted to much more." (Ryrie)

"In keeping with the previous decision (Matthew 26:5), Judas sought an opportunity to betray Christ secretly so as not to start a riot. Judas’ unexpected offer changed the timetable arranged by the Sanhedrin. They had thought it necessary to plan the death of Christ after the Passover. If it had not been for Judas’ offer, the arrest of Jesus in all likelihood would have been postponed. But now that an accuser had presented himself, the Sanhedrin moved with haste. Judas offered to do more than merely identify Him. Identification would have been unnecessary, for all the Sanhedrin were very familiar with Christ; all had seen and heard Him many times. Judas agreed to fulfill a point of Roman law, a necessary requirement if the Sanhedrin was to proceed with their plot to execute Christ. A person could not be brought to trial before a Roman court until an indictment had been officially lodged against him, charging him with a crime. This indictment had to be signed by witnesses who, by signing the indictment, agreed to appear in order to give testimony for the prosecution against the accused. Thus Judas offered himself as a witness against Christ. He agreed to go before the Roman courts when Christ was brought to trial on a yet undetermined charge." (Pentecost)

first day of Unleavened Bread - the 14th of Nisan, beginning at sundown on the 13th

"The day referred to, the 14th of the month Abib or Nisan (Exodus 12:6), was only in a loose and popular sense the first day of the festival. It was strictly the preparation day, when all arrangements had to be completed for the commencement of the festivities, immediately after sunset. As however these arrangements were, so to speak, the inception of the festivities, the day was sometimes, as here, spoken of as the first day of the festival. Hence in Josephus’ Antiquities, we read, 'we keep a feast for eight days, which is called the feast of the unleavened,' while in the same Antiquities, he says, 'the feast of the unleavened falls on the fifteenth day of the month, and continues seven days.'" (Pentecost)

"On Thursday morning Peter and John, according to the custom, would go to the Temple and provide for the lamb, which they must purchase and take to the priests who had to pass upon it. Early in the afternoon the lamb would be killed in the Temple court, offered at the altar, and, after the blood was poured out at the altar and a certain part of the Lamb was reserved for the sacrifice, the rest would be wrapped in the skin and taken home. Before sunset, the carcass would be roasted in barbecue fashion and made ready for the meal at the blasts of the trumpet just at sunset. The apostles must provide also for the wine, unleavened cakes, bitter herbs, and the charosheth or paste of crushed fruits moistened with vinegar — symbolic of the clay with which the Israelites made brick in Egypt." (Pentecost)

betray - The same word in the original is translated "deliver" in verse 15

"The dipping of a piece of bread was a significant part of the Passover ritual. In the course of the paschal meal, the master of the feast would pick up some unleavened bread, which was a flat cake. He would put bits of lamb on the piece of bread, sprinkle some bitter herbs on it, and then roll it. Then he would dip the bread containing the meat and herbs into a bitter sauce. This bread would then be handed to a guest. The ritual would be repeated until a piece of bread had been provided for each guest. In preparing the bread with the meat and herbs dipped in sauce, the master of the feast was reminding the participants of God’s promise to provide salvation. In receiving the piece of bread, each participant acknowledged his sin. Each also reaffirmed his faith in God’s promise that He would send a Messiah to take away sin by the sacrifice of Himself, and each professed his willingness to receive the salvation which Messiah would offer. Since the giving of the bread was in effect an offer of salvation, Christ was offering forgiveness to Judas if he would accept the offered salvation and put his faith in Him. Judas took the bread, but there is no record that he ate it as sign of his acceptance of the Messiah’s offer of salvation. Rather, it seems that the moment he took the bread 'Satan entered into him' (John 13:27). Judas left the bread untouched and went out from the Lord’s presence. He rejected the gracious offer of salvation." (Pentecost)

Judas probably asked (v 25) because the other apostles asked and would have noticed his silence. He was probably seated to the immediate left of Christ.

Rabbi - Judas, alone, didn’t call Christ "Lord."

You have said so - an emphatic "Yes!"

Matthew 26:6-13

Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

This account is also found in Mark 14:3-9 and John 12:1-8. John says it took place six days before Passover, so therefore, in Matthew, it is given in topical order and not chronological order.

Simon the leper - "Nothing more of him is known.  Perhaps Christ had healed him." (Ryrie)

Most commentaries think he was probably the father of Lazarus, Martha and Mary, but the Bible doesn’t say.

very expensive ointment - "Mark says it was worth 300 denarii (Mark 14:5), or approximately a year's salary for a rural worker." (Ryrie)

"It was common to anoint the heads of the Rabbis who attended marriage feasts, with fragrant oil, and special guests were sometimes similarly honored. Jesus Himself, at an earlier date [Luke 7:36-50], had had even His feet anointed by a grateful penitent, who had, besides, washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair, flowing loose, in self-forgetfulness. But now, Mary outdid all former honor paid Him. The costliest anointing oil of antiquity was the pure spikenard, drawn from an Indian plant, and exposed in flasks of alabaster for sale throughout the Roman Empire, where it fetched a price that put it beyond any but the wealthy. On this Mary had bought a flask, containing about twelve ounces weight, and now, coming behind the guests as they reclined, opened the seal, and poured some of the perfume, first on the head and then on the feet of Jesus, drying them, presently, with the hair of her head, like her predecessor." (Pentecost)

disciples - apparently led by Judas (John 12:4)

you always have the poor with you - "This should  not be understood callously.  Christ says, in effect, that there will be other opportunities to do good to the poor, but not another opportunity do what had just been done to Him." (Ryrie)

The Lord’s words about the poor in verse 11 don’t mean that helping the poor isn’t important, but that there are things that are more important — like the salvation of rich and poor alike that would be available because of His death and resurrection.

she has done it to prepare me for burial - "Though the disciples ignored  Christ's many predictions of His approaching death, apparently this woman believed them (Matt 16:21; 17:22; 20:18).  John identifies her as Mary (John 12:3)." (Ryrie)

Mary, probably because she was more content to sit and listen, understood more about the Lord’s coming death of which He repeatedly spoke than any of the other disciples. Because of the resurrection of her brother, Lazarus, she may have also understood that Jesus Christ would also rise from the dead. It was due to this understanding that she anointed the Lord (v 12).

Matthew 26:1-5

When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.” Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.”

The events of these five verses occurred on Tuesday of the last week. (Matthew 21:23-26:5 all takes place on that day.)

This (v 2) was the Lord’s fourth prediction of His death. The account also is covered in Mark 14:1 and Luke 22:1.

after two days - "two days from now.  The events recorded in Matthew 26:1-5 occurred on Wednessday." (Ryrie)

Passover - "This was the ancient Jewish festival commemorating the deliverance from Egypt.  It was followed immediately by the seven days' Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the entire festival was often called 'Passover.'  Passover serves as a beautiful illustration of the redemption Christ accomplished at Calvary (Ex 12:11; John 1:29; 1 Cor 5:7). (1) The offering was to be without blemish (Ex 12:5; 1 Peter 1:19). (2) The lamb had to be killed (Ex 12:6; John 12:24, 27). (3) The blood had to be applied (Ex 12:7; Heb 9:22)." (Ryrie)

palace - The courtyard of the high priest’s residence

Caiaphas - A Sadducee, high priest AD 18-36.

The rulers wanted Christ dead at anytime except during the feast (Passover and the seven-day feast of Unleavened Bread that followed), but God’s plan, which in fact took place exactly as He wanted, was for Christ to die the moment the Passover lamb was slain in the temple.

"Christ’s scathing denunciation of the Pharisees (Matthew 23:1-36) stirred that group into a frenzy of activity. The hostility between Christ and the Pharisees became so open and irreversible that action could not be delayed. While He was delivering His Olivet discourse to the disciples, the chief priests and elders of the people withdrew into a secret session in the house of the high priest. This assemblage was under the direction of Caiaphas, the one who had counseled the Jews that 'it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish' (John 11:50). The High Priest was, in virtue of his office, President of the Sanhedrin, and at that crisis the High Priest was Joseph Caiaphas, a remarkable man and allied with a remarkable family. He was son-in-law to old Annas, who not only has held the high priesthood from AD 6 to 15 but enjoyed this unique distinction, that after his deposition by the governor Valerius Gratus his four sons and his son-in-law held the sacred office. Such good fortune, remarks the historian, 'has fallen to the lot of no other of our High Priests.' Yet it was in no wise to the credit of Annas and his family. In those days the high-priesthood was at the disposal of the Roman governors and the Herodian princes, and went commonly to the highest bidder; and the prolonged ascendancy of the house of Annas is an evidence no less of their corruption than of their astuteness." (Pentecost)