Gospel of Matthew Matthew 26:17-35

Transcription

1 Gospel of Matthew Matthew 26:17-35 The Last Supper This is commonly referred to as Christ s last supper with His disciples. This supper was a remembrance of the Jewish Passover and it became the institution of the Lord s Supper or Communion for Christians. This meal was a significant time of fellowship and instruction. Parallel accounts are found in Mark 14, Luke 22, and John The preparation for the Passover meal (vs ) A. The time and place of the Passover meal The Passover lambs were killed on 14 Nisan (March/April), and that evening the meal was eaten. The Feast of Unleavened Bread followed Passover from Nisan. This entire time was referred to either as Passover or the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The disciples were well aware of the custom and they asked Jesus where to prepare the commemorative meal. He told them to go into Jerusalem to a certain man who was carrying a pitcher of water, something normally done by women (Mk. 14:13; Lk. 22:10). He was previously unknown to the disciples and probably was a servant in this home with a large upper room furnished and prepared (Mk. 14:15). The disciples were to relay the message that Christ s time was at hand, that is God s appointed time for his death was very near. This reveals Christ s sovereign control of all the details of His own crucifixion, as John MacArthur states: Jesus Himself knew the length of His earthly life was determined by God s sovereign timetable and that the time of His death could not be altered or thwarted (Strength for Today). B. The purpose of the Passover meal This was a yearly remembrance of God s powerful rescue of Israel from their bondage in Egypt (Ex. 12). At that time every Jewish family killed a lamb and applied the blood on the sides and above the doorway into their home. The family then roasted the lamb and ate the meal together. That night God sent judgment upon all the homes of Egypt, killing the firstborn in every Egyptian family. But when God saw the blood upon the Jewish homes He passed over and spared them, thus the event came to be known as Passover. 2. The announcement during the Passover meal (vs ) As Jesus sat (reclined) at the table for supper He made the shocking announcement that one of the twelve disciples would betray Him. A. The disciples reaction All of them asked, Is it I? Their question indicated that Judas had fooled them all. None of them suggested that Judas would betray Him. He had been an effective hypocrite. Their question implies that Jesus treated Judas like all the rest, so there was no reason to suspect him. Spurgeon comments: We cannot do any good by suspecting our brethren; but we may do great service by suspecting ourselves. Self-suspicion is near akin to humility (The Gospel of the Kingdom, 234).

2 B. The Lord s revelation Jesus once again revealed that one of the disciples who ate the meal with Him would betray Him. He further revealed that Judas betrayal was predicted in Scripture, but Judas was still responsible for his evil action. This event involves divine sovereignty and human responsibility. Christ s statement in verse 24 confirms that Judas was a fake disciple on his way to eternal punishment in hell. Jesus further confirmed Judas betrayal in verse 25. Spurgeon states: The doom of Judas is worse than non-existence. To have consorted with Christ as he had done, and then to deliver him into the hands of his enemies, sealed the traitor s eternal destiny (The Gospel of the Kingdom, 234). 3. The institution of the Lord s Supper (vs ) While Jesus and the disciples were eating the Passover meal He gave them a new and rich demonstration of the significance of His impending death. This would be a new memorial supper for all His disciples in the future. This is Spurgeon s eloquent description: The Jewish Passover was made to melt into the Lord s supper, as the stars of the morning dissolve into the light of the sun (The Gospel of the Kingdom, 235). A. The Lord s Supper replaced the Passover meal As the old Passover meal was being observed the new supper was introduced. This change signified the change from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. Covenants between God and man were ratified with a blood sacrifice. The blood of the New Covenant was not animal s blood, but Christ s own blood shed for the remission of sins (Heb. 10:11-22). B. The Lord s Supper is only for genuine disciples Judas was dismissed from the group before Christ shared this new supper (Jn. 13:27-30). C. The Lord s Supper is a Christ-centered memorial The bread represents His body and the cup of juice represents His blood given as a sacrifice for our sins. This supper is done in remembrance of Him (1 Cor. 11:23-25). Larry Richards comments: The Lord s Supper is a unique, holy occasion for the gathered church to sense the participation of every member with Jesus in His death. In the Lord s Supper we are present at the Cross and testify to it (Bible Reader s Companion, 767). D. The Lord s Supper is a time of anticipation The supper looks back at Christ s death and it looks forward to the time of Christ s return and earthly kingdom (Lk. 22:30; 1 Cor. 11:26). E. The Lord s Supper is a time of joy and celebration The Lord and His disciples concluded supper in the upper room by singing a hymn before they went to the Mount of Olives. Traditional Passover songs were Psalms On this occasion they probably sang Psalm 118. Like the disciples, we should celebrate the Lord s Supper with joy in our hearts.

3 F. The Lord s Supper is a time for self-examination Every participant should examine himself before partaking of the supper (1 Cor. 11:27-31). G. The Lord s Supper is known by other terms The supper is also called Communion (1 Cor. 10:16) and the Holy Eucharist (Greek, eucharisteo, give thanks, 1 Cor. 11:24). 4. The prediction after the Lord s Supper (vs ) A. Jesus predicted the disciples spiritual failure and scattering The word offended is the same word was used in Matthew 24:10 to describe the spiritual apostasy of the last days. Here Jesus spoke of something less than final apostasy. In a time of fear they would disown Christ, but this was not a total or final rejection. The scattering of the disciples fulfilled Zechariah 13:7. B. Jesus predicted His resurrection and appearance in Galilee C. Jesus predicted Peter s repeated denial In spite of Peter s self-confident boasting, he would deny Christ three times that night. Consider Spurgeon s analysis: This was a very presumptuous speech, not only because of the self-confidence it betrayed, but also because it was a flat contradiction of the Master s declaration. No doubt these words were spoken from his heart; but the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9). Peter must have been amazed, the next morning, as he discovered the deceitfulness and wickedness of his own heart, as manifested in his triple denial of his Lord. He who thinks himself so much stronger than his brethren, is the very man who will prove to be weaker than any of them, as did Peter, not many hours after his boast was uttered (The Gospel of the Kingdom, 236).

4 Gospel of Matthew Matthew 26:17-35 The Last Supper This is commonly referred to as Christ s last supper with His disciples. This supper was a remembrance of the Jewish Passover and it became the institution of the Lord s Supper or Communion for Christians. This meal was a significant time of fellowship and instruction. Parallel accounts are found in Mark 14, Luke 22, and John for the Passover meal (vs ) A. of the Passover meal The disciples were well aware of the custom and they asked Jesus where to prepare the commemorative meal. He told them to go into Jerusalem to a certain man who was carrying a pitcher of water, something normally done by women (Mk. 14:13; Lk. 22:10). The disciples were to relay the message that Christ s time was at hand, that is God s appointed time for his death was very near. This reveals Christ s sovereign control of all the details of His own crucifixion. B. of the Passover meal This was a yearly remembrance of God s powerful rescue of Israel from their bondage in Egypt (Ex. 12). 2. during the Passover meal (vs ) A. The All of them asked, Is it I? Spurgeon comments: We cannot do any good by suspecting our brethren; but we may do great service by suspecting ourselves. Self-suspicion is near akin to humility (The Gospel of the Kingdom, 234). B. The Spurgeon states: The doom of Judas is worse than non-existence. To have consorted with Christ as he had done, and then to deliver him into the hands of his enemies, sealed the traitor s eternal destiny (The Gospel of the Kingdom, 234). 3. of the Lord s Supper (vs ) This is Spurgeon s eloquent description: The Jewish Passover was made to melt into the Lord s supper, as the stars of the morning dissolve into the light of the sun (The Gospel of the Kingdom, 235). A. The Lord s Supper The blood of the New Covenant was not animal s blood, but Christ s own blood shed for the remission of sins (Heb. 10:11-22).

5 B. The Lord s Supper is Judas was dismissed from the group before Christ shared this new supper (Jn. 13:27-30). C. The Lord s Supper is The bread represents His body and the cup of juice represents His blood given as a sacrifice for our sins. This supper is done in remembrance of Him (1 Cor. 11:23-25). D. The Lord s Supper is The supper looks back at Christ s death and it looks forward to the time of Christ s return and earthly kingdom (Lk. 22:30; 1 Cor. 11:26). E. The Lord s Supper is The Lord and His disciples concluded supper in the upper room by singing a hymn before they went to the Mount of Olives. F. The Lord s Supper is Every participant should examine himself before partaking of the supper (1 Cor. 11:27-31). G. The Lord s Supper is The supper is also called Communion (1 Cor. 10:16) and the Holy Eucharist (Greek, eucharisteo, give thanks, 1 Cor. 11:24). 4. after the Lord s Supper (vs ) A. Jesus predicted the disciples The word offended is the same word was used in Matthew 24:10 to describe the spiritual apostasy of the last days. Here Jesus spoke of something less than final apostasy. In a time of fear they would disown Christ, but this was not a total or final rejection. The scattering of the disciples fulfilled Zechariah 13:7. B. Jesus predicted His C. Jesus predicted Peter s Consider Spurgeon s analysis: This was a very presumptuous speech, not only because of the self-confidence it betrayed, but also because it was a flat contradiction of the Master s declaration. No doubt these words were spoken from his heart; but the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9). Peter must have been amazed, the next morning, as he discovered the deceitfulness and wickedness of his own heart, as manifested in his triple denial of his Lord. He who thinks himself so much stronger than his brethren, is the very man who will prove to be weaker than any of them, as did Peter, not many hours after his boast was uttered (The Gospel of the Kingdom, 236).