Calvary Bible College 1100 Caprice Drive Castle Rock Colorado 80109 Tel: 303.663.2514 Web: www.ccbccastlerock.org NT351 Matthew Part 2: In the Field, In the Classroom with Jesus, Chapters 16-28 Spring 2015 Class #10- Chapter 26 Chapter 26: 1-45 At Bethany 1-16 1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all (all His formal teachings, but not His instructions) these sayings, that He said to His disciples, Morris: Matthew moves from the lengthy discourse he has just recounted to the passion narrative with a short transitional section. We have here his unusual and it came to pass, It is Matthew s way of marking the passing from a major discourse to the narrative that follows; coupled with when Jesus had finished all these sayings. Matthew notes the completion of all these sayings, which will refer to chapters 23 25. Morris: The word all is probably significant; it does not occur in any of the previous occurrences of the formula at the close of a discourse. But this is not only the close of one discourse; it is the close of Jesus recorded teaching. Verses 2-3 are not in Chronological order but in purpose order, because vs. 6-13 occur according to John 12:1 says that the anointing for burial was 6 days before the Passover. 2 "You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up or handed over to be crucified." - Remember His words about who is in control of His Crucifixion: John 10:18: No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power or authority to lay it down, and I have power or authority to take it again. This command I have received from My Father. - Thursday afternoon the lamb would be slain - Who delivered Him up? see Acts 3:13, see Gal. 2:20, see Rom. 8:32 - Son of Man: His favorite title for Himself. The Son of Man is here both glorious and suffering: as often, the themes of suffering before glory merge. So what are the those who would have Jesus delivered to them plotting at this time?.. 3 Then (while He was telling them v.2) the chief priests (former high priests), the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, 4 and plotted to take Jesus by trickery or in a crafty manner and kill Him. 5 But they said, "Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people." - To send a posse to arrest Jesus openly, during light was out of the question. The Sanhedrin agreed that there must not be a tumult among the people. - Who is in control? Jesus or the Jewish leadership? Compare v. 2 with verse 3. 1
- Vs. 2-3 are placed before the burial anointing to show how things have come to pass from the from mind and planning of Christ. Remember He is laying down His life they are not taking it! - Verse 2 is connected with vs. 3-5 and are in one accord yet different. - How are they in accord and how are they different? They would take Him, but not according to their time table after the feast but according to His: during the feast, before Passover. - They agree on His death, but not on the timing. Then we will see the actions of two representatives of their respective Kingdoms towards The King Himself. Ultimately all are in line with one or the other.. One an instrument of Mercy and Grace received and the other an instrument of sin and betrayal..6 And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper (six days before the Passover, John 12:1), 7 a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. 8 But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, "Why this waste? 9 For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor." - The leader of this chorus according to John was Judas. We read in John 12:4-6 4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon s son, who would betray Him, said, 5 Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor? 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. John spoke looking back thru the Spirit, saw thru Judas intent and writes it down. But Matthew reflects how all of the men were caught up in sympathy with Judas. All though will receive correction, illumination from Jesus. All but one that is.. 10 But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. 11 For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. 12 For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial (a sad word). 13 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel (a joyous word) is preached (in the future) in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her." And Judas driven by greed (He was not yet filled with the Devil) went to strike his bargain 14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?" And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. And what is the one who will deliver Him up to the Jewish leadership planning to do? Will he abide by their instructions to not precipitate things until after the feast, when the crowds are gone?....16 So from that time (not after the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened bread) he sought opportunity to betray Him. - Who is in control? No man takes my life, but I lay it down - Jesus compelled Judas to act at once but not according to the Jewish leaderships timing. We read this in John 13:27: Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, What you do, do quickly. Do not follow their timetable, do it now according to mine! In the mean time even though Judas was instructed to act quickly Jesus was still going to keep this feast, this Passover with His Disciples.. He has more instruction to give and the timing and plans of men will not interrupt it. 2
- Peter correctly summarizes these two forces, the lesser force and greater force coming against each other in Acts 2:23-24 23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. - We see light and darkness working in a strange concert. We see sinless God and sin working having one goal. - We recall the prophetic (to this situation) words of Joseph in Gen. 50:20: But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Next we have the transition from the Old to the New.. In the Upper Room 17-30 The Old 17 Now on the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?" 18 And 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 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover. 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." The New.. 26 And as while they were eating (The Passover, v. 17), 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 (see Heb. 8:8, see 9:14-15), 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." But you will eat and drink until I come again see 1Cor. 11:26 - He took of the old, held it as if He was fulfilling it (which He soon did) and gave the bread and cup to them, not as elements of the old but of the new, for the first time. - This bread this cup went from the bread and cup of hope to the bread and cup of certainty. That certainty is reflected in the words: This do in remembrance of me. But the Redemption process would not be complete until His second coming. So He adds this do in remembrance until I come. 30 And when they had sung a hymn (probably from Ps. 113-118, The Hallel, meaning praise ), they went out to the Mount of Olives.To Gethsemane 31-56 Vs. 31-35 Now on the outside preparing His disciples for what will happen that night 31 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this very night, for it is written: 'I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' (from Zech. 13:7,) - all to scattering, but Peter will deny him before he scatters - Yet Jesus words for it is written show that the disciples defection, though tragic and irresponsible, does not fall outside God s sovereign plan. 3
32 But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee." - Carson: The prediction that the shepherd will be stricken and the sheep scattered might suggest, apart from any further word, that the disciples would return disconsolate to their homes in Galilee, leaving Jesus behind in a grave in hostile Judea. But this new word (v. 32) promises that after Jesus has risen, He will arrive in Galilee before they get there: He will go ahead of [them]. 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." - Peter you are within hours of denying me three times. I know the number, I know the timing. 35 Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And so said all the disciples. - Carson: On the one hand, he has learned more about Jesus than he knew at Caesarea Philippi (16:21 28); and as a result he is able to accept the idea of suffering for both Jesus and himself. On the other hand, his notion of suffering is bound up with the heroism of men like the Maccabean martyrs, not with voluntary sacrifice. He is prepared for suffering but is not yet ready for what he thinks of as defeat. Vs. 36-44 Alone in the Gethsemane (Enclosed place, Olive Press) 11 + 1 with Him. 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." 3 + 1 with Him.. 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful ( away from home ) and deeply (surging, welling up) distressed (only here in the Garden and see Phil. 2:26). 38 Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly (surging even more) sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me (stay awake with me)." - He was not unwilling to be sorrowful and deeply distressed in front of them. But they were unable to do so and escaped thru the sleep of depression. - Carson: We must ask why this Jesus who has for so long calmly faced the prospect of death (16:21; 17:22 23; 20:17 19; 26:12) should now seem to be less courageous than the Maccabean martyrs or the many thousands of his disciples who have faced martyrdom with great courage. The anguish in Gethsemane is not lightly to be passed over: three times Jesus prayed in deep emotional distress. The answer is found even in this first Gospel. This passage must be interpreted in light of 1:21 and 20:28, on the one hand, and, on the other, in light of the reader s recognition that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, God with us, whose sacrificial death inaugurates the new covenant (26:26 30) and redeems his people from their sins. then +1 with Him. 39 He went a little farther (more alone) and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father (the +1), if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." Mark reads: 14:36 And He said, Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will. - Luke reads here: 22: 43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. - Carson: The two passages (Mark 14:36 and Matt 26:39) complement each other: all things are possible with God, and so, if it be morally consistent with the Father s redeeming purpose that this cup 4
(Matthew) or hour (Mark) be taken from Jesus, that is what he deeply desires. But more deeply still, Jesus desires to do his Father s will. If love and light can meet and accomplished redemption without this hour or this cup than so be it, but not my will but your will, your plan let it be carried out. - Jesus went to his death knowing that it was his Father s will that He face death completely alone (27:46) as the sacrificial, sins- wrath- bearing- Passover Lamb. As his death was unique, so also is his anguish; and our best response to it is hushed worship from a distance. - Was the cross Jesus big concern here? Was bearing eternal punishment in our place Jesus big concern here? Was He suddenly unwilling, as the hour, the cup approached to bear it all knowing the descriptions of His death from Ps. 22 and Is. 53? Did He suddenly lose faith in the predicted resurrection? Perhaps He thought, His resurrection would not occur, because this cup is too ugly, too deep, too dark? - No His was eternal separation anxiety! What does death mean? What death is this? Contrast with see Mt. 27:46 with see Heb. 2:9. 40 Then He came to the disciples and found them asleep, 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." - Peter is singled out. He is awake now and Jesus warns him to watch and pray. He knows the failure that is Peter s, that is coming within hours, the temptation to deny Him will come shortly. - One wonders if Peter ever referred to this time or even the lessons of this time in his writings. Perhaps he did, see 1Peter 5:6-11 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." - These second & third prayers indicates that the first prayer was desiring the Father s will, more than a request to be relieved of this cup. He is more resolved to drink this cup in the second and third prayers. 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 perhaps He stood over them, watching them, letting them rest until the last minute. Then he saw the torches coming His way...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. 5