Matthew 26

 

The Plot to Kill Jesus

Verses 1-13

 

We now come to the closing events of Christ’s earthly ministry. We have just read about Christ’s second coming to earth and now we are going to read about his death. This is a portion of Scripture which ought to be read with reverence and peculiar attention, not because this part of Scripture is more important than the rest of Scripture but due to the fact that Christ’s death is the fundamental event upon which the Christian faith depends. Here we see how the seed of the woman bruised the serpent’s head, spoken of in Genesis. Here we see the Old Testament sacrifice to which all the Old Testament sacrifices pointed to. Here we see how by the shedding of blood sinners have their sins removed. Here we see how the unjust are made just in the sight of God. Here we see the sinless Lamb of God suffering for sinners upon a Roman Cross. Here we see the great redemption mystery of the cross.

 

Let us first mark in our mind the careful attention of the disciples to Christ’s death. Note what our Lord said, “ye know that after two days is the feast of the Passover, and the Son of Man is betrayed to be crucified.” Our Lord had just been dealing, talking, and teaching about his second coming in power and glory at the end of the age. Then at once without pause, Christ goes on to speak of His crucifixion.

 

He reminds them that He must die as a sin-offering, that He must make propitiation for sin on the cross before He takes the crown of heavenly glory. We can never attach too much importance to the cross of Christ Jesus, the righteous. It is the leading fact in the Word of God on which our salvation and soul depend upon. Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin. Without this the Gospel is like a building without a foundation, soon the building will collapse into a heap of useless rubble.

 

Let us delight in the hope of Christ’s shed blood on the cross. Let us return daily to this truth and hope, for on this our soul is fed. Let us never be ashamed to say that we belong to Christ and love to call Him our Lord and Saviour.

 

The second thing we need to observe here is the honour Christ loves to put on those who honour Him. We are told that when He “was in the house of Simon the leper,” a woman came and sat at the table and poured a box of precious ointment on the head of Christ. She did this as an act of worship and affection. She had received soul-benefit from Him. This deed caused disapproval from those who saw it. They called it a waste and saw better use for the ointment. They thought that the ointment should have been sold and the money given to the poor. At once Christ rebuked these cold-hearted fault finders. He tells them that the woman did a good work, and it was not in vain such as was being suggested. Christ accepted and approved of her reverence and love. Christ goes on to say that whenever this gospel is preached the world will know about this woman as a memorial to her. Remember, that our good deeds and acts of faith and love may one day be used as a witness just like the woman we read about here. The books and testimonies of men and women long ago serve not only as a memorial to the lives they led, but serve as a reminder of the greatness of God in the lives of His people.

 

Lastly, let’s turn our attention to the blessed foretaste of things that are yet to take place in the day of judgment. In that day we will find all our worship, service and labour will not be in vain. We are reminded that even the littlest thing done for Christ will be remembered by God. Not a single word or deed will be forgotten. If we love Christ, confess Him and work for Him, it shall be known by the Father.

 

Let us consider these questions before God. Do you know what it is to work for Christ? Do we seek daily to bring honour to God? Are we living in such a way that we do not grieve the Holy Spirit? We may be mocked and rejected by the world. We may even suffer harm, but still, we serve Christ. Our motives may be misunderstood, and our conduct misrepresented, and effects called a waste of time, a waste of money, a waste of strength. May none of these things cause us to doubt our faith and calling. Let us be steadfast, unmovable, and always abounding in good works and faith, all for the glory of God.

 

Judas betrays Christ

Verses 14-25

 

We read in these verses the betrayal of Christ by Judas. It was by the hand of Judas that Christ was given into the hands of his enemies. That false Apostle gave up Christ for thirty pieces of silver. This is about $260 USD or £210 GBP in today’s value according to some sources. Other sources state that thirty pieces of sliver was the price of a slave or a common ox.

 

There are few pages in history that describe the character and conduct of Judas Iscariot. This passage of Scripture shows the wickedness of man at its worst. Judas was prepared to have Christ mocked, put on trial, and later crucified for a small amount of money. He was willing to hand over the Son of God to be brutally killed, all for the sake of money.

 

Let us learn from these verses that a man may enjoy great privileges and make a great profession of faith and yet his heart be not right before God. Judas had the highest possible privileges. He had the Lord Jesus Christ as his teacher and example. He saw the miracles of Christ. He heard Christ preach and saw things that Abraham and Moses never did. He heard things that David and all the prophets of the Old Testament never did. He had Christ as a witness, yet he held on to one sin that cost him greatly.

 

Just like the other Apostles Judas appeared to believe and give up all for the sake of Christ. None suspected him of anything other than faithfulness to Christ. When our Lord said, “One of you shall betray me” no one said, “Is it Judas?” The story of Judas and his betrayal is intended to be a reminder to the Church of Christ to search our hearts to see if there is any wicked way in us. Let us by the grace of God be convicted and convinced in our heart that there be no evil way in us and that we truly belong to Christ.

 

The second point that demands our attention is the great damage and danger of money. There is no clearer example in Scripture of the fact than the one that is before us here. Paul writes in 2 Timothy 6:10, “the love of money is the root of all evil” meaning that the love of money is at the heart of all kinds of evil, it is that love for money which destroys a man. Scripture has many examples of money being at the centre of evil acts. Joseph was sold into slavery for money. Samson was betrayed to the Philistines for money. Ananias and Sapphira tried to deceive Peter for money. So, let us be on guard against the love of money. We can love money without having it, just like we cannot love money with having it. Be on guard that we are not carried away in this evil, for before we are aware we will be in our bonds and chains.

 

It took just one leak to sink that once thought unsinkable ship Titanic. It will take just one unmortified sin to cause doubt. It does not take much to ruin a soul. We ought to call to mind the solemn words, “what shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” The evil one will tempt you with all sorts of worldly pleasures and pursuits. The great destroyer of souls will offer you anything, except the one thing your soul needs, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We carry nothing into this world, and it is certain that we will carry nothing out. May our prayer be that the Lord will use us greatly for the benefit of the church and the nation in the short time we reside on earth. Our constant aim ought to be this, to be a blessing to the Church of Christ and to the nation in which we dwell. A faithful Christian is one who puts Christ first.

 

Let us also learn from these verses the hopeless condition of those who are without Christ. Jesus said of Judas, “It had been good for that man if he had not been born.” It is better to have never lived than to live without faith and to die without grace. To die in this state is to be ruined forever. There is no second chances in Hell. There are no second chances after death. Hell will lose its terrors if it has an end. The Word of God is clear on the subject. There is only one way to be saved, through Christ alone. We must come to Him before we depart this life. Except a man is born again he will one day wish he was never born.

 

Let us grasp this truth firmly that one day all souls will enter eternity. Souls will either be an eternity in Heaven or Hell. Let us never be ashamed that there is an eternal God, an eternal Heaven and an eternal Hell. There is a way of peace and truth, and He is Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

The Lord’s Supper

Verses 26-35

 

In these verses, we find the description of the Lord’s Supper. Our Lord knew what manner of death he would die and that it was soon to come to pass. Our Lord chose to spend his final few moments on earth with his disciples. Christ chose to leave a partaking gift to them; He bestowed an act of remembrance.

 

How dreadful is the thought that the Lord’s Supper has led to such a fierce controversy and has been so deeply misunderstood? The first thing that demands our attention is the right meaning of our Lord’s words, “This is my body,” “this is my blood.” The plain meaning of our Lord’s words appears to be the bread represents his body, and the wine represents his blood. He did not mean that the bread was really and literally His body. He did not mean that wine was really and literally His blood. May we hold steadfastly to this interpretation as it is supported by sound reasons.

 

The conduct of the disciples forbids us to believe that the bread they received was Christ’s body and the wine was his blood. They were all Jews who were taught from their youth to believe that it was sinful to eat flesh with the blood (Deuteronomy 12:23-25). There is nothing in the text that shows that the disciples were startled by our Lord’s words. They evidently understood no change in the bread and the wine.

 

Our senses forbid us to believe that there is any change in the bread and wine. Our taste tells us that they are still bread and wine. For things above our reason, the Bible requires us to believe, but we are never told to believe that which contradicts our senses.

 

The natural body of Christ cannot be in two places at the same time. If our Lord was sitting at the table, then his physical body could not be eaten by the disciples. It is the glory of Christian truth that our Redeemer is truly man and truly God. It is clear from the text that our Lord is speaking figuratively. Some other examples from Scripture where Christ does this is when he speaks of himself as “the door”, “the vine” and “the good shepherd.”

 

The second thing which demands our attention in these verses is the purpose and object for which the Lord’s supper was appointed. The Lord’s Supper is not a sacrifice. There is no oblation in it, no offering up of anything but prayers, praises, and thanksgiving. By one offering Christ paid the price for the sins of the world. He died once on the cross to purchase souls. The Lord’s Supper has no power to forgive sin nor to remove it. The act of eating the bread and drinking the wine is useless unless it is done with a right heart.

 

The Lord’s Supper was ordained for a continual remembrance of the sacrifice of Christ’s death until He comes again. The benefits are spiritual, not physical. It is a reminder by the visible emblems of bread and wine that our Lord was offered up to bear the sins of many. It draws us nearer to Christ as a body of believers.

 

Let us leave the passage with serious self-inquiry as to our conduct in regard to the Lord’s Supper. Consider some of these questions. What frame of mind do we come to the Lord’s table? Do we come with faith? Do we feel our sinfulness and need of the Saviour? Do we really desire to live the Christian faith? Happy is the soul that can give satisfactory answers to these questions.

 

The Prayer in the Garden

Verses 36-46

 

These verses before us are what is commonly called Christ’s agony at Gethsemane. It is a passage which contains deep things. We ought to read them carefully and with great reverence and wonder. Here we have a great burden no mind or heart of man can conceive; it is known only by God. We can observe precious lessons from this part of our Lord’s time on earth.

 

Firstly, prayer is the best practical remedy that we can use in times of trouble. We see Christ praying in times of trouble and times of great joy. Here we see Christ praying when his soul was sorrowful. All true children of God ought to do the same. We find ourselves in a world of sin and cannot avoid times of sorrow and hardship. The most loyal and faithful Christian on earth cannot escape times of testing and times of great distress. In times like this, it can help to talk to friends and family, but there will be times when no-one, but God can help. We must learn to come to God for help and wisdom in all matters, nothing is too trivial for our Lord.

 

A second lesson is the entire submission of our will to the will of God. The words of our Lord are an example that we should also follow. He says, “not as I will but as Thou wilt.” He says, “Thy will be done.” We wish and want many things and often forget that we are ignorant of what is for our good most of the time. Happy is he who has no “wishes” and is at peace with the state in which he finds himself. It is a lesson like St. Paul learnt, to be not in the school of man, but of Christ (Philippians 4:11). There are things that prove we have the mind of Christ. A mortified will is valuable more than anything, even our Lord said, “Thy will be done.”

 

Lastly, we learn that there is great weakness even in true disciples of Christ and this is why they must watch and pray against it. We see Peter, James, and John sleeping when they ought to have been watching and praying. Jesus said, “watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” There is a double nature in all believers. Although we are believers in Christ’s Gospel we carry a body of sin.

 

The experience of all true Christians in every age testifies to these two natures. There is a continual strife between the two. Jesus addresses this by calling one “flesh” and the other “spirit”. He says, “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

 

The Lord does not excuse this weakness of the flesh. He uses that weakness as a reason why we must be watchful and pray. He teaches us that the fact we are encompassed with infirmity should stir us up to “watch and pray.”

 

If we desire to walk with God let us never forget to watch and pray. The devil is very busy seeking souls whom he can destroy. Let our Lord’s words ring in our ears like a trumpet. Our spirit may be willing, but our flesh is weak. May we always watch and pray.

 

The Arrest of Christ

Verses 47-56

 

Here we see the cup of our Lord’s suffering being filled. We see Him betrayed, forsaken and rejected. May we never forget as we read this section of Scripture that it was our sin that made Christ’s death on the cross necessary. Ephesians 5:2 reminds us that Christ gave Himself as an offering and sacrifice, “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.”

 

When Judas Iscariot betrayed Christ, he did so with a kiss. It is a custom in Eastern countries to meet and greet a friend with a kiss. However, Judas did not kiss Jesus to only greet him but to identify Christ to his enemies.

 

Let us notice how our Lord condemns those who think to use carnal weapons in defence of His cause. He reproves one of His disciples for striking a servant of the High Priest. Jesus said, “Put your sword back in its place”. He also adds, “All they that take the sword shall perish by the sword.”

 

The sword has a lawful use and a right office. In defence of nations and against evil and oppression the sword may be used. The sword may be used in the rightful defence of the nation, but never to be used in the propagation and defence of the Gospel. Christianity is not to be enforced by bloodshed, and by force of the sword, unlike one world religion that was spread by the sword. The weapons of Christian warfare are not carnal, but spiritual (2 Cor. 10:4).

 

Let us notice how our Lord submitted Himself freely into the hands of His enemies. His voluntary submission to His foes was to the glory of God. He came on purpose to fulfil the types and promises of Old Testament Scriptures and by fulfilling them provided salvation for all who believe on Him. He came to be the Lamb of God, to suffer for us and to shed His blood to redeem us from the curse of our sins. He was taken, tried, condemned, and crucified entirely of His own will and love.

 

Let us not forget that our Lord’s disciples forsook Him and fled. They forgot their confident assertions made a few hours ago. They forgot that they declared their loyalty and willingness to die for their Master. The fear of death overtook them. Many Christians have done the same under the influence of excited feelings and yet in a short time when feelings have cooled down, they have forsaken Christ.

 

There are lessons here of humiliation and great self-abasement. We must learn to distrust ourselves and our feelings and learn to trust Christ. Unless we watch, pray and trust in the grace of God we will fall. Our prayer must be, “Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe” (Psalm 119:117).

 

Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin

Verses 57-68

 

Here we read how Christ was brought before Caiaphas, the high priest and declared guilty. It was fitting that this event took place. The day of crucifixion was fast approaching, and the great type of the scapegoat was about to be fulfilled. It was suitable that the Jewish high priest should do his part in declaring sin upon the head of Christ (Leviticus 26:21). May we think deeply about this event. There is meaning in every part of Christ’s passion.

 

Take note that the chief priests were agents in bringing about the death of Christ. It was the chief priests and the Jews who pushed for the death of Christ. The Jewish priests can be traced back to Aaron. Their office was one of sanctity and responsibilities yet these men along with others were the murderers of the Son of God.

 

Beware of any minister of religion. They are not infallible and will make mistakes. They can lead souls astray and even ruin the soul of a believer. The teaching and conduct of all ministers must be tested and tried by the Word of God. They are to be followed so long as they follow the Word of God. If they stray from Scripture then their teaching ought to be rejected. Isaiah 8:20 says, “To the law and to the testimony: If they speak not according to this word, It is because there is no light in them.”

 

Let us also take note of how fully our Lord declared who he was before the council and His future coming in glory. The unconverted can never say they did not know that Jesus was the Messiah. During his life and ministry, Jesus showed this truth clearly.

 

He tells the council plainly that He is the Christ, the Son of God. He tells them that a day is coming when He will appear in glory. Some of the last words spoken by Christ were a warning about His own second coming.

 

The last point that our attention is drawn to is the false witness and mockery that Christ endured. The devil uses many weapons against Christian people. The weapons used here were also used against Christ. Falsehoods and ridicule are old favourite weapons of the devil. He is a liar and the chief of liars. Christ was falsely called “a glutton” and “winebibber” and many others. Satan stirred up Christ’s enemies to add insult to injury. He was spat upon, mocked, and struck with the palms of their hands. They also mockingly said to Christ, “Prophecy unto us, Thou Christ, who is he that smote thee.”

 

The Son of God voluntarily submitted Himself to great indignities all for the sake of weak miserable sinners such as we are. This was foretold seven hundred years before Christ was born. Isaiah 50:6 says, “I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.”

 

The conclusion that we can draw from the passage is beneficial to our souls. Let us never be surprised if we endure mockery for our faith in Christ and the Gospel. Lies and insults were heaped on the head of our Saviour. Do not be surprised if we have the same treatment from the world. It is a tool and weapon of Satan to blacken the name and character of godly men and women.

 

If we find ourselves in this way may we pray to God to give us the grace and patience to bear such treatment. The cup of our sufferings in this life is small in comparison to the sufferings of Christ. At worst, we will drink a few bitter drops from the cup of suffering, but Christ drank the cup to the very dregs.

 

Peter denies Christ

Verses 69-75

 

These seven verses before us tell us one of the most troubling episodes in the life of Peter. It is one of the events in the history of the people of God that proves the truth of the Bible. If the Bible is a mere invention of the imagination of man, then depicting one of its principal preachers as a weak man who denied his Master is unlikely. The Bible is a truthful record of the nature of man as it portrays man as morally tainted. The Bible portrays its principle Old Testament and New Testament believers as such.

 

The first thing we must draw our attention to is the sin that Peter was guilty of. The sin that Peter was guilty of was his denial of any association or knowledge of Christ. He committed this sin three times due to his fear of the consequences. Here we see Peter who was once bold in his faith and confession of Christ now denying his Lord and Saviour. It was a sin committed under little provocation. Two women made a remark about Peter being with Jesus. No threat seems to have been used, but this is all it took to shake the faith of the great apostle of Christ. Peter goes much further than a simple denial of Christ he curses and swears. This teaches us a great lesson that the best of saints are just men at best and can fall greatly just like anyone else. You may have a deep faith in God, great hope in the Saviour, and a profound love for all that is holy, yet be overtaken and have an awful fall like Peter. Take heed that we do not think we will never fall; here lies the danger. Those who have fallen greatly likely had a mindset that they will never fall.

 

Let us look closely at the steps which led to Peter’s sin of denying Christ. Firstly, Peter was full of self-confidence. He claimed that even though all men should be offended he shall never be offended by Christ. Secondly, Christ told Peter to watch and pray, instead, Peter slept. The second step of his fall was indolence, Peter was lazy. The third step of his fall was cowardly compromising. Instead of staying close to Christ, he forsook Him. The last step of Peter’s fall was his needless venturing into evil company. Peter went into the priest’s palace and sat with the servants like one of them. All this led to his three-fold denial of Christ. Peter’s lack of wisdom and faith led to the fall. He was wise in his own eyes. He did not heed the wisdom and warning of Christ. Great falls seldom happen to a saint without a previous course of secret backsliding. We fall in private long before we fall in public.

 

The last point that the text draws our attention to is the sorrow which Peter’s sin brought on him. We read at the end of the chapter, “He went out, and wept bitterly.” Often when we read the account of Peter’s denial of Christ we scan over the deep sorrow and repentance displayed by Peter. There is a connection here between the denial, departure and desperately sad state Peter finds himself in. May we have the wisdom of this lesson in the forefront of our mind, that if we are going to be happy in our faith and have an inward peace we must walk closely with God.

 

We also see in this passage this difference between the true believer and the one who does not have the Spirit of God. When the true believers fall, they react with true repentance and the grace of God to restore and amend his life.

 

The one who does not have the Spirit of God does not react with true repentance nor seeks the grace of God. This is the last thing on his mind. The child of God does mourn over personal sin, does seek after God’s grace, does hate their personal sinfulness, and will seek to live out a life that is honouring to God as repentance and faith are key to a Gospel-centred life.

 

The whole passage is filled with lessons that ought to be pressed on our hearts and minds. Consider the following questions before God. Do you profess to have hope and faith in Christ? Do you feel the weight and burden of personal sin? Do you seek the grace of God to change your attitude and behaviour regarding sin? There is mercy and hope for us. We must repent of sin. We must come to God and seek His grace towards us. Let us turn unto God, and He will turn unto us. James 4:8 says, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”