Matthew Chapter 26 {The Plot Against Jesus} {The Last Monday - Christ would die on the next Wednesday} 26:1-2~~When Jesus had finished saying all these things {in the Temple and Olivet discourses}, He told His disciples, 26:2~~"You know {refreshing their memories} that after two days {in Jewish Wednesday} the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man {a salvation title of Jesus Christ} will be betrayed to receive crucification {aorist tense - a point of time taken out of time and has effect forever - your sins are judged forever}." {Note: Passover is observed from Tuesday after the sun goes down, all day on Wednesday until Wednesday sundown - this is the Jewish Day which begins at sundown of the day before the Gentile calendar day. Tuesday night for us is actually Wednesday for the Jews. The Passover is described in Exodus 12:1-14, mentioned in Leviticus 23:5, and its significance is given in 1Corinthians 5:7.} 26:3~~Then the chief priests {represents the Sadducee group}, scribes {represents to Pharisee group}, and the elders of the people {represents the Herodian group} met together {together they make up the Sanhedrin Counsel} in the court {atrium} outside the palace of the high priest . . . who was named Caiaphas. {Note: Caiaphas was the high priest from 18-36 AD (during the reign of Tiberius Caesar). Vitalis, the Roman proconsul who replaced Pontus Pilate, deposed him.} {Purpose of the meeting of the 'Religious Leaders' of the land - Kill Grace} 26:4~~They plotted to arrest Jesus by subtlety {fraud} and deceit . . . and kill Him. 26:5~~But they said, "Not during the {Passover} feast, so that there will not be a riot among the people." {religion always fears and wants to appease the people} {Jesus under Dying Grace Verses 6-13 - The Anointing of His feet} 26:6-7~~Now while Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper {Monday night}, 26:7~~a woman {in John 11 and 12, we find out she is 'Mary of Bethany' the sister of Lazarus} came to Him with an alabaster flask of expensive ointment {perfumed oil - actually spikenard from John 12:3}, and poured it on His head as He reclined at the {banquet} table. {Note: From John we know His friends were with him . . . Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha at least. From John 12:3 we know the spikenard cost 300 denarius (1 denarius = a day's wage) - almost a year's wages.} 26:8~~When the disciples saw this, they became angry and said, "This is a dead loss {apoleia}." {Note: The criticism of Mary's act was started by Judas Iscariot (John12: 4) because he was the treasurer and wanted to steal the money. The other disciples, minus John and Matthew, picked up the unjust criticism. It was Mary's money and Mary's business what she did with it! If you pick up and carry the judging/criticism of one person by another, YOU pick up all the discipline - TRIPLE compound discipline! Enjoy!} {SideNote: Apoleia is the Greek word also used for 'perish' . . . as in unbelievers going into the lake of fire 'apoleia' (perish). RBT translates apoleia here as a 'dead loss' and I kind of like that symmetry!}   26:9~~"For this could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor." {Note: 'Human good viewpoint'. In reality judging and NONE of their business!} 26:10~~When Jesus learned of this, He said to them, "Why are you causing this woman trouble? She has done a beautiful service/production {directed by the Holy Spirit - divine good} for Me." 26:11~~"For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have Me." {Note: Jesus will be gone in the Church Age and in the Tribulation, but in these dispensations you WILL always have the poor!} 26:12~~"When she poured this oil on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial." {Note: This means that Mary UNDERSTOOD doctrine. She understood that Jesus would die within a week and she did divine good here.} 26:13~~"I {Jesus} tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her." {Note: Why? Because Mary was a mature believer with Doctrine in Her Soul! It was the disciples who were out of line and would continue to be through out the week. Mary was AT the cross, Peter, for example, was NOT.} {The Last Tuesday - The Plan to Betray Jesus} 26:14-15~~ Then one of the twelve, the one named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 26:15~~ and said, "What do you desire to give me and I will betray Him {Jesus} to you?" So they set out thirty silver coins {this was the price of the freedom of a slave} for him. {Note: Judas was smart and knew where to go to betray Christ - the religious leaders.} 26:16~~From that time on Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Him. {The Passover} 26:17 Now on {Tuesday - April 5 or April 12 circa 30 AD} the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread {Passover} the disciples came to Jesus and said, "Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?" 26:18~~He {Jesus} said, "Go into the city {Jerusalem} to an unknown man {carrying a pitcher of water on his head} and tell him, 'The Master says, My time is near. I will observe the Passover with My disciples at your house.' " {Note: From Mark 14:13 and Luke 22:10 we know this man carried water on his head - only women did this in Jerusalem so he would be easily identified.} 26:19~~So the disciples did as Jesus had commanded them and prepared the Passover. 26:20~~When it was evening {Tuesday after sundown - Jewish Wednesday}, He {Jesus} reclined at the table with the twelve. 26:21~~And while they were in the process of eating {the Passover meal} He {Jesus} said, "I tell you the truth/doctrine {point of doctrine}, one of you will betray Me." 26:22~~They became deeply grieved {emotional word - not relying on doctrine to sustain them} and all began to say to Him {Jesus}, "Surely not I, Lord?" 26:23~~He {Jesus} answered, "The one who has dipped his hand into the sauce bowl with Me will betray Me." {Note: Judas apparently had a chunk of lamb going in for sauce as Jesus was talking. So Jesus dunks his lamb and Judas nervously dips and betrays himself.} 26:24~~"The Son of Man {title for His Humanity} will go {to the cross} as it is written {in the OT} about Him, but woe to that one {Judas Iscariot} by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for him if he had not been born." 26:25~~Then Judas, who would betray Him, said, "Surely not I, Master/Rabbi {again not 'Lord', still does not believe in Christ}?" Jesus said to him, "You have said it yourself." {The Eucharist -The Lord's Table} 26:26~~While they were eating, Jesus took bread {changeover of Passover to the Lord's Table - Christ is now depicted by the bread instead of the lamb}, and after giving thanks {a blessing in the middle of a meal is unusual - this indicates a new meal . . . which represents a new age}. He broke it {Christ carrying our sins on the cross} and gave it to His disciples and said, "Take, eat {eat is an analogy to Faith in Christ - both are non-meritorious actives}, this is My body." 26:27-28~~And after taking the cup and giving thanks {eucharisteo}, He {Jesus} gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you, 26:28~~ for this is {represents} the covenant {diatheke} of My blood that is poured out on behalf of many because the forgiveness of sins." {Note: The cup is also mentioned in Psalm 116:13. Eucharisteo does mean to give thanks. It is the word from which we get Eucharist.} {Note: Diatheke - originally was when two people made an agreement and put it in a safe place. Later came to be a will and the will was placed in a safe place. The will concept is what we have here. Jesus Christ in His last will said that anyone who believed on Him would have their sins forgiven and receive salvation and everlasting life.} {Prophecy of the Kingdom} 26:29 "I {Jesus} tell you, from now on I will not drink of this fruit of the vine {only boiled not fermented because of the Passover rules - so not wine - grape juice} until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom {Millennial Reign}." 26:30~~After singing a hymn {Psalm 118}, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Continued ************************************************ This page is sponsored by Kenneth Sidley, CPA, an Orange County California CPA (949) 706-3133. This page also sponsored by Moxxor For Pain Free Living. Moxxor is a highly concentrated Omega 3 product that has reduced inflammation in this writer. Please go to this website to read more about Moxxor.