Matthew 26

1-5 Jesus finished is sayings and then He said unto His disciples, after two days it will be the feast of passover and I will be betrayed to be crucified. The time was coming nearer and nearer for why Jesus came into the earth and that was to fulfill the scriptures. The chief priest, scribes and elders were plotting how can they kill Jesus, but they reasoned not to do it on the feast day unless there be an uproar. The leaders feared the people (Luke 22:2) because they see Jesus and the work He has done, but the leaders were trying to get rid of Him because of His influence upon the people.  

 

The feast of passover was going to be on Friday which is the 14th day of the 1st month (Exodus 12:1, 3, 5-7, 12-13). Which represents the death of Christ and His blood (1 Cor 5:7). The blood was placed on the door post of the Israelites while they were in Egypt and has been kept until the true Passover fulfilled the symbol. God gave instructions on when to slay the lamb (Exodus 12:6) which was in the evening or between the two evenings (Noon and Six). Now Christ is approaching the final moments to be crucified and fulfill the antitype to deliver us from the power of sin. The scriptures especially in the Old Testament foretold the fulfilling of Christ’s death. Isaiah 53 and many other verses is one of those chapters that predicts the death of Christ. Even down to the year, day, and hour of His death. 

 

6-13 Jesus was at Simon’s house who was healed from leprosy (John12:1 says it was six before passover, which was the Sabbath) and there were also the disciples. A woman came with an alabaster box and had a precious ointment and anointed Jesus. This woman was Mary (Lazarus brother John 11:2, also called Mary Magdalene Luke 8:2; DA558.4, 568.2) based on the other gospel account. She wanted to show some kind of appreciation of what Jesus did for her in raising her brother back to life. She knew about the sufferings and death of Jesus and her act will show that she knew He was about to die. She open the box and poured it on His head and then on His feet and weeping before Jesus. She was washing His feet with her tears and then wipe the tears with her hair and kissed His feet. 

 

When the disciples saw this they were enraged. Judas who started it said "To what purpose is this waste?" Judas then said that the ointment could have been sold and given to the poor. Here we see Judas covering up his motive and intent for his own purposes. The Bible says (John 12:4-6) Judas didn’t care for the poor, he wanted the money for himself because he was a thief and he was the one that held the bag. He would take money for himself. Judas got the others to partake in the same manner (Mark 14:3-4) including Simon (Luke 7:39-40) and Jesus stood up for Mary and said she is doing a good work upon me. Jesus accepted Mary’s act of love because she done what she could to show her appreciation for the Saviour (Mark 14:8). Jesus told Simon who was healed by Him that he did nothing to show his appreciation (Luke 7:44-46). 

 

Mary sins were many and Christ forgave all her sins and she loved much because of it and showed her thanks (47), the Bible says her faith saved her (50). Simon who was healed by the Saviour doubted Jesus because Simon said (39) "if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him for she is a sinner" This is why Jesus pose a question to Simon and Simon answered it correctly to help him realize why Mary loved much and why he loved little.

 

Jesus also said the poor will always be with you, but I will not be always (regarding is physical appearance) with you. Jesus commended what Mary has done by saying where ever the gospel is preached this will also be a memorial. 

 

14-16 Judas felt insulted and the Bible says (John 13:2) that the devil put into the heart of Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus. So Judas went to the chief priest and bargain with them for Jesus. Instead of accepting Him as a personal Saviour, He betrayed Him for a sum far less than the box of ointment (DA564.2), thirty pieces of silver. Judas tried to gain the whole world and he end up loosing his own soul (16:26) because of money. Mary purchased this at great cost. Judas said the ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred pence. A pence "penny" is a Roman coin also called a "denarius" (Luke 20:24; Matt 18:28; 20:2) which is like  a day’s wages. So Mary spent nearly a year’s wage on the ointment, while Judas accepted a month’s wage to betray his Lord. Judas loved little and sought to please himself and his own agenda and the Bible says from that time he looked for opportunity to betray Jesus. 

 

17-35 The day of the feast of unleavened bread has began and the disciples asked Jesus of where to prepare the passover. Jesus told two of them which were Peter and John (Luke 22:7-8) to go into the city and they will see a man carrying water. They should follow him until he gets to his house and share with him that Jesus is asking for a place to eat the passover with His disciples. The man will show you an upper room and their make ready the Passover. Also, noticed what Jesus said in verse 18, "My time is at hand" Jesus alludes to this several times during His ministry (Matt 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:17-19; 26:2 John 2:4; 7:6-8, 30; 8:20; 12:23; 13:1) he is referring to His death. Jesus knew this because of the prophecy of Daniel, the 70 week prophecy (Daniel 9:24-27). Which shares the time of when it will take place. Christ fulfilled it to the tee. 

 

The two disciples did as Jesus said and made preparation and when even was come, Jesus sat down with the twelve disciples. He shared with them that one of them will betray Him. Everyone one of them started to get sorrowful and asking Jesus questions whether it was them. Jesus actually knows who it is and He has mentioned it before (John 6:64; Matt 10:4; 17:22; 20:18; John 6:70-71; 12:4; Psalm 41:9). Then Jesus answered and said the person that dippeth his hand with me in the same dish shall betray me. It was clear that it was Judas. 

 

Jesus speaks of this betrayal that will happen to Him, will also happen to others in the latter days. It’s a serious thing to betray the Lord, so serious that Jesus said it would have been better for that man to never been born. I wonder if this would be the case again in the last days (Matthew 24:9-10; Mark 13:12; Luke 21:16; 3SM 415.6). 1 out of 12 shall betray Jesus? 1 out of 12 shall deny Jesus? All shall be offended because of Jesus. It seems like all the disciples did both by forsaken Jesus. But Judas was the one who betray Jesus with a kiss as we will see later and Peter who was determined not to deny Jesus will also soon deny Him. These examples are what are in the heart’s of God’s people today. 

 

There is something that Jesus mentioned that is interesting. He said "The Son of man goeth as it is written of Him" so in other words I am living according to scripture and according to prophecy, I’m fulfilling what the words says  (Mark 9:12; Luke 24:44; Acts 26:22-23; 1 Cor 15:3-4). We, as Seventh Day Adventist, are we going as it is written of us? Revelation 12:17 the people that keep God’s commandments and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (Rev 19:10) which is the Spirit of Prophecy. The bible says (2 Chronicles 20:20) Believe in the Lord you God, so shall you be established; believe His prophets, so shall ye prosper. The Lord uses prophets to preserve (Hosea 4:1-3, 16-17; 6:4-10; 12:10, 13; 1 Cor 14:32 (Daniel subject to Revelation and vice versa or Moses with Joshua or Samuel or Nathan, the prophets were all subject to the Holy Spirit) The spirit of the prophets are subject to the prophets. Who is the true spirit of the prophet (1 Peter 1:3, 10 {the grace that comes through Jesus Christ unto you}-11; 2 Peter 1:20-21. And so as Seventh Day Adventist we are the children of the prophets (Acts 3:18-26). 

 

God gave John the Revelator who is a prophet the book of Revelation, which shows who we are as a people (Revelation 14, 3 Angels messages,  Revelation 10, the beginning of the Advent movement Revelation 7 the sealing of God people, Revelation 18, the latter rain and the loud cry) the list goes on and on. We have a prophetess and her name is Ellen G White. She doesn’t take the place of the bible, but she preserves us in staying in accordance with the bible. 

 

Judas was also going in the direction as it is written of him (Psalm 41:9; 55:12-14; Zech 11:12) and that was to betray His Lord for thirty pieces of silver and he did unfortunately he fulfilled it. Christ gave these startled words that it would have been better that he was never born. But Judas asked Jesus if it was he that would betray him and Jesus said "Thou hast said" 

 

Then Jesus ask them to eat the bread, this is my body. He then took the cup and gave thanks and also gave it to the disciples and said, Drink, for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Jesus said it won’t drink it again until the day in His Father’s kingdom with the disciples. Judas was still present when Jesus did the service regarding His body and His blood (DA 653.4). There was also a foot washing, but that is in the other account. 

 

Then they sung a hymn or a psalm and they went out into the Mount of Olives. Jesus then shared with them so more. He said all of them will be offended because of what He is about to go through. Jesus quotes Zechariah 13:7 and tells the disciples that the Shepherd will be smitten and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. This was going to be fulfilled that same night. Jesus also tells them that after He is risen He will see them in Galilee (Matthew 28:7, 10). But Peter said that if all men shall be offended because of you, I will never be offended. Jesus had to correct him by saying, Peter you will deny me three times tonight, even before the cock crow. Jesus gave a sign of the cock crow so Peter will know that Jesus was right. But Peter was adamant and said I will die for you and will not deny you. All the disciples said likewise. 

 

It’s amazing how we don’t know ourselves or our hearts. Jesus tells us one thing and we are confident in saying another. Peter was willing to die and fight for his master, but not willing to be humble and not retaliate in order to suffer for Christ. Peter carried a sword (John 18:10-11; Luke 22:38-39) and was willing to fight. Christ had told Peter that he had to put up his sword, because those that live by the sword will die by it. The Spirit of Prophecy has predict in the last days that God’s people in the SDA church will do the same thing when the crisis come. It says a small portion will make it through the crisis. There are examples of this in scripture from Noah, Lot, Caleb, Joshua, Rehab, Daniel, and the Hebrew boys and others. Jesus is asking us to endure and not to let Satan discourage us or lose our faith in God. 

 

36-46 Jesus did not shrink from fulfilling the prophecy, He went forth to meet this last battle with Satan here on earth. Now we come to the place called Gethsemane with his disciples and told his disciples to sit here and pray while He goes and do the same thing just a little ways away. He took with him Peter, James, and John. This location, Jesus and his disciples have come to quite often (Matthew 21:1; 24:3; Luke 19:29; 21:37; 22:39; John 8:1; 18:2). The word Gethsemane means "oil press" a place for squeezing the oil from olives. Gethsemane was a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives. (the lesson here is that Jesus was getting pressed or squeezed DA 687.2). When Jesus told his disciples to sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. These disciples he told to wait in the outer court (36) and then he took Peter, James, and John and they went with Jesus and He told them tarry ye here and watch with me and then Jesus went a little further. Here Jesus was telling them to stay up and pray in the Holy Place (37-39) and Jesus went  a bit further so that they can see and hear Him which Jesus was in the Most Holy Place (39). 

 

 But this time Jesus come to this location with a very heavy heart. Jesus says, my soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death. I can’t fathom what Jesus must have been feeling and going through that night. But for Jesus to say that his soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto to death, is a serious agony that no pen can describe. This is an agony when Christ was by Himself. No one has beaten him, slap him, spit on him, or mocked him. Christ is strictly alone with his three disciples and they were asleep. 

 

He was experiencing the penalty of the transgressed law of God. The sins of the whole world were upon Him and He was experiencing the separation of His Father which was causing so much sorrow. Christ was suffering a mental anguish that cannot be expressed. The Bible says in Hebrews 2:9, that he by the grace of God should taste (experience) death for every man. 

 

Jesus prays to the Father if there is a way to let this cup pass from Him. He continues and says nevertheless not as I will, but as thou will. Why use the illustration of a cup? During the last supper, Jesus took a cup and gave thanks and said take, drink ye all of it, for this is my blood which is shed for many for the remission of sins (26:26-27). This cup was a cup of fate that Jesus was going to drink for all of us. Jeremiah 25:15-18, 27-28; Matthew 20:22-23 What happen to James and John? Acts 12:2; Revelation 1:9; 14:10 this cup is of sorrow. Jesus suffered in proportion to the perfection of His holiness and His hatred of sin (DA 700.3). 

 

After praying and then submitting to accept this cup, Jesus finds His disciples sleeping, which also represents a sleeping church. Jesus ask the disciples to watch and pray, especially at this hour and we need to be doing the same thing at this hour of earth’s history, but the church is asleep. Jesus says the hour is at hand and the betrayer was on his way and Jesus says let us be going. Jesus went to fulfill as it is written of Him and meet His betrayer who will betray Him into the hands of sinners. 

 

47-56 Judas came and with a multitude of people with swords and staves that the chief priest and elders sent with Judas. Judas gave them a sign that the one he kiss is the one you should take and hold him. Judas told them to hold Jesus quickly because he has seen Jesus escape plenty of times before (John 8:59; 10:31; 11:8). 

 

Jesus did not respond negatively towards his betrayer but said "Friend, wherefore art thou come?" or friend, why did you come? other version says friend, do what you came for or why are you here? Luke says that Jesus said to Judas, betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss.  But the soldiers that came with Judas laid hands on Jesus and took him. But Peter drew his sword and smote off an ear of a servant of the high priest. Jesus told Peter (John 18:10-11) to put up the sword, for those who take the sword shall perish with the sword. Jesus touched is ear and healed it (Luke 22:51) and then Jesus said I can pray to the Father and He can send more than twelve legions of angels, but then how shall the scriptures be fulfilled that thus it must be.

 

Jesus always focused on fulfilling the Lord’s will according to the scriptures. Jesus says to them, you all come out against me with swords and staves like you will a thief. I sat daily with you teaching in the temple and ye did nothing to me. But once again Jesus says, all this was done that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsaken Jesus and fled. But Jesus told them they would do this before hand, the Shepard shall be smitten and the flock of the sheep shall be scattered abroad (Zech 13:7). 

 

The disciples thought that Christ will not allow Himself to be taken, but the scriptures foretold this, that Christ must suffer, die, and be raised on the third day. They were looking for temporal or earthly advantages and the bible says that Christ had to be taken in the pits (Lamentation 4:20)

 

57-68 Jesus allow Himself to be led away and they took Him first to Annas (John 18:13) and then to Caiaphas, his son-in-law who was high priest that same year. Also was gathered were scribes, elders, and chief priest. Peter did followed because John (John 18:15-16) was able to get him in. So, Jesus appeared before the council to be accused and condemned to death. So the priest, elders and scribes sought false witnesses against Jesus and they brought many false witnesses, but they found nothing worthy of death. 

 

At last, two false witnesses came and said, this fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. Mark 14:58 says, "We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands" But nothing came of it. Caiaphas saw that Jesus was not responding and asked Jesus, do you have anything to say against what these witnesses are saying against you? The bible says, Jesus held his peace (Isaiah 53:7; Psalm 141:3), He spoke no word in self-defense.  

 

Finally, Caiaphas resorted to the one thing he can use and that is to ask if Jesus was the Son of God. He did it in a way to provoke the highest oath by saying "I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus could not remain silent to this appeal because He was directly questioned regarding His relationship with his Father. He also knew giving the answer was certain death. The bible says if we confess Christ before men, He will confess us before the Father which is in heaven or those that honour me, I will honour. (Matthew 10:32; 1 Sam 2:30). Everyone listened with intent and every person was looking to see what Jesus would say. Jesus answered, "Thou hast said" in other words, I AM. Then He adds you will see ME sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Jesus showed and made a clear distinction who is in charge of his life. Shortly after this Peter was asked something similar and he denied Jesus three times.

 

Jesus’ answer is interesting, why did He add, you will see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven?

• Son of man sitting on the right hand of power

• Coming in the clouds of heaven

Jesus used the word "You" to Caiaphas, which shows he was specifically speaking to him. So how will Caiaphas after that present moment see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power? We will need to look at the phrase "sitting on the right hand of power" What does this mean? in Luke 22:69, it says, "right hand of the power of God" So Jesus will be sitting on the right hand of God. Acts 2:33 repeats this and says "right hand of God exalted" and in 5:31 says, "God exalted Him to the right hand of power to be a Prince, Saviour, give repentence, forgiveness of sins, and make intercession Romans 8:34. God has set Christ at His own righthand to put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the church Ephesians 1:19-22. After the resurrection of Christ, the bible says, All power is given unto me in heaven and earth, this also include judgment Matthew 28:18; John 5:22; Psalm 96:13. The prophecy in Psalm 110 says that Christ will sit at the right hand of God and judge the heathen (v6) until He make the enemies his footstool. 1 Corinthians 15:25-27 explains it as "all enemies under his feet" and the last enemy to be destroyed is death.  Christ is at the right hand of God to make intercession for us. So we need to seek Christ and we can only find Him in the sanctuary. 

 

Hebrews 8:1 says, Christ is our High Priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. As high priest in heaven, Jesus will also being examining those who profess to bear his name. Caiaphas judged Christ while Christ was here on earth and now Christ will also judge Caiaphas which is why Jesus told him you will see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power. But how will Caiaphas do this when he died in 46 A.D.? In Daniel 7:9-10, Jesus comes to the Ancient of Days and the judgment was set and the books were open. This can be no other ceremony than the Day of Atonement which is a day of Yom Kippur. Christ entered in the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary to perform his last work which is to cleansed the sanctuary. In Daniel 7:10, it says, "the judgment was set, and the books were opened" which means the starting of the judgment. 

 

In order to learn the antitype was must learn the type, but for right now we are not going to get into details about the judgment. The only way Caiaphas can see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power is in the judgment through books. The bible says we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10). 

 

Christ also said to Caiaphas that he will see Jesus coming in the clouds of heaven. The bible is clear when this will happen in Revelation 1:7, it says he cometh with clouds and every eye will see him and also those which pierced him. When Christ comes the second time there will be a special resurrection of those who were involved in the crucifixion of Jesus who did not repent and this includes Caiaphas. So this is just a short snippet of what Christ was saying to Caiaphas. To summarize, the scenes will be reverse. 

 

After Christ finished is saying, the high priest rent his clothes and said that Jesus has spoken blasphemy and that he is guilty of death and they treated Him violently and even spit in His face and mocked Him. Caiaphas did something that was never suppose to be done and that was to rent his clothes as high priest. The bible says clearly not to rent your priestly robes no matter what occasion it is (Leviticus 10:6; 21:10). It was to represent perfection and the character of God (Leviticus 21:4, 6, 8, 21). To perform such an act was to fully cut yourself off from God and condemn yourself. Caiaphas was trying to display what Christ said was so blasphemies that he rent his garment, like he is trying to pronounce the death sentence against Christ, but not realizing he was committing blasphemy and pronouncing the death sentence against himself.  So they mocked Jesus and smote Him and made fun of Him. 

 

69-75 While Jesus was getting mocked, Peter was out side the palace and a damsel or girl recognized him saying thou also was with Jesus of Galilee. Peter must have ben shocked and answered I know not what thou sayest. He denied Jesus before them all. He left and went somewhere else another person recognized him and said before the people this fellow (Peter) was also with Jesus of Nazareth and again Peter denied with an oath, I do not know the man. As you can see denying got stronger and more rebellious. After a while others recognize Peter and said you are one of them because your speech or how you talk say so. Then Peter began to curse and swear saying I do not know the man and immediately the cock crew. 

 

Then Peter remember the words of Jesus "Before the cock crow; thou shalt deny me thrice" Peter was devastated and he went out and wept bitterly. This is the same Peter who confessed that Christ is the Son of the living God (16:16) who walked on water (14:29-30), was with Jesus on the mount of transfiguration (17:3-4), seen his mother-in-law healed (8:14-15) and seen Jesus heal many others. 

 

Now in a crisis Peter forgets all that and denies Jesus. Jesus told them in the garden of Gethsemane to watch and pray and if they had been watching and praying this situation could have been avoided. The closer we get to the crisis, the stronger will the temptation be to deny Christ (OHC354.4) 

 

How can we avoided doing the same thing? For Peter it started with not believing what Jesus said to him, that he was going to deny Him three times. Peter said no, I will not deny you (26:33). Here is where it starts. Peter should have believe Christ when he told him. So Peter was relying on his own strength and not on Christ’s words. When the time came Peter was willing to fight, but this is not Christ’s method because Christ was following the fulfillment of bible prophecy. Christ mentioned if I need to, I can just pray to my Father and he shall give me more than twelve legions of angels, but the scriptures will not be fulfilled in doing so.

 

Peter did not want submission or humility, but retaliation and aggressive warfare. Still on the mindset for a earthly kingdom and to over threw the romans. Peter should have asked Christ for strength and help to avoid denying Jesus. Our only shield against this is seeking God in faith and asking for strength, wisdom, and guidance as we near the end. The Lord needs to be always before us because he is at our right hand so we cannot be moved (Psalm 16:8).

 

Each time a person who recognize Peter said something about Jesus. The first one said, Jesus of Galilee, the second said, this fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth, and the third one said, surely you are one of them of belong with Jesus because of how he spoke. But Peter got deeper and deeper into denying Jesus. He was trying to make it seem like he was not associated with Jesus and this also got him into trouble to deny Jesus. But Peter remember the words of Christ because Christ turned and looked at Peter (Luke 22:61) this was not a look of anger, frustration, or bitterness, it was a tender pity, compassion, and love. This is what made Peter wept and he left and went to the spot in Gethsemane and wept bitterly.