aWhen Jesus had finished this 1discourse, He said to His disciples,I.e. a formal, extended teaching about important matters.Matt 7:28 2 “aYou know that bthe Passover is coming in two days, and the Son of Man is to be cbetrayed and handed over for crucifixion.” Mark 14:1, 2; Luke 22:1, 2Matt 26:2-5: <IT>Mark 14:1, 2; Luke 22:1, 2</IT>John 11:55; 13:1Matt 10:4
3 aThen the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in bthe courtyard of the elegant home of the Jewish high priest, whose name was 1cCaiaphas,Caiaphas served as high priest A.D. 18 to 36. His father-in-law, Annas, served as high priest A.D. 6-15. Annas was removed from the position by Rome, but continued to be extremely influential and was regarded by the Jews as de facto high priest even though others (his sons and son-in-law) officially held the office. In about 1990, in an ancient burial cave outside Jerusalem, Israeli archeologists found twelve limestone ossuaries (bone boxes). One of them was uniquely elaborate and decorated with a rare and intricate pattern of rosettes. According to its inscription, this ossuary contained the bones of Caiaphas.John 11:47Matt 26:58, 69; 27:27; Mark 14:54, 66; 15:16; Luke 22:55; John 18:15Matt 26:57; Luke 3:2; John 11:49; 18:13, 14, 24, 28; Acts 4:6 4 and aplotted together to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill Him.Matt 12:14 5 But they said, “It must not be during the festival , aotherwise there might be a riot among the people.”Matt 27:24
6 aNow when Jesus was back in bBethany, at the home of 1Simon the leper, Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-8Most likely a man previously healed by Jesus. Otherwise he would not be able to have a home among others in the city.Matt 26:6-13: <IT>Mark 14:3-9; </IT> Luke 7:37-39; John 12:1-8Matt 21:17 7 aa 1woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very expensive 2perfume and she poured it on Jesus’ head as He reclined at the table.John the Apostle identifies this woman as Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus (Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-8). Jesus was anointed in a similar way by an unnamed woman when He was in Galilee dining at the home of Simon the Pharisee (Luke 7:36-40).This was a thick, scented oil (nard) obtained from the root of a flowering plant grown in the Himalayas of Tibet.Luke 7:37f 8 But when the 1disciples saw it they were indignant and angry, saying, “Why all this waste of money?Judas Iscariot, the betrayer, spoke first denouncing this act of devotion (John 12:4, 5). 9 For this perfume might have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” 10 But Jesus, aware of the malice of this remark, said to them, “Why are you bothering the woman? She has done a good thing to Me. 11 For you always have athe poor with you; but you will not always have Me. Deut 15:11; Mark 14:7Deut 15:11; Mark 14:7; John 12:8 12 When she poured this perfume on My body, she did it ato prepare Me for burial.John 19:40 13 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, awherever this gospel of salvation is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her for her act of love and devotion.”Mark 14:9
14 aThen one of the twelve disciples, who was called bJudas Iscariot, went to the chief priestsMatt 26:14-16: <IT>Mark 14:10, 11; Luke 22:3-6</IT>Matt 10:4; 26:25, 47; 27:3; John 6:71; 12:4; 13:26; Acts 1:16 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me if I ahand Jesus over to you?” And bthey weighed out 1thirty pieces of silver. Ex 21:32; Zech 11:12Probably about a month’s wages for a laborer.Matt 10:4Ex 21:32; Zech 11:12 16 And from that moment Judas began looking for an opportune time to betray Jesus. Mark 14:10, 11; Luke 22:3-6; John 6:71
17 aNow on the first day of 1bUnleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22:7-13This remembrance lasted eight days. The Passover lambs were selected on the tenth of Nisan (March/April) and sacrificed on the fourteenth of Nisan (the first day of the feast). The Passover meal was eaten that same night (15 Nisan). This was immediately followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread (15-21 Nisan). The terms “Passover” and “The Feast of Unleavened Bread” were used interchangeably.Matt 26:17-19: <IT>Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22:7-13</IT>Ex 12:18-20 18 He said, “Go into the city to 1aa certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “bMy time to suffer and atone for sin is near; I am to keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.”’”Tradition identifies this man as Mark’s father.Mark 14:13; Luke 22:10John 7:6, 8 19 Accordingly the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover. Deut 16:5-8
20 aWhen evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples. Mark 14:17-21Matt 26:20-24: <IT>Mark 14:17-21</IT> 21 And as they were eating, He said, “aI assure you and most solemnly say to you that one of you will betray Me.”Luke 22:21-23; John 13:21f 22 Being deeply grieved and extremely distressed, each one of them began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23 Jesus answered, “aHe who has dipped his hand in the bowl with Me as a 1pretense of friendship will betray Me.In the ancient culture sharing a meal in this way was a confirmation of friendship and goodwill.Ps 41:9; John 13:18, 26 24 The Son of Man is to go to the cross, ajust as it is written in Scripture of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! bIt would have been good for that man if he had never been born.” Ps 41:9Matt 26:31, 54, 56; Mark 9:12; Luke 24:25-27, 46; Acts 17:2f; 26:22f; 1 Cor 15:3; 1 Pet 1:10fMatt 18:7; Mark 14:21 25 aAnd Judas, the betrayer, said, “Surely it is not I, bRabbi?” Jesus said to him, “1cYou have said it yourself.”“You” is emphatic in the Greek text.Matt 26:14Matt 23:7; 26:49Matt 26:64; 27:11; Luke 22:70
26 Now aas they were eating Jesus took bread, and after 1bblessing it, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:17-20; 1+@Cor 11:23-25The customary blessing spoken over the bread in the Passover meal was, “Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.”Matt 26:26-29: <IT>Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:17-20; 1 Cor 11:23-25; </IT> 1 Cor 10:16Matt 14:19 27 And when He had taken a cup and 1given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you;Giving thanks consisted of two benedictions, one over the wine (“Blessed are You, Lord our God, who has created the fruit of the vine!”) and one for the return of the Feast Day with all it implied, as well as being allowed once more to witness it. 28 for athis is My blood of the new and better covenant, which ratifies the agreement and is being poured out for bmany as a 1substitutionary atonement for the forgiveness of sins. Ex 24:6-8By laying his hands on the head of the sacrifice the one offering the sacrifice identified himself with it and through its death it became an atonement or covering for his sin. Because the unblemished sacrifice “covered” his sin, it placed the one offering the sacrifice in a right relationship with God, just as later under the new covenant the perfection and sacrifice of Christ would cover (atone for) the imperfection and sin of those who identified with Him and accepted Him as Savior.Ex 24:8; Heb 9:20Matt 20:28 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.”
30 aAfter singing a 1hymn, they went out to bthe Mount of Olives.The Hallel psalms (113-118) were sung at Passover.Matt 26:30-35: <IT>Mark 14:26-31; Luke 22:31-34</IT>Matt 21:1
31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all afall away because of Me this night disillusioned about Me, confused, and some even ashamed of Me, for it is written in the Scriptures, ‘bI WILL STRIKE THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK WILL BE cSCATTERED.’ Zech 13:7Matt 11:6Zech 13:7John 16:32 32 But after I am raised to life, aI will go ahead of you leading the way to Galilee.”Matt 28:7, 10, 16; Mark 16:7 33 Peter replied to Him, “Though they all fall away because of You and doubt and disown You, I will never fall away!” Mark 14:29-31; Luke 22:33, 34; John 13:37, 38 34 Jesus said to him, “aI assure you and most solemnly say to you, bthis night, before a rooster crows, you will completely deny Me three times.”Matt 26:75; John 13:38Mark 14:30 35 Peter said to Jesus, “aEven if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And all the disciples said the same thing.John 13:37
36 aThen Jesus came with them to a place called 1bGethsemane , and He told His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:40-46This beautiful garden filled with now ancient olive trees still exists.Matt 26:36-46: <IT>Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:40-46</IT>Mark 14:32; Luke 22:39; John 18:1 37 And taking with Him aPeter and the two sons of Zebedee James and John, He began to be grieved and greatly distressed.Matt 4:21; 17:1; Mark 5:37 38 Then He said to them, “aMy soul is deeply grieved, so that I am almost dying of sorrow. Stay here and stay awake and bkeep watch with Me.”John 12:27Matt 26:40, 41
39 And after going a little farther, He fell face down and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible that is, consistent with Your will, let athis cup 1pass from Me; byet not as I will, but as You will.”Jesus’ request was heard (Heb 5:7), and it is unlikely that He asked to avoid the cross. The object of His request cannot be known with certainty, but some think that He was asking for resurrection following His death. In that case, the “cup” would represent His body’s remaining in the grave, which would be contrary to the plan of salvation and prophecy regarding His resurrection (Ps 16:10; cf Acts 2:24-27). Others think that the request related to the time of separation from the Father, which He would have to endure in death (see 27:46). However, the sense of Heb 5:7 could be that the Father listened to Him intently and comforted Him, while not sparing His Son the suffering which He had destined for Him.Matt 20:22Matt 26:42; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42; John 6:38 40 And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “So, you men could not stay awake and akeep watch with Me for one hour?Matt 26:38 41 aKeep actively watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; bthe spirit is willing, but the 1body is weak.”Lit flesh.Matt 26:38Mark 14:38
42 He went away a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this acannot pass away unless I drink it, bYour will be done.”Matt 20:22Matt 26:39; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42; John 6:38 43 Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, He went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words once more. 45 Then He returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Listen, 1athe hour of My sacrifice is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners whose way and nature is to oppose God.The time had come for Jesus’ atoning sacrificial death which would provide the way of salvation for believers.Mark 14:41; John 12:27; 13:1 46 Get up, let us go. Look, My betrayer is near!”
47 aAs Jesus was still speaking, bJudas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, came up accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came as representatives from the chief priests and elders of the people. Mark 14:43-50; Luke 22:47-53; John 18:3-11Matt 26:47-56: <IT>Mark 14:43-50; Luke 22:47-53; John 18:3-11</IT>Matt 26:14 48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him.” 49 Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, “Greetings , aRabbi!” And he 1kissed Him in a deliberate act of betrayal.A kiss on either the hand or cheek was usually an act of homage and a common gesture of greeting and reverence given to a rabbi by his disciples, but done here to identify Jesus.Matt 23:7; 26:25 50 Jesus said to Judas, “aFriend, do what you came for.” Then they came and seized Jesus and arrested Him.Matt 20:13; 22:12
51 And 1aone of those who were with Jesus reached out and drew his bsword, and struck Malchus the cslave of the high priest and cut off his ear. Mark 14:47; Luke 22:50; John 18:10John identified this “one” as Peter.Mark 14:47; Luke 22:50; John 18:10Luke 22:38 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back in its place; for aall those who habitually draw the sword will die by the sword. Gen 9:6Gen 9:6; Rev 13:10 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will immediately provide Me with more than twelve 1alegions of bangels?A legion equaled 6,000 troops.Mark 5:9, 15; Luke 8:30Matt 4:11 54 How then will athe Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen this way?”Matt 26:24
55 At that moment Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? aDay after day I used to sit in the porches and courts of the temple teaching, and you did not arrest Me.Mark 12:35; 14:49; Luke 4:20; 19:47; 20:1; 21:37; John 7:14, 28; 8:2, 20; 18:20 56 But all this has taken place so that athe Scriptures of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted Him and fled.Matt 26:24
57 aThose who had seized Jesus led Him away to 1bCaiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered 2illegally together. Mark 14:53-65; Luke 22:66-71; John 18:12f, 19-24See note 26:3.It was unlawful for a criminal court proceeding to be held at night. Further, although the Sanhedrin (Jewish High Court) was granted substantial power to act by the Roman government, the Sanhedrin could not impose the death penalty on a criminal. Court cases requesting a death penalty to be imposed by the Roman government were to be held publicly in the temple. The officials of the Sanhedrin waited until morning to announce their verdict, perhaps in a token attempt to legalize their unlawful gathering.Matt 26:57-68: <IT>Mark 14:53-65; John 18:12f, 19-24</IT>Matt 26:3 58 But aPeter followed Him at a distance as far as the bcourtyard of the elegant home of the Jewish high priest, and went inside, and sat with the 1cguards to see the outcome.Or servants.John 18:15Matt 26:3Matt 5:25; John 7:32, 45f; 19:6; Acts 5:22, 26
59 Now the chief priests and the whole aCouncil tried to get false witnesses to testify against Jesus, so that they might have a reason to put Him to death.Matt 5:22 60 They found none, even though many false witnesses came forward. At last atwo came forward,Deut 19:15 61 and testified, “This man said, ‘1aI am able to 2tear down the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”This was a distortion of Jesus’ comment (John 2:19-21).This would amount to a capital offense.Matt 27:40; Mark 14:58; 15:29; John 2:19; Acts 6:14 62 The high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Have You no answer to give? What is it that these men are testifying against You?” 63 But aJesus kept silent. bAnd the high priest said to Him, “I ccall on You to swear a binding oath by dthe living God, that you tell us whether You are the Christ, ethe Son of God.”Matt 27:12, 14; John 19:9Matt 26:63-66: <IT>Luke 22:67-71</IT>Lev 5:1Matt 16:16Matt 4:3 64 Jesus said to him, “aYou have in fact said it; but more than that I tell you regardless of what you do with Me now, in the future you will see Me revealed as bTHE SON OF MAN SEATED AT THE 1RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and cCOMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.” Ps 110:1; Dan 7:13The place of preeminence and authority.Matt 26:25Ps 110:1; Mark 14:62Dan 7:13; Matt 16:27f
65 Then the high priest atore his 1robes in mock horror and exclaimed, “He has blasphemed by making Himself God’s equal! What further need have we of witnesses or evidence? See, you have now heard the blasphemy. Lev 24:16; Num 14:6Or outer garments. This was a response required by Jewish law for judges who had heard blasphemy. However, OT law forbade the high priest to tear his clothing (Lev 10:6; 21:10).Num 14:6; Mark 14:63; Acts 14:14 66 What do you think?” They answered, “1aHe deserves to be put to death.”A statement expressing complete rejection of and contempt for the Messiah.Lev 24:16; John 19:7
67 aThen they bspat in His face and struck Him with their fists; and some slapped Him, Is 50:6Is 50:6; Matt 26:67, 68: <IT>Luke 22:63-65; John 18:22</IT>Matt 27:30; Mark 10:34 68 saying, “1aProphesy to us, You Christ ; who was it that struck You?”Jesus was blindfolded according to Mark 14:65.Mark 14:65; Luke 22:64
69 aNow Peter was sitting outside in the bcourtyard, and a servant-girl came up to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:55-62; John 18:16-18, 25-27Matt 26:69-75: <IT>Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:55-62; John 18:16-18, 25-27</IT>Matt 26:3 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” 71 And when he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.” 72 And again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” 73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them too; afor even your Galilean accent gives you away.”Mark 14:70; Luke 22:59; John 18:26 74 Then he began to curse that is, to invoke God’s judgment on himself and swear an oath, “I do not know the man!” And at that moment a rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the prophetic words of Jesus, when He had said, “aBefore a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly in repentance.Matt 26:34