1 And G2532 it came to pass, G1096 when G3753 Jesus G2424 had finished G5055 all G3956 these G5128 sayings, G3056 he said G2036 unto his G846 disciples, G3101
2 Ye know G1492 that G3754 after G3326 two G1417 days G2250 is G1096 the feast of the passover, G3957 and G2532 the Son G5207 of man G444 is betrayed G3860 to G1519 be crucified. G4717
3 Then G5119 assembled together G4863 the chief priests, G749 and G2532 the scribes, G1122 and G2532 the elders G4245 of the people, G2992 unto G1519 the palace G833 of the high priest, G749 who G3588 was called G3004 Caiaphas, G2533
4 And G2532 consulted G4823 that G2443 they might take G2902 Jesus G2424 by subtilty, G1388 and G2532 kill G615 him.
5 But G1161 they said, G3004 Not G3361 on G1722 the feast G1859 day, lest G3363 there be G1096 an uproar G2351 among G1722 the people. G2992
6 Now G1161 when Jesus G2424 was G1096 in G1722 Bethany, G963 in G1722 the house G3614 of Simon G4613 the leper, G3015
7 There came G4334 unto him G846 a woman G1135 having G2192 an alabaster box G211 of very precious G927 ointment, G3464 and G2532 poured it G2708 on G1909 his G846 head, G2776 as he sat G345 at meat.
8 But G1161 when his G846 disciples G3101 saw G1492 it, they had indignation, G23 saying, G3004 To G1519 what purpose G5101 is this G3778 waste? G684
9 For G1063 this G5124 ointment G3464 might G1410 have been sold G4097 for much, G4183 and G2532 given G1325 to the poor. G4434
10 When G1161 Jesus G2424 understood G1097 it, he said G2036 unto them, G846 Why G5101 trouble ye G2873 G3930 the woman? G1135 for G1063 she hath wrought G2038 a good G2570 work G2041 upon G1519 me. G1691
11 For G1063 ye have G2192 the poor G4434 always G3842 with G3326 you; G1438 but G1161 me G1691 ye have G2192 not G3756 always. G3842
12 For in that G1063 she G3778 G846 hath poured G906 this G5124 ointment G3464 on G1909 my G3450 body, G4983 she did G4160 it for G4314 my G3165 burial. G1779
13 Verily G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 Wheresoever G3699 G1437 this G5124 gospel G2098 shall be preached G2784 in G1722 the whole G3650 world, G2889 there shall also G2532 this, that G3739 this woman G3778 G846 hath done, G4160 be told G2980 for G1519 a memorial G3422 of her. G846
14 Then G5119 one G1520 of the twelve, G1427 called G3004 Judas G2455 Iscariot, G2469 went G4198 unto G4314 the chief priests, G749
15 And said G2036 unto them, What G5101 will ye G2309 give G1325 me, G3427 and G2504 I will deliver G3860 him G846 unto you? G5213 And G1161 they covenanted G2476 with him G846 for thirty G5144 pieces of silver. G694
16 And G2532 from G575 that time G5119 he sought G2212 opportunity G2120 to G2443 betray G3860 him. G846
17 Now G1161 the first G4413 day of the feast of unleavened bread G106 the disciples G3101 came G4334 to Jesus, G2424 saying G3004 unto him, G846 Where G4226 wilt thou G2309 that we prepare G2090 for thee G4671 to eat G5315 the passover? G3957
18 And G1161 he said, G2036 Go G5217 into G1519 the city G4172 to G4314 such a man, G1170 and G2532 say G2036 unto him, G846 The Master G1320 saith, G3004 My G3450 time G2540 is G2076 at hand; G1451 I will keep G4160 the passover G3957 at G4314 thy house G4571 with G3326 my G3450 disciples. G3101
19 And G2532 the disciples G3101 did G4160 as G5613 Jesus G2424 had appointed G4929 them; G846 and G2532 they made ready G2090 the passover. G3957
20 Now G1161 when the even G3798 was come, G1096 he sat down G345 with G3326 the twelve. G1427
21 And G2532 as they G846 did eat, G2068 he said, G2036 Verily G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 that G3754 one G1520 of G1537 you G5216 shall betray G3860 me. G3165
22 And G2532 they were exceeding G4970 sorrowful, G3076 and began G756 every one G1538 of them G846 to say G3004 unto him, G846 Lord, G2962 is G1510 it G3385 I? G1473
23 And G1161 he answered G611 and said, G2036 He that dippeth G1686 his hand G5495 with G3326 me G1700 in G1722 the dish, G5165 the same G3778 shall betray G3860 me. G3165
24 G3303 The Son G5207 of man G444 goeth G5217 as G2531 it is written G1125 of G4012 him: G846 but G1161 woe G3759 unto that G1565 man G444 by G1223 whom G3739 the Son G5207 of man G444 is betrayed! G3860 it had been G2258 good G2570 for that G1565 man G846 if G1487 he G444 had G1080 not G3756 been born. G1080
25 Then G1161 Judas, G2455 which G3588 betrayed G3860 him, G846 answered G611 and said, G2036 Master, G4461 is G1510 it G3385 I? G1473 He said G3004 unto him, G846 Thou G4771 hast said. G2036
26 And G1161 as they G846 were eating, G2068 Jesus G2424 took G2983 bread, G740 and G2532 blessed G2127 it, and brake G2806 it, and G2532 gave G1325 it to the disciples, G3101 and G2532 said, G2036 Take, G2983 eat; G5315 this G5124 is G2076 my G3450 body. G4983
27 And G2532 he took G2983 the cup, G4221 and G2532 gave thanks, G2168 and gave G1325 it to them, G846 saying, G3004 Drink ye G4095 all G3956 of G1537 it; G846
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Matthew 26
Commentary on Matthew 26 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 26
The narrative of the death and sufferings of Christ is more particularly and fully recorded by all the four evangelists than any part of his history; for what should be determine, and desire to know, but Christ, and him crucified? And this chapter begins that memorable narrative. The year of the redeemed was now come, the seventy weeks determined were now accomplished, when transgression must be finished, reconciliation made, and an everlasting righteousness brought in, by the cutting off of Messiah the Prince, Dan. 9:24, 26. That awful scene is here introduced, to be read with reverence and holy fear. In this chapter, we have,
Mat 26:1-5
Here is,
Mat 26:6-13
In this passage of story, we have,
Observe his reason; You have the poor always with you. Note,
Mat 26:14-16
Immediately after an instance of the greatness kindness done to Christ, follows an instance of the greatest unkindness; such mixture is there of good and bad among the followers of Christ; he hath some faithful friends, and some false and feigned ones. What could be more base than this agreement which Judas here made with the chief priests, to betray Christ to them?
Observe,
I will deliver him unto you. He did not offer himself, nor did they tamper with him, to be a witness against Christ, though they wanted evidence, v. 59. And if there had been any thing to be alleged against him, which had but the colour of proof that he was an impostor, Judas was the likeliest person to have attested it; but this is an evidence of the innocency of our Lord Jesus, that his own disciple, who knew so well his doctrine and manner of life, and was false to him, could not charge him with any thing criminal, though it would have served to justify his treachery.
What will ye give me? Why, what did he want? Neither bread to eat, nor raiment to put on; neither necessaries nor conveniences. Was not he welcome, wherever his Master was? Did he not fare as he fared? Had he not been but just now nobly entertained at a supper in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, and a little before at another, where no less a person than Martha herself waited at table? And yet this covetous wretch could not be content, but comes basely cringing to the priests with, What will ye give me? Note, It is not the lack of money, but the love of money, that is the root of all evil, and particularly of apostasy from Christ; witness Demas, 2 Tim. 4:10. Satan tempted our Saviour with this bait, All these things will I give thee (ch. 4:9); but Judas offered himself to be tempted with it; he asks, What will ye give me? as if his Master was a commodity that stuck on his hands.
Mat 26:17-25
We have here an account of Christ's keeping the passover. Being made under the law, he submitted to all the ordinances of it, and to this among the rest; it was kept in remembrance of Israel's deliverance out of Egypt, the birth-day of that people; it was a tradition of the Jews, that in the days of the Messiah they should be redeemed on the very day of their coming out of Egypt; and it was exactly fulfilled, for Christ died the day after the passover, in which day they began their march.
Mat 26:26-30
We have here the institution of the great gospel ordinance of the Lord's supper, which was received of the Lord. Observe,
This cup he gave to the disciples,
Now observe what Christ saith of his blood represented in the sacrament.
When this was done, they went out into the mount of Olives. He would not stay in the house to be apprehended, lest he should bring the master of the house into trouble; nor would he stay in the city, lest it should occasion an uproar; but he retired into the adjacent country, the mount of Olives, the same mount that David in his distress went up the ascent of, weeping, 2 Sa. 15:30. They had the benefit of moon-light for this walk, for the passover was always at the full moon. Note, After we have received the Lord's supper, it is good for us to retire for prayer and meditation, and to be alone with God.
Mat 26:31-35
We have here Christ's discourse with his disciples upon the way, as they were going to the mount of Olives. Observe,
What Peter said the rest subscribed to; likewise also said all the disciples. Note,
Mat 26:36-46
Hitherto, we have seen the preparatives for Christ's sufferings; now, we enter upon the bloody scene. In these verses we have the story of his agony in the garden. This was the beginning of sorrows to our Lord Jesus. Now the sword of the Lord began to awake against the man that was his Fellow; and how should it be quiet when the Lord had given it a charge? The clouds had been gathering a good while, and looked black. He had said, some days before, Now is my soul troubled, Jn. 12:27. But now the storm began in good earnest. He put himself into this agony, before his enemies gave him any trouble, to show that he was a Freewill offering; that his life was not forced from him, but he laid it down of himself. Jn. 10:18. Observe,
But what was the cause of all this? What was it that put him into his agony? Why art thou cast down, blessed Jesus, and why disquieted? Certainly, it was nothing of despair or distrust of his Father, much less any conflict or struggle with him. As the Father loved him because he laid down his life for the sheep, so he was entirely subject to his Father's will in it. But,
Observe,
But what answer had he to this prayer? Certainly it was not made in vain; he that heard him always, did not deny him now. It is true, the cup did not pass from him, for he withdrew that petition, and did not insist upon it (if he had, for aught I know, the cup had passed away); but he had an answer to his prayer; for,
When Christ's disciples put this slight upon him,
As to the disciples here,
Mat 26:47-56
We are here told how the blessed Jesus was seized, and taken into custody; this followed immediately upon his agony, while he yet spake; for from the beginning to the close of his passion he had not the least intermission or breathing-time, but deep called unto deep. His trouble hitherto was raised within himself; but now the scene is changed, now the Philistines are upon thee, thou blessed Samson; the Breath of our nostrils, the Anointed of the Lord is taken in their pits, Lam. 4:20.
Now concerning the apprehension of the Lord Jesus, observe,
Our Lord Jesus was made a prisoner, because he would in all things be treated as a malefactor, punished for our crime, and as a surety under arrest for our debt. The yoke of our transgressions was bound by the Father's hand upon the neck of the Lord Jesus, Lam. 1:14. He became a prisoner, that he might set us at liberty; for he said, If ye seek me, let these go their way (Jn. 18:8); and those are free indeed, whom he makes so.
Three reasons Christ give to Peter for this rebuke:
He further expostulates with them, by reminding them how he had behaved himself hitherto toward them, and they toward him.
Mat 26:57-68
We have here the arraignment of our Lord Jesus in the ecclesiastical court, before the great sanhedrim. Observe,
See,
But at last they met with two witnesses, who, it seems, agreed in their evidence, and therefore were hearkened to, in hopes that now the point was gained. The words they swore against him, were, that he should say, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days, v. 61. Now by this they designed to accuse him,
Well, this way will not do; aliâ aggrediendum est viâ-recourse must be had to some other expedient.
Observe,
Observe,
Here is,
Mat 26:69-75
We have here the story of Peter's denying his Master, and it comes in as a part of Christ's sufferings. Our Lord Jesus was now in the High Priest's hall, not to be tried, but baited rather; and then it would have been some comfort to him to see his friends near him. But we do not find any friend he had about the court, save Peter only, and it would have been better if he had been at a distance. Observe how he fell, and how he got up again by repentance.