Matthew 26:1-2 – Jesus declares that in two days He is going to be delivered up for crucifixion. The leadership had determined to rid themselves of Jesus because he was a continual threat to their authority. They worried about the volatile atmosphere that existed in Jerusalem and the cozy arrangement that they had with Rome. Religious riots could endanger that fragile relationship, and multitudes followed Jesus.
Following His triumphal entry into Jerusalem the entire city was stirred with His words and deeds. The events of Matthew 21 occured on the tenth of the month of Nissan with Passover coming on the 14th. The triumphal entry was on the 10th of the month that day corresponds to the command of the original Passover to set aside the Passover lamb at that time. The events of chapter 26 begin on the 12th of the month.
Jesus would be crucified on the first day of Passover which would be on the 14th. Jesus had predicted at least three times that he would die and then rise again. The timing of His death was in the hands of the Father. There had been numerous attempts on His life but no man could take His life, He would be the one to lay it down (John 10:18).
The Jewish leadership now determine that they would seize Jesus when He wasn’t expecting it and kill him. They resolved that they would wait until after Passover, because they feared that any plot against Jesus would stir the multitudes to riot. The timing however was not in their hands but God’s as Peter declared in (Acts 2:23).
The Father’s appointed time was Passover, as Jesus was to be the Passover Lamb, making it possible for Israel and any who come to Him to be delivered from the bondage of slavery to sin. The death of Jesus would make it possible for men to begin the journey to the promised land of heaven, just as the blood of the Passover lamb in Egypt made it possible for Israel to begin the journey to the promised land of Israel.
Matthew 26:3-5 – The Jewish leadership now determines that they would wait until after Passover to lay hands on Yeshua. They feared that any plot against Jesus would stir the multitudes to riot so they were going to wait until the multitudes left Jerusalem. God’s appointed time was Passover.
According to Josephus there were 256,500 sacrificial lambs offered on a typical Passover in the Temple. The Talmud required that no fewer than ten people were to share a lamb. This would mean that on a typical Passover there were probably over 2 ½ million Jewish people present. Most of these people believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah as was witnessed on Palm Sunday when the multitudes praise God at His triumphal entry to Jerusalem.
The chief priests were Sadducees who were members of the ruling Sanhedrin, the chief elders were lay leaders who were a part of the ruling body of Israel. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea were chief elders. Caiaphas, the High Priest received his appointment not so much because of lineage but his political connections. His familial relationship to Annas made it easier to appoint him but politics played more of a role. He was not interested in the things of God but rather political expediency.
Jesus was a threat to the arrangements worked out with Rome. Any political or religious riots would be Caiaphas job to control or Rome would place some other puppet who would get the job done. His chief reason for getting rid of Jesus is spoken in (John 11:50).
Caiaphas held the office of High Priest from A.D. 15-37, which was unprecedented, the turnover was incredibly high because of the political juggling act that was required to remain in office. The High Priest who followed Caiaphas lasted only 50 days. It was Caiaphas who oversaw all the business that was going on in the Temple. This included the buying and selling of ritually pure animals for sacrifice, and the exchanging of “unclean” money for clean. All was taxed and the commissions went to Caiaphas and his family. It is for this reason that Jesus overturned the tables in the Synagogue.
These business activities were in the Court of the Gentiles, and prevented Gentiles from the ability to engage in undistracted worship in the Temple. (Mark 11:17) And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a robbers’ den.”
Matthew 26:6-13 – These verses bring us back to the day before Jesus’ triumphant entry in Jerusalem. The parallel account is described in John 12 and the woman is identified as Mary the sister of Martha.
In Luke 10:39 we know that Mary was attentive to the words of Jesus. She understood what the disciples refused to accept that Jesus was going to die. She in some way knew that His death was for her. She was someone who did not have an agenda or preconceived ideas for Jesus. She accepted the Lord at His word. In pouring the perfume on the Lord she did not consider the cost; it was simply an expression of love and worship for the Messiah.
The disciples haven’t a clue why she was doing what she did, and became incensed at the waste. From the account in John 12 it was Judas who was most concerned, claiming it could have been sold and the money given to the poor. Judas however was a thief, and the money would have been better used in his pockets than wasted on the feet of Jesus.
Jesus rebuked the disciples who according to Mark 14:4 had also joined in their dissatisfaction with Mary’s actions. Mary had once again chosen the better part. There is a season for worship and a season for ministering to the poor. She probably did not realize that she was preparing his body for burial but Jesus said her act would be noted throughout time never to be forgotten.
Matthew 26:14-16 – Contrasted with the loving actions of Mary is the evil actions of Judas. Secretly he approached the chief priests and asked them what they would be willing to pay if Judas turned him over to them. Some have speculated that Judas was trying to force Jesus to assume the kingdom by causing him to fall into the hands of his enemies.
Whatever his motives they were clearly divinely pronounced to be evil and caused him to be sentenced to eternal judgment. The price given to him by the priests was thirty pieces of silver the price of a slave according to the law and tradition. Joseph the beloved son of Jacob who also was betrayed by his brothers was very much a type of the Messiah and was sold for the price of a slave (Leviticus 27:2-5). Judas looked for an opportune time to betray the Lord (Luke 22:6).
Matthew 26:17-19– Jesus observed the Passover on the first of the two days that were celebrated. This was the anniversary of the liberation of the Jewish people from their bondage in Israel. God gave specific instructions concerning the remembrance of this day in Exodus 12.
The disciples came to Jesus asking Him where do you want us to prepare the Passover? They had to go and get the lamb that had been set aside for Passover, bring it to the Temple and offer it there and then return with the Lamb to prepare for the meal. They had to cleanse the house of leaven (any remnants of yeast) according to the instructions of Exodus 12 and prepare the ceremonial foods that were to be partaken during the meal.
All these things were to help Israel remember their slavery in Egypt and God’s deliverance through the blood of the lamb. This was their birthday as a nation, and each year they were to remember in such a way as if it was this year that they had come out of slavery. They partook of 4 cups to remember the 4 “I wills” of Exodus 6:6-7 that God spoke concerning them. Jesus told them that they should go into the city and there they would come across a certain man.
In other passages we are told that he would be identified because he was carrying a pitcher of water (Luke 22:10), this man would show him a room that was all prepared for them to use to celebrate for the Passover. The unusual way the place of the Passover was found may have been to thwart Judas who would have used the dinner away from the multitudes as a place to betray Jesus.
This Passover Seder had to be completed in an undisturbed manner for the Lord’s final instructions to His disciples would be given here John 13-17. The expression “my time is at hand” refers to a specific time rather than general time. It was an allusion to the work that He was about to accomplish on Calvary.
Matthew 26:20-24– It was Thursday evening, and the disciples reclined at the table. According to Exodus 12 the meal was to be eaten in haste, but now they were no longer in bondage so God specifically required that they recline during their meal. Reclining was the sign of a free man. Four cups were partaken of during the meal to remember the 4 times spoke “I will” in Exodus 6:6-7. After the washing of the hands which was part of the ceremony a dispute broke out among the disciples Luke 22:24, over who was greatest among them.
It was probably at this time that Jesus laid aside his garments to wash the disciple’s feet and explain to them that a true disciple will follow his example to them (John 13:4-5). The betrayal of the Lord by Judas was highlighted by his dipping into the bowel of bitter herbs. The betrayal spoken of in John 13:18 had been prophesied in Psalm 41:9 and it would be fulfilled.
Judas thought he was setting a trap for Jesus but in reality, he was serving the plan of God. Nothing will take God by surprise. Judas’ betrayal while it served God’s purposes, was not done by God. Judas was to be damned for what he did, even though it accomplished God’s purposes.
Matthew 26:26-20 With the remaining eleven Jesus transformed the meaning of the Passover from a remembrance of God’s deliverance from Egyptian bondage to a message of deliverance for all who would put their trust in Him. The third cup was a picture of redemption through the blood of the Passover Lamb. It was here that Jesus changed the meaning of the third cup from the Passover lamb in Egypt to His blood which be a reminder of what would bring redemption.
In the same way, Jesus changed the meaning of the eating of the bread after supper. It had one meaning before this last supper, and a different meaning afterwards. Both the bread and the wine were pictures or illustrations of what it meant in the wilderness for Israel.
(Matthew 26:31-32) One of the great convictions of believers is that they must warn the world of sin and its consequences. Yet amid this warning and its fervor, something is often missed: believers, too, must be warned of sin and its consequences.
Believers are not above sin; they are not removed from human flesh. However, there is something that makes them different: they have been given a spiritual nature. They now live in the spirit as well as in the flesh. The flesh is still with every believer. We all must be warned but Jesus is waiting to receive and forgive those who will genuinely confess and repent.
In vv 31-32 there is the prediction that all shall fall away. Jesus shared two reasons common to every man why the disciples would fall away.
- “All shall be offended because of me”. Men question who Jesus is, wondering about Him and sometimes being turned off by Him. The word offend means to stumble, to fall. When confronted by Jesus, men stumble over three things: They Men stumble over who Yeshua is (John 6:54-58,60,66).
- They stumble over the cross of Messiah (1 Corinthians 1:21-23,1 Corinthians 1:23). And they stumble over the cross God calls them to bear (Luke 9:23).
When men look at Jesus and His cross, many react with doubt, denial, rejection, closing their hearts. They consider Him and His cross to be irrational, in our modern, scientific world. When Jesus was arrested, the apostles questioned and wondered if Yeshua was really the Messiah. He did not resist arrest, and He did not use His mighty power. He was not leading the people in an uprising against Rome, nor was He freeing Israel and setting up the nation as the center of God’s kingdom at this time.
The apostles were disillusioned and perplexed; they simply could not understand what was happening. Their hope in Yeshua as the promised Messiah was now hanging on a cross of despair, and death. In this passage Jesus was foretelling their falling away. He knew that after His resurrection, they would remember His words and be able to return and understand more fully. Remembering that He had foretold them what would happen He would then. help them return and become stronger (John 14:29; 13:19).
The disciples would be offended because Jesus was rejected. Visibly, He was rejected by the crowd but behind the scenes, in the invisible world, it was God who smote the Shepherd; that is, God put Jesus to death (Zechariah 13:7). It was in “the counsel and foreknowledge of God” that Jesus was to die (Acts 2:23).
Jesus had to give His life for man if man was to be saved (Acts 2:25; Romans 5:8; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 3:18). When the crowd rejected Jesus, the disciples felt threatened. They feared the crowd and lacked the courage to take a stand with Him. They turned away, fled, and deserted Him. Peter even denied Him vocally (Matthew 26:69-75). The remedy for falling away is the resurrection. They would return to Him after His resurrection (Matthew 26:32). Despite their fall, He would still accept them. In fact, He would be waiting for them. They would be forgiven for having denied Him (Acts 8:22,1 John 1:9; Proverbs 28:13).
We are shown here how quickly a fall can come. At Passover the disciples were sitting in the Upper Room with Jesus as He shared Passover with them. And on that very night they would fall away. But of course Yeshua knew His disciples would stumble and fall. He knew they would be extremely discouraged. Knowing this, note what He did. He did not upbraid, scold, reproach, or condemn them. He planned to meet them, forgiving and receiving them in the power of His love and resurrection.
(Matthew 26:33-35) Peter’s over-confidence was caused by four things:
1. First by comparing himself with others. Peter could not believe what he was hearing. When Yeshua said, “All will stumble,” it included him. Others may, Peter thought, but not him. There was not a chance, and he wanted Jesus to know it. Peter was comparing himself with others, in fact, with “all others”: “Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.”” Peter saw the weaknesses and flaws of others. Perhaps they could fail, but not him; he could never fall away from Yeshua. Others may be weak, but not him. Peter committed the terrible sin of humanity: pride (1 Corinthians 10:12). Peter thought himself stronger than others, above and beyond them spiritually.
2. Peter’s over-confidence was caused by being blind to the cross (Matthew 26:34). Peter just did not see or understand the cross. It was Jesus hanging on the cross that was going to cause Peter to further deny Jesus. He had told him all about the cross, but he had refused to believe it (Matthew 17:22;18:1-2).
3. Peter’s over-confidence was caused by not knowing himself, the weaknesses of his flesh. Peter’s self-image was strong. He saw himself above serious sin and failure. He asserted with all the confidence in the world that he would die for Jesus before denying Him. Peter failed not once, but three times, and all three times were in the same night when Jesus was right off to his side being tried for His life (Luke 22:61).
4. Peter’s over-confidence was caused by contradicting Jesus instead of listening to Him. He was warning the disciples about the deceitfulness and weakness of the human heart. Peter and the rest just refused to accept the fact. That others fail is not reason for confidence in ourselves, but a reason for guarding ourselves even
Matthew 26:36-38 – The Mount of Olives was a private garden which Jesus often used as a retreat (John 18:2). Gethsemane means “oil press,” which is significant considering His agony in the Garden. It was a regular gathering place for Jesus and His disciples and the perfect place for Judas to bring those who would grab hold of Jesus. A follower of Jesus who allowed Him and His disciples to gather there probably owned it. It is just outside the gates of Jerusalem at the foot of the Mount of Olives. Peter is usually the one cited as the one who had failed the Lord, but all of the disciples were involved. Jesus referred to Zechariah 13:7 in warning His disciples, but He also added a word of promise:
He would rise again and meet them in Galilee. Unfortunately, the men paid little attention to the promise of His resurrection. On Resurrection Day, the angels reminded them of the meeting in Galilee (Matthew 28:7,10). It may have been the effects of the wine from the Seder, or that they were tired, but they could not keep awake and give the Lord the fellowship with them that He desired from them.
He had only taken Peter, James and John the sons of Zebedee. Perhaps he wanted to show them that in the face of real crisis their help would not come from men but needed to come from God through prayer. But Jesus was going to face this trial all alone. He knew well enough not to put His faith in men but rather in God. His grief may have come from the awareness of what was before Him. Separation from the Father and the bearing of the world’s sins on Himself.
Matthew 26:39-47 It was this prospect that caused Jesus to ask of the Father if it were possible for this cup not to be drunk. Was there another way that the Father might make for Atonement? Jesus knew the answer, but the flesh caused Him to ask the question. The agony of the suffering of Jesus cannot be diminished or negated. He fully submitted to the will of the Father. When He returned to the disciples, they were all asleep. Like children they could not keep up with their father.
They also like children were oblivious to His need but succumbed to their own needs. It was in this setting that He tells the disciples that they needed to be ever vigilant. The expression “keep watching and praying” denotes continual action. We who are disciples of the Lord should always be alert. There will never be a time in this life where we can confidently rest on our work. The truth is that the Spirit is willing to do the things of God, but the flesh is weak. This was the truth that Paul came to understand in Rom 6-8. While they were being aroused for the third time Jesus alerted his disciples to the arrival of those who would bring him to cross.
A multitude came in the middle of the night to arrest and subdue a group of 12 men who were known for their peaceful activities. The multitude included Temple guards, Roman soldiers, chief priests and elders and members of the Sanhedrin. Jesus could have summoned his angels to come to his aid but after three times praying to the Father that this cup might pass from Him, he submitted to the will of the Father. Prayer sometimes is not answered in the way that we would like, but genuine prayer involves accepting with grace God’s will for our lives.
Matthew 26:48-50 Judas was disappointed with Jesus because he was looking for a kingdom of this world. He was looking to be the treasurer of His kingdom. Some believe that the motive of Judas’ betrayal was to force the hand of Jesus to become the King. But this was not the will of the Father, before the crown there would first have to be the cross.
According to Luke 22:3 Judas was now fully possessed by the devil and was likely under his control. Delivering up Jesus was in the minds of Judas, Satan, and the other forces at work. Each player was acting in their own free will, but Scripture is quite plain in suggesting that God is ultimately in control. Acts 2:23, this Man, delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.
Because it was dark and there would be uncertainty by the multitude, they needed to know who was the real Yeshua. Judas said he would give them a sign so that they would know. There could have been any number of different ways to do this, but Judas chose to kiss his master. In those days lowly slaves might kiss the hand of their masters, working servants might kiss the back of the hand, kissing the hem of the garment was the sign a respect or devotion, but to kiss on the cheek was the sign of deep affection and love.
It is the same word used to describe the action of Luke 7:38,45;15:20, and by the elders at the departing of Paul in Acts 20:37. This betrayal was the most renown of its kind, motivated by worldly desire to accomplish one’s own will rather than submitting to God.
Matthew 26:50 With this sign they laid hands on Jesus and seized Him. Peter impulsively reacted by drawing his sword and striking the slave of the High Priest, cutting off his ear (John 18:10). There are times when we are called not to pick up arms but to commit ourselves into the hands of the Father. (2 Corinthians 10:4) for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. Jesus taught that those who live by the sword would die by the sword. God has sovereignly given government the responsibility of bearing the sword for us and our protection (Romans 13:4) for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil.
Jesus here is not speaking of self-defense or protecting loved ones who are under attack but using the sword to get justice for yourself. The Lord goes on to tell those present that if He wanted, He could call on 12 legions of angels who could instantly come to His aid. A Roman legion consisted of 6,000 soldiers, so we are talking about 72,000 angels whose strength and power is far greater than the armies of man. (2 Kings 19:35) Then it happened that night that the angel of the LORD went out, and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when men rose early in the morning, behold, all of them were dead.
Prophecy needed to be fulfilled. Jesus had told his disciples that He was going to suffer and die repeatedly. Moreover, the prophets foretold his suffering and death. He would be betrayed by a close personal friend (Psalm 41:9) Even my close friend, in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me
(Psalm 55:12-14, Isaiah 53). In Luke’s account we are told that Jesus touched the ear of Malchus, and instantly healed him.
Matthew 26:51-57– It was Judas who had given the authorities the information, which enabled them to find Jesus in the privacy of the Garden of Gethsemane. The forces at the disposal of the Jewish authorities were the Temple police. But it was more like a mob for a lynching than a detachment for an orderly arrest. Jesus allowed no resistance. Matthew simply tells us that one of the disciples drew a sword and prepared to resist to the death, wounded a servant of the High Priest.
When John tells the same story (John 18:10), he tells us that the disciple was Peter, and the servant was Malchus. In this instance Peter was willing to take on the mob alone, and it was Peter that followed Jesus into the courtyard of the High Priest’s house. But the focus is on Jesus and here we learn two things about him. First His death was by his own choice. He need never have come to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast.
Even in the Garden he could have slipped away and saved himself, for it was night, and there were many who would have smuggled him out of the city. He could have called down the power of God and blasted his enemies. Every step of these last days makes it clear that Jesus laid down his life and that his life was not taken from him. Jesus died, not because men killed him, but because he chose to die.
Secondly, He chose to die because he knew that his death was the purpose of God. He took this way because the prophets had foretold it. Peter, a fisherman, tries to win a spiritual victory with a carnal weapon. We need to remember that God does not need to be defended. We fight against Satan and his minions, not flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:10-18); the weapons we use are spiritual, not carnal (2 Corinthians 10:3-5;Hebrews 4:12).
Moses made this same mistake (Acts 7:22-28), and had to spend forty years learning to let God fight his battles. There are no Christian Holy wars each one was a disaster for the Kingdom of God and did not represent God and His will. Jesus made it clear that His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36).
Matthew 26:57-58 -. When we fail to heed the Word of God, we always get ourselves into trouble. Jesus according to John was led first to the Father-in-Law of Caiaphas, Annas. (John 18:13) … “for he was father‑in‑law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. The order of Jesus’ trials was as follows:
(1) the hearing before Annas (John 18:12-14,19-23);
(2) the trial before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:57-68;27:1);
(3) the first appearance before Pilate (Matthew 27:2,11-14);
(4) an appearance before Herod (Luke 23:6-12);
(5) a second trial before Pilate (Matthew 27:15-26).
Annas had served as High Priest about 20 years earlier for about four years. Even though he stepped down from his official duties, the title of High Priest was one for life, and he retained his title and power through his sons and then through his son in law Caiaphas. The concessions in the Temple were under his jurisdiction, this included the various vendors that Jesus purged from the Temple.
These concessions were known as the “Bazaars of Annas”. He received commissions for all sales at these various selling stalls. The Temple officers were instructed to bring Jesus to Annas first, probably so Caiaphas would have time to assemble enough of the Sanhedrin to quickly dispatch Jesus to the Romans for “justice”. In a myriad of ways, the trial of Jesus broke the Law of God. Annas was seeking a legal means to put Jesus to death.
Illegally Jesus was arraigned, before an official indictment had been made against Him. He also tried to have Jesus incriminate Himself. His response to Annas in John 18:20-21, was to call him to interview the thousands who observed his very public ministry. He should interview them and see if he said anything that broke the Law. Failing to find anything to charge Him with, he sent Jesus to Caiaphas.
This was still “before the cock crowed” so it was the middle of the night when Jesus was brought to Caiaphas. This too was illegal it was unlawful to accuse a man at night. Peter who was trying to keep up with what was happening, should not have followed at all, let alone “afar off” (Matthew 26:58). Zechariah 13:7 prophesied that when the Shepherd would be struck the sheep would scatter, this was fulfilled though Peter tried to follow (Matthew 26:31).
Jesus plainly told the disciples to “go their way.” Jesus already warned Peter that Satan was after them (Luke 22:31-34) and that he would deny his Lord that night. The fact that Peter was in the courtyard of the High Priest demonstrates another illegality. A trial that could be punished with death was to be held only in the Temple and in public.
Matthew 26:59-61 – According to Jewish tradition Ezra established a school for the training of teachers, known as the hakenesset hagedolah (the great assembly), which interpreted the Law of Moses (Matthew 15:2) to meet current needs.
When the Great Assembly ceased sometime in the third century B.C., the Sanhedrin became the organization to interpret and judge the community of matters in Judea. According to Josephus, it was known as the gerousia (Greek), “Council,” during the Seleucid period (198‑167 B.C.) and Sanhedrin, “Court,” during the Roman occupation. It consisted of 71 members, including the acting high priest, who presided over the other 70 members from two parties, the Sadducees and Pharisees.
Former high priests, the acting high priest, scribes, and the elders also served. During the Roman period, many local courts existed because the Romans permitted the Jews to handle most of their own domestic and religious matters. At least three judges made up the local courts, and there were courts in large towns which had 23 members, the number needed to decide cases of capital punishment.
The Sanhedrin constituted the Jewish supreme court and met in the temple area each day, except on holy days and on Sabbaths. The Jerusalem Sanhedrin exercised considerable authority, which varied with different monarchs. Herod the Great tried to limit its powers, but under Roman governors its powers extended to religious matters and the regulation of civil matters. Beginning with the rule of Archelaus (4 B.C.‑A.D. 6), the powers of the Sanhedrin were limited to Judea, since it could not exercise authority over Jesus when He was in Galilee.
After the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, the Sanhedrin was abolished. During its existence, it had its own police force and could order arrests as we have just seen, and in capital cases had the power of life and death, provided that the Roman governor gave his consent. His judgment, however, usually complied with the Sanhedrin’s demands. The Sanhedrin also heard charges of blasphemy (Matthew 26:57ff.;John 19:7), transgression of the Law of Moses (Acts 22‑24), and false doctrine (Acts 4).
The Sanhedrin could act as judge and jury on cases brought before them, they could not instigate charges, which was still another illegal action going on in this trial. To succeed they tried to obtain false testimony against Jesus that they might find grounds to put Him to death. The false witnesses failed repeatedly until someone brought before the Sanhedrin a charge that they could use, (John 2:19 NASB).
Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Even their testimony in this case was inconsistent according to the account in Mark 14:59.
Because of the inconsistencies the law required that the charges should have been thrown out. Moreover, the law required that they relate the date, including the month, day, and year, as well as the location of the statement. No one not even Satan and his demons could bring a charge of an illegality against Jesus, because He never broke the Law. He only broke the laws that were devised by the traditions of the leaders.
Matthew 26:62-64 – All of these illegalities were happening just before Passover. They desperately wanted to end this trial before dawn so they wouldn’t be exposed doing this, as well as get home for their Passover.
In order to expedite things the High Priest begins another illegal attack on Jesus, but Jesus remains silent, thus fulfilling prophecy (Isaiah 53:7 NASB) He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.
Matthew 26:65-66 – With Jesus’ unwavering testimony that He was in fact God, the High Priest could now sentence Him to death. The tearing of the robes actually was still another illegal action by the Caiaphas (Leviticus 21:10). Jesus gave ample evidence that he was in fact God by His miracles (John 10:37-38). By asking for an immediate verdict the High Priest contributed once again to an illegal procedure.
In capital cases each individual member of the Sanhedrin was to be polled. The response was unanimous which tells us that not all were present for Scripture informs us that Joseph did not agree with the decision (Luke 23:50-51). All the elements of the trial indicate that this was more along the order of a mob action rather than a thoughtful legal trial.
Matthew 26:67-68 – In the highest court in the land the judges and the jury stoop to the lowest of possible levels by spitting in His face and beating Him with their fists while taunting Him. Following this shameless treatment by the leadership of God’s people he was turned over to the Temple guards (Mark 14:65)
Matthew 26:69-75 – Peter’s denial is tragic, but his recovery and restoration provide for us one of the greatest illustrations of God’s steadfast love for his children. All of us at one time or another have denied the Lord or worse, Peter’s reinstatement demonstrates that there is always hope for the one who will turn back. Peter’s self-confidence needed to be broken. When we are confident in ourselves, we are setting ourselves up for discipline in the same way as Peter.
He argued with the Lord when he was told that before the cock crows three times, he would deny Jesus. Rather than submit and receive God’s Word he thought he knew better (Proverbs 14:12). In the garden when Jesus was urging Peter, James and John to pray with Him it was so that they would be able to resist in the hour of temptation.
The result was that Peter was not prepared in the hour of temptation. Peter also was in a place he shouldn’t have been. He should have fled with the others, accepting his fear and panic, instead he followed Jesus and found himself in the courtyard of the worst enemies of the Lord. Here his faith would be tested beyond which he would be able to endure.
Peter entered the house of Annas which was also the place where Caiaphas was present as well. The courtyard was part of the interior of this huge home and Peter thought he would blend in with all the other people and officials who were present. While sitting in the courtyard a servant girl identified Peter as being associated with Jesus “the Galilean”.
The expression Galilean was used as a put down, as Galilean’s were thought to be illiterate bumpkins who were noted troublemakers. Peter immediately denied even knowing Jesus. Earlier he was ready to do battle, even going so far as to cut off the ear of an approaching servant. Yet now he was denying the Lord, why? Peter was not prepared for this confrontation. Elijah was brave before the prophets of Baal, but when he heard the threatening words of Queen Jezebel he fled.
In Mark 14:68 we learn that Peter moved from there to the porch of the home and was confronted again by a servant girl. She stated out loud that Peter was one of them, and not only did he deny but he cursed them as well. Immediately a cock crowed, and Luke tell us that Jesu was in a position where he and Peter could exchange glances.
At the third denial and the crowing of the cock, Jesus looked at Peter, and Peter remembered the words of Jesus (Luke 22:61). Peter went out weeping bitterly. After the resurrection, Jesus appears to Peter and questions him three times concerning his love for Him and three times Peter would affirm his love for Jesus (John 21:15-17). Oh the wonderful grace of Yeshua.
