INTERNET BIBLE STUDIES Matthew Lesson 29
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Matthew Chapter 26:26-75

Memory verses for this week:  Mat 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

Introduction: In the first half of Chapter 26, we studied how the Priests, Scribes, and elders of Israel came together to plot to murder Jesus Christ.    We found Mary of Bethany coming and anointing the Lord which was for his burial Christ said.  Later we saw Satan entering into Judas Iscariot and he betrays the Lord for 30 pieces of silver.    We closed as the disciples prepared the upper room for Jesus and his disciples to partake of the passover.    This was the time when Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper which is one of the two ordinances of the church.

 

I.    Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper

Mat 26:26  And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

Mat 26:27  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

Mat 26:28  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Mat 26:29  But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

The Lord’s Supper is a symbol of the broken body of Christ at Calvary.  The bread symbolizes his broken body, while the cup is a symbol of his shed blood.  The Lord’s Supper should truly only be observed by the local church and the members of that local church as Christ set the example here with His first church.    Christ promises that he will come again and drink the fruit of the vine again in His Father’s kingdom.  It is important to note that BEFORE they partook of the Lord’s supper, Judas Iscariot went out from their presence.

John 13:26  Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

John 13:27  And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

John 13:28  Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.

John 13:29  For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.

John 13:30  He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.

 

II.  Jesus Foretells of Peter’s Denial

Mat 26:30  And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

Mat 26:31  Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

Mat 26:32  But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.

Mat 26:33  Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

Jesus warns the disciples that he would soon be smitten.   But he also promises that he would be resurrected and would come and see them in Galilee.   Peter makes a bold statement and says if others were offended, he would never be.   We need to be careful when using the word NEVER.   We may find ourselves doing exactly what we don’t want to do.   Peter was the FIRST one to be offended when Jesus was arrested.   It is important that we realize that when things get rough, it is only by the Grace of God we will be faithful and stand strong.   None of us in the flesh can do much, but with God’s Grace, we can stand strong.   When young David faced Goliath, he came in the power of the Lord, and he won that battle against great odds.

1 Sam 17:45  Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

Mat 26:34  Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

Mat 26:35  Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

Jesus tells Peter that he would deny Him three times before the cock would  crow.    Not only did Peter say he would not deny him even if he should die, but ALL the disciples said this.   As I said earlier, we need to realize without God’s Grace we may or may not do what we say we will do.

III.  The Agony in the Garden

Mat 26:36  Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

Mat 26:37  And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

Mat 26:38  Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

It appears that Jesus and his disciples came to this garden often to pray.  He took Peter, James, and John (those who were in his special inner circle of close friends), and asks them to  watch.    It says he became exceeding sorrowful as He knows his time is drawing near to go to the Cross.

Mat 26:39  And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Mat 26:40  And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

Mat 26:41  Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Jesus prays first in verse 30 that if it were possible, that God would let this cup pass from Him.   He was not asking to not go to the Cross, but rather to let it happen now if it be the Father’s Will.   He was ready to drink the bitter cup, but even yet, he says “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.”   That is how we need to face each day.  Let God by the Holy Spirit guide us as to what we should do, and try our best to do what God would have us do.

Jesus returns and finds them all asleep.

Mat 26:42  He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

Mat 26:43  And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.

Jesus prays a second time that it might be possible that the cup could be taken at this time.

Jesus was to drink of the bitter cup of suffering for sin. No one else could drink this cup, and had Jesus not done it, we would have no hope for salvation today.   He took upon  Him our sin that we might be made righteous before God.   Again he returns and finds the disciples sleeping.  

Mat 26:44  And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

Mat 26:45  Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Mat 26:46  Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.

In this third prayer that Christ prays to the Father, he says the same words concerning the cup passing from Him if it be possible.   He finds the disciples sleeping, and he tells them to sleep on now.   He tells them later that the hour is at hand when He would be betrayed into the hands of sinners.  We know at other times they could not take the Lord because it was not yet time.  But now the time has come, and Christ tells them the betrayer is at Hand.

 

IV.  The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

Mat 26:47  And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

Mat 26:48  Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.

Mat 26:49  And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.

Mat 26:50  And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

Judas comes with this great multitude and comes and kisses Christ, and calls him master.   Jesus was the Great Master, but was not Judas’ master.   Judas was being led by his father the Devil in this act.   Christ told the disciples before Judas came on the scene that he would identify the traitor.  The whom he was to kiss would be the one who would betray him.

Mat 26:51  And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.

Mat 26:52  Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

Mat 26:53  Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

Mat 26:54  But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

Mat 26:55  In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.

Mat 26:56  But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

Peter attempts to protect the Lord and fight for him.  One of the disciples, Peter, drew a sword and cut off the ear of one of the high priest’s  servants.   Jesus tells them to put up the sword, that he was going willingly.   If he did not want to be taken, God could send him 12 legions of angels and he could be taken out.   But all these things happened to fulfill the scriptures.   Jesus questions why they come out in the middle of the night when each day he stood in the temple teaching, and they never lay hold on him.   But it was due to several reasons.  One, they feared the people.  Secondly, they felt strong with this large number of soldiers coming in the middle of the night, they could easily take him.  And lastly, it was now time. Until God chose the time, Christ would never have been taken.

He goes willingly because the scriptures had to be fulfilled.   And as he fulfills the scriptures, we see all the disciples forsaking him and running away.  Just earlier, all said they would NEVER forsake him, but now they all turn away.

Luke 4:28  And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,

Luke 4:29  And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.

Luke 4:30  But he passing through the midst of them went his way,

V.  Jesus Brought Before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin

Mat 26:57  And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

Mat 26:58  But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.

We find Jesus being taken before the High Priest which is Caiaphas at this time.   If you remember when we studied Hebrew History, the very first High Priest was Aaron.  Peter does not come near, but follows from a far off.  I’m afraid that is the way many of us follow Jesus today.   Many times we want to just blend in with the crowd like Peter did here… he goes in and sits with the servants to see what would transpire.  These servants were the enemies of Christ.   When we try to associate ourselves with the world, we are partaking of Satan’s crowd.

John 15:18  If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

John 15:19  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

 

John 17:14  I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

John 17:15  I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

John 17:16  They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

John 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

John 17:18  As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

John 17:19  And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

 

Mat 26:59  Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;

Mat 26:60  But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,

Mat 26:61  And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

Mat 26:62  And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?

Mat 26:63  But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

They seek for false witnesses.   Many come and condemn Christ, but their words did not agree.   Finally the last two false witnesses accuse Christ of saying He could destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days.  (Jesus was not referring to the literal temple, but the temple of his body in that statement.)  The High Priest questions why that he did not speak in His own defense.   Jesus was not trying to save Himself from the death that faced Him.  The High Priest says that he should tell them if he was the Christ, the Son of God.  However, they would not have believed Him had He told them all things.    He had been in their midst for three years teaching total truth, and they would not hear.

John 2:19  Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

John 2:20  Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?

John 2:21  But he spake of the temple of his body.

Mat 26:64  Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Mat 26:65  Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.

Mat 26:66  What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.

Mat 26:67  Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,

Mat 26:68  Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?

Christ tells them that they would see Him coming again in the clouds of heaven when He returns at the right hand of God one day.   This is speaking of the time at the close of the 7 Years of Tribulation.  The High Priest charges him with blasphemy, and says he is guilty of death.   The condemn Christ to die and he is mocked by the crowd and the soldiers. They spit in his face and beat him with the palms of their hands.   Oh what Christ suffered for us in those last hours of His life.

Isa 53:5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Isa 53:6  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Isa 53:7  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

VI.  Peter’s Denial

Mat 26:69  Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.

Mat 26:70  But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.

Mat 26:71  And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.

Mat 26:72  And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.

Mat 26:73  And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.

Mat 26:74  Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

Mat 26:75  And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

Peter had said he would never deny the Lord, but when the damsel says he is one of those who were with Christ, he denies it.   Each time, he denies that he is a Christian, and finally began to curse and swear.  After denying the Lord three times, then he heard the cock crow.     How many times could you and I be a witness for the Lord, but we similarly deny Him and don’t speak up.  There is a time to speak, and a time to be silent.  God help us to recognize when we should speak up, and give us the courage to do so.   When Peter remembered the words of Jesus, he went out and wept bitterly.     He repented of his sins and asked God to restore his fellowship.   Peter felt defeated that night, but God was not through with this man.   He was used on the day of Pentecost to preach the message that led over 3,000 people to be saved. (Acts Chapter 2)

 

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Prov 4:18  But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

 

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