Matthew 26 - 28

Betrayal, Death, Resurrection

Note: Today's reading completes Matthew and our first book in the Old Testament.

Jesus realizes His life on Earth is near the end and has the disciples prepare for the Passover Meal.  Before this, Matthew briefly relates (26: 6-13) the story of the women who anoints Jesus with expensive perfume. Verse 8 states, "The disciples were indignant...'What a waste'..." As we will find out, Mark's gospel says "some of the disciples" and John's gospel says, "Judas was upset."  Regardless, it was after this incident, related to money, that Judas took action to betray Jesus to the priests.  His motivation was money and he used the "waste" as the excuse to betray Him for 30 pieces of silver (v.15). 

So pernicious and deceitful was Judas that after arranging the betrayal, he attends the Last Supper - verse 20 states that all 12 disciples were present.  It is interesting to note that this was a "supper" not a breakfast, i.e. it was not served in the morning like most mainstream churches do with mass/communion.  He served broken bread not crackers, and wine not grape-juice.  How this has morphed into a morning ritual with soda crackers or wafers and grape juice is difficult to understand.  The broken bread spoke of His torn body.  The wine of His blood.

Judas was the disciple to betray Jesus, but the other disciples were no less cowardly.  Peter vowed twice (v.33 and 35) to never deny him and "All the other disciples vowed the same (v. 35).  Yet a mere 20 verses later, at Jesus' arrest in verse 56 we read, "At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled."  Jesus was alone. His disciples had betrayed and deserted Him.  Even His Father turned His back on Him and let Him face His accusers as a man.  Despite Peter's best intentions, in verses 70, 72, and 74 he denied Him vehemently, even swearing an oath the last time.

In chapter 27, Jesus stands trial before Pilate who realizes that Jesus in not guilty of any capital offence.  Verse 18 states, "He knew very well that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy." Pilate made a lame attempt (by washing his hands) at disassociating himself from declaring Jesus guilty (v.24) but he also did nothing to stop the crucifixion. In fact, Pilate turned Jesus over to his soldiers to be cruelly beaten and mocked, and finally crucified.

All of this was to fulfill the requirements of the Law - the sin of mankind could not be erased with the blood of animal sacrifice.  Man sinned, thus man had to pay the price.  Since no man was worthy to pay the price, God had to send His own Son to do this.

Chapter 28 is proof that the sacrifice was accepted, because on the 3rd day after the crucifixion, Jesus resurrected from the dead, declaring total victory over death.  At the moment of Jesus' death, the curtain that hid the Holy of Holies in the Temple, tore from top to bottom (27:51) as a sign from Heaven (top) to Earth(bottom) that the requirements of the Law had been fulfilled. So complete was this sacrifice, that dead saints arose from the grave (v. 52) and appeared to many people.

Matthew's Gospel provides little detail about what took place after the resurrection (the other Gospels provide much more information) but it does contain what is commonly called the "great commission" in verses 19-20.  It is interesting to note that He commissions them to make disciples of "all nations" not just Jews. He also provides a formula for water baptism which, we will find out when we read Acts, has been grossly misinterpreted and applied.

May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.