Mateus 26

¹ AndChrist witnesses by his going to death voluntarily, that he will make full satisfaction for the sin of Adam by his obedience.it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples,

² God himself and not man appoints the time that Christ should be crucified.Ye know that after two days is [the feast of] the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.

³ Then assembled together the chiefe Priests, and the Scribes, and the Elders of ye people into the hall of the high Priest called Caiaphas:

⁴ And consulted together that they might take Iesus by subtiltie, and kill him.

⁵ But they said, Not on theBy the word «feast» is meant the whole feast of unleavened bread: the first and eighth day of which were so holy that they were not allowed to do any work on it, though the whole company of the Sanhedrin determined otherwise: And yet it came to pass through God's providence, that Christ suffered at that time, so that all the people of Israel might be witnesses of his everlasting sacrifice.feast [day], lest there be an uproar among the people.

⁶ By this sudden work of a sinful woman, Christ helps the guests to understand about his death and burial which was near: the gracious result of which will bring life to all sinners who flee unto him. But Judas takes an occasion here to accomplish his wicked purpose and plan.Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,

⁷ For these things were done before Christ came to Jerusalem: and yet some think that the evangelists have two differing accounts.There came unto him a woman having an alabasterThese boxes were of alabaster, which in ancient times men made hollow to put in ointments: for some write that alabaster keeps ointment without changing it in any way; Pliny, book 13, chap. 1.box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat [at meat].

⁸ But when hisThis is a figure of speech called synecdoche: for it is said that only Judas was moved at this; (Joh_12:4).disciples saw [it], they had indignation, saying, To what purpose [is] thisUnprofitable spending.waste?

⁹ For this oyntment might haue bene solde for much, and bene giuen to the poore.

¹⁰ We ought not to rashly condemn that which is not orderly done.When Jesus understood [it], he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.

¹¹ Christ, who was once anointed in his own person, must always be anointed in the poor.For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.

¹² ForIn that she poured this ointment upon my body, she did it to bury me.in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did [it] for my burial.

¹³ Verely I say vnto you, wheresoeuer this Gospel shall bee preached throughout all the worlde, there shall also this that shee hath done, be spoken of for a memoriall of her.

¹⁴ Then one of the twelue, called Iudas Iscariot, went vnto the chiefe Priestes,

¹⁵ And said, What will ye giue me, and I will deliuer him vnto you? And they appoynted vnto him thirtie pieces of siluer.

¹⁶ And from that time, he sought opportunitie to betraie him.

¹⁷ Christ purposing to bring us into our country without delay and so, to pay the penalty of the law, truly fulfils the law, omitting the contrary tradition and custom of the Jews: and thus shows that all things will so come to pass by the ministry of men as governed by the secret plan of God.NowThis was the fourteenth day of the first month: now the first day of unleavened bread should have been the fifteenth, but because the evening of this day (which after the manner of the Romans was referred to the day before) belonged by the Jews' manner to the day following, therefore it is called the first day of unleavened bread.the first [day] of the [feast of] unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?

¹⁸ And he said, Goe yee into the citie to such a man, and say to him, The master saieth, My time is at hande: I will keepe the Passeouer at thine house with my disciples.

¹⁹ And the disciples did as Iesus had giuen them charge, and made readie the Passeouer.

²⁰ Now when the even was come, heBecause the Law appointed them to be wearing footwear, and to have their staffs in their hands, as though they were is haste, therefore it is to be gathered that they did not sit down when they ate the Passover, but stood, for normally when they went to eat they took off their shoes: therefore he speaks here in this place, not of the Passover, but of the supper which was celebrated after the Passover was solemnly done.sat down with the twelve.

²¹ And as they did eate, he sayde, Verely I say vnto you, that one of you shall betraie me.

²² And they were exceeding sorowfull, and began euery one of them to say vnto him, Is it I, Master?

²³ And he answered and said, He thatThat is to say, he whom I invited to come to my table, alluding in this to (Psa_41:9), which is not to be understood as though just as the Lord spoke these words Judas had his hand in the dish (for that would have been an undoubted sign) but it refers to his tabling and eating with him.dippeth [his] hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.

²⁴ Surely the Sonne of man goeth his way, as it is written of him: but woe be to that man, by whom the Sonne of man is betrayed: it had bene good for that man, if hee had neuer bene borne.

²⁵ Then Judas,Who was thinking of nothing else but to betray him.which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.

²⁶ Christ who will without delay fulfil the promises of the old covenant, institutes a new covenant with new signs.And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, andMark says, «Had given thanks»: and therefore blessing is not a consecrating with a conjuring type of murmuring and power of words: and yet the bread and the wine are changed, not in nature but in quality, for without doubt they become tokens of the body and blood of Christ, not of their own nature or force of words, but by Christ his institution, which must be recited and laid forth, that faith may find what to lay hold on, both in the word and in the elements.blessed [it], and brake [it], and gave [it] to the disciples, and said, Take, eat;This is a figure of speech which is called metonymy: that is to say, the giving of one name for another: so he calls the bread his body, which is the sign and sacrament of his body: and yet nonetheless, it is a figurative and changed kind of speech meaning that the faithful do indeed receive Christ with all his gifts (though by a spiritual means) and become one with him.this is my body.

²⁷ And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave [it] to them, saying, Drink yeTherefore they who took away the cup from the people, disobeyed the instruction of Christ.all of it;

²⁸ That is, this cup or wine is my blood sacramentally, as in {{See Luk_22:20}}.For this is my blood of theOr covenant, that is to say, by which the new league and covenant is made, for in the making of leagues they used the pouring of wine and shedding of blood.new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

²⁹ I say vnto you, that I will not drinke henceforth of this fruit of the vine vntil that day, when I shal drinke it new with you in my Fathers kingdome.

³⁰ And when they had sungWhen they had made an end of their solemn singing, which some think was six Psalms, (Psa_112:1; Psa_117:2).an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

³¹ Christ, here taking more care of his disciples than of himself, forewarns them of their falling away, and provides them with some comfort.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.

³² But after I am risen againe, I will go before you into Galile.

³³ But Peter aunswered, and sayde vnto him, Though that al men should be offended by thee, yet will I neuer be offended.

³⁴ Iesus sayde vnto him, Verely I say vnto thee, that this night, before the cocke crow, thou shalt denie me thrise.

³⁵ Peter saide vnto him, Though I should die with thee, I will in no case denie thee. Likewise also sayd all the disciples.

³⁶ Christ having regard to the weakness of his disciples, leaves all the rest in safety, and takes with him but three to be witnesses of his anguish, and goes on purpose into the place where he would be betrayed.Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

³⁷ And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful andThe word which he uses signifies great sorrow, and tremendous and deadly grief: this thing, as it indicates man's true nature, which shuns death as a thing that entered in against nature, shows that though Christ was void of sin, yet he sustained this horrible punishment, because he felt the wrath of God kindled against us for sins, which he revenged and punished in his person.very heavy.

³⁸ Christ, a true man, who is about to suffer the punishment which we should have suffered for forsaking God, is forsaken by his own: he has a terrible conflict with the horror and fear of the curse of God: out of which he, since he escaped as a conqueror, causes us not to be afraid of death any more.Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

³⁹ And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible,Let it pass me, and not touch me.let thisThat is, which is at hand, and is offered and prepared for me: an idiom which the Hebrews use for the wrath of God, and the punishment he sends. {{See Mat_20:22}}.cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou [wilt].

⁴⁰ An example of the carelessness of man.And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

⁴¹ Watch, and praie, that yee enter not into tentation: the spirit in deede is readie, but the flesh is weake.

⁴² Againe he went away the second time, and praied, saying, O my Father, if this cuppe can not passe away from mee, but that I must drinke it, thy will be done.

⁴³ And he came, and founde them a sleepe againe, for their eyes were heauie.

⁴⁴ So he left them and went away againe, and praied the third time, saying the same woordes.

⁴⁵ Then came he to his disciples, and said vnto them, Sleepe henceforth, & take your rest: behold, the houre is at hand, and the Sonne of man is giuen into the hands of sinners.

⁴⁶ Christ offers himself willingly to be taken, that in so obeying willingly he might make satisfaction for the wilful fall of man.Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.

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

⁴⁸ Now he that betraied him, had giuen them a token, saying, Whomesoeuer I shall kisse, that is he, laie holde on him.

⁴⁹ And forthwith he came to Iesus, and sayd, God saue thee, Master, and kissed him.

⁵⁰ Christ is taken, that we might be delivered.And Jesus said unto him,Christ reprehends Judas tauntingly, and rebukes him sharply, for he knew well enough why he came.Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

⁵¹ And behold, one of them which were with Iesus, stretched out his hand, & drewe his sworde, and strooke a seruaunt of the high Priest, and smote off his eare.

⁵² Our vocation must govern our zeal.Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they thatThey take the sword to whom the Lord has not given it, that is to say, they who use the sword and are not called to it.take the sword shall perish with the sword.

⁵³ Christ was taken because he was willing to be taken.Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

⁵⁴ By this questioning he answers a sly objection, for they might have asked him why he did not in this his great extremity of danger call to his Father for aid: but to this objection he answers by this question.But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

⁵⁵ The same houre sayde Iesus to the multitude, Ye be come out as it were against a thiefe, with swordes and staues to take mee: I sate daily teaching in the Temple among you, and yee tooke me not.

⁵⁶ But all this was done, that the Scriptures of the Prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsooke him, and fled.

⁵⁷ Christ being innocent is condemned by the high Priest for that wickedness of which we are guilty.And they that had laid hold on Jesus led [him] away toFrom Annas to Caiaphas, before whom the multitude was assembled; (Joh_18:13).Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

⁵⁸ But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest'sThe word used here properly denotes an open large room in the front of a house, as we see in kings' palaces and noblemen's houses: we call it a court, for it is open to the air, and by the use of synecdoche, is understood to mean the house itself.palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.

⁵⁹ Nowe the chiefe Priestes and the Elders, and all the whole councill sought false witnesse against Iesus, to put him to death.

⁶⁰ But they founde none, and though many false witnesses came, yet founde they none: but at the last came two false witnesses,

⁶¹ And saide, This man saide, I can destroie the Temple of God, and build it in three daies.

⁶² And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing?How does it come to pass that these men witness against thee?what [is it which] these witness against thee?

⁶³ But Iesus helde his peace. Then the chiefe Priest answered, and saide to him, I charge thee sweare vnto vs by the liuing God, to tell vs, If thou be that Christ the Sonne of God, or no.

⁶⁴ Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you,This word distinguishes his first coming from the latter.Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sittingSitting with God in like and equal honour at the right hand of his power, that is, in greatest power: for the right hand signifies among the Hebrews that which is mighty and of great power.on the right hand of power, and coming in theClouds of heaven; see above in (Mat_24:30).clouds of heaven.

⁶⁵ Then the high priestThis was a peculiar custom among the Jews: for so were they bound to do when they heard any Israelite blaspheme God, and it was a tradition of their talmud in the book of the magistrates, in the title, of the four kinds of death.rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.

⁶⁶ What thinke yee? They answered, and said, He is guiltie of death.

⁶⁷ Then spet they in his face, and buffeted him, and other smote him with roddes,

⁶⁸ Saying, Prophecie to vs, O Christ, Who is he that smote thee?

⁶⁹ Peter by the wonderful providence of God, in being appointed to be a witness of all these things, is prepared to be an example of outstanding faithfulness through this experience of unbelief.Now PeterThat is, outside the place where the bishop sat, but not outside of the house, for afterward he went from there into the porch.sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.

⁷⁰ But hee denied before them all, saying, I wote not what thou saiest.

⁷¹ And when hee went out into the porche, another maide sawe him, and sayde vnto them that were there, This man was also with Iesus of Nazareth.

⁷² And againe he denied with an oth, saying, I knowe not the man.

⁷³ So after a while, came vnto him they that stoode by, and sayde vnto Peter, Surely thou art also one of them: for euen thy speache bewraieth thee.

⁷⁴ Then began he toHe swore and cursed himself.curse and to swear, [saying], I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

⁷⁵ Then Peter remembred the wordes of Iesus, which had sayde vnto him, Before the cocke crowe thou shalt denie me thrise. So he went out, and wept bitterly.