Matthew 26

Thought on This Chapter

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

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

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

Peter gets all the attention for saying that he would never deny Jesus. But notice that Peter was not the only one who said it. Verse 35 says, "Likewise also said all the disciples." They all said that they would never be offended. And yet when the hour came they all fled and forsook Him.

We can all think too highly of ourselves. We can look at something and say I would never do that. We can be absolutely convinced of it. We can look at what someone else is doing and think how awful and vile, and say I would never do that. Be careful. All of us have the old wicked sin nature still in us. We need to realize that if circumstances were different that could be us.

Some people will say I will never quit going to church like aunt Suzy did, and then later, when they get their feelings hurt, you find them doing the same thing that Suzy did. I have seen men stand up and give a testimony of how great the pastor is and then 6 months later they are trying to get him fired.

People will say that they will never be controlled by booze. They are only social drinkers after all. Then later they turn into alcoholics. On and on the examples could go.

We should never have a boastful attitude about how we would never fall. Our attitude needs to be by the grace of God I will not fall into that.

Jesus made mention of this in the model prayer.

Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

We need to realize the wickedness that is in our hearts and pray to God to keep us from falling into sin. We need to pray for His power to keep us from doing wrong.

Thought On This Chapter

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

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

The chief priests, elders, and all the council had to seek false witnesses because no true witnesses could be found. Jesus is sinless. He is the perfect lamb of God that came to take away the sin of the world. He could take our sin upon Himself and pay our penalty, because He had no sin of His own. Because He had no sin nature He never sinned. Because He never sinned, there was no wicked deed that anyone could be a witness to.

The life of Jesus shone brightly in the darkness around Him. They knew it. They knew they could not find real witnesses so they sought false ones. They even had trouble finding false witnesses that would suit their evil purpose. Bent upon their wicked course they finally find two and proceed with their illegal trial done in the cover of night. It is kind of fitting that this dark deed that was done out of darkness of the heart was done in literal darkness. The hypocrisy here is astounding. These are the religious leaders. Men who should stand for righteousness and they are involved in the greatest wickedness ever done by man (killing the sinless Son of God).

Once again we see the darkness of the heart that rejects Jesus and the lengths it will go to commit wickedness. If they could not get Jesus on charges, they would make them up. If they could not try Him legally, they would do it illegally. If they could not kill Him themselves, they would have Rome do it for them. They had the wicked philosophy that the ends justified the means. Break every principal and law to get Him, just get Him at all costs. That was their wicked attitude.

Using wicked means was wrong then and it is wrong now. It is never right to do wrong. It was wicked for these religious leaders to believe that the ends justify the means and it is wrong for us today.

King James Bible Main Index:

Matthew 26 [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28]

MT 26:1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples,

MT 26:2 Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.

MT 26:3 Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,

MT 26:4 And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.

MT 26:5 But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.

MT 26:6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,

MT 26:7 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.

MT 26:8 But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?

MT 26:9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.

MT 26:10 When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.

MT 26:11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.

MT 26:12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.

MT 26:13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

MT 26:14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,

MT 26:15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

MT 26:16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

MT 26:17 Now 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?

MT 26:18 And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.

MT 26:19 And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.

MT 26:20 Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.

MT 26:21 And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

MT 26:22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?

MT 26:23 And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.

MT 26:24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.

MT 26:25 Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.

MT 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.

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

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

MT 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.

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

MT 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.

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

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

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

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

MT 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.

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

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

MT 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.

MT 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?

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

MT 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.

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

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

MT 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.

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

MT 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.

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

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

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

MT 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.

MT 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.

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

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

MT 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.

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

MT 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.

MT 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.

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

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

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

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

MT 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.

MT 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.

MT 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.

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

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

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

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

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

MT 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.

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

MT 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.

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

MT 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.

Outline Matthew Chapter 26

XI. Events prior to the crucifixion
A. Announcement of approaching death
1. On Passover
2. By crucifixion
B. Plot to kill Jesus
1. Many were involved
a. Chief priests
b. Scribes
c. Elders
2. At the palace of the high priest Caiaphas
3. They consulted how ehy might take Jesus and kill him
a. By subtilty
b. Not on the feast day
C. Anointed for burial
1. A woman comes with ointment
a. It is in an alabaster box
b. It is very precious
c. She poured it on His head
2. The disciples reaction
a. They had indignation
b. They called it a waste
c. They said it should have been sold
3. Jesus' reaction
a. Why do you trouble her
b. She has wrought a good work upon me
c. You will always have the poor but not me
d. She poured ointment on my body for my burial
e. Wheresoever the gospel is preached what she has done will be told
D. Judas' agreement to betray Jesus
1. Judas meets with the chief priests
2. Judas makes a deal for 30 pieces of silver
3. Judas now seeks opportunity to betray Him
E. The Last Supper
1. The disciples ask Jesus where they will eat the passover
2. Jesus tells them to go to a certain man
a. They are to tell the man that His time is at hand
b. They are to tell the man that Jesus will keep the passover at his house
3. The disciples prepare the passover
4. Jesus sat down with the 12
5. Jesus tells them that one of them will betray Him
a. They were exceeding sorrowful
b. Everyone of them asked Lord is it I
c. Jesus tells them it is he that dippeth his hand with Him in the dish
d. Jesus goes as it is written of Him
e. But woe to the man who betrays Him
f. Judas asks if it is him and Jesus answered Thou hast said
6. Jesus took the bread
a. Blessed it
b. Brake it
c. Gave it to the disciples
d. He said Take, eat; this is my body
7. Jesus took the cup
a. He gave thanks
b. He gave it to them
c. He told them to drink all of it
d. He said this is my blood
1. It is shed for many
2. It is shed for the remission of sins
e. He will not drink it again until the kingdom
8. They sung an hymn
9. They go into the mount of Olives
3. Jesus' warning and Peter's boasting
F. Gethsemane
1. Jesus takes Peter James and John further into the garden
2. His soul is exceeding sorrowful
3. They are to wait and watch
4. Jesus goes farther alone
5. He prays if there is another way
6. Jesus prays not my will but as thou wilt
7. Jesus finds the disciples asleep
8. Jesus prays a second time as before
9. Jesus finds them asleep again
10. Jesus prays a third time as before
11.
G. Betrayal and arrest
1. Jesus tells the disciples the hour is at hand for Him to be betrayed
2. Judas comes
a. With a great multitude
b. They have swords and staves
c. They came from the chief priests and elders
d. The prearanged sign was who ever Judas kissed
e. Judas call Jesus master and kissed Him
f. Jesus calls him friend
3. They take Jesus
a. Peter cut off a servant' ear
b. Jesus rebukes Peter
1. They that take the sword perish with it
2. I could pray and get more than 12 legions of angels
3. The scriptures must be fulfilled
c. Jesus rebukes the multitudes
1. Ye come as against a thief
2. You did not take me when I sat daily teaching you in the temple
d. This all happened to fulfill scripture
4. The disciples forsook Him and fled
H. The trials of Jesus
1. Jesus is led to Caiaphas
2. Peter follows afar off
3. Peter sat with the servants to see the end
4. The chief priests seek false witness against Jesus
a. So they can put Him to death
b. No false witness is found
c. At last two false witnesses come
d. Jesus holds His peace against the false charge
5. The high priest asks if He is the Christ
a. Jesus answers Thou hast said
b. They will see Him sitting on the right hand of power
c. They will see Him in the clouds of heaven
6. The high priest makes judgment
a. He rents his clothes
b. He says Jesus has spoken blasphemy
c. He pronounces that they need further need of witnesses
7. The others make judgment
a. He is guilty of death
b. They spit in His face
c. They smote Him with their hands
d. They mock Jesus
8. The denial of Peter
1. Peter denies Jesus to the damsel
2. Peter denies to the maid with an oath
3. Peter denies to those who stood by with cursing and swearing
4. Immediately the cock crew
5. Peter remembered what Jesus said
6. Peter goes out and wept bitterly

Some will teach that the bread literally becomes the body of Jesus and the wine literally becomes the blood of Jesus when the priest says a few words. They use verses 26 thru 28 to teach it.

However, it is clear that Jesus was talking symbolically here because Jesus was sitting right there. It is obvious that it was a symbol of His body and His blood. Hello!