Matthew 27:1

Matthew 27:1 says, When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:  As morning dawned, all the chief priests and elders took counsel against Jesus.  These were the religious leaders of that day, and they were united against Jesus.  No matter what religious leaders may say today, even if they are united, if they are against Jesus and what He did on the cross, which is to provide the only way to salvation, then they are wrong.  Verse two adds, And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.  They bound Jesus, thinking that they were in control of the situation.  The only way that they were able to bind Jesus was because He allowed them to.  By our lack of belief in Jesus today, He in effect allows us to bind Him.  After binding Jesus, they took Him to Pilate, the governmental leader.  Some people look to the government today to attempt to bind the gospel of Christ.  Verse three declares, Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,  Judas saw what was happening to Jesus and repented for what he had done, attempting to return the money he had betrayed Jesus for.  I believe this tells us that his intent was never honorable, and he could not undo what he had done simply by returning the money.  I am not sure if he repented to God or just repented, or changed his mind, about what he did.  I do know that if he truly repented and put his faith in Jesus that he would have found forgiveness.  Verse four adds, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.  Judas said to the religious leaders that he had sinned and shed innocent blood.  This does not necessarily say that Judas now believed that Jesus was the Messiah, but that he did believe that Jesus was innocent of what He was being charged with.  They asked Judas how this concerned them.  They had what they wanted are were not concerned with Judas or whether he thought Jesus was innocent or not, so they did not take the money back.  Verse five declares, And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.  Judas took the pieces of silver and threw it at their feet and went out an hanged himself.  I personally believe that had Judas really repented and asked God for forgiveness that he would have then gone to see what was going to happen to Jesus and would have stood with the other disciples afterward.  Feeling sorry about what we have done without asking God for forgiveness is not enough.  Verse six adds, And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.  Though the religious leaders had given Judas the money, even after he threw it at their feet, would not keep it, because they said it was blood money.  I believe that if they felt that what they did was God's will that they would have had no problem taking the money back.  Verse seven states, And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in.  The chief priests took counsel and decided to buy a potter's field to bury the dead by using the thirty pieces of silver.  This was appropriate I believe, since the religious leaders themselves were spiritually dead.  Verse eight says, Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.  This potter's field was called the field of blood.  Though it was probably not their intention, it was bought with money that led to Jesus shedding His blood on the cross.  Verse nine adds, Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;  Verse ten concludes, And gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me.  I am sure that the religious leaders did not do this so that they could bring about the fulfillment of a prophesy about Christ, since they did not accept Jesus as the Messiah, but they fulfilled the prophesy anyway.

Matthew 26:67

 Matthew 26:67 says, Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,  The people who had recently welcomed Jesus into the city now began to beat Him and spit on Him.  People too often claim to accept Jesus as their Savior, and when He doesn't turn out to be everything that they hoped for, they turn their back on Him.  Verse sixty-eight adds, Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?  Not only did the people physically abuse Jesus, they began to mock Him, implying that when He had been prophesying that He had not been telling the truth.  We can either accept what Jesus said as the truth, or we in effect are mocking His word.  Verse sixty-nine declares, Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.  Peter was now sitting outside the palace when a young woman stated that he had been with Jesus.  After we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord today, would people be able to tell by the way that we live our life that we have been with Jesus?   Verse seventy says, But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.  Peter made his first denial of Jesus, telling the young woman that she did not know what she was talking about. Verse seventy-one adds, 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.  Peter moved physically a little  farther away from Jesus, and was once again accused of having been with Jesus.  It was not the physical distance that was the problem, but the spiritual one that was.  Verse seventy-two adds, And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.  Peter denied Jesus for the second time, this time a little more firmly than the first.  Sometimes, if we begin to deny Jesus, our denials may become even more emphatic if we have not known Him spiritually as our Savior and Lord.  Verse seventy-three declares, 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 betrayeth thee.  Though Peter had attempted to further distance himself from Jesus, he was accused for the third time of having been with Jesus, and was told that his speech betrayed him.  Peter's physical speech may have identified him as a follower of Christ, just as a persons words today may, but like Peter at that point, they may not have accepted Jesus spiritually.  Verse seventy-four adds, Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.  For the third time. Peter denied knowing Jesus, this time cursing and swearing as he did so.  Immediately, the cock crowed.  Verse seventy-five proclaims, 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 evidently been so focused on himself that he had forgotten what Jesus had told him was going to happen, but when the cock crowed, he remembered and wept bitterly.  When we finally accept Jesus. we should weep bitterly at the fact that we had denied Him before.

Matthew 26:57

 Matthew 26:57 says, And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.  Jesus was brought before the high priest, in the presence of the scribes and elders, or the religious leaders of Israel in that day.  They would contend to know more than Jesus did, and we need to make sure that we never begin to put what we want to believe ahead of what God's word says.  Verse fifty-eight adds, But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.  Peter was no longer boldly declaring his undying faith, but was following at a distance.  We are not told that the other disciples even still followed at a distance.  We should never attempt to follow Jesus at a distance or to be a secret disciple, but we should boldly follow Him if we do and let the world know that we do.  Verse fifty-nine states, Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;  The religious leaders sought false witnesses in order to put Jesus to death.  They had no real charge to bring against Jesus, so they had to seek false testimony.  There will never be a way to discredit Jesus based on the truth, so if anyone attempts to, it will have to be based on lies.  Verse sixty adds, But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,  Though the religious leaders were looking for a false witness, and many came, they were having a hard time finding something believable to charge Jesus with.  Verse sixty-one declares, And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.  Two witnesses finally came who said that Jesus said He could destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days.  They did not understand what He really meant.  If we attempt to discredit Jesus, it will have to be based on a failure to understand what He really has said.  Verse sixty-two adds, And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?  The high priest asked what the witnesses were saying against Jesus, and He did not respond.  If we have false things to say against Jesus, He may simply allow us to do so without any real response.  Verse sixty-three declares, 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.  The high priest demanded by the living God that Jesus tell them whether or not He was the Christ, the Son of God.  Jesus has already given us all the proof that there will ever be that He is the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.  We simply have to accept this or not.  Verse sixty-four declares, 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.  Jesus told the religious leaders that the proof that they would have was when they saw Him sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds.  In other words, it would be at His second coming that people will know beyond a doubt that Jesus is indeed Who He claimed to be.  Verse sixty-five states, 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.  The high priest accused Jesus of blasphemy and said they no longer needed witnesses.  Sometime, people today may attempt to discredit Jesus by misinterpreting His words. but as Christians, we had better hope that we are not the ones doing so.  Verse sixty-six adds, What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death. The high priest asked the people, or at least the scribes and elders, what they thought, and they said put to put Jesus to death.  If we do not accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord today, then we are putting His sacrifice to death in our life.  It is of no meaning if we do not accept His gift of salvation.

Matthew 26:47

 Matthew 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. Even as Jesus was speaking about the time being near for Him to be betrayed, one of the twelve disciples came with a multitude who had drawn swords and staves and were sent by the chief priests and elders.  Verse forty-eight states, Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.  Judas had given them a sign to look for so that they would know Who to arrest and he warned them to hold Jesus tight.  The sign was to be the One Judas kissed.  I believe Judas may have wanted to avoid being known as the one who betrayed Jesus by not just coming out and saying saying out loud which one of the others was Jesus.  At times, we may betray our relationship with Christ and hope that others do not find out, but even if they don't, we will never fool God.  Verse forty-nine continues, And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.  When Judas came to Jesus, he hailed Jesus as Master, and then he betrayed Him.  Judas' words sounded good, but his actions were what were important, just so it is with us.  Verse fifty declares, And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.  Jesus called Judas friend and asked him why he had come.  This would have been Judas' opportunity to confess his betrayal.  Instead, Judas stood by while the multitude took Jesus.  If we do betray our relationship with Jesus, He will still call us friend and give us an opportunity to repent.  Verse fifty-one states,  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.  One of Jesus' disciples, Peter we know from another gospel account, drew his sword and cut off a part of the ear of one of the servants of the high priest.  Peter was always quick to act, but often he was not following God's will but was acting out of his own ego we might say.  If we make a bold action for God, we need to first make sure that it is what God wants us to do.  Verse fifty-two declares, 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.  Jesus told Peter to put away his sword and warned him that those that live by the sword would die by the sword.  I don't believe that this means that we are never to fight against evil, but that when we do take up the sword that we had better be sure that what we are doing is in accordance with God's will.  Verse fifty-three adds, Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?  Jesus asked Peter if he did not think that Jesus could pray and the Father would send twelve legions of angels to protect Him.  Jesus was here to sacrifice Himself for the sins of mankind, and He did so willingly.  Verse fifty-four continues, But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?  Jesus then asked Peter if He called for the angels to rescue Him, how could the scriptures concerning the Messiah be fulfilled.  Verse fifty-five says, 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.  Jesus asked the multitude if they came against Him as thieves with swords and staves when He sat daily in the temple teaching.  Jesus had not been hiding Who He was nor where He was, and He doesn't today.  Verse fifty-six states, But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.  This was done to fulfill the scripture.  Then, we are told that the disciples forsook Jesus and fled.  If we are a follower of Christ, and things begin to get tough because of that fact, how will we react?  Will we stand firm or forsake Jesus and flee? 

Matthew 26:36

 Matthew 26:36 says, Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.  After declaring that they would never forsake Him, Jesus came to Gethsemane and asked the disciples to sit while he went to pray.  Verse thirty-seven adds, And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.  Jesus took Peter, James and John on with Him a little farther.  Jesus began to really feel the heaviness of what awaited Him, and was very sorrowful.  I believe that we sometimes forget that Jesus was a man in every aspect of what this means, and the choice was still His to make about dying on the cross or not.  Verse thirty-eight declares, Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.  Jesus told Peter, James and John that He was sorrowful even to the point of death and asked them to wait where they were and watch with Him.  There was no one attempting to physically attack Jesus, and all these three were asked to do was wait and watch with Jesus.  We may at time declare how strong we are in the Lord and yet fail in the simplest of tasks that He calls us to do.  When the disciples declared their undying loyalty to Jesus they were speaking from their own strength and not from the leadership and strength of God.  Verse thirty-nine adds, And he went a little further, 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.  Jesus went a little farther by Himself, fell on His face praying and asked if there was any other way for people to be saved to let that happen.  I believe that we sometimes fail to understand that this was a real request by Jesus and not just some empty prayer.  Verse forty states, And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?  When Jesus returned to the disciples, He found them asleep.  Jesus asked Peter, who was always so bold, if he could not watch with Him for even an hour.  How often might we be found to be spiritually asleep in the world today, unable to remain alert for God even when nothing bad is even going on at the moment?  Verse forty-one adds, Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.  Jesus told Peter, and James and John as well, to watch and pray that they might not enter into temptation.  This is still a warning to us toady.  If we begin to follow in the flesh, we may fail spiritually.  Verse forty-two says. 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.  Jesus went away alone again, and repeated His petition to the heavenly Father.  When we have a great concern today, we need to bring it to our heavenly Father.  Verse forty-three declares, And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.  When Jesus returned to the three disciples, He found them asleep again because their eyes were heavy.  They were relying on physical strength and not spiritual power.  When we attempt to do things for God by our physical strength alone, God may find us spiritually asleep.  Verse forty-four adds, And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.  Jesus left them asleep this time and went again to pray, praying the same thing again.  Hopefully Jesus will not leave us spiritually asleep today, but will awake us when necessary.  Verse forty-five continues, Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, take your rest, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.  When Jesus returned to the disciples, He told them to sleep on because the hour was at hand for Him to be betrayed.  Verse forty-six concludes, Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.  Jesus then told them to rise and for them to be going because the one who was going to betray Him was at hand.  Jesus had accepted what was about to happen, and now He knew that there was no other way for mankind to be redeemed to God.  We want to be with those standing with Jesus and not with the ones who betray Him.

Matthew 26:26

 Matthew 26:26 says, 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.  Jesus took the bread that they were eating, blessed it and told the disciples to eat it, that this was His body.  He did not state that it literally became His body somehow as some people believe, but I believe meant that it represented His body instead.  There is nothing supernatural or miraculous that happens to the bread when we observe the Lord's Supper, but it simply symbolic.  Verse twenty-seven states, And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;  Verse twenty-eight adds, For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.  Jesus took the wine and blessed it and told the disciples to take it and drink it all.  As with the bread, the wine did not become the actual blood of Christ but was symbolic the blood of Christ.  Jesus told the disciples that His blood, represented by the wine, was His blood for the new testament between mankind and God.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we have to accept all that this means, and that is that He gave His body and His blood to bring forgiveness of sin to all who would believe in Him.  Verse twenty-nine declares, 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.  Jesus said He would not drink any more of the fruit of the vine until He did so in His Father's kingdom.  Jesus time on earth was coming to an end.  Verse thirty adds, And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.  Once they had completed this first communion meal, they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.  Once we have completed the observance of the Lord's Supper, then we are to go out and continue to work for God and His glory.  Verse thirty-one declares, 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.  Jesus warned His disciples that they would be offended by what was about to happen to Him and scatter.  The disciples were still looking for an earthly kingdom to be ushered in by Jesus, and they were looking to be a part of the leadership of that kingdom.  We should never attempt to follow Jesus for earthly benefits, but must follow Him by faith no matter what happens in this world.  Verse thirty-two adds, But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.  Jesus said that after He had risen again and the disciples had scattered that He would gather them again into Galilee.  The only difference then was that the disciples would then know Who Jesus really was.  We today must acknowledge Who Jesus really is in order to be saved.  Until then, we are just like sheep scattered without a shepherd.  Verse thirty-three says, Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.  Peter boldly proclaimed that even if everyone else denied Jesus that he would not.  Peter was speaking from self pride and not from actual faith.  Verse thirty-four declares, Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.  Jesus told Peter that not only would He leave but that He would deny Him three times before morning.  When we act out of self pride we set ourselves up for failure in our relationship with Christ.  We must always listen to what God tells us and follow His direction to be successful in His kingdom, and even then we must do it through believing in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse thirty-five states, Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples. Peter said that Jesus was wrong, and then all the disciples agreed with Peter.  We must never think that we know more than God does, but must simply come to Him through a saving knowledge of Christ.

Matthew 26:14

Matthew 26:14 says, Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,  Judas, one of the twelve disciples who had been the closest to Jesus went to the chief priests.  We may find that some of those today who claim to be closest to Jesus never really were.  Verse fifteen adds, 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.  Judas asked the chief priests what they would give him to deliver Jesus to them.  Today, we sometimes hear that Judas was simply attempting to get Jesus to show the world Who He really was, but he Bible never even hints at this.  Had Judas been doing this, he would have not been negotiating for a price to betray Him.  Too many times material things become more important than to someone than a real relationship with Jesus Christ.  Verse sixteen continues, And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.  After getting the money to betray Jesus, Judas began to look for an opportunity to do so.  Again, I believe that had Judas simply been trying to force Jesus' hand, he would have simply done so immediately without looking to do so without being found out.  Verse seventeen says, 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?  On the first day of the feast, the disciples came to Jesus asking Him where they should prepare for the Passover meal.  If we have questions about anything, especially about worship services, we need to go to God for the answers.  Verse eighteen declares, 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.  Jesus told the disciples to go into the city to a certain man and tell him that Jesus' time was at hand and that He and His disciples would keep the Passover at his house.  We are not even told what the man's name was, but he played an important part in the life of Jesus.  The world may never know our name and what we have done for Jesus, but still we must simply be obedient to His plan for our life.  Verse nineteen adds, And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.  The disciples did as Jesus instructed them, and so did the man whose house they went to.  Verse twenty states, Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.  That evening, Jesus sat down for the Passover meal with the disciples.  This would have seemed like any other Passover meal.  Verse twenty-one declares, And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.  During the meal, Jesus told the disciples that one of them would betray Him.  This is something that we as professed followers of Christ never want to hear, and if we have a real relationship with Him, we never should have to worry about it happening.  Verse twenty-two adds, And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?  The disciples were very sorry, and all began to ask if he was the one.  Verse twenty-three declares, And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.  It would seem that this somehow set Judas apart from the others, but I believe that Jesus was saying that it was one of the disciples.  If they had a common pot, all would have been dipping in with Jesus it would seem to me.  Verse twenty-four adds, 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.  People today may not physically betray Jesus, but the warning is still just as real.  Woe to him by whom the Son of Man, Jesus Christ, is betrayed.  Verse twenty-five declares, Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.  Judas asked Jesus if it was him, not because he didn't know this, but to see if Jesus did I believe.  We know if we have betrayed Jesus, and we don't need to ask Him if we have.  Jesus replied to Judas, "Thou hast said."  Jesus did not state outright that it was Judas, but let him know that He knew it was.