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In this lesson:
This is the start of Passion Week; events are beginning to move quickly. Jewish authorities plot to kill Jesus (26:1-5). Jesus is anointed for burial by Mary of Bethany (26:6-13). Judas negotiates with the chief priests (26:14-16). The Last Supper (26:17-25). Study Tip: Reading Bible passages a second time helps us learn. Not only do we reinforce what we read, but we also catch important points we may have missed with the first read. |
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What is -
Passover -
Passover is an annual Jewish holiday highlighted by the Passover feast. It commemorates the night the angel of death (also called the destroyer) passed harmlessly over the homes of the enslaved Israelites in Egypt. The Jews who followed God's instructions and applied the blood of a sacrificed lamb to the top and sides of their door frames (Exodus 12:7) were spared. But the angel of death killed the firstborn among both "man and beast" of the Egyptians (Exodus 12:12-14). God sent the angel (Exodus 12:23) to punish the Egyptians for not freeing their Jewish slaves. This fearsome miracle convinced the Egyptians to release their slaves after holding them in bondage for four hundred years. This event was a foreshadowing of the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross hundreds of years later. Just as the lamb's blood on the doorpost saved the Israelites from the angel of death, Jesus' blood on the cross was shed to save us.
To begin each Passover celebration, a priest would sacrifice a lamb and carefully roast it, without breaking any of its bones (Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12). The Passover feast was then prepared with bitter herbs (representing the bitterness of slavery) and sweet spices (representing the sweetness of freedom). This feast is followed by the Feast of the Unleavened Bread (Exodus 23:15; Leviticus 23:5-8). Over time, the two feasts merged into one holiday (Mark 14:1), celebrated on the fourteenth day of the seventh month (Abib) and lasting for one week, as prescribed in Deuteronomy 16:1-3. Jewish men were required to "appear before the Lord" (Exodus 23:17) during Passover. Hence, thousands of Jews travelled to Jerusalem each year to celebrate their liberation from Egypt and to offer a religious sacrifice. Passover is sometimes simple called the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 23:15; Mark 14:1; Luke 22:1).
An interesting detail: Jesus was sacrificed on the cross just as the Passover lambs were being sacrificed in the Temple. Like those sacrificial lambs, not a bone in Jesus' body was broken (John 19:36). To learn more about the importance of Passover, read Exodus 12:1-30; 12:43-50; 13:1-22; and Deuteronomy 16:1-8.
See "Today's Question" below.
Passover -
Passover is an annual Jewish holiday highlighted by the Passover feast. It commemorates the night the angel of death (also called the destroyer) passed harmlessly over the homes of the enslaved Israelites in Egypt. The Jews who followed God's instructions and applied the blood of a sacrificed lamb to the top and sides of their door frames (Exodus 12:7) were spared. But the angel of death killed the firstborn among both "man and beast" of the Egyptians (Exodus 12:12-14). God sent the angel (Exodus 12:23) to punish the Egyptians for not freeing their Jewish slaves. This fearsome miracle convinced the Egyptians to release their slaves after holding them in bondage for four hundred years. This event was a foreshadowing of the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross hundreds of years later. Just as the lamb's blood on the doorpost saved the Israelites from the angel of death, Jesus' blood on the cross was shed to save us.
To begin each Passover celebration, a priest would sacrifice a lamb and carefully roast it, without breaking any of its bones (Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12). The Passover feast was then prepared with bitter herbs (representing the bitterness of slavery) and sweet spices (representing the sweetness of freedom). This feast is followed by the Feast of the Unleavened Bread (Exodus 23:15; Leviticus 23:5-8). Over time, the two feasts merged into one holiday (Mark 14:1), celebrated on the fourteenth day of the seventh month (Abib) and lasting for one week, as prescribed in Deuteronomy 16:1-3. Jewish men were required to "appear before the Lord" (Exodus 23:17) during Passover. Hence, thousands of Jews travelled to Jerusalem each year to celebrate their liberation from Egypt and to offer a religious sacrifice. Passover is sometimes simple called the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 23:15; Mark 14:1; Luke 22:1).
An interesting detail: Jesus was sacrificed on the cross just as the Passover lambs were being sacrificed in the Temple. Like those sacrificial lambs, not a bone in Jesus' body was broken (John 19:36). To learn more about the importance of Passover, read Exodus 12:1-30; 12:43-50; 13:1-22; and Deuteronomy 16:1-8.
See "Today's Question" below.
The Gospel According to St. Matthew
The King James Bible
The King James Bible
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Matthew 26:1-25
Plot to kill Jesus 1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples, 2 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 chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, 4 And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him. 5 But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people. 6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, 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. 8 But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? 9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. 10 When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. 11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. 12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. 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. 14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, 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. 16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him. 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? 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. 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover. 20 Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. 21 And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. 22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? 23 And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. 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. 25 Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said. |
Margin notes:
"When Jesus had finished all these sayings." (26:1) - "When Jesus finished "The Olivet Discourse" (in lesson 53). "Caiaphas." (26:3) - Joseph Caiaphas was the Jewish high priest and leader of the Sanhedrin (the Jewish high council) for eighteen years, from AD 18 to 36. The Roman governor of Judaea, Valerius Gratus, Pontius Pilate's predecessor, appointed him. This Roman involvement in Jewish religious affairs upset many Jews, and as a result, many considered Annas, the former high priest, to be their legitimate leader. Caiaphas was married to Annas' daughter (John 18:13). Caiaphas plotted Jesus' arrest and trial and pressured Pilate into crucifying Him. Later, he attempted to cover up the resurrection of Jesus (Matthew 28:11-15) and spent years persecuting Christians, including John and Peter (Acts 4:6-10). He was eventually removed from office by the Romans. What happened to Caiaphas after his removal is unknown, although some legends suggest he became a believer and converted to Christianity. "Consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty." (26:4) - "Plotted how they might use trickery to arrest Jesus." "Bethany." (26:6) - Bethany is a small village "about fifteen furlongs" (approximately two miles) east of Jerusalem (John 11:18). It sits on the road to Jericho near the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives. Jesus was well received in Bethany and often stayed there when visiting nearby Jerusalem (Matthew 21:17). One of His most remarkable miracles occurred in Bethany when He resurrected Lazarus from the dead (John 11:38-44; John 12:1). Today, Bethany is known as el-Azariyeh, meaning "place of Lazarus," or simply Lazariyeh. This is not to be confused with the Bethany east of the Jordan River, where John the Baptist preached. "A woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment." (26:7) - This is Mary, Lazarus' (and Martha's) sister (John 12:1-8). Jesus visited them several times in Bethany. "As he sat at meat." (26:7) - "As he sat at dinner." "For ye have the poor always with you." (26:11) - Jesus is paraphrasing Deuteronomy 15:11. "She did it for my burial." (26:12) - "She (Mary) did it to prepare me for burial." It was a Jewish custom to anoint the dead with spices and then wrap them head to toe in linen (John 19:39-40). "Be told for a memorial of her." (26:13) - Sure enough, Mary's story of humility and love for Jesus is still told two thousand years later. You can read another report of Mary anointing Jesus in Mark 14:3-9. See Luke 10:38-42 and John 11:17-45 to learn more about Mary. "They covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver." (26:15) - "They agreed to pay him (Judas) thirty pieces of silver." This was equal to about four months' pay. Five hundred years earlier, Zechariah 1:12 had predicted, right down to the exact amount, that Jesus would be betrayed for money. It is now Wednesday of Passion Week, and Jesus has only two days left to live. "He sought opportunity to betray him." (26:16) - "He looked for a chance to betray him." "Eat the passover? (26:17) - "Eat the Passover feast." "Go into the city to such a man." (26:18) - "Go into the city and find a certain man." The man they would look for was carrying a pitcher of water (Mark 14:13; Luke 22:10). This was considered woman's work, so he would have been easy to find. "Did as Jesus had appointed them." (26:19) - "Did as Jesus instructed them." "When the even was come." (26:20) - "When evening had come." "He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me." (26:23) - As prophesied centuries earlier in Psalm 41:9. "Thou hast said." (26:25) - "You said it." |
Mark's account of the priest's treachery, Jesus being anointed by Mary, and Judas making his infamous bargain with the chief priests can be found in Mark 14:1-11. You can read Luke's account in Luke 22:1-23.
New Living Translation
Matthew 26:1-25
The Plot to Kill Jesus
1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples,
2 "As you know, Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified."
3 At that same time the leading priests and elders were meeting at the residence of Caiaphas, the high priest,
4 plotting how to capture Jesus secretly and kill him.
5 "But not during the Passover celebration," they agreed, "or the people may riot."
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
6 Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy.
7 While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head.
8 The disciples were indignant when they saw this. "What a waste!" they said.
9 "It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor."
10 But Jesus, aware of this, replied, "Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me?
11 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.
12 She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial.
13 I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman's deed will be remembered and discussed."
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
14 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests
15 and asked, "How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?" And they gave him thirty pieces of silver.
16 From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
The Last Supper
17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?"
18 "As you go into the city," he told them, "you will see a certain man. Tell him, 'The Teacher says: My time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.'"
19 So the disciples did as Jesus told them and prepared the Passover meal there.
20 When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table with the twelve disciples.
21 While they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me."
22 Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, "Am I the one, Lord?"
23 He replied, "One of you who has just eaten from this bowl with me will betray me.
24 For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!"
25 Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked, "Rabbi, am I the one?"
And Jesus told him, "You have said it."
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
The Plot to Kill Jesus
1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples,
2 "As you know, Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified."
3 At that same time the leading priests and elders were meeting at the residence of Caiaphas, the high priest,
4 plotting how to capture Jesus secretly and kill him.
5 "But not during the Passover celebration," they agreed, "or the people may riot."
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
6 Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy.
7 While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head.
8 The disciples were indignant when they saw this. "What a waste!" they said.
9 "It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor."
10 But Jesus, aware of this, replied, "Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me?
11 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.
12 She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial.
13 I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman's deed will be remembered and discussed."
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
14 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests
15 and asked, "How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?" And they gave him thirty pieces of silver.
16 From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
The Last Supper
17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?"
18 "As you go into the city," he told them, "you will see a certain man. Tell him, 'The Teacher says: My time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.'"
19 So the disciples did as Jesus told them and prepared the Passover meal there.
20 When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table with the twelve disciples.
21 While they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me."
22 Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, "Am I the one, Lord?"
23 He replied, "One of you who has just eaten from this bowl with me will betray me.
24 For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!"
25 Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked, "Rabbi, am I the one?"
And Jesus told him, "You have said it."
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Key verses from this passage
"And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples, Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified." (26:1-2)
"For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always." (26:11)
"Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, 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." (26:14-15)
"And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me." (26:21)
"For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always." (26:11)
"Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, 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." (26:14-15)
"And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me." (26:21)
Today's Question:
1. What did the disciples do to prepare for the Passover feast? (26:19)
Explore your Bible every day. These lessons shouldn't be your only connection with God.
1. What did the disciples do to prepare for the Passover feast? (26:19)
Explore your Bible every day. These lessons shouldn't be your only connection with God.
Answer: (Do you agree?)
1. During the Passover holiday, Jews give thanks to God for their liberation from Egyptian slavery. To prepare for the Passover feast, the disciples first had to find a suitable place to hold the meal. Jesus guided them to the right place (26:18). Then, according to Jewish law, a sacrificial lamb had to be purchased, sacrificed at the Temple, roasted, and prepared in a specific way (Exodus 12:8-11; Deuteronomy 16:1-8). Wine, bread, bitter herbs, and other dinner items had to be bought to prepare the room, food, and table.
Additional note: Jesus was sacrificed on the cross the same day the sacrificial lambs were killed in the Temple. Just as stipulated in Jewish law for the sacrificial lambs, not a bone in Jesus' body was broken (John 19:36). God chose the time of the crucifixion to take place during Passover to show the world that Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice - the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). Just as the Jews were freed from Egyptian bondage, Jesus' sacrifice on the cross freed mankind from the bondage of sin.
Application thought for the day:
Mary honored Jesus (26:6-13). Do you honor Jesus? Take time each day to worship Christ and create a welcoming environment in your home that honors our Lord and Savior.
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Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen, published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series," published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur, published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham, published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Atlas of the Bible" edited by Joseph L. Gardner, published by Readers Digest, Pleasantville, New York; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible," published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The New Testament" Recovery Version, published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, California; "The Living New Testament," published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation," published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; the "Life Application Study Bible," published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible," published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The New Scofield Reference Bible," published by Oxford University Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2025 evolke
© 2025 evolke