Matthew 26:47-56 Lesson 56

Matthew 26:47-56
Lesson 56

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

Betrayal.

We are now entering the most moving part of Matthew.

Study Tip:

Whenever you encounter a difficult passage scroll back and forth between the King James Bible and the New Living Translation below.

The Gospel According to St. Matthew

The King James Bible

Matthew 26:47-56
Jesus is arrested

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.

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

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

50 And Jesus said unto him, 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 Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.

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.

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

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

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.

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

Margin notes:

"Judas, one of the twelve." (26:47) - "Judas, one of the twelve (disciples)."

"Swords and staves." (26:47) - Means, "swords and clubs."

"Hold him fast." (26:48) - "Arrest him."

"Forthwith he came to Jesus." (26:49) - "Immediately he came to Jesus."

"Wherefore art thou come?" (26:50) - "Why did you come?" A rhetorical question, Jesus knew what Judas had done and why the mob was there (Matthew 26:20-25; 26:45-46).

"One of them." (26:51) - It was Peter (John 18:10).

"Drew his sword." (26:51) - Jesus' little group had two swords (Luke 22:38).

"Smote off his ear." (26:51) - "Cut off his ear." John 18:10 tells us that the servant's name was Malchus while Luke 22:50-51 informs us that Jesus immediately restored the ear.

"They that take the sword shall perish with the sword." (26:52) - See also Genesis 9:6 and Exodus 21:12.

"More than twelve legions of angels." (26:53) - A legion was 6,000 men, so more than twelve legions totals over 72,000 angels that Jesus could have summoned to prevent His arrest. But that was not God's plan. Additional note; Just one angel killed thousands of "mighty" Assyrians after they invaded Judah (2 Kings 19:35; 2 Chronicles 32:21).

"The scriptures be fulfilled." (26:54) - The Old Testament repeatedly prophesied the death of the Messiah, one is Isaiah 53:3-8. Jesus Himself prophesied it in Luke 24:25-27 and 24:46-47.

"All the disciples forsook him, and fled." (26:56) - "All the disciples abandoned Jesus and ran." Only hours earlier, these same men said they would rather die than abandon Jesus (26:35; Mark 14:31).

Mark 14:42-52, Luke 22:47-54 and John 18:1-12 all tell the story of Jesus' arrest.

New Living Translation

Matthew 26:47-56
Jesus Is Betrayed and Arrested

47 And even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests and elders of the people.

48 The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: "You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss."

49 So Judas came straight to Jesus. "Greetings, Rabbi!" he exclaimed and gave him the kiss.

50 Jesus said, "My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for."

Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him.

51 But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest's slave, slashing off his ear.

52 "Put away your sword," Jesus told him. "Those who use the sword will die by the sword.

53 Don't you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly?

54 But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?"

55 Then Jesus said to the crowd, "Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn't you arrest me in the Temple? I was there teaching every day.

56 But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures." At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled.

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."

Today's question:

1. Was it legal for the Pharisees to arrest Jesus? (26:50)

"Prayer is not merely an occasional impulse to which we respond when we are in trouble: prayer is a life attitude."

Walter A. Mueller

Answer: (Do you agree?)

1. No, the Pharisees violated their own judicial standards to arrest and convict Jesus. They came in the middle of the night with swords and clubs to apprehend Christ. This was more of a mob than a legal procedure. Jesus was then dragged off to a kangaroo court that had already decided His guilt. But first, they would have him whipped and beaten. All without legal representation. Even Pontus Pilate declared Jesus to be a "just person" (27:24). Still, within mere hours of His arrest, He was executed. But to fulfill the prophecies and save mankind, Jesus went to His death without a struggle.

Additional note: Despite traveling with Jesus, living with Him, seeing the miracles, and hearing His teachings firsthand, His disciples ran off and abandoned Him as He was being led away (26:56). The Biblical scholar Adam Clarke (1762-1832) wrote:

"Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. O what is man! How little is even his utmost sincerity to be depended on! Jesus is abandoned by all! -even zealous Peter and loving John are among the fugitives! Was ever master so served by his scholars? Was ever parent so treated by his children? Is there not as much zeal and love among them all as might make one martyr for God and truth? Alas! No. He had but twelve who professed inviolable attachment to him; one of these betrayed him, another denied him with oaths, and the rest run away and utterly abandon him to his implacable enemies!"

If the very disciples who knew Jesus, lived and traveled with Him could act so poorly, how can mankind expect to be saved without God's loving grace?

Application thought for the day:

Everyone at Gethsemane that night had their own thoughts and feelings about the arrest of Jesus. How do you think Judas felt? What did the other disciples feel? How about Peter who drew his sword or the members of the mob? As you go about your day, think what the betrayal of Christ teaches us about the nature of man. But more importantly, think what this passage teaches us about God and forgiveness?

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; 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; "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; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2020 evolke

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