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In this lesson:
Betrayed and arrested. We are now entering the most moving part of Matthew. Study Tip: Scroll back and forth between the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation" whenever you encounter a difficult passage. |
Betrayed with a kiss
By the Scottish Victorian artist, engraver, illustrator, and etcher William Brassey Hole (1846-1917). |
The Gospel According to St. Matthew
The King James Bible
The King James Bible
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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, came." (26:47) - "Judas, one of the twelve (disciples) arrived." With Judas' arrival, the prophecy that a friend would betray Jesus (Psalm 41:9) was fulfilled (Acts 1:16). "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 walked up to Jesus." "Wherefore art thou come?" (26:50) - "Why did you come?" Jesus is asking a rhetorical question. He knew that Judas had betrayed Him (Matthew 26:21-25) and why the mob was there (Matthew 26:20-25; 26:45-46). "One of them." (26:51) - It was Peter who drew his sword (John 18:10). Jesus' group had two swords (Luke 22:38). "Struck a servant... and smote off his ear." (26:51) - "Slashed at a servant... and cut off his ear." John 18:10 tells us that the servant's name was Malchus. Luke 22:50-51 reports that Jesus immediately restored the ear. "They that take the sword shall perish with the sword." (26:52) - See Genesis 9:6, Exodus 21:12, and Revelation 13:10. "More than twelve legions of angels." (26:53) - A legion consisted of 6,000 men, so when Jesus said He could summon "more than twelve legions of angels," He meant He could have called upon over 72,000 angels. However, that was not God's plan. It's worth noting that it only took one angel to slay thousands of Assyrians during their invasion of 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 example is Isaiah 53:3-8. Jesus Himself prophesied His death 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." Just hours before, these same disciples vowed to die rather than abandon Jesus (26:35; Mark 14:31). |
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."
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."
Key verses from this passage
"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. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him." (26:47-49)
"But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled." (26:56)
"But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled." (26:56)
Today's Question:
1. Was Jesus' arrest legal? (26:50)
"Prayer is not merely an occasional impulse to which we respond when we are in trouble: prayer is a life attitude."
By the American biblical scholar, professor, pastor, and author Walter A. Mueller.
1. Was Jesus' arrest legal? (26:50)
"Prayer is not merely an occasional impulse to which we respond when we are in trouble: prayer is a life attitude."
By the American biblical scholar, professor, pastor, and author Walter A. Mueller.
Answer: (Do you agree?)
1. No, Jesus' arrest was not legal. The Pharisees violated their own judicial standards when they arrested, convicted, and crucified the Messiah. They sent an armed crowd to arrest Jesus in the middle of the night. His arrest was more like mob justice than a legal procedure. Jesus was then dragged off to a kangaroo court that had already decided His guilt. The priests and elders brought in "false witnesses" to lie about Jesus (Matthew 26:59). This violated their ninth commandment (Exodus 20:16; Deuteronomy 5:20). But first, Jesus was whipped and beaten, all without legal representation. Even Pontus Pilate declared Jesus to be a "just person" (27:24). Within hours of His arrest, the Messiah was executed. Jesus went to the cross without protest or a struggle to save humanity from sin, just as the Old Testament prophecies foretold.
Additionally, despite traveling with Jesus, living with Him, witnessing His miracles, and hearing His great sermons, His disciples abandoned Him (26:56). If the disciples who lived and traveled with Jesus could act so poorly, how can mankind expect to be saved without God's grace?
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 abandoned him to his implacable enemies!"
Application thought for the day:
Everyone at Gethsemane Garden had their own thoughts and feelings about Jesus' arrest. How do you think Judas felt? What
about Peter, who drew his sword? How do you think the other disciples and the mob felt? As you go about your day, consider what the betrayal of Christ teaches us about human nature. More importantly, reflect on what this passage reveals about God and the concept of forgiveness.
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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