Bible Commentaries
Matthew 26

Verse 15

Matthew 26:15

thirty pieces of silver ... Matthew 26:15; Matthew 27:3; Matthew 27:9; This fulfilled the prophecy of Zech. 11:12–13 (cf. Matthew 27:9-10).

This was the legal price of a slave gored by an ox (Exodus 21:32), and must have been considered by the traitor but a poor reward for his crime.

Approximately equal to four months’ wages. This meager sum suggests the low esteem in which Jesus was held by both Judas and the chief priests. The exact value of the agreed price cannot be determined because the coinage was not identified; it was simply called “silver” (argyria; cf. Matthew 25:18).

The identity of the coin is not specified, but a manuscript variant reading has statēr, the most common coin used for paying the temple tax (see comments on Matthew 17:27). It was the equivalent of four denarii, so that a total amount is equivalent to four months’ wages, or about $5,000.

Verse 17

Matthew 26:17

Make ready -- For the possible ownership of the house see the note Acts 12:12.

Verse 18

Matthew 26:18

House -- The house where they met for the Lord’s last supper with them, was perhaps the house belonging to Mary, the sister of Barnabas and mother of Mark, where they assembled in Acts 12:12; see Colossians 4:10; Acts 12:25.

One clue that makes us think this is Mark’s statement in Mark 14.51 where it is believed that Mark is referring to himself. If Mark was the one following Jesus and the apostles to the garden, it would probably have been that he followed them from his home when they left in the night. Probably already in bed he only grabbed a linen cloth (sheet) to wrap around his nake body and followed them.

It could also be the same house mentioned in Acts 2:2, if the reference there is not to the temple.

Verse 26

Matthew 26:26

LORD’S SUPPER - Matthew 26:26-28, 1 Corinthians 11:23-29,

"Upon first day of the week" - Acts 20:7,

Note: This is the same wording used for the weekly contribution-1 Corinthians 16:1-2 and for the Sabbath- Exodus 20:8.

Verse 27

Matthew 26:27

the cup ... How many containers?

Thought questions for those arguing for "one" cup.

Do we need a table? Luke 22:21; 1 Corinthians 10:21

The bread memoralized Jesus’ body,

the fruit of the vine memoralizes Jesus’ blood

What does "the cup" memoralize or represent?

Luke 22:17 "divided it" among "you," plural?

Divide the "cup" or the container?

What happens if a cup was broken?

Start all over again? If not, you have "two cups" -?

1 Corinthians 10:16 was the same "cup" used in both Corinth and Ephesus?

Verse 28

Matthew 26:28

for the remission of sins ... A parallel construction to Acts 2:38; εἰς = purpose.

Did Jesus shed his blood "because" sins were forgiven, or was it in order to bring about the forgiveness of sins?

Verse 30

Matthew 26:30

sung an hymn ... the last part of the Hallel - Psalms 113-118.

sung a hymn ... the Synoptic accounts of the Last Supper (Matthew 26:30 par. Mark 14:26) mention that Jesus and his disciples sang a hymn before they went out, which is thought by many scholars to be an allusion to the psalms of the Jewish Hallel.

Porter, W. J. (2000). Music. In C. A. Evans & S. E. Porter (Eds.), Dictionary of New Testament background: a compendium of contemporary biblical scholarship (electronic ed., p. 713). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Verse 36

Matthew 26:36

Gethsemane ... Jesus had his 1) Gethsemane, Matthew 26:36; , 2) Gabbatha, John 19:13; and 3) Golgotha, John 19:17.

Verse 47

Matthew 26:47

The crowd arrives— Matthew 26:47, Mark 14:43, Luke 22:47 a, John 18:3. The four accounts state the fact, while Luke emphasizes that Judas was leading them, also implied by John.

Verse 48

Matthew 26:48

hold him fast ... Why the ‘securely’? Judas had seen so many manifestations of Jesus’ power that he should have known better, but of course he was under Satan’s control at that time. However, it appears that they expected resistance.

Verse 50

Matthew 26:50

They grab Jesus— Matthew 26:50 b, Mark 14:46. Judas served as guide, but I take it that Malchus was actually in charge of the operation. He may have taken the lead in grabbing Jesus, which was why Peter swung at him. This grabbing precipitated the reaction that followed. (Wilber Pickering)

Verse 51

Matthew 26:51

servant ... The Text has ‘the servant’, so the high priest had probably put him in charge of the operation. John probably knew him personally. Obviously Peter was not used to wielding a sword.

Peter’s attack caused them to release Jesus, so His hands were free to heal the servant’s ear. If the Lord had not done this, things would probably have been nastier for Peter in the ‘courtyard’, if not already in the garden.

Verse 52

Matthew 26:52

See Romans 13:4 note on "Capital Punishment"

Verse 57

Matthew 26:57

Jesus is taken away— Matthew 26:57, Mark 14:53 a, Luke 22:54 a, John 18:12-13 a. The four accounts state the fact. The first three are in essential agreement, but John offers some new information. First, there was a Roman detachment, with its commander, there in the garden. The word here (chiliarch) refers to a commander of a thousand men (or of a cohort = about 600); this could only be a Roman officer of high rank, and there would only be one of them in Jerusalem. So how did they get him to come along? Obviously Pilate had been informed and was participating. Second, they took Him to Annas first, because he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas,[7] who was high priest that year. A careful look at the parallel accounts makes clear that all of Peter’s denials took place at Caiaphas’ palace, as also all the recorded questionings, etc., so after showing Jesus to Annas they took Him on to Caiaphas. That interim was probably also used to gather the Council, who would not want to be dragged out of bed until Jesus was actually in hand—it was probably between 3 and 4 a.m.

[7] The bigger reason was that Annas was the real high priest, according to the Law (the office of high priest was for life). He was the power behind the throne, so to say. Caiaphas was the political high priest (that year), for purposes of dealing with Rome.

Verse 61

Matthew 26:61

this fellow said ... John 2:19-22; Mark 14:58;

Verse 64

Matthew 26:64

coming in the clouds ... Mark 13:26

clouds ... Revelation 1:7; Isaiah 19:1 (end - 1 Corinthians 10:11; Hebrews 9:26; Matthew 26:64;

The picture in the OT prophets of God coming in the clouds was not always a happy one, but a picture of God coming in judgment, and the cloud was like a dark tornado, with power, might, and destruction.

Some Various Comings of Christ

*1 Emmanuel, Matthew 1:23; John 1:14; John 6:38; Galatians 4:4 This was the coming of the Lord in the flesh, his birth at Bethlehem.

2 Pentecost, Matthew 16:28 (Mark 9:1) Mark 14:62, Matthew 26:64 In some significant way it could be said that Christ also came on Pentecost representatively when he sent his promise of the Holy Spirit.

3 To Paul at His Conversion __ Acts 26:16, Acts 22:7-9 ; 1 Corinthians 15:8 The Lord came to Paul so he could see him alive after his crucifixion and thus qualify him to be an apostle.

4 In Visions -- To Paul at Jerusalem, Acts 22:17-18 (after conversion); At Corinth, Acts 18:9; again at Jerusalem, Acts 23:11

5 AD 70, His coming in judgment upon the Jews for their rejection. Matthew 24:27, Matthew 24:30, Matthew 24:44, Matthew 24:39; Mark 13:26-30; Luke 21:20-27; Hebrews 10:37; James 5:8

This brought an end to their nation, the temple, the physical priesthood coming from Levi, the end of animal sacrifices, etc. ("Last days"[of the Jewish dispensation] plural)

*6 The Resurrection Day (His Second Coming, -- Cf. "Last Day" singular) 1 Thessalonians 4:13 ff to 1 Thessalonians 5:11; 1 Corinthians 15:23-24 ff; John 14:1-3;

John 5:28; John 11:24; John 6:39; John 6:40; John 6:44;

Verse 65

Matthew 26:65

blasphemy ... The court’s charge against Jesus is "blasphemy" but they change the charge before Pilate - Mark 15:3; Luke 23:2; John 18:29-30; eventually they do bring up the blasphemy charge but apparently considered it would carry much weight with Pilate.