March 13, 2011
Morning Service

Matt. 26:1-30

 

Review:

1.                  We have just left the disciples asking the Lord, when shall be the destruction of the temple, what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?

2.                  The remainder 3 parables of chapter 24, and the three parables in chapter 25 addresses these issues.

3.                  As we begin chapter 26, we should recognize that we are in the final week countdown to Calvary.

4.                  Jesus has had His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, He has cleansed the temple, He has rebuked, and embarrassed the religious leaders, and now they will try to find a way to kill Him.

 

Let’s begin chapter 26:

 

Mat 26:1-30 KJVR  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. 

• The Passover was one of the three feasts of the Jews that all males were required to be present in Jerusalem.  It was also called the feast of unleavened bread.  This feast lasted 7 days, and commemorated the Jews departure out of Egypt.  This was 1358 years before Jesus was born in the flesh.  You can read concerning this feast in the book of Exodus chapter 12.
• They did not however grasp the death of their leader at this time, even though He has tried to tell them on different occasions.

 

(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 subtlety, and kill him. 

• This is a meeting of the religious council.  The High Priest, this was the office originally given to Aaron by God.  History tells us that this was a hand me down office to stay in the Levitical tribe, however, after the time Jerusalem was taken by Antiochus Epiphanes (160 BC), he sold the office to the highest bidder.  This continued until the time of Herod, and he gave the office to whoever he pleased, as often as he pleased.   

(5)  But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people. 

 

Now we estimate it is Wednesday:

(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. 

• One commentator mentioned that this Simon had been healed of his leprosy, more than likely by Jesus.  Also, that this is the house where Lazarus, Mary, and Martha are, and it is Mary that does this act.  Martha is supposedly serving the supper.
• The alabaster box was a beautiful box, but the true value was the oil itself.  Supposedly to be costly.  It came from the Indies.
• Matthew and Mark tell of it being poured on Jesus head, John tells of it also being poured on His feet.  Mary anoints His whole body from head to toe.  The act of anointing His feet is truly an act of humility, and repect.

(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. 

• The next time we judge, or criticize something someone does, we need to think about this Scripture.
• Jesus did not require this kind of attention, nor did He seek it, but He would not allow this woman to be insulted, and embarrassed.  He rebukes His disciples, and teaches them a very valuable lesson.
• What is the lesson?  Don’t judge, or criticize someone for doing a good work.
• This act of kindness, love, and respect earned her a memorial for ever.

 

THE BETRAYAL:

(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. 

• The lesson we just learned from Mary anointing Jesus should help us when we think of Judas.  DON’T JUDGE, OR CRITICIZE. 
• When Jesus chose His disciples, He knew the makeup of Judas.  He placed him over the money that the disciples had, and Jesus knew Judas would betray Him.
• So I look at this for myself.  Each time I partake of the Body, and Blood of our Lord, I think will it be me who betrays You tomorrow?  Each time I miss the mark, which is to sin, I betray the Lord.

 

THE INSTITUTION OF THE COMMUNION SERVICE:

(26)  And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.  (27)  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;  (28)  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.  (29)  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.

• The blood of the first testament was that of bulls, and goats, the Hebrew writer says;

Heb 9:12-15 KJVR  Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.  (13)  For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:  (14)  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?  (15)  And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

• The true revelation of this act  is revealed in St. John chapter 6.  You will not fully understand the true meaning of the communion service until you have studied this chapter with the guidance of the Holy Ghost.  Jesus says:

Joh 6:51-56 KJVR  I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.  (52)  The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?  (53)  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.  (54)  Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.  (55)  For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.  (56)  He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

• The Apostle Paul was given the understanding so that He could tell us, and build our faith;

1Co 11:23-26 KJVR  For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:  (24)  And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.  (25)  After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.  (26)  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come.

(30)  And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

Father, help us to live in the spiritual realm of love, and forgiveness, free of judgment, and criticism.  Help us to understand, that we might have eternal life.