The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Matthew #2565

Do you have the blood of the Lamb placed upon the lintels and doorposts of your mind?

Jesus Christ has now "finished all these sayings" and He and His disciples have come down from the Mount of Olives. I hope you were able to gather much pure golden olive oil to place in your vessels for the dark hour just ahead of us that He instructed us and forewarned us about. Remember, He told us that the plan is that the abomination of desolation, call him the death angel if you like, is coming to this earth at the sound of the 6th Trump, BEFORE Jesus Christ returns at the sound of the 7th Trump. Those who have the seal of God in their foreheads and the blood of the Lamb placed upon the lintels and doorposts of their minds, shall not be harmed by Satan and his angelic host (Rev. 9:4) when they are cast out of heaven to this earth (Rev. 12:7-9).

We continue in our study of Matthew, whose name means "Gift of Yahveh", where the time is now approaching when God will give the greatest gift of all to mankind.

Romans 6:23
... the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Chapter 26
Matthew 26:1
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.

The disciples, all twelve of them, were told numerous times about Christ's betrayal and crucifixion (Mat. 16:21-23, 20:17-19). After all, it was the Plan of God that He should send His only begotten Son into the world to pay the price on the cross, to become our Passover (1 Cor. 5:7), and "that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil (Heb. 2:14)", that old death angel over whom we now have the victory.

However, because we have eyes of clay that constantly need washed in the water of the Word, it is easy even for the followers of Christ to become very short sighted in the things pertaining to God. You may recall Peter's reaction back in chapter 16 to Christ's instruction concerning His suffering and crucifixion.

Matthew 16:21-23
From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto His disciples, how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

[22] Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke Him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

Peter did not like the plan and he began to "rebuke" the Word of God! Imagine that! Peter allowed Satan to use his love and affection to cause "an offence unto Christ" which means "to stumble at the Word".
[23] But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Are we better than Peter? No! Then the point is we must all be very careful in "savouring" the things that be of God, even all the things He has just foretold us of in Mat. 24 and 25, and not the things of men. (Mat. 24:25 "Behold, I have told you before.")

And so it is that the plan is about to unfold exactly as it was foretold and in exact accordance with the time frame our Father set. To that end, Jesus has just reminded His disciples that they "knew this"! Sometimes things just don't register in our little ol' pea brains, do they?

Matthew 26:3
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,
Those high minded dirty birds, those chief religious buzzards who prey on the people instead of praying for the people, held a private confer at the high priest's court, whose name was Caiaphas. How depressing a sight! In fact "Caiaphas" means "depressing" and one of the depressing things is that he was not appointed by God to the office of high priest. He was a kenite appointed by the Roman governor. Remember what Christ said in Mat. 23:2 concerning "Moses' seat"? He told us that the scribes and Pharisees, who were neither of Judah nor of Levi but were of those Nethinim (temple workers given to service) who returned with them to Jerusalem in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah, had taken over the temple and now sat in the seat of authority. Let's see what these religious leaders have on their minds.
[4] And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill Him.
Wow, they are conspiring to murder Messiah! And yet the people think because these guys wear fancy priest's robes and dangle their phylacteries while claiming their authority comes from God, that they are nice, caring, religious leaders! WRONG! They are bunch of sweet talking murderous crooks filled with the same guile and subtilty as their father... who was the first murderer (Jn. 8:44). So... like father, like son!
subtilty, dolos, dol'-os, Greek 1388; from an obsolete primary dello (probably meaning to decoy; compare Greek 1185 (deleazo)); a trick (bait), i.e. (figurative) wile :- craft, deceit, guile, subtilty.
[5] But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.
What did Jesus Christ just tell His disciples in verse two concerning when His crucifixion would take place? In two days on the Feast of Passover, right? Do you think these religious clowns, these offspring of that old serpent the devil, can change the Word of God and His time table to suit themselves? Not on your life! Satan has been trying unsuccessfully to foil the plan of God right from the beginning, starting in the garden of Eden with the seduction of mother Eve. He always loses though because he is a "loser"!
[6] Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
Remember from verse two that this was "two days" before the Passover and we are going to see another anointing, a second one apart from the one in John 12:3-8 which occurred "six days" before the Passover in the house of Lazarus. If you are fortunate to own a Companion Bible, by Kregel Publishers, you will find an appendix (158) outlining and contrasting both the antecedents and consequences of these anointings. You can also point your browser to http://www.angelfire.com/nv/TheOliveBranch/append158.html and read it online.

Now notice what happened.

[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.
This alabaster box of ointment was very precious and very expensive (vs. 9) and she just opened it up and "poured it" on Christ's head. Now remember what is about to take place in two days... the betrayal and crucifixion of Messiah. He is about to willingly go to the cross and "pour out" His precious blood and give the MOST PRECIOUS GIFT to mankind ever there was!

Again, the disciples not only "knew this" but Jesus had just reminded them of it, so let's see how focused they are on what is about to transpire in two days.

[8] But when His disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?
Oh my goodness! They were "indignant" about what this woman had done? They called it a "waste" to anoint the Messiah? Seems they have been drawn away from focusing on the plan as evidenced by the noticeable fact that they are more concerned about the pouring out of some precious ointment than they are about the pouring out of His precious blood.
[9] For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
It is not money that the "poor" need! It is the precious truth of God's Word and the atoning blood of the Lamb that they need, else what good will all the money in the world do them?

By the way, do not overlook the fact that this "thought" of taking some one else's money and redistributing it to the poor was first planted in the minds of the disciples by Judas Iscariot, the group's treasurer (bag carrier), four days earlier when Mary anointed Christ's feet in Lazarus' house.

Here is what Judas Iscariot said:

John 12:5-6
Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
Sounds like a man of compassion, doesn't it? Well, it is always easy to take someone else's money (especially the have's) and redistribute it to the poor (the have not's). That is the very essence of "liberalism" where phony compassionate sounding men and women, who could actually give two hoots about the poor, make themselves "feel good" at someone else's expense. Which did Judas care most about, the poor... or his money bag?
[6] This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.


Editors note: We have two political parties in these United States who learned this lesson from Judas well. They're called Democrats and Republicans. They have become real good at taking someone else's money and  redistributing it to the poor. Of course they always first take care of their own re-election needs.
Be wary of those who ask and/or beg for your money for this "good cause" and that "great work"! Nevertheless, the concept had been planted by Judas at the first anointing and now four days later and only two days before the Passover, all the disciples are joining in on the "we could have sold that ointment and given the money to the poor"! Take heed and stay focused in the Word and on the plan He has laid out!
Matthew 26:10
When Jesus understood it, He said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.
The word "Christos" means "anointed" and Jesus Christ, the Anointed One of God, came to this earth at His first advent as the Lamb of God to pay the price and become our Passover once and for all. It was therefore fitting and proper that He should be anointed for burial, was it not? And for those who have eyes to see and know that nothing our Lord did was by accident, but rather by design from the Father, know that He directed the "good work" this woman did unto the Lord. You "see", God uses whomsoever He will to fulfill His plan and this was her labor and her destiny to fulfill. So be very careful how you judge others for the work they do, lest you become short sighted and loose focus on the Word and His wondrous works and begin to stumble over the cares of this world and what men do or say.
[11] For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.
This documents that the disciples had their priorities a little out of whack. The woman, however, did not! She knew that Jesus Christ would be the greatest gift the poor, even the poor of spirit, could ever hope for and in that sense she somewhat made the disciples look bad... though not intentionally so. The whole point is that the scene we have just witnessed was accomplished for our benefit and our admonition in these last days upon whom the ends of world are come (1 Cor. 10:11). In fact, the record of her good work is to be remembered as a memorial "wheresoever the gospel shall be preached in the whole world (vs. 13 below)". And so it is.
[12] For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.
Again, this shows that she knew Jesus was about to be killed and buried and there was nothing of more value to her than that. We should all consider our own priorities from time to time.
[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.
A memorial is a reminder, a remembering of something, and Jesus Christ wants us to remind and be reminded of what this woman has done in that her faith in Him and the work she was commissioned to do was undaunted by the things men value. In other words, she "savoured" the things of God much more than the things of men and the things of this world. It is also fitting that this reminder of what this woman has done is given just prior to the "sell out" that Judas would do for a lousy 30 pieces of silver! What a contrast!

However, remember back in verse five that the chief priests and scribes decided not to kill Christ on the feast day? Well no matter, for it had already been determined from the beginning when the Lamb of God would be betrayed and delivered up and killed! To that end, even though because of the traditional teachings of men some may have a problem with the following teaching concerning Judas, at least recognize that it was one of Christ's own disciples whom God used to facilitate and bring to pass His unalterable plan. Judas is about to allow his greed as bag carrier to get the best of him and though he shall return the money to the temple and repent of his deed (Mat. 27:3), as a result he shall be murdered himself by the scribes and Pharisees! We will document it when get to the next chapter, so stick around.

Matthew 26:14
Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
There is much significance in names as they are used in scripture, so perhaps it should be pointed out that the name "Iscariot" comes from the Hebrew words "ish" and "kerioth" which mean "man" and "city" respectively. "Iscariot" therefore means "man of cities" or a "builder of cities" taking us back to the offspring of Cain (Kayin), the Kenites in Genesis chapter four, who were builders of earthly, material cities. Men of God are focused on that heavenly city, that "city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:10)".

So Judas is out to build up his nest and pad his bank account by playing "Let's Make a Deal" with the scribes and chief priests to deliver Jesus Christ into their hands... because he knew they were after Him. It is doubtful however from Judas' reaction to the crucifixion that he expected they would kill Him... though you have to wonder since Christ told the disciples that He would be betrayed and delivered into the hands of the scribes and Pharisees and be killed. Again, sometimes things just don't register in our minds. Nevertheless, Judas cut a deal with the kenites for the price of a slave, which was thirty pieces of silver.

[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.
Thirty pieces of silver was how much the kenites thought Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world, was worth. Imagine that! And Judas "sold out" for that measly negotiated sum. However, our heavenly Father was in total control of what was transpiring for it was foretold that the sum of thirty pieces of silver would be the price that would buy the potter's field. You "see", this old world is the potter's field where the broken earthly vessels are cast and only Jesus Christ, through His shed blood on the cross, is able to heal and repair those broken pieces... to make a vessel whole again. Let's go to the book of Zechariah, who name means "Remembered of Yah" and document that the thirty pieces of silver would be the price paid for the delivering up and the purchase of the potter's field.
Zech. 11:10-14
And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people.
Jesus Christ, who is Beauty, would come and break the Old Covenant by His death on the cross and institute the New Covenant.
[11] And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD.
Again, the Old Covenant was broken and made into the New Covenant when Jesus Christ came to this earth as a lowly Lamb to shed His blood to pay the price for the sins of the world for any and all who will come to Him and believe in Him, even His Word.The "poor of the flock" are actually "sheep traffickers", i.e. the kenites, who knew "that it was the word of the LORD", for no man could do the things that He had done. Nevertheless, they rejected Him and scorned Him and for thirty pieces of silver, the price paid for a slave, they had Him betrayed and delivered up and crucified. At that time, the sun was darkened and the veil to the holy of holies was rent from top to bottom and later the resurrection of those local folks who came forth out of their graves, gave witness and testimony to all, including the head kenite Caiaphas, that He was the Messiah. Yes, the good Shepherd gave His life for the flock. And what do the "sheep traffickers" think of a true shepherd? Not much!
[12] And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.
Thirty pieces of silver is the price paid for the damage done to a servant, a slave. Again, this paltry amount shows what the kenites, even the "sheep traffickers", think of the true Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ, for thirty pieces of silver was "the price they put on head"! By the way, if you are one of God's elect and you teach His Word straight on, you can be assured they do not think much of you either! In fact, they wouldn't give two cents for you... unless there was something in it for them.
[13] And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.
There you go! No matter how you look at it, for a mere thirty pieces of silver, the price of the redemption of a damaged slave, the precious blood of Christ was shed and the potter's field was purchased. The good news is that it meant that these earthen vessels which have become shattered and broken seemingly beyond repair could now be healed and put back together by Jesus Christ.
[14] Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
"Bands" means "union" and so it was that because of His love for His children, the union of Israel was cut asunder and the branch was split into two sticks (Ezek. 37:20), the southern House of Judah along with Benjamin being the one stick, and the northern House of Israel (the so-called 10 "lost" tribes) the other. This was done according to His will, as it was written, that the Plan of God might be fulfilled when one day His lost sheep would hear His voice when He calls and be joined back together into one stick (Ezk. 37).

Unfortunately at this time it would seem that rather than going to Him to hear His Voice directly from His Mouth, i.e. from His Word, most Christians would rather listen to the false shepherds tell them comforting fanciful stories about what great spiritual shape they are in just because they acknowledge Christ is Lord (so do the demons), and then tell them that soon they will be "raptured away"! They therefore have no need to don the full Gospel Armor of Eph. 6 to be ready to take a stand with God's elect against the fiery darts of the wicked one, do they? The sad result will be however that they will be spiritually slain in the great battle when Satan comes claiming to be God. They will be caught up in the clouds alright for they shall be caught up in the great apostasy and be led to worship a shepherd who could really care less about them, much less lay down his life for them.

[15] And the LORD said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd.
God knows exactly what He is doing and He says He is going to raise up a "foolish" shepherd, meaning one who is "perverse". In other words, when He gives the command to Michael (the one who is holding Satan in his place at this time as per Rev. 12:7-9) to turn Satan and his angels loose, then that son of perdition will be revealed and come and stand in the holy place and claim to be the real shepherd, Jesus Christ. It is written and we take comfort in knowing that it shall come to pass exactly as it is written. Now let us see if that false shepherd will feed and care for God's sheep as a true loving shepherd does:
[16] For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces.
Well, now you know exactly what this great religious one who shall come really thinks of God's sheep. The great false shepherd will appear to be wonderful and compassionate indeed in that he will bring in peace and prosperity (fat upon the land) and as it is written (2 Thes. 2:9) he shall show great signs and wonders and perform miracles in the sight of men! In fact, it is written that the whole world, including the majority of Christianity with the exception of God's elect, will believe him to be the real shepherd, Jesus Christ.

But this false, perverse, shepherd claiming to be the messiah will not visit "those that be cut off",  i.e. the perishing, nor seek the young sheep who have gone astray, nor heal the spiritually wounded, nor strengthen the spiritually weak with the Word of God. No, this great red dragon in a shepherd's garb who shall appear on the surface to be so loving and gentle will have the spiritual "teeth of a great lion" and he will "eat the flesh of the fat" (those fat cats who think they are in such great spiritual shape) and he will spiritually rip and tear in pieces the very souls of our people!

[17] Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.
The great foolish shepherd himself has already been sentenced to perish in the lake of fire, which is why he is called the "son of perdition" because he is the "son who will perish". One's "arm" is symbolic of his work and the phrase "his arm shall be dried up" simply means that he shall do no more evil works but shall remain in the darkness of the pit. But let this verse also be a warning to the "idol shepherds" of our people.
idol = 'eliyl, el-eel', Hebrew 457; apparently from Hebrew 408 ('al); good for nothing, by analogy vain or vanity; specifically an idol :- idol, no value, thing of nought.
An "idol" shepherd is one who takes the name of the Lord in vain, as in claims to be one of His representatives but who speaks not with His Voice, from the mouth of His Word in the manner of "Thus saith the Lord God" and "It is written", but rather teaches for doctrine the vain traditions and commandments of men that make void the Word of God.

So the clandestine meeting has transpired between the chief priests and Judas Iscariot and the price of the betrayal has been set at thirty pieces of silver, exactly according to the amount our Father said it would be. So Judas went out and "from that time on he sought opportunity to betray Him".

Matthew 26:16
And from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.
And so the betrayal and the crucifixion will happen right on time according to our Father's plan and when we read how miraculously the entire plan of God unfolds at the first advent, it should greatly increase our faith in knowing that Father is still in control and therefore the events He foretold us of in the last two chapters leading up to the second advent shall happen in like manner... exactly as He has foretold us. Let us therefore not savour the things of men and allow them to cause us to "offend" and stumble at the Word. Let us savour the things of God and do our labor according to His purpose for which He has called us, which is "according to the good pleasure of his will (Ephes. 1:5)".

In our next study we will learn what events took place at "The Last Supper".

... to be continued.
To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.


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