Presents
Last
Supper, Betrayal, and Arrest of Jesus.
Presents
Last
Supper, Betrayal, and Arrest of Jesus.
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.
Chapter 26Romans 6:23
... the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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.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.
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.
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".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.
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.")[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.
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?
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.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,
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![4] And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill Him.
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.
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"![5] But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.
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.[6] Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
Now notice what happened.
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![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.
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.
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.[8] But when His disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?
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?[9] For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
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:
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?John 12:5-6
Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
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![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.
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.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.
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.[11] For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.
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.[12] For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.
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![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.
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.
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)".Matthew 26:14
Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
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.
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.[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.
Jesus Christ, who is Beauty, would come and break the Old Covenant by His death on the cross and institute the New Covenant.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.
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![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.
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.[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.
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.[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.
"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).[14] Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
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.
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:[15] And the LORD said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd.
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.[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.
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!
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.[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.
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.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.
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".
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)".Matthew 26:16
And from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.
Our Father is so good to us. We know because He loves us, His children, so much that He was willing to come down from above and give His life for us. In fact, "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (Jn. 3:16)."For this cause alone we give our Father all the praise and glory and honor that our souls are capable of for without the shed blood of Jesus Christ, who is our Passover (1 Cor. 5:7), we surely cannot escape from bondage and eternal death. So "Praise ye the Lord"! We have the victory in Him!
Do you know what "Praise the Lord" is in Hebrew? It is "Hallelujah" which is actually a compound Hebrew word meaning, "Praise Yah" or "Praise Ye the LORD"? So when you say or sing "Hallelujah" that is what you are saying, "Praise Yahveh".
The "Great Hallel" or Hallelujah Psalms (115-118) were most likely what the disciples were singing after the "Last Supper" just before they went out into the Mount of Olives (Mat. 26:30). This "Praise for Yahveh" is also what we need to have in our hearts as we study these next few chapters, because even though the circumstances surrounding the betrayal and crucifixion of Jesus Christ are sorrowful indeed, we need to say Thank God and Praise the Lord for what He has done for us.halal, haw-lal', Hebrew 1984; a primitive root; to be clear (origin of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence to make a show, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causative to celebrate; also to stultify :- (make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool (-ish, -ly), glory, give [light], be (make, feign self) mad (against), give in marriage, [sing, be worthy of] praise, rage, renowned, shine.Yahh, yaw, Hebrew 3050; contracted for Hebrew 3068 (Yehovah), and meaning the same; Jah, the sacred name :- Jah, the Lord, most vehement. Cp. names in "-iah," "-jah."
We have now come to the place in our study of Matthew (whose name means Yahveh's Gift) where Jesus Christ, the perfect unblemished Lamb of God, is about to be crucified and give His life to become our Passover once and for all time. To that end, it would do one well to review and remember that first passover in Exodus 12 for as it is written in 1 Cor. 10:11, these things happened as ensamples unto us and they are written for our benefit and our understanding and admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come.
Here are a few excerpts from Exodus 12 concerning the passover:
You are to have the gospel armor on and in place... to be prepared and readied. Ephes. 6:14-15 "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; [15] And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;"Exodus 12:11-13
And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover.
If you have added oil to your vessels by absorbing the rich teaching from the Mount of Olives in chapters 24 and 25, then you know about the coming of that death angel, the abomination of desolation who comes in the night, and Father's ensuing judgment against all the false gods of this generation.[12] For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.
Likewise if you have the blood of the Lamb upon the doorposts and lintels of your mind and are thus sealed in your forehead with the truth of His Word, i.e. you have your loins girded and your shoes on your feet, etc., meaning you have prepared yourself with the gospel armor, then neither shall the plague poured out in these last days come upon you (Rev. 9:4, Luke 10:19).[13]And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
There is so much more that can be learned from the types given to us in God's Word concerning the passover, but space and time will not afford us to cover them all in this study. However, as a Christian you are admonished to study and learn of those things... else if you think you are in good standing but have not "taken heed" to those things that are written, you are going to fall short, which means you will stumble and fall in the great apostasy.
With that background in mind, let us resume our study in Matthew 26 where the disciples have come to Jesus to ask Him where He wants them to prepare to eat the passover.1 Cor. 10:11-12
Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.[12] Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
Just so there is no confusion as to the time, this is not the high sabbath day, the 15th of Nisan which begins the 7 days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for the passover had not yet been prepared which is always eaten the day before, i.e. on the 14th day of the first month (Nisan). Leviticus 23:5-6 "In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover. [6] And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread."Matthew 26:17
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?
All things happen according to that which is written and according to our Father's timetable. And in this case Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, would become our passover on the passover no matter what interference man or Satan might run. Remember a few verses ago in Matthew 26:16 it is written concerning Judas that he is now "seeking opportunity to betray Him". Jesus knows this and so we are told in Luke 22:8 that the disciples He sent into the city to see a "certain" man, as in a predetermined one, were Peter and John. So Judas will just have to wait until he dips his hand in the dish before his opportunity comes.[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.
Again, the point to learn from all this is that our Father is in complete control and His Word is perfect in that the things that are written, i.e. all the things He has foretold us of both past and future, always have come to pass exactly as they were written and always shall come to pass as they are written. "Seeing" this serves to build and strengthen our faith and causes us to place all our trust in Him, by which we are also comforted in being assured that He keeps His promises.
Jesus told (commanded) His disciples to into the city and so they did. Obedience to the Word of God and His commands is the mark of a true disciple, one who believes Him and serves Him because he or she loves Him. John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."[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.
This was quite a shock to the disciples, all but Judas, for the thought had never entered into their minds to betray Christ. However, it was written that it would be one of His friends, and in fact it was one of His own disciples, who would betray Him.[21]And as they did eat, He said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
The point to be reemphasized, for it cannot be stated enough, is that our Father is always in complete control and He knows exactly what He is doing. To wit, all that transpired concerning Messiah right up to and including His crucifixion and resurrection, was foretold of in the Old Testament.In that regard it is evident to those who know His Word that it was preordained and prearranged by Him. That is one of the great lessons we talked about in our very first study of this great gospel of Matthew. In fact, here is our opening paragraph to lesson one:Zech. 13:6
And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.
And although Judas would be the one to betray Jesus, we will see in the next chapter that he repented of what he had done and threw back the 30 pieces of silver that would purchase the potter's field. Therefore let us not be the judge of his soul... for that is our Father's business, not ours."Yes, rejoice greatly and shout for joy, for all the many promises of God written in the law and the prophets declaring that He would send the greatest gift ever there was to mankind came to pass exactly as it was written. Is it not therefore fitting that the very name of the one who would write the gospel that commences the New Testament is "Matthew"... which means "Gift of Yahveh"?"Romans 6:23 "... the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Keep in mind that Jesus is about to institute the New Covenant and the sacraments thereof. His words that one of them would betray Him sure made them think and search their hearts, for they begin to question and examine themselves, didn't they? Perhaps it is good for us all to search the reins of our hearts and consider our own weaknesses and human frailties especially considering that although only Judas would actually betray Christ, they all shall "offend" Him, as in desert Him, when He is hung on the cross! In other words, He would die there on that cross all alone. (Yes, He did send John and His mother home.) Nevertheless it is written in Matthew 26:31 "All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad."Matthew 26:22
And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto Him, Lord, is it I?
That is why Paul would instruct us in 1 Cor. 11:28 to examine ourselves before we partake of communion. You "see", if one does not have a pure and repentant heart then the forgiveness and healing simply do not apply to that person and he therefore remains condemned, meaning unforgiven, as in he remains in his sins.
Again, this is SELF EXAMINATION, so don't let some ignorant preacher or self-righteous muckity-yuck be your examiner! Communion is between you and God and no man has the right to intercede and determine your heart to know if you are worthy, i.e. whether you have a pure and repentant heart or not! He or she is NOT your judge! You "see", there is one God and there is only one mediator between God and man, and that one is Jesus Christ (1 Tim. 2:5). You confess your sins to Him and ask Him for forgiveness and tell preachers to mind their own business! They are NOT mediators between you and God! Jesus Christ is!1 Cor. 11:28-29
But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
This simply means that if you haven't examined yourself and are now humbly seeking His healing and forgiveness, you're wasting your time and doing nothing more than going through some ritual or religious ceremony... as many undiscerning Christians do![29] For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
And now for the prophetic words which shall identify the betrayer, even as one of His own.
Judas had already made his deal with the chief priests and so he knew in his heart that he was the betrayer. Therefore the following words would have cut deep into his mind and perhaps he remembered them just before he was murdered by the real betrayers.Matthew 26:23
And He answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.
"It is written!" "Haven't you read?" Oh how many times Jesus used those phrases when asked a question. Because it IS WRITTEN! He has foretold us all things (Mark 13:23). All we have to do is take the time to read it with understanding, with a desire to know the truth. For the Son of man was "oppressed and afflicted and brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers (Isaiah 53:7)" exactly as it was written of Him and even the events that happened while He hung on the cross, right down to the gambling of the soldiers for His coat, unfolded exactly as it was written of Him a thousand years before in Ps. 22. Yes, the Word of God itself documents conclusively that Jesus Christ was indeed the Messiah for no other entity could now possibly fulfill all that is written of Him. Those who have the seal of God in their foreheads know this with certitude and will not be deceived by the abominable one we learned of in chapter 24 who comes standing in the holy place claiming to be the true Messiah.[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.
Out of his own mouth, not out of the mouth of Jesus, Judas declared himself to be the one who would betray Christ. However, one must be mature enough in God's Word to recognize the complete fulfillment of prophecy that was taking place and to know therefore that Judas was chosen to be the one who would betray Jesus Christ. (Another example of predestination rather than free choice - see pamphlet #4143)So once again, let us be very careful not to become his judge as some have who have already condemned him to perish.[25] Then Judas, which betrayed Him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.
As a matter of fact, it is even written in the Psalms concerning Judas that "another should take his office" (Ps. 109:8), which Peter and the disciples knew and so fulfilled in Acts 1:20-26. That pretty much means someone knew Judas would receive an untimely death, didn't He? Again, the Word of God is complete and always right on. Only man gets off track when he tries to use his own reasoning and insert the traditions of men which make void the Word of God.
Jesus is now instituting what some call the sacraments, which are simply the representative symbols we use in taking communion... which is how we now observe the passover. Again, give thanks and "Praise Ye the Lord", for it is through the bruises and stripes He took for us that we are healed![26] And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
Next He took the cup of wine and gave thanks again and commanded that they "drink ye all of it". You "see", you either believe in Him all the way or quite frankly you don't believe at all.Isaiah 53:5
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.
The word "testament" in verse 28 comes from the Greek word "diatheke" and should be translated "covenant". This is important because it is written in Ex. 24:8 that blood must be shed in order for a covenant to take place. Why? Because the "life" of the flesh is in the blood. Therefore it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul, i.e. takes away sin. Under the Old Covenant it was the blood of animals that was used, but their blood could not permanently take away sin and so atonement had to be made year after year.Matthew 26:27
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.
Paul expresses it this way in Heb. 9:22:Leviticus 17:11
For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
This may be a little deep for some who have not partaken of the meat of God's Word but have remained on baby's milk for their entire Christian lives (Heb. 5:11-14), but the reason that the blood of animals cannot permanently take away sin is because they do not have an eternal spirit! That is why Jesus Christ came after the order of Melchisedek which Paul fully explains in Hebrews 5-7 for those who have grown skilled in the Word. That is how it is that the precious blood of the Lamb of God can remove our sins forever, as in totally blot them out forevermore!Hebrews 9:22
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Jesus Christ will reestablish His covenant with His people when He returns at the sound of the 7th Trump.Matthew 26:29
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.
Dr. Bullinger points out in the Companion Bible that the "hymn", or psalm, that the disciples sang was most likely the second half of the great "Hallel" or "Hallelujah Psalm", the singing of which later became tradition at Passover. Regardless of whether that is factual or not, you should familiarize yourself with Psalms 115-118 for they indeed do declare the reasons we love Him so much and give Him all the Praise... Hallelujah![30] And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
ISRAEL'S DELIVERANCE FROM EGYPT'S IDOLATRY
This speaks of the spiritually dead and even those who are condemned to perish, such as the fallen angels of Gen. 6. For unless you praise the Lord, you are dead indeed!Psa. 115:17 The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.
But we who are spiritually alive through Him will bless the LORD from this time forth and forevermore! Hallelujah!Psa. 115:18 But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the LORD.
PRAISE FOR DELIVERANCE
You shall know Him, as in you will know the truth, and He will set you free.Psa. 116:16 O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.
Psa. 116:17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.
PRAISE FOR HIS TRUTH AND LOVING KINDNESSPsa. 116:18 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people,Psa. 116:19 In the courts of the LORD's house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.
Here is the 117th Psalm in its entirety, all two verses.
How could one not praise Him once he or she comes to truly know the love of what He has done for His children and how His truth sets us free of the bondage of idolatry and traditions!Psa. 117:1 O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise Him, all ye people.
Yes, His love is so "great toward us" that we cannot even express it, and the truth of His Word which sets us free shall endure forever.Psa. 117:2 For His merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth forever. Praise ye the LORD.
Hallelujah!
The time, the location, and the events of our Father's plan of salvation in sending His only begotten Son to this earth to die on the cross and become our Passover did not happen by chance. Our Father is not the author of confusion but rather of order and design and great purpose which is verified not only in His perfect Works of creation but in His perfect Word, even evidenced by the fact that each and every detail surrounding both Christ's teaching and healing ministry and how He would then "go to Jerusalem and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day" was preordained and declared of old in His Word through the Law and Prophets. Then too, while Jesus was alive in the flesh and walked with His disciples, He also taught them and showed them what would come to pass in order to prepare them beforehand concerning what was going to happen and why it must be so. One reason He prepares His disciples is because there is an unpleasant or seemingly negative side to God's plan which must be accepted and understood if one is to grow into a mature Christian.You might recall that Peter did not like hearing what the plan of God was concerning Christ's suffering and crucifixion.
It was even written in the Book of Jonah that He would rise again the third day.Matthew 16:21-22
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.
Based on the remarks in our opening paragraph concerning Christ's ministry, there can be no doubt that our Father used Peter as an ensample to teach us and to show unto His servants in these last days not only the certitude of that which is written but to give us encouragement to be on guard so as to not allow our personal thoughts and emotions, even our love, to interfere with our Father's will in this final hour. To that end and for our gain, Peter is about to go through one of the most humbling experiences a true servant of God could imagine. He will deny Jesus Christ... to fulfill that which was spoken of him for our benefit! One thing is for sure though! Following this experience he shall be greatly strengthened to know in his heart that the words Jesus Christ spoke (even the Word of God) are unalterably true and shall come to pass exactly as stated."Seeing" this also strengthens us to know the same concerning His Word so that we can take a stand in this final generation and not deny His name![22] Then Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
We now continue in our study of Matthew where Jesus has finished instituting the sacraments of the New Covenant, which are the bread and the wine, and he who would betray Him, i.e. Judas, has been identified. The disciples have just finished singing the Hallel Psalm and giving praise to Yahveh, and now Jesus lays this on them:
Did you catch the words "It is written"?Whenever we see them we should take the time to go to the place where "it is written" to gain more understanding of what we are being taught and therefore supposed to learn. Remember in our last study we quoted from Zech. 13:6 where it was declared it would be one of Christ's own who would betray Him.Matthew 26:31
Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
We will see in our next study that when Judas came with the great multitude to identify Jesus with a kiss, the Lord even called him "Friend". How perfect is our Father's Word.Zech. 13:6-7
And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.
It is from this same chapter in Zechariah that Christ quoted when He told His disciples "All ye shall be offended because of me this night". Again, why would they scatter? Because they didn't love Him? No! Because "IT WAS WRITTEN"!Matthew 26:50
And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
Of course the house of Israel was physically scattered and in these last days that same house has become spiritually scattered, all except for God's elect. But on that day when Jesus Christ was hung on that cross and crucified, there was not one of those twelve disciples present when He gave up His spirit. And make no mistake about it, for it is important to understanding Christ's prayer in the garden of Gethsemane later in our study,Jesus Christ WILLINGLY gave up His life and died on the cross! You see, He was the Son of God and no man could possibly take His life from Him.In fact, that is why we read that He "bowed His head" and gave up the ghost (spirit) instead of "He died and then His head bowed forward".[7] Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.
Here is your documentation that Christ willingly died for you and me:
Now notice what else Jesus told His disciples before Peter and the other disciples tell Him they will in no way fulfill that which was written of them in Zechariah. (Again, take great encouragement and be strengthened by this to know from this ensample that God's elect shall also fulfill that which is written of them in these last days... for He will see to it.)John 10:14-18
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.[15] As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
[16] And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
[17] Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
[18] No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
The disciples are so focused on themselves right now after hearing what Christ just told them in verse 31 concerning their offence and scattering that they did not pay attention to this and absorb it, else His appearance to them after His resurrection would have come as no surprise. Hey, He just told them He would be "risen" and where He would meet them! Again, stay focused on what the Word of God has to say and don't let your thoughts and emotions detract you from "hearing His voice" and following His commands!Matthew 26:32
But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.
Here we go again with Peter challenging the Word of God as if it applies to all others but NOT directly to himself. Take heed to this example and know that that which is written is very personal dear one... because it is written to all of us and you!Oh, and "never say never", especially when it comes to God's Word applying to you![33] Peter answered and said unto Him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.
Peter (and all the rest of us) is now going to learn a very valuable lesson concerning the words of Jesus Christ for He is going to make them VERY PERSONAL to him.
Can you feel a loving chastisement and a valuable life-lesson coming on? "Peter, my man! It's about time you learn that when I tell you a thing is going to come to pass, I not only mean it, I'm talking to you!"[34] Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
And so it shall come to pass exactly as Jesus said it would and you and I and all His disciples will hopefully empathize with Peter's experience and also take it very personally... the Word of God that is! You "see", our Father is in complete control and when He says a thing you can absolutely, positively, count on it! His Word always has come to pass exactly as it is written and it always shall!Now if you can come to the point that you KNOW in your heart that that is true and you know from studying His Word and "hearing His voice" what it is He has promised to His children, then you are comforted in a way that gives true peace of mind and serenity for you have truly entered into His rest.
Now remember that Peter has (1) already said in Mat. 16:22 that he's NOT going to let Christ be delivered up and crucified... according to the will of God. Then (2)he said in Mat. 26:33 that even though "it is written" that all men should be offended, he would NEVER be offended,and now (3) he is going to tell Jesus Christ in the next verse that he would die with Him before He would do what the Word of God just said he SHALL DO before the cock crows!
Uh oh, Peter's "I'm with you all the way Lord (except for what you say)", now has the rest of the disciples jumping on his oppositional bandwagon! The problem is, and the truth of the matter is, Peter has already denied the Word of God three times and he doesn't SEE IT! Do you? In other words, he has spoken contrary to the Word of God three times, which is actually to deny His authority.[35] Peter said unto Him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.
But bless his heart, Peter shall soon come to understand the reality of Christ's words and he will repent and abhor himself for what he has done. If you have eyes to see then you will know that the latter denials were brought to pass to bring to light the former, which were acts of disobedience!
It is a heart rending lesson for all of us who are touched by Peter's experience, a man who so passionately loved the Lord. Yet through it all Peter (and hopefully all of us) shall be strengthened and come to know the love of Christ in a much more personal way and have his (and our) faith greatly increased.Remember too, that it would be this same Peter (petros) whom Christ would use to build His church.Matthew 26:75
And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
"Gethsemane" is actually an Aramaic word that means "oil press". How fitting a name for this location because we are soon going to see how the disciples hold up when the pressing takes place, i.e. the "pressure is on"!Matthew 26:36
Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
Do you have any idea who Jesus Christ would be sorrowful for at this point? Himself? Hardly! When have you EVER read that Jesus Christ was concerned for Himself or for His life? How many times did the scribes and Pharisees seek to take Him and could not "because it was not yet His time!"John 7:30 "Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because His hour was not yet come."Gethsemane, gheth-say-man-ay', Greek 1068; of Chaldee origin [compare Hebrew 1660 (gath) and Hebrew 8081 (shemen)]; oil-press; Gethsemane, a garden near Jerusalem :- Gethsemane.[37] And He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
Then too, who was Christ thinking
of when He was even closer to death, even as He was walking up the hill
to Golgotha and the people and women who followed Him were weeping and
lamenting for Him?
You need to know the answer
to this.
Jesus Christ was not concerned for Himself. He was concerned for the "sons and daughters" of this final generation who would stumble and fall in the great tribulation and have to suffer the consequences of their actions.Luke 23:27-30
And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented Him.[28] But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
Those who are "barren" are those who remain spiritual virgins unto the coming to the true bridegroom, unlike those who are deceived and jump in bed with the false messiah who comes first claiming to be their husband. What is going to happen to those who do not remain "barren", i.e. are impregnated with the lies and deceit of antichrist? They are going to miss out on the true wedding and shall be truly ashamed at their spiritual nakedness in knowing they have been adulterers and adulteresses when Christ returns.[29] For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.
Then, as we read in Matthew chapters 24 and 25, they shall be placed in the wine-press during the Millennium and there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 24:51, 25:30).[30] Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.
It is too bad that it has to be this way, but it is our Father's plan and that is the way it is! Jesus Christ came and offered hope and salvation but He was betrayed and rejected of men and scourged and beaten and crucified.Woe unto them at His second coming. However, it does not give our Father pleasure to have to pour out the cup of His wrath upon His children for it is not His will "that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
Jesus Christ has just taken Peter (a rock) and the two sons of Zebedee (my gift), who would be James (Jacob in Hebrew) and John (Yahveh is Gracious), to a place, a particular spot or location, called Gethsemane, which means "oil press" and is located at the foot of the Mount of Olives. And just as Father used Peter to teach us how not to be disobedient to His Word and thus end up denying Him in these last days, He will now use him along with James and John to teach us how not to fall asleep during the "one hour", i.e. the "hour of temptation" to come upon the world, when the pressing of the oil is under full pressure! So take heed and listen up and continue to fill your vessel with yet more of the precious golden oil of His truth.
Tradition has it that Jesus Christ was pouring out His heart to the Father because He was apprehensive about facing death! This tradition is so ingrained in some people's minds that it is hard for them to dispel and so it prevents them from understanding the teaching concerning not falling asleep during the final hour of temptation that this section of scripture is all about. In other words, this is not about Jesus Christ facing the crucifixion at all! In fact, the phrase "exceeding sorrowful even unto death" itself does not have anything to do with the crucifixion. It is a figure of speech denoting the depth in Christ's heart of His grief over the subject He goes and prays about... which is what is going to happen when the cup of God's wrath is poured out upon all the people at His second advent. Perhaps if folks would connect this teaching concerning falling asleep during the final hour to the previous one we just learned concerning denying Christ, both of which involve Peter, they would better understand what it is we are to learn.Matthew 26:38
Then saith He unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watchwith me.
To that end, you may recall in our last study we documented that no man could ever take Christ's life unless He willfully gave it up! In fact, it can be easily documented that no one could even touch Him or lay hands on Him until His hour was come (John 7:30). So do not EVER let some weak minded would-be teacher or preacher try to tell you that Jesus Christ even momentarily possessed the spirit of fear in the garden of Gethsemane. That in itself is not possible for in Him there IS NO "spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind".
No, Jesus Christ was not the least bit apprehensive about facing death. What He was so grieved about was the heart felt pain in knowing that His children would have to go through a great deal of "wailing and gnashing of teeth" when the cup of God's wrath is poured out upon them because of their unbelief and disobedience to His Word in rejecting and denying Him. He so desired that there was some other less painful way for them... but alas, they would not "hear His voice" and turn to Him. Remember His emotions in Matthew 23:37 concerning His beloved Jerusalem, which is symbolic for His beloved people?2 Tim. 1:7
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Boy, wouldn't that be wonderful if they just would turn to Him and be gathered back together to the Father? But they would NOT! Also, keep in mind the lesson we learned from Peter who quickly denied the plan of God concerning the suffering and crucifixion of His Lord. He would have gone against the will of God and prevented the pain to himself in seeing this come to pass, but you "see", it is not about our will but about the will of our Father which is in heaven who is so loving and fair and always has the best interest of His children at heart. How truly sad and grievous it is indeed that the cup of His wrath is going to have to be poured out upon the ungodly! How truly sad indeed!Matthew 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Now let's go back and repeat verse 38 because the whole purpose of what is happening in the garden of Gethsemane is to teach His disciples what they must do doing the "pressing of the oil" during the final hour in order to avoid falling into temptation, i.e. falling to spurious messiah, Satan.
He brought them to that place and instructed them to both "tarry" and "watch with Him"! (We will discover in verse 41 that the reason He gave them this set of instructions was so that they would not fall into temptation.) You "see", as a servant of God in these last days you must be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.Matthew 26:38
Then saith He unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
Paul teaches us this in Eph. 6:
Our strength comes from eating and absorbing the Word of God which is why Paul then tells us to put on the whole gospel armor (His Word) to be able to stand against the fiery darts of the Wicked one.Ephes. 6:10-18
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.
Then he gives us the following instruction:
That is what the tarrying and the watching with Jesus Christ is all about. It is not for ourselves but rather for the sake of our brothers and sisters all of whom we love very much and yet who are fallen asleep and dwell under the spirit of slumber in these last days (Rom 11). So that is exactly what Jesus Christ is going to do as He now goes and falls on His face and gives supplication to the Father concerning that cup of wrath that must be poured out at His second coming.[18] Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Though He desired that there could be another way rather than having to pour out the cup of God's wrath when He returns, unlike Peter, Jesus Christ did not even consider altering the will of the Father. Again, He was not wavering about going to the cross and being crucified, but even in His "heavy sorrow unto death" for those He loves He showed us how to be obedient to Father's will. And don't think for one moment He wasn't also thinking about His friend Judas who is about to come and betray Him and deliver Him into the hands of His enemies, the kenites, the sons of Cain. Remember we documented from the Psalms quoted in Acts 1:20 that "it is written" that a replacement would have to be found for Judas. Why? Because Judas would die a brutal death and Jesus knew that too.[39] And He went a little farther, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Let's now go to the great Book of Isaiah, whose name means the "salvation of Yah", and document what the cup is that Christ will have in His hands when He returns.
Isaiah 51:17-20
Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of His fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out.
The spiritual desolation we learned of in Matthew 24 and the famine of these end times (Amos 8:11-13) are all part of what shall happen in these last days because the fair virgins and the young men have fainted! Amos 8:11-13 "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: [12] And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. [13] In that dayshall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst."[18] There is none to guide her among all the sons whom she hath brought forth; neither is there any that taketh her by the hand of all the sons that she hath brought up.[19] These two things are come unto thee; who shall be sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword: by whom shall I comfort thee?
They shall faint and be ensnared like a bull caught in the net by the false messiah, whom they will worship as God. For this they shall surely be rebuked by our Father.[20] Thy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, as a wild bull in a net: they are full of the fury of the LORD, the rebuke of thy God.
Hear this now! Are you listening? It is His voice! Our people are going to drink of the cup of His wrath because they shall be drunken in the night (1 Thes. 5:7).Isaiah 51:21-23
Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine:
God is not angry at His own children who love and serve Him. 1 Thes. 5:9 "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ." He is angry with those who afflict Him and are disobedient to His Word.[22] Thus saith thy Lord the LORD, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of His people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again:
You may recall we talked about this in Matthew 25 concerning the weeping and gnashing on the Lord's Day of those who stumble and fall in the great deception to the false messiah, Satan, when he comes to earth claiming to be God. They shall drink from the cup of His fury![23] But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over.
Here is what John says in Revelation concerning the pouring out of His cup of wrath.
In other words, this is all those who are deceived at the sound of the 6th Trump by the false messiah and believe he is who he shall claim to be, which is Jesus Christ. They are going to feel the heat of our Father's wrath when His cup is poured out!Rev. 14:9
And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
They will be in spiritual torment during the Millennium because they shall know they didn't make it during the final hour because they became unfaithful as harlots and adulteresses.[10] The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
They shall not receive rest but will have to work hard and endure much "pressing" because they did not overcome the beast and his image but rather fell asleep and were ensnared by his great wonders and the miracles he performed in the sight of men. In contrast, those who heeded the Word of God and tarried behind and kept laboring in the field and who kept the commandments of God and stuck to His Word, shall not receive of His cup of wrath.[11] And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
As we return to Matthew 26, remember that before Jesus had gone off and prayed to the Father, He instructed His disciples to do the same, i.e. to watch with Him. He now returns and finds that they have not been "watching" unto prayer and supplication. They have fallen asleep![12] Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Isn't it interesting how the garden of Gethsemane is always thought of as the place of the "agony of Jesus" instead of the place where "the disciples fell asleep during the hour"? Jesus is teaching a valuable lesson to those who are to be watchmen during the final hour that comes upon this generation. Again, perhaps if they would connect this teaching using Peter to the previous one we just learned about denying Christ, they would better understand what it is we are to learn. Christ set the example and gave His command and yet His students, the disciples, did not follow that we may learn from what they did, or in this case what they did not. You "see", unless you "watch and pray WITH HIM" during this final hour of temptation, you too will fall asleep! Take Heed!Matthew 26:40
And He cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
The disciples have gone to sleep on their "watch hour" because they did not do as Christ commanded them. We also learn categorically from Christ's three prayers that there shall be no change in the plan for this final generation so you can count on things coming to pass exactly as Christ said they would in Matthew 24. The abominable one is coming to stand in the holy place claiming to be God and there shall be a time, called "one hour", of spiritual temptation such as never was. If you are one of God's elect then you are not only privileged to know His plan and instructions, but you have a responsibility and a duty as a watchman to tarry right here, in the place He has brought you to, and watch with prayer and supplication for your family and loved ones. The promise is to you that if you will keep the word of His patience then He will keep you from that hour of temptation, i.e. from falling asleep during that time.Matthew 26:41
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
We also learn in Rev. 17 concerning that "one hour" Christ spoke of regarding temptation, that it is when the fallen angels are cast out with Satan (Rev. 12:7-9) and reign with him for that "one hour"... which corresponds to a five month period as per Rev. 9:4!Rev. 3:10
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
That hour is coming soon, so take heed to yourself. The spirit may be willing but the flesh is weak.Rev. 17:12
And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
Stay awake and stay in Father's Word! Don't be "too busy" to study His Word or burdened with the cares of this life.Luke 21:34-36
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Don't be caught sleeping or you will fall into temptation and be tricked and ensnared in the net like that wild bull in Isa. 51:20![35] For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Here then are Christ's instructions... which are the same as those given in that place of the "oil press", i.e. in Gethsemane.snare, pagis, pag-ece', Greek 3803; from Greek 4078 (pegnumi); a trap (as fastened by a noose or notch); figurative a trick or strategem (temptation) :- snare.
Again, the watching and praying are not for you but for all saints (Eph. 6:18), for our loved ones who we would sure hate to see drink of His cup of wrath and have to go through the great winepress in the Millennium.[36] Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Finally, before we conclude today's study and because this is such an important topic for His disciples in these last days, let us also go to Paul's teaching in 1 Thes. 5 concerning sleeping during the final hour.
This concerns the day of the Lord which is when Christ returns and Father's cup of wrath is poured out upon those who are spiritually asleep and believe that Jesus Christ has already returned.1 Thes. 5:1-2
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.[2] For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
Again, do not go to sleep but rather "watch" and be "sober" minded, i.e. having the spirit of a sound mind!1 Thes. 5:6
Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
[7] For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
We must stay in our Father's Word, watching and praying, to stay awake.[8] But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
Again, our Father is not angry at those who love and serve Him.[9] For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
Let us return and complete this teaching of our Lord in the garden of Gethsemane.
There is no other way and so Yashua will have to pour out that cup when He returns upon those who reject Him and follow Satan, the spurious messiah. "Thy will be done"... and so it SHALL!Matthew 26:42
He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying,O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
Here is Strong's definition of "heavy":[43] And He came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.
Reminds one of Luke 21:34 that we read earlier, doesn't it?heavy, bareo, bar-eh'-o, From G926; to weigh down (figuratively): - burden, charge, heavy, press.
Three is the number of "Divine completeness and perfection".Three times Peter denied the Word of God and three times he fell asleep to let us know the extreme importance of these two teachings and to also know that they apply to God's elect, those (petros), those "living stones" who make up the temple of God in these last days (1 Pet. 2:5). Certainly Peter was chosen to do what he did according to the Word of God for our benefit in these last days for you "see", the time of sleeping in now past and during that final hour when God's elect are delivered up, even as Christ shall now be delivered up, those who love and serve Him and keep His commands will notdeny Him, nor be scattered, nor fall asleep! Instead, we will confess His name and keep His Word and stay on our watch according to His will making prayer and supplications until the coming of our Lord![44] And He left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
Get your sleep over with for the hour is coming when God's elect shall be delivered up.[45] Then cometh He to His disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
The lessons now having been taught, Jesus Christ gives His final instruction to His disciples before the delivering up is at hand! Time for sleepy eyes to rise, i.e. "wake up" as in stand up, and "let us be going", as in "lead the way", as in let us be about our Father's business! Behold! The hour is coming! A word to the wise is sufficient![46] Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.
rise, egeiro, eg-i'-ro, Probably akin to the base of G58 (through the idea of collecting one’s faculties); to waken (transitively or intransitively), that is, rouse (literally from sleep, from sitting or lying, from disease, from death; or figuratively from obscurity, inactivity, ruins, nonexistence): - awake, lift (up), raise (again, up), rear up, (a-) rise (again, up), stand, take up.
be going, ago?, ag'-o, A primary verb; properly to lead; by implication to bring, drive, (reflexively) go, (specifically) pass (time), or (figuratively) induce: - be, bring (forth), carry, (let) go, keep, lead away, be open.
behold, idou, id-oo', Second person singular imperative middle voice of G1492; used as imperative lo!: - behold, lo, see.
Are you familiar with the events that shall transpire in these last days just before Christ's second advent? If not, do not start by listening to what most preachers and ministers tell you is going to happen. Cast aside the traditions of men and begin studying His Word and begin to "hear His voice" for as He said in Mark 13:23, "Behold, I have foretold you all things." That's right! It is all written in the Word of God and it shall all happen exactly as it is written, even as all the events surrounding Christ's first advent happened precisely on time and according to the minute details written in the law and the prophets.
So let's return to Matthew 26 and learn a great lesson about remembering that which is written and foretold of in the Word of God. Jesus has just told His disciples to rise up, as in to wake up spiritually, and "let us be going" for behold, "he is at hand that doth betray me" (Mat. 26:36). In other words, it was now time for the betrayal and delivering up to take place that He had foretold them about so many times! And while He was still speaking to them, lo, here comes Judas with an ignorant, religious mob sent forth by the chief priests and elders of the people.
This is by no means the Roman army! These are poor, ignorant, and misguided religious zealots who are merely representatives of the chief priests and elders of the people! Watch and observe carefully how they conduct themselves and you will learn a great deal about the religious community in these last days who in their ignorance also represent the false high priest, Satan himself. And by the way, the crude and dull picks and clubs these guys show up with are no match for the swift sharp two-edged sword of the servants of God! But alas! The will of God must be fulfilled... so listen and learn!Matthew 26:47
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.
Betrayed by a friend! Imagine that! Of course one should know that "it is written" concerning these last days that during that final hour some of God's servants shall be betrayed and delivered up by those closest to them. Remember these words of Christ... and then it shall be no surprise to you when the Word of God comes to pass exactly as it is written. Perhaps then you will be mature enough in grace and in the power of His Word to be able to say "forgive them Father, for they know not what they do!"[48] Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is He: hold Him fast.
Again, "it was written" (Zech. 13:6) that it would be a "friend" who would betray Jesus Christ... and so it was Judas, his friend, who gave Him the kiss of death.Luke 21:16-19
And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
The Greek word for "hated" is "miseo" and means "persecuted"! That's all right. You know the plan and that persecution comes with the territory (Jn. 15:20), and you also know the reason it must be this way![17] And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
Will you remember these words of Jesus Christ when the time comes? He just said not one hair on your head shall perish. We even have the type of the delivering up given to us in Daniel chapter three with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abedneggo, who were tossed into the fiery furnace and emerged without an hair singed! Know the plan, the will of our Father, and believe and do the Word of God.[18] But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
Wait patiently upon the Lord and trust in Him.[19] In your patience possess ye your souls.
Now here comes Judas who walks right up to Jesus and gives Him a big friendly greeting!
What Jesus said by "wherefore art thou come" was not a question but rather an elliptical expression meaning "Carry out thy purpose" (see note in the Companion Bible on page 1373). Meanwhile, scripture after scripture is being fulfilled as it is written.Matthew 26:49
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.
Yes, the "familiar friend" who betrayed Him even ate the communion bread with the Lord Jesus Christ.Psalm 41:9-13
Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
His enemies did not triumph over Him. Satan only fulfilled the scripture in "bruising His heel" (Gen. 3:15) when He was hung on the cross, but now the old serpent's head is soon coming off! And so it is that we have the victory in Christ.[10] But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.[11] By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.
Now watch and observe what happens when they begin to take hold of Jesus.[12] And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.[13] Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.
Behold! Look! See! Take notice! Who was this disciple who picked up his sword and stretched out His (own) hand to defend and prevent his Lord from being taken... which must needs happen according to the plan of God? That's right! Lovable ol' Peter again, that one who so passionately loves the Lord Jesus Christ but is still having trouble remembering the words He told him over and over again, like about how He must be delivered up and "... suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day (Matthew 16:21)". In fact, Jesus had JUST told him to "wake up" for now is the time of the betrayal and "while He yet spake" Judas showed up! Hello! The apostle John documents that the disciple who drew his sword was Peter and he fills in a little more detail for us in his gospel so we can get a clearer picture of what is taking place and add some depth to the teaching we are to learn from all this.Matthew 26:51
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.
By the way, what in the world was Peter doing with a sword in the first place? Had he spent three-plus years with the Lord Jesus Christ and not been told he wasn't supposed to carry a sword? Of course not! Carrying or possessing a sword (or a gun) for protection and self defense is perfectly fine and very Biblically principled. Our Father expects us to use wisdom and common sense and when an enemy comes against us to harm us or our family we are to stand and defend ourselves and our loved ones, both individually and nationally. So don't let some fool twist the scripture that refers to turning the other cheek when a brother smites you because he is offended, into becoming easy prey for hardened criminals.
Remembering and taking heed to the words of Jesus Christ during the time of the delivering up of God's elect in these last days is a paramount lesson we are to learn from this. We must not only become knowledgeable of our Father's will but we must then patiently keep Christ's commands and allow that plan to unfold as it is written. In Peter's case, it was not yet time to draw the two-edged sword and take off the ears of Satan's own. That time is at the end of this age, but first Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, the greatest gift God ever gave to man must go to the cross and pay the price for our sins so that through His shed blood repentance and salvation is made possible. You "see", that is why the Son of God came at the first advent, but when He comes again at the second advent He "will open His mouth" and it will be with the sword! It is written! Haven't you read?John 18:10
Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus*.
He is that same One they are about to have beaten and scourged and crucified!Rev. 19:11
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war.[12] His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself.
[13] And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God.
He is bringing His saints, His warriors, His heavenly army with Him to smite the nations and rule with Him for a thousand years![14] And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
There is definitely going to be some "smiting" with the sword then! It is written... so you can count on it![15] And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
We learned this in our study of Matthew 24 & 25, i.e. that Jesus Christ returns with ALL POWER and authority.[16] And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Here is what Jesus says to him:
It was not yet time for His servants to wield the sword and slay the enemies of Christ, for the scriptures must first be fulfilled declaring that the Lamb must be slain.Matthew 26:52
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.
Jesus then said that those that take up the sword (to spiritually slay the children of God) shall "perish" by the sword! And so it shall be that all those who lead their flocks into the captivity of the beast and lead them to whore after Satan, the spurious messiah, shall be slain with His sword! So wait patiently upon the Lord, watching and praying always, until the time is fully come.Isaiah 53:7
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet He opened not his mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.
It is even written that those fallen angels, those "kings" who come with the false high priest (Satan as the false-christ), shall be slain when Jesus Christ returns (Rev. 11:13). Then He and His legions of saints will take care of the whole bunch of them.Rev. 13:10
He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
Does this sound like a man who is fearful of dying? You "see", Jesus Christ, was the King of kings and Lord of lords standing right before their eyes and He could have taken care of this whole bunch of followers of men's traditions in a heartbeat by calling forth that heavenly army, those twelve legions of angels, right there and then. ("12" in Biblical numerics is the number of governmental perfection.) But again, that was not the time... for the scriptures must needs be fulfilled in that He came first to die on the cross and offer salvation to whosoever will! Consider the tremendous love and discipline to the Father's will being displayed for our ensample!Matthew 26:53
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?
Jesus Christ reminded them that He sat with them and taught them openly in the temple and they did not lay hold on Him then (of they could not have even if they had tried). But now here they come all fired up by the lies of the high priest and his cronies and seek to take Him... and now they can for the time has come according to the scriptures.[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.
The sheep scattered... that the scripture of the prophets might be fulfilled. This is given for our "eyes to see" to know that the scriptures concerning these last days shall also be fulfilled exactly as they are written.[56] But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook Him, and fled.
Behold! Would you look at that! The religious leaders of the people have all assembled themselves in the House of God... no, no... in the palace of the high priest (next verse), the chief kenite, just like they will all be when the false messiah comes and assembles his crowd in his palace! And do you know what they are doing there? They are plotting to KILL the Son of God![57] And they that had laid hold on Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
Now let's observe and learn a lesson from Peter!
Peter is keeping a low profile and trying to see what is happening inside the high priest's palace. That is good for us for he is going to get a real good look at the delivering up! We need to keep this in mind even as a type for it is written in Matthew 10:17 "But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge (to quarrel, dispute) you in their synagogues." In Mark 13:11 you are instructed not to become anxious nor to premeditate about what you will say! Remember the words of Christ and do not deny Him, but rather be patient and wait on Him "in that hour" and allow the Holy Spirit to speak through you... as it is written! Mark 13:11 "But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost."[58] But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.
Now let's see what the chief priests and elders and all the council are up to!
Some religious community we have here! They are seeking "liars", false witnesses, expert spin meisters, so that than they can bring forth charges and can kill the Living Word of God! It seems they had plenty of false witnesses show up too! Hmmm! This is only speculation, but surely there had to be "something in it" for that many liberals to try out as liars! In other words, the council must have been offering some hefty monetary reward if so many false witnesses came, wouldn't you think? Well, they paid Judas didn't they? Nevertheless, they finally found two false witnesses they could rely on... to appear credible that is![59] Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put Him to death;[60] But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,
So the religious community headed by the high priest, Caiaphas, whose name means "depressing", have found themselves a couple of scripture analysts and here is their evening report:Deut. 19:15
One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.Numbers 35:30
Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.
The very first thing we learn about the old serpent in the Book of Genesis is that he is more subtle (sly and cunning) than any other person God ever created. He so smoothly spun and twisted the Word of God in Eve's ears in Genesis chapter 3 with such believability that she soon believed that what God meant by "Thou shalt surely die" (Gen. 2:17) was "Ye shalt not surely die" (Gen. 3:4)! He also added to and took away from the 91st Psalm in Mat. 4 when He tempted Christ in the wilderness. Therefore, be on guard whenever one of his own quotes scriptures because you know the old saying, "Like father, like son!" You see, Jesus Christ did NOT say what Mr. Two-Faced said he said!Matthew 26:61
And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
Here is what Jesus actually said:
Notice He didn't say "I am able to destroy the temple of God..." at all! He said "(You) Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up. Further research shows that He was not even talking about a building, He was talking about the temple of His body, i.e. the body of Christ.John 2:19
Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
So these two wit-lesses have purposely brought false witness against the Word of God.John 2:21
But He spake of the temple of His body.
The scriptures in Isa. 53 are being fulfilled and yet these religious leaders of the people are clueless!Matthew 26:62
And the high priest arose, and said unto Him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?[63] But Jesus held His peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.
Again, Jesus knew full well that at His second advent they would get what's coming to them, i.e. receive their just recompense, lest somehow they suddenly repent and turn to Him. Then they will know that the Lord hath spoken! Remember, He could have called the full kingdom and the 12 legions of angels down upon them right then and there! Here are two scriptures Jesus was quoting from in His response to them calling Him the Christ, the Son of God![64] Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
What a day that will be when they see Him coming in the clouds!Psalm 110:1
A Psalm of David.
The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.Daniel 7:13-14
I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.[14] And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
Well, that settles it! So the high priest, Mr. Depressing, did a very religious thing and rent his clothes. He then turns to all his mindless "yes men", convincingly tells them that they have just heard "blasphemy", and asks for their "independent" assessment of the situation.Matthew 26:65
Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
The phrase "He is guilty of death" actually means "He is deserving of death?" Of course, they did not have the authority to actually sentence a man to death, but they now start to get real brave and high and mighty.[66] What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.
Yeah, big men! Here is what they do:
Spiritually speaking, this is actually a good picture of what the religious community does to the Word of God this very day! They base their belief on the traditions of men which have come from false witnesses calling themselves scholars who have twisted the Word of God and then they spit upon the Word of God with their lies and smite Him with the palms of their hands, i.e. with the works that they do. Remember who is behind all of this and who it is they are "from", as in represent! Just like Caiaphas the high priest, Satan shall come in these last days and send his representatives to bear false witness and deceive our people.[67] Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,
Nevertheless, Jesus Christ our Lord will suffer the humiliation and take the stripes and be tried and brutally scourged and crucified on a cross and shed His innocent blood because of the tremendous love our Father has for His children, even for those who now spit on Him... for they too are His children. For it is His will and His desire that none should perish (along with Satan in the lake of fire) but that all should come to repentance and return back to His loving arms. 2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
Now Jesus is mocked by this holy, religious, self-righteous crowd.
Not a pleasant sight, is it? Now remember Peter has been witnessing all this that has been transpiring in the palace of the high priest. What words do you suppose were ringing in Peter's ears right now? Well it isn't written but one would think "He is guilty of death!" might hit him pretty hard![68] Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?
Let's see what happens when he now is identified as one of His disciples.
Oh boy! Here's where the rubber really meets the road. Perhaps Peter can just envision being subjected to what Christ is going through because surely Peter's fleshly emotions are running scared.[69] Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.
Now before we get too carried away, let us be "awake" to the fact that Jesus Christ told Peter that He would deny Him three times before the cock crow. The reason is so that we learn the conclusion of the matter in verse 75, which is "to remember the word of Jesus"! So understand that what Peter does he must do to fulfill the Word of God for our benefit that we might see and understand that the words of Jesus Christ are real and meaningful and when He says He has foretold us all things, He means it! And we are to "take heed" to how it is "going down" in these last days and be mentally and spiritually prepared for it to happen EXACTLY as it is written. Mark 13:23 "But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things."[70] But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.
[71] And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.
This time Peter emphatically swears that he does not know the man![72] And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.
Uh oh! His Galilean accent must be giving him away for he certainly does not appear to be speaking the language of a holy man at this point, does he? Maybe a little cursing along with the swearing up and down will convince them that he does not know Jesus Christ![73] And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.
Now he gets it! Now he remembers the words of Jesus! But how devastating this must have been when Peter suddenly realized what he had done!The words of Jesus Christ are true and accurate and he hadn't been taking heed to what the Word of God foretold him. This priceless lesson that cut to his heart woke Peter up to the reality of Christ. Has it helped you?[74] Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
The good news is that although it was a heart rending experience for Peter, he now remembered, as in finally "heard", the Word of God! Our Father has a plan for the end of this age. It is written! Therefore take heed, He has foretold us all things! Do not try to take matters into your own hands but rather keep His Word and do things Father's way and if you are one of His elect who is chosen and destined to be delivered up to give His witness and testimony, you will remember the word of Jesus and will not deny His name![75] And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
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