Chapter 26:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Lightfoot
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGarvey Pendleton
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Malachi Mark
Matthew 26
Concise Complete
The rulers conspire against Christ. (1-5) Christ
anointed at Bethany. (6-13) Judas bargains to betray Christ. (14-16) The
Passover. (17-25) Christ institutes his holy supper. (26-30) He warns his
disciples. (31-35) His agony in the garden. (36-46) He is betrayed. (47-56)
Christ before Caiaphas. (57-68) Peter denies him. (69-75)
Verses 1-5 Our
Lord had often told of his sufferings as at a distance, now he speaks of them as
at hand. At the same time the Jewish council consulted how they might put him to
death secretly. But it pleased God to defeat their intention. Jesus, the true
paschal Lamb, was to be sacrificed for us at that very time, and his death and
resurrection rendered public.
Verses 6-13 The
pouring ointment upon the head of Christ was a token of the highest respect.
Where there is true love in the heart to Jesus Christ, nothing will be thought
too good to bestow upon him. The more Christ's servants and their services are
cavilled at, the more he manifests his acceptance. This act of faith and love
was so remarkable, that it would be reported, as a memorial of Mary's faith and
love, to all future ages, and in all places where the gospel should be preached.
This prophecy is fulfilled.
Verses 14-16
There were but twelve called apostles, and one of them was like a devil; surely
we must never expect any society to be quite pure on this side heaven. The
greater profession men make of religion, the greater opportunity they have of
doing mischief, if their hearts be not right with God. Observe, that Christ's
own disciple, who knew so well his doctrine and manner of his life, and was
false to him, could not charge him with any thing criminal, though it would have
served to justify his treachery. What did Judas want? Was not he welcome
wherever his Master was? Did he not fare as Christ fared? It is not the lack,
but the love of money, that is the root of all evil. After he had made that
wicked bargain, Judas had time to repent, and to revoke it; but when lesser acts
of dishonesty have hardened the conscience men do without hesitation that which
is more shameful.
Verses 17-25
Observe, the place for their eating the passover was pointed out by Christ to
the disciples. He knows those hidden ones who favour his cause, and will
graciously visit all who are willing to receive him. The disciples did as Jesus
had appointed. Those who would have Christ's presence in the gospel passover,
must do what he says. It well becomes the disciples of Christ always to be
jealous over themselves, especially in trying times. We know not how strongly we
may be tempted, nor how far God may leave us to ourselves, therefore we have
reason not to be high-minded, but to fear. Heart-searching examination and
fervent prayer are especially proper before the Lord's supper, that, as Christ
our Passover is now sacrificed for us, we may keep this feast, renewing our
repentance, our faith in his blood, and surrendering ourselves to his service.
Verses 26-30
This ordinance of the Lord's supper is to us the passover supper, by which we
commemorate a much greater deliverance than that of Israel out of Egypt. Take,
eat; accept of Christ as he is offered to you; receive the atonement, approve of
it, submit to his grace and his government. Meat looked upon, be the dish ever
so well garnished, will not nourish; it must be fed upon: so must the doctrine
of Christ. This is my body; that is, spiritually, it signifies and represents
his body. We partake of the sun, not by having the sun put into our hands, but
the beams of it darted down upon us; so we partake of Christ by partaking of his
grace, and the blessed fruits of the breaking of his body. The blood of Christ
is signified and represented by the wine. He gave thanks, to teach us to look to
God in every part of the ordinance. This cup he gave to the disciples with a
command, Drink ye all of it. The pardon of sin is that great blessing which is,
in the Lord's supper, conferred on all true believers; it is the foundation of
all other blessings. He takes leave of such communion; and assures them of a
happy meeting again at last; "Until that day when I drink it new with you," may
be understood of the joys and glories of the future state, which the saints
shall partake with the Lord Jesus. That will be the kingdom of his Father; the
wine of consolation will there be always new. While we look at the outward signs
of Christ's body broken and his blood shed for the remission of our sins, let us
recollect that the feast cost him as much as though he had literally given his
flesh to be eaten and his blood for us to drink.
Verses 31-35
Improper self-confidence, like that of Peter, is the first step to a fall. There
is a proneness in all of us to be over-confident. But those fall soonest and
foulest, who are the most confident in themselves. Those are least safe, who
think themselves most secure. Satan is active to lead such astray; they are most
off their guard: God leaves them to themselves, to humble them.
Verses 36-46 He
who made atonement for the sins of mankind, submitted himself in a garden of
suffering, to the will of God, from which man had revolted in a garden of
pleasure. Christ took with him into that part of the garden where he suffered
his agony, only those who had witnessed his glory in his transfiguration. Those
are best prepared to suffer with Christ, who have by faith beheld his glory. The
words used denote the most entire dejection, amazement, anguish, and horror of
mind; the state of one surrounded with sorrows, overwhelmed with miseries, and
almost swallowed up with terror and dismay. He now began to be sorrowful, and
never ceased to be so till he said, It is finished. He prayed that, if possible,
the cup might pass from him. But he also showed his perfect readiness to bear
the load of his sufferings; he was willing to submit to all for our redemption
and salvation. According to this example of Christ, we must drink of the
bitterest cup which God puts into our hands; though nature struggle, it must
submit. It should be more our care to get troubles sanctified, and our hearts
satisfied under them, than to get them taken away. It is well for us that our
salvation is in the hand of One who neither slumbers nor sleeps. All are
tempted, but we should be much afraid of entering into temptation. To be secured
from this, we should watch and pray, and continually look unto the Lord to hold
us up that we may be safe. Doubtless our Lord had a clear and full view of the
sufferings he was to endure, yet he spoke with the greatest calmness till this
time. Christ was a Surety, who undertook to be answerable for our sins.
Accordingly he was made sin for us, and suffered for our sins, the Just for the
unjust; and Scripture ascribes his heaviest sufferings to the hand of God. He
had full knowledge of the infinite evil of sin, and of the immense extent of
that guilt for which he was to atone; with awful views of the Divine justice and
holiness, and the punishment deserved by the sins of men, such as no tongue can
express, or mind conceive. At the same time, Christ suffered being tempted;
probably horrible thoughts were suggested by Satan that tended to gloom and
every dreadful conclusion: these would be the more hard to bear from his perfect
holiness. And did the load of imputed guilt so weigh down the soul of Him of
whom it is said, He upholdeth all things by the word of his power? into what
misery then must those sink whose sins are left upon their own heads! How will
those escape who neglect so great salvation?
Verses 47-56 No
enemies are so much to be abhorred as those professed disciples that betray
Christ with a kiss. God has no need of our services, much less of our sins, to
bring about his purposes. Though Christ was crucified through weakness, it was
voluntary weakness; he submitted to death. If he had not been willing to suffer,
they could not conquer him. It was a great sin for those who had left all to
follow Jesus; now to leave him for they knew not what. What folly, for fear of
death to flee from Him, whom they knew and acknowledged to be the Fountain of
life!
Verses 57-68
Jesus was hurried into Jerusalem. It looks ill, and bodes worse, when those who
are willing to be Christ's disciples, are not willing to be known to be so. Here
began Peter's denying him: for to follow Christ afar off, is to begin to go back
from him. It is more our concern to prepare for the end, whatever it may be,
than curiously to ask what the end will be. The event is God's, but the duty is
ours. Now the Scriptures were fulfilled, which said, False witnesses are risen
up against me. Christ was accused, that we might not be condemned; and if at any
time we suffer thus, let us remember we cannot expect to fare better than our
Master. When Christ was made sin for us, he was silent, and left it to his blood
to speak. Hitherto Jesus had seldom professed expressly to be the Christ, the
Son of God; the tenor of his doctrine spoke it, and his miracles proved it; but
now he would not omit to make an open confession of it. It would have looked
like declining his sufferings. He thus confessed, as an example and
encouragement to his followers, to confess him before men, whatever hazard they
ran. Disdain, cruel mocking, and abhorrence, are the sure portion of the
disciple as they were of the Master, from such as would buffet and deride the
Lord of glory. These things were exactly foretold in the fiftieth Chapter
of
Isaiah. Let us confess Christ's name, and bear the reproach, and he will confess
us before his Father's throne.
Verses 69-75
Peter's sin is truly related, for the Scriptures deal faithfully. Bad company
leads to sin: those who needlessly thrust themselves into it, may expect to be
tempted and insnared, as Peter. They scarcely can come out of such company
without guilt or grief, or both. It is a great fault to be shy of Christ; and to
dissemble our knowledge of him, when we are called to own him, is, in effect, to
deny him. Peter's sin was aggravated; but he fell into the sin by surprise, not
as Judas, with design. But conscience should be to us as the crowing of the
cock, to put us in mind of the sins we had forgotten. Peter was thus left to
fall, to abate his self-confidence, and render him more modest, humble,
compassionate, and useful to others. The event has taught believers many things
ever since, and if infidels, Pharisees, and hypocrites stumble at it or abuse
it, it is at their peril. Little do we know how we should act in very difficult
situations, if we were left to ourselves. Let him, therefore, that thinketh he
standeth, take heed lest he fall; let us all distrust our own hearts, and rely
wholly on the Lord. Peter wept bitterly. Sorrow for sin must not be slight, but
great and deep. Peter, who wept so bitterly for denying Christ, never denied him
again, but confessed him often in the face of danger. True repentance for any
sin will be shown by the contrary grace and duty; that is a sign of our
sorrowing not only bitterly, but sincerely.
Chapter 26:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Lightfoot
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGarvey Pendleton
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Malachi Mark
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
