Bible Commentaries

The feast of unleavened bread; the passover; so called, because during that feast they ate nothing that was leavened. Matthew 26:2; Matthew 26:17.

Then entered Satan into Judas; exerted over him peculiar influence, and excited him to betray his Lord.

Captains; those who commanded the guard that kept watch at the temple.

Judas selleth Christ; the passover prepared. Matthew 26:14-19.

Money has a powerful influence over the human heart and the hope of obtaining even a small sum may awaken the most corrupt desires, and lead to the commission of the most horrid crimes. Well did he who knew what was in man say, "Take heed, and beware of covetousness."

The passover must be killed; the lamb which was eaten at the passover-festival must be killed, and preparations made for the feast.

The hour was come; the hour appointed for the eating of the paschal lamb. Matthew 26:20.

With desire I have desired; a Hebrew form of expression signifying, I have greatly desired.

Until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God; till the kingdom of God come by the offering of Christ, the true paschal lamb. Luke 22:18.

The cup; not the cup mentioned verse Luke 22:20, but the cup that was used in celebrating the passover.

I will not drink; for the meaning of these words, see notes on Matthew 26:29. What was drunk at the ordinance of the supper was not blood, but the fruit of the vine, the juice of the grape. This Christ used, and it is a fit emblem of his blood, which was shed for the remission of sins.

The Lord’s supper. Matthew 26:26-30.

What is mentioned in these verses took place while they were eating the passover, and before the institution of the Lord’s supper. The facts are not all mentioned in the order in which they took place. John 13:30; Matthew 26:21-25; Mark 14:18-21.

The greatest; the most honorable-have the highest offices in that earthly kingdom which, notwithstanding all his instruction, they still thought he was about to establish. It seems to have been in connection with this strife about preeminence that our Lord rose from the table and washed his disciples’ feet, thus setting them an example of condescending humility. John 13:4-17. Similiar contests are mentioned in Matthew 18:1; Matthew 20:20-28.

Benefactors; a title of honor applied to earthly rulers, especially the kings of Syria and Egypt, and such as exercised dominion over others.

Not be so; in the kingdom of Christ, one of his ministers was not to have dominion over the others. They were all brethren, and he would be the greatest who should be the most humble, and most ready to perform all useful services.

Temptations; trials, labors, and sorrows.

I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that is, as the next verse shows, I make you sharers with me in the kingdom which I have received of my Father. But this is a spiritual kingdom, in which the most humble and active in serving their brethren are the greatest.

Eat and drink at my table; be admitted to near communion with me, as are the servants of a king who stand high in place and honor.

Sit on thrones; to administer, under spiritual kingdom. In the preeminent place held by the apostles in the establishment of the Christian church, we find the earthly fulfilment of this promise. Another fulfilment is reserved for "the regeneration," when Christ shall make all things new. See note on Matthew 19:28.

Sift you; all the apostles.

As wheat; greatly agitate your minds with inward and outward trials, to induce you, if possible, to deny men, apostatize, and perish.

For thee; while he intercedes for all the apostles, he offers a special prayer for Peter.

Fail not; not utterly fail, but when weakened revive again and become triumphant.

Converted; turned from thy sin. Jesus Christ is acquainted with all the dangers of his people, and guards them, that when they fall, they may rise again, and be for ever victorious over all their foes.

Peter’s denial foretold. Matthew 26:33-35.

When I sent you; Matthew 10:9-10.

Lacked ye any thing? did you suffer with want?

Let him sell his garment, and buy one; a figurative mode of warning the apostles that great difficulties and trials awaited them, which would require them to be like armed warriors, ready for the conflict.

This that is written; Isaiah 53:12.

It is enough; they needed the sword of the Spirit, the shield of faith, the breastplate of righteousness, and the helmet of salvation.

Agony in the garden. Matthew 26:30-46; Mark 14:32-41.

Strengthening him; as a man he needed and received aid from on high.

Christ betrayed, led to the high-priest, and denied. Matthew 26:47-75; Mark 14:43-72.

With a kiss; customarily a sign of affection, but now used by Judas to point out to the soldiers which was Jesus. Persons who, knowingly, for their own selfish ends, express towards Jesus Christ that which they do not feel, imitate Judas the traitor; and unless they repent and are forgiven, it will be true of them as it was of him, that it would have been better for them if they had not been born. Matthew 26:24.

Suffer ye thus far; addressed to the guard who had seized him immediately upon the kiss of Judas. Matthew 26:48; Mark 14:45-46. The probable meaning is, Allow me thus far; that is, give me liberty so far as to touch this man’s ear. Some, however, suppose him to mean, Suffer the zeal of my disciples to have proceeded thus far in defending me.

Man, I know not; Matthew and Mark say that a maid in the second instance charged Peter with being one of Christ’s disciples. But he here answers to a man. The maid may have stated it to those that were present, and a man then have charged Peter with it.

If I tell you; you do not ask for the sake of gaining information; your minds are fully made up to condemn me, and no statement of mine can influence your belief.

If I also ask you; propose questions to you to be answered, as the Saviour often did in reasoning with the Jewish rulers. For an example, see Matthew 21:23-27. Nevertheless, as his time for suffering had now come, he proceeded solemnly to affirm his messiahship, Luke 22:69-70.

Sit on the right hand of the power of God; this they justly considered as his claiming to be the Messiah.

Ye say that I am; this meant, Yes, I am.

Have heard; have heard his claim to be the Son of God, which they said was blasphemy.