Bible Commentaries

The time was near for the Feast. No leavened bread could be eaten during Passover week. The Feast of Unleavened Bread lasted seven days after Passover, and was named because they did not use leaven (yeast) in making the special bread for that week. Were trying to find some way of killing Jesus. Public opinion was against them, so they search for a way to do it that will not stir up the people. See notes on Matthew 26:1-5.

Then Satan went into Judas. Judas volunteered to do Satan's dirty work! See notes on Matthew 26:14-16.

The day came during the Feast. This says the Feast of Unleavened Bread had begun before the Passover had been eaten. Alford (Greek Testament), et. al, believe Jesus and his disciples ate this Passover a day before the Jews ate theirs, and that Jesus died on the cross about the time the passover lambs were being killed. See notes on John 18:28; John 19:31; and on the parallel verses in the other Gospels.

Where do you want us to get it ready? On this preparation, see notes on Matthew 26:17-25. A large furnished room upstairs. The guest room of the house. [Some have thought the "young man" of Mark 14:51 was Acts 12:12; Acts 12:25), this room was in her home.]

When the hour came. There are four descriptions of the beginning of the Lord's Supper [the Holy Meal]. See notes on Matthew 26:26-30.

But, look! Luke puts this incident after the Lord's Supper, while Matthew and Mark place it before the Supper. Johnson thinks that Luke has it out of sequence, and that Judas therefore was not present when the Supper was instituted. John 13:21-35 seems to imply this. Compare notes on Matthew 26:21-25.

An argument came up. They must have argued more than once about who was the greatest. Jesus scolded their attitude by washing their feet (see John 13:2-12). But this is not the way it is with you. He is greatest who serves the world best. The same agreement with you. A spiritual Kingdom, not a political power. See note on Matthew 19:28.

Sim, Simon! Listen! For notes on this prediction and warning, see Matthew 26:31-35. Peter was so confident here! But when the time actually came, he did deny Jesus, and even used a vow to make it stronger. (Matthew 26:74).

When I sent you out that time. See notes on Matthew 10:9-15. Luke gives the "sending out" of seventy-two more (Luke 10:1-12).

But now, Jesus sold. Before they could count on the good will of the Jewish people they were working among. Now they can expect severe opposition. Whoever does not have a sword. This is symbolic, meaning they will find enemies on every side. Compare Matthew 5:38-42; Matthew 26:51-52.

He was included with criminals. This is quoted from Isaiah 53:12. It was about to come true in Jesus.

Look! Here are two swords. They take what he said in Luke 22:36 literally. That is enough! He says this to show he does not mean them to literally arm themselves with swords, since two swords would not have been enough for twelve men.

To the Mount of Olives. For the suffering of Gethsemane, see notes on Matthew 26:36-46. Hebrews 5:7 also speaks of this. His sweat was like drops of blood. Only Luke tells this. It shows the agony of Christ's suffering!

When a crowd arrived. For notes on this arrest of Jesus, see Matthew 26:47-56. Be sure to read the section in the other Gospels.

And Peter followed from a distance. For notes on Peter's denial, see Matthew 26:69-75.

Made fun of him and beat him. For notes on this, see Matthew 26:67-68; Mark 14:65.

When day came. Jesus had already had a hearing before Annas, and had been sentenced to death by Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin. But another meeting of their Council [Sanhedrin] had to be held to make it legal, since the night trial had no legal standing. Luke gives this formal hearing in detail.

Are you the Messiah? They had expected the Messiah to set up an earthly kingdom like David's. He already answered this at the night trial (Matthew 26:63) He protests the violence and injustice of his trial.

But from now on the Son of Man. Notice how the Council understands "the Son of Man." Are you, then, the Son of God? In their minds, Son of Man and Son of God meant the same thing. Jesus had used the language of Daniel 7:13, which they understood to apply to the Messiah. Jesus was God [the Eternal Logos of John 1:1-3] in human form.

We don't need any witnesses! To their minds, what Jesus has just said is BLASPHEMY! [But it wasn't! He really was God in human form!]