# Matthew 26 📖: The Last Supper and Gethsemane [[📚 Explore the Bible Books]] [[-Matthew Overview]] | [[Matthew 25]] | [[Matthew 27]] > [!info] Table of Contents > [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]] > [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]] > [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]] > [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]] > [[#🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application]] > [[#💬 Discussion Questions]] > [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]] > [[#🔗 Related Passages]] > [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]] > [[#📂 Internal Notes]] ## 📜 Scripture Text (NET) (The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005) ### The Plot Against Jesus **Principle**: Jesus Knows and Moves Forward [[#Verse 01]] When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he told his disciples,  [[#Verse 02]] “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”  [[#Verse 03]] Then the chief priests and the elders of the people met together in the palace of the high priest, who was named Caiaphas.  [[#Verse 04]] They planned to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him.  [[#Verse 05]] But they said, “Not during the feast, so that there won’t be a riot among the people.” ### Jesus’ Anointing **Principle**: Worship is costly, but Jesus is worth it. [[#Verse 06]] Now while Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper,  [[#Verse 07]] a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of expensive perfumed oil, and she poured it on his head as he was at the table.  [[#Verse 08]] When the disciples saw this, they became indignant and said, “Why this waste?  [[#Verse 09]] It could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor!”  [[#Verse 10]] When Jesus learned of this, he said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a good service for me.  [[#Verse 11]] For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me!  [[#Verse 12]] When she poured this oil on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.  [[#Verse 13]] I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.” ### The Plan to Betray Jesus **Principle**: Closeness in proximity does not guarantee piety. He must reign in your heart. [[#Verse 14]] Then one of the twelve, the one named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests  [[#Verse 15]] and said, “What will you give me to betray him into your hands?” So they set out thirty silver coins for him.  [[#Verse 16]] From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray him. ### The Passover **Principle**: Jesus knows our hearts. It doesn’t matter what we appear to be. He knows us. [[#Verse 17]] Now on the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?”  [[#Verse 18]] He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near. I will observe the Passover with my disciples at your house.”’”  [[#Verse 19]] So the disciples did as Jesus had instructed them, and they prepared the Passover.  [[#Verse 20]] When it was evening, he took his place at the table with the twelve.  [[#Verse 21]] And while they were eating he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.”  [[#Verse 22]] They became greatly distressed and each one began to say to him, “Surely not I, Lord?”  [[#Verse 23]] He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.  [[#Verse 24]] The Son of Man will go as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for him if he had never been born.”  [[#Verse 25]] ThenJudas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesusreplied, “You have said it yourself.” ### The Lord’s Supper [[Mark 14]] [[Luke 22]] **Principle**: Jesus fulfills the law. He is the True Passover Lamb. [[#Verse 26]] While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it, gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat, this is my body.”  [[#Verse 27]] And after taking the cup and giving thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you,  [[#Verse 28]] for this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, that is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.  [[#Verse 29]] I tell you, from now on I will not drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”  [[#Verse 30]] After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. ### The Prediction of Peter’s Denial **Principle**: Jesus knows our weaknesses. He loves us even though He knows we will not always get things right. [[#Verse 31]] Then Jesus said to them, “This night you will all fall away because of me, for it is written: ‘**_I will strike the shepherd,_** **_and the sheep of the flock will be scattered_.**’ [[#Verse 32]] But after I am raised, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”  [[#Verse 33]] Peter said to him, “If they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away!”  [[#Verse 34]] Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, on this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”  [[#Verse 35]] Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will never deny you.” And all the disciples said the same thing. ### Gethsemane **Principle**: Jesus teaches us how to pray in distress. [[#Verse 36]] Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”  [[#Verse 37]] He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and became anguished and distressed.  [[#Verse 38]] Then he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.”  [[#Verse 39]] Going a little farther, he threw himself down with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if possible,let this cup pass from me! Yet not what I will, but what you will.”  [[#Verse 40]] Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “So, couldn’t you stay awake with me for one hour?  [[#Verse 41]] Stay awake and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  [[#Verse 42]] He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will must be done.”  [[#Verse 43]] He came again and found them sleeping; they could not keep their eyes open.  [[#Verse 44]] So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same thing once more.  [[#Verse 45]] Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is approaching, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.  [[#Verse 46]] Get up, let us go. Look! My betrayer is approaching!” ### Betrayal and Arrest **Principle**: Jesus = No Fear. [[#Verse 47]] While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and elders of the people.  [[#Verse 48]] (Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I kiss is the man. Arrest him!”)  [[#Verse 49]] Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi,” and kissed him.  [[#Verse 50]] Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and took hold of Jesus and arrested him. [[#Verse 51]] But one of those with Jesus grabbed his sword, drew it out, and struck the high priest’s slave, cutting off his ear. [[#Verse 52]] Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back in its place! For all who take hold of the sword will die by the sword.  [[#Verse 53]] Or do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and that he would send me more than twelve legions of angels right now?  [[#Verse 54]] How then would the scriptures that say it must happen this way be fulfilled?”  [[#Verse 55]] At that moment Jesus said to the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me like you would an outlaw? Day after day I sat teaching in the temple courts, yet you did not arrest me.  [[#Verse 56]] But this has happened so that the scriptures of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled. ### Condemned by the Sanhedrin **Principle**: Stay calm when others accuse you. [[#Verse 57]] Now the ones who had arrested Jesus led him to Caiaphas, the high priest, in whose house the experts in the law and the elders had gathered.  [[#Verse 58]] But Peter was following him from a distance, all the way to the high priest’s courtyard. After going in, he sat with the guards to see the outcome.  [[#Verse 59]] The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were trying to find false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death.  [[#Verse 60]] But they did not find anything, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward  [[#Verse 61]] and declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”  [[#Verse 62]] So the high priest stood up and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that they are testifying against you?”  [[#Verse 63]] But Jesus was silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”  [[#Verse 64]] Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man _sitting_ _at the right hand_ of the Power and _coming_ _on the clouds of heaven_.” [[Daniel 07]] (v13) [[#Verse 65]] Then the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? Now you have heard the blasphemy!  [[#Verse 66]] What is your verdict?” They answered, “He is guilty and deserves death.”  [[#Verse 67]] Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists. And some slapped him,  [[#Verse 68]] saying, “Prophesy for us, you Christ! Who hit you?” ### Peter’s Denials **Principle**: Jesus knows and prepares a way before you fall. [[#Verse 69]] Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A slave girl came to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.”  [[#Verse 70]] But he denied it in front of them all: “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”  [[#Verse 71]] When he went out to the gateway, another slave girl saw him and said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.” [[#Verse 72]] He denied it again with an oath, “I do not know the man!”  [[#Verse 73]] After a little while, those standing there came up to Peter and said, “You really are one of them too—even your accent gives you away!”  [[#Verse 74]] At that he began to curse, and he swore with an oath, “I do not know the man!” At that moment a rooster crowed.  [[#Verse 75]] Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. # ==📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary== ##### Verse 01 ##### Verse 02 ##### Verse 03 ##### Verse 04 ##### Verse 05 ##### Verse 06 ##### Verse 07 ##### Verse 08 ##### Verse 09 ##### Verse 10 ##### Verse 11 ##### Verse 12 ##### Verse 13 ##### Verse 14 ##### Verse 15 ##### Verse 16 ##### Verse 17 ##### Verse 18 ##### Verse 19 ##### Verse 20 ##### Verse 21 ##### Verse 22 ##### Verse 23 ##### Verse 24 ##### Verse 25 ##### Verse 26 ##### Verse 27 ##### Verse 28 ##### Verse 29 ##### Verse 30 ##### Verse 31 ##### Verse 32 ##### Verse 33 ##### Verse 34 ##### Verse 35 ##### Verse 36 ##### Verse 37 ##### Verse 38 ##### Verse 39 ##### Verse 40 ##### Verse 41 ##### Verse 42 ##### Verse 43 ##### Verse 44 ##### Verse 45 ##### Verse 46 ##### Verse 47 ##### Verse 48 ##### Verse 49 ##### Verse 50 ##### Verse 51 ##### Verse 52 ##### Verse 53 ##### Verse 54 - Legion- Lots of different opinions on how many. Possibly 5,000 men. 12 legions = 60,000. ##### Verse 55 ##### Verse 56 ##### Verse 57 ##### Verse 58 ##### Verse 59 ##### Verse 60 ##### Verse 61 ##### Verse 62 ##### Verse 63 ##### Verse 64 ##### Verse 65 ##### Verse 66 ##### Verse 67 ##### Verse 68 ##### Verse 69 ##### Verse 70 ##### Verse 71 ##### Verse 72 ##### Verse 73 ##### Verse 74 ##### Verse 75 ## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights 1. Passover celebrated Israel's rescue from Egypt, when the blood of a lamb protected the firstborn (Exodus 12). 2. Caiaphas (26:3) was high priest from about AD 18 to 36. An ornate ossuary inscribed with the name Caiaphas was discovered in Jerusalem in 1990. 3. The perfume poured on Jesus (26:7) was very expensive. Mark and John say it was worth about a year's wages (Mark 14:5; John 12:5). 4. Thirty silver coins (26:15) was the price of a slave under the Law (Exodus 21:32) and fulfills Zechariah 11:12-13. 5. Reclining at the table (26:20) was the custom at Passover, a sign that God's people were free, not slaves. 6. Gethsemane (26:36) means "oil press," a fitting name for the place where Jesus felt crushing sorrow. 7. Jesus called Judas "friend" (26:50) even at the moment of betrayal. 8. John tells us it was Peter who cut off the ear of the high priest's servant, whose name was Malchus (John 18:10). 9. A Roman legion had roughly 5,000 to 6,000 soldiers, so twelve legions of angels (26:53) would be more than 60,000. 10. Tearing one's clothes (26:65) was a traditional sign of grief or outrage at blasphemy. ## 🧠 Chapter Summary > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter Christ is the Passover Lamb whose blood of the covenant is poured out for the forgiveness of sins (26:28; 1 Corinthians 5:7). In Gethsemane He submitted to the Father's will (26:39) and drank the cup of judgment for us. ## 🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## 💬 Discussion Questions 1. A woman poured costly perfume on Jesus while Judas sold Him for thirty silver coins (26:6-16). What do these two responses reveal about the heart? 2. Jesus surrendered His will to the Father in Gethsemane (26:39). How does His prayer teach us to pray in hard seasons? 3. Peter denied Jesus three times, then wept bitterly (26:69-75). How does Jesus' later restoration of Peter give hope to those who have failed? ## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember - 📖 verse 26: Jesus breaks the bread and says, This is My body. - 📖 verse 28: His blood of the covenant is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. - 📖 verse 39: Jesus asks that the cup pass from Him, yet surrenders to the Father's will. - 📖 verse 41: Stay alert and pray, because the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. - 📖 verse 64: They will see the Son of Man sitting at God's right hand and coming on the clouds. ## 🔗 Related Passages - 🔗 [[Exodus 12#Verse 01.|Exodus 12:1-14]] - The first Passover. - 🔗 [[John 12#Verse 01.|John 12:1-8]] - Mary anoints Jesus at Bethany. - 🔗 [[Zechariah 11#Verse 12.|Zechariah 11:12-13]] - Thirty pieces of silver. - 🔗 [[Psalm 41#Verse 09.|Psalm 41:9]] - My close friend has lifted his heel against me. - 🔗 [[1 Corinthians 11#Verse 23.|1 Corinthians 11:23-26]] - Paul's account of the Lord's Supper. - 🔗 [[Exodus 24#Verse 08.|Exodus 24:8]] - The blood of the covenant at Sinai. - 🔗 [[Jeremiah 31#Verse 31.|Jeremiah 31:31-34]] - The promised new covenant. - 🔗 [[Zechariah 13#Verse 07.|Zechariah 13:7]] - Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter. - 🔗 [[Hebrews 05#Verse 07.|Hebrews 5:7-8]] - Jesus offered prayers with loud cries and learned obedience. - 🔗 [[John 18#Verse 36.|John 18:36]] - My kingdom is not of this world. - 🔗 [[Isaiah 53#Verse 07.|Isaiah 53:7]] - Silent like a lamb before its shearers. - 🔗 [[Psalm 110#Verse 01.|Psalm 110:1]] and [[Daniel 07#Verse 13.|Daniel 7:13]] - At God's right hand, coming on the clouds. - 🔗 [[John 21#Verse 15.|John 21:15-19]] - Peter restored by the risen Jesus. ## 🙏 Devotional Reflection 📝 SOAP: [[Matthew 26 - SOAP|How Great Is the Mercy of Our King!]] ## 📂 Internal Notes