141 Now the passover and the [feast of] unleavened bread was after two days. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they might seize him by subtlety and kill him. 2 For they said, Not in the feast, lest perhaps there be a tumult of the people.
3 And when he was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as he lay at table, there came a woman having an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly; and having broken the alabaster flask, she poured it out upon his head. 4 And there were some indignant in themselves, and saying, Why has this waste been made of the ointment? 5 for this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor. And they spoke very angrily at her. 6 But Jesus said, Let her alone; why do ye trouble her? she has wrought a good work as to me; 7 for ye have the poor always with you, and whenever ye would ye can do them good; but me ye have not always. 8 What she could she has done. She has beforehand anointed my body for the burial. 9 And verily I say unto you, Wheresoever these glad tidings may be preached in the whole world, what this [woman] has done shall be also spoken of for a memorial of her.
10 And Judas Iscariote, one of the twelve, went away to the chief priests that he might deliver him up to them; 11 and they, when they heard it, rejoiced, and promised him to give money. And he sought how he could opportunely deliver him up.
12 And the first day of unleavened bread, when they slew the passover, his disciples say to him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare, that thou mayest eat the passover? 13 And he sends two of his disciples, and says to them, Go into the city, and a man shall meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him. 14 And wheresoever he enters, say to the master of the house, The Teacher says, Where is my guest-chamber where I may eat the passover with my disciples? 15 and he will shew you a large upper room furnished ready. There make ready for us. 16 And his disciples went away and came into the city, and found as he had said to them; and they made ready the passover. 17 And when evening was come, he comes with the twelve. 18 And as they lay at table and were eating, Jesus said, Verily I say to you, One of you shall deliver me up; he who is eating with me. 19 And they began to be grieved, and to say to him, one by one, Is it I? [and another, Is it I?] 20 But he answered and said to them, One of the twelve, he who dips with me in the dish. 21 The Son of man goes indeed as it is written concerning him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is delivered up; [it were] good for that man if he had not been born. 22 And as they were eating, Jesus, having taken bread, when he had blessed, broke [it], and gave [it] to them, and said, Take [this]: this is my body. 23 And having taken [the] cup, when he had given thanks, he gave [it] to them, and they all drank out of it. 24 And he said to them, This is my blood, that of the [new] covenant, that shed for many. 25 Verily I say to you, I will no more drink at all of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.
26 And having sung a hymn, they went out to the mount of Olives. 27 And Jesus says to them, All ye shall be offended, for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered abroad. 28 But after I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. 29 But Peter said to him, Even if all should be offended, yet not I. 30 And Jesus says to him, Verily I say to thee, that thou to-day, in this night, before [the] cock shall crow twice, thou shalt thrice deny me. 31 But he said [so much] exceedingly the more, If I should have to die with thee, I will in no wise deny thee. And likewise said they all too.
32 And they come to a place of which the name [is] Gethsemane, and he says to his disciples, Sit here while I shall pray. 33 And he takes with him Peter and James and John, and he began to be amazed and oppressed in spirit. 34 And he says to them, My soul is full of grief even unto death; abide here and watch. 35 And, going forward a little, he fell upon the earth; and he prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him. 36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible to thee: take away this cup from me; but not what I will, but what thou [wilt]. 37 And he comes and finds them sleeping. And he says to Peter, Simon, dost thou sleep? Hast thou not been able to watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh weak. 39 And going away, he prayed again, saying the same thing. 40 And returning, he found them again sleeping, for their eyes were heavy; and they knew not what they should answer him. 41 And he comes the third time and says to them, Sleep on now, and take your rest. It is enough; the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is delivered up into the hands of sinners. 42 Arise, let us go; behold, he that delivers me up has drawn nigh.
43 And immediately, while he was yet speaking, Judas comes up, [being] one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd, with swords and sticks, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 Now he that delivered him up had given them a sign between them, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he; seize him, and lead [him] away safely. 45 And being come, straightway coming up to him, he says, Rabbi, Rabbi; and he covered him with kisses. 46 And they laid their hands upon him and seized him. 47 But a certain one of those who stood by, having drawn his sword, struck the bondman of the high priest, and took off his ear. 48 And Jesus answering said to them, Are ye come out as against a robber, with swords and sticks to take me? 49 I was daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye did not seize me; but [it is] that the scriptures may be fulfilled. 50 And all left him and fled.
51 And a certain young man followed him with a linen cloth cast about his naked [body]; and [the young men] seize him; 52 but he, leaving the linen cloth behind [him], fled from them naked.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 14:1-52
Commentary on Mark 14:1-11
(Read Mark 14:1-11)
Did Christ pour out his soul unto death for us, and shall we think any thing too precious for him? Do we give him the precious ointment of our best affections? Let us love him with all the heart, though it is common for zeal and affection to be misunderstood and blamed; and remember that charity to the poor will not excuse any from particular acts of piety to the Lord Jesus. Christ commended this woman's pious attention to the notice of believers in all ages. Those who honour Christ he will honour. Covetousness was Judas' master lust, and that betrayed him to the sin of betraying his Master; the devil suited his temptation to that, and so conquered him. And see what wicked contrivances many have in their sinful pursuits; but what appears to forward their plans, will prove curses in the end.
Commentary on Mark 14:12-21
(Read Mark 14:12-21)
Nothing could be less the result of human foresight than the events here related. But our Lord knows all things about us before they come to pass. If we admit him, he will dwell in our hearts. The Son of man goes, as it is written of him, as a lamb to the slaughter; but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed! God's permitting the sins of men, and bringing glory to himself out of them, does not oblige them to sin; nor will this be any excuse for their guilt, or lessen their punishment.
Commentary on Mark 14:22-31
(Read Mark 14:22-31)
The Lord's supper is food for the soul, therefore a very little of that which is for the body, as much as will serve for a sign, is enough. It was instituted by the example and the practice of our Master, to remain in force till his second coming. It was instituted with blessing and giving of thanks, to be a memorial of Christ's death. Frequent mention is made of his precious blood, as the price of our redemption. How comfortable is this to poor repenting sinners, that the blood of Christ is shed for many! If for many, why not for me? It was a sign of the conveyance of the benefits purchased for us by his death. Apply the doctrine of Christ crucified to yourselves; let it be meat and drink to your souls, strengthening and refreshing your spiritual life. It was to be an earnest and foretaste of the happiness of heaven, and thereby to put us out of taste for the pleasures and delights of sense. Every one that has tasted spiritual delights, straightway desires eternal ones. Though the great Shepherd passed through his sufferings without one false step, yet his followers often have been scattered by the small measure of sufferings allotted to them. How very apt we are to think well of ourselves, and to trust our own hearts! It was ill done of Peter thus to answer his Master, and not with fear and trembling. Lord, give me grace to keep me from denying thee.
Commentary on Mark 14:32-42
(Read Mark 14:32-42)
Christ's sufferings began with the sorest of all, those in his soul. He began to be sorely amazed; words not used in St. Matthew, but very full of meaning. The terrors of God set themselves in array against him, and he allowed him to contemplate them. Never was sorrow like unto his at this time. Now he was made a curse for us; the curses of the law were laid upon him as our Surety. He now tasted death, in all the bitterness of it. This was that fear of which the apostle speaks, the natural fear of pain and death, at which human nature startles. Can we ever entertain favourable, or even slight thoughts of sin, when we see the painful sufferings which sin, though but reckoned to him, brought on the Lord Jesus? Shall that sit light upon our souls, which sat so heavy upon his? Was Christ in such agony for our sins, and shall we never be in agony about them? How should we look upon Him whom we have pierced, and mourn! It becomes us to be exceedingly sorrowful for sin, because He was so, and never to mock at it. Christ, as Man, pleaded, that, if it were possible, his sufferings might pass from him. As Mediator, he submitted to the will of God, saying, Nevertheless, not what I will, but what thou wilt; I bid it welcome. See how the sinful weakness of Christ's disciples returns, and overpowers them. What heavy clogs these bodies of ours are to our souls! But when we see trouble at the door, we should get ready for it. Alas, even believers often look at the Redeemer's sufferings in a drowsy manner, and instead of being ready to die with Christ, they are not even prepared to watch with him one hour.
Commentary on Mark 14:43-52
(Read Mark 14:43-52)
Because Christ appeared not as a temporal prince, but preached repentance, reformation, and a holy life, and directed men's thoughts, and affections, and aims to another world, therefore the Jewish rulers sought to destroy him. Peter wounded one of the band. It is easier to fight for Christ than to die for him. But there is a great difference between faulty disciples and hypocrites. The latter rashly and without thought call Christ Master, and express great affection for him, yet betray him to his enemies. Thus they hasten their own destruction.