17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked , "Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover ?" 18 And He said , "Go into the city to a certain man , and say to him, 'The Teacher says , " My time is near ; I am to keep the Passover at your house with My disciples ."' " 19 The disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover . 20 Now when evening came , Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples . 21 As they were eating , He said , " Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me." 22 Being deeply grieved , they each one began to say to Him, "Surely not I, Lord ?" 23 And He answered , " He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. 24 "The Son of Man is to go , just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed ! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born ." 25 And Judas , who was betraying Him, said , "Surely it is not I, Rabbi ?" Jesus said to him, " You have said it yourself ."
26 While they were eating , Jesus took some bread , and after a blessing , He broke it and gave it to the disciples , and said , "Take , eat ; this is My body ." 27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks , He gave it to them, saying , "Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is My blood of the covenant , which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins . 29 "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom ."
30 After singing a hymn , they went out to the Mount of Olives .
31 Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of Me this night , for it is written , ' I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD , AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE SCATTERED .' 32 "But after I have been raised , I will go ahead of you to Galilee ." 33 But Peter said to Him, "Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away ." 34 Jesus said to him, " Truly I say to you that this very night , before a rooster crows , you will deny Me three times ." 35 Peter said to Him, " Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You." All the disciples said the same thing too .
36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane , and said to His disciples , "Sit here while I go over there and pray ." 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee , and began to be grieved and distressed . 38 Then He said to them, " My soul is deeply grieved , to the point of death ; remain here and keep watch with Me." 39 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed , saying , "My Father , if it is possible , let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will , but as You will." 40 And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping , and said to Peter , "So , you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour ? 41 " Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation ; the spirit is willing , but the flesh is weak ." 42 He went away again a second time and prayed , saying , "My Father , if this cannot e pass away unless e I drink it, Your will be done ." 43 Again He came and found them sleeping , for their eyes were heavy . 44 And He left them again , and went away and prayed a third time , saying the same thing once more . 45 Then He came to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting ? Behold , the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners . 46 "Get up, let us be going ; behold , the one who betrays Me is at hand !"
47 While He was still speaking , behold , Judas , one of the twelve , came up accompanied e by a large crowd with swords and clubs , who came from the chief priests and elders of the people . 48 Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign , saying , "Whomever e I kiss , He is the one; seize Him." 49 Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said , "Hail , Rabbi !" and kissed Him. 50 And Jesus said to him, " Friend , do what you have come for." Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him. 51 And behold , one of those who were with Jesus reached and drew out his sword , and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear . 52 Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place ; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword . 53 "Or do you think that I cannot e appeal to My Father , and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels ? 54 "How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled , which say that it must happen this way ?" 55 At that time Jesus said to the crowds , "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber ? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me. 56 "But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets ." Then all the disciples left Him and fled .
57 Those who had seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas , the high priest , where the scribes and the elders were gathered together . 58 But Peter was following Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest , and entered in, and sat down with the officers to see the outcome . 59 Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus , so that they might put Him to death . 60 They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward . But later on two came forward , 61 and said , "This man stated , ' I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days .' " 62 The high priest stood up and said to Him, "Do You not answer ? What is it that these men are testifying against You?" 63 But Jesus kept silent . And the high priest said to Him, "I adjure You by the living God , that You tell us whether You are the Christ , the Son of God ." 64 Jesus said to him, " You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter e you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER , and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN ." 65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said , "He has blasphemed ! What further need do we have of witnesses ? Behold , you have now heard the blasphemy ; 66 what do you think ?" They answered , " He deserves death !" 67 Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists ; and others slapped Him, 68 and said , " Prophesy to us, You Christ ; who is the one who hit You?"
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard , and a servant-girl came to him and said , "You too were with Jesus the Galilean ." 70 But he denied it before them all , saying , "I do not know what you are talking about." 71 When he had gone out to the gateway , another servant-girl saw him and said to those who were there , "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth ." 72 And again he denied it with an oath , "I do not know the man ." 73 A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter , "Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away e ." 74 Then he began to curse and swear , "I do not know the man !" And immediately a rooster crowed . 75 And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said , " Before a rooster crows , you will deny Me three times ." And he went out and wept bitterly .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 26:17-75
Commentary on Matthew 26:17-25
(Read Matthew 26:17-25)
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.
Commentary on Matthew 26:26-30
(Read Matthew 26:26-30)
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.
Commentary on Matthew 26:31-35
(Read Matthew 26:31-35)
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.
Commentary on Matthew 26:36-46
(Read Matthew 26:36-46)
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?
Commentary on Matthew 26:47-56
(Read Matthew 26:47-56)
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!
Commentary on Matthew 26:57-68
(Read Matthew 26:57-68)
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.
Commentary on Matthew 26:69-75
(Read Matthew 26:69-75)
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.