Brit Chadasha Foundations-Concepts in Matthew-Chapter 26

Matt 26.1-75 begins the final three chapters that will close out Yeshua’s ministry on earth in his first coming. It discusses the Last Supper held on Nissan 13 and was not a Passover Seder, his betrayal by Judas and his arrest, his trial before Caiaphas and Peter’s denial.

v 1… And it came about when Yeshua had finished all these words, he said to his talmidim,

v 2… “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man (a messianic title from Dan 7.13-“Bar Enosh” not Ben Adam) is to be delivered up for crucifixion (there is a relationship between Passover and the festivals and things that will be fulfilled in Yeshua. They were “shadows” of what was to come-Col 2.16-17; Heb 8.5, 10.1).

v 3… Then the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, named Caiaphas (Psa 2.2);

v 4… and they plotted together to seize Yeshua by stealth, and kill him (the leadership clearly plotted against him, but many of the common people accepted him, that is why they had to do this secretly).

v 5…But they were saying, “Not during the festival, lest a riot occur among the people (if “all” the people rejected him, why would they say this).”

v 6…Now when Yeshua was in Bethany (“house of unripe figs), at the home of Simon the leper (lepers were not allowed to live in a city-Lev 13.46- The word “leper” is “Gar’ba” and the word for “jar-maker” is “Garaba”, so they are alike. There are no vowel markings in Hebrew and Aramaic, so context would dictate that he was a jarmaker, not a leper, although he may have been one the past),

v 7… a woman came to him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume (spikenard-in Hebrew thought, spikenard related to a man who dies before his time because of the good works he has done-Zohar, Bereshit, section 56b), and she poured it upon his head as he reclined at table.

v 8…But the talmidim were indignant (not just Judas) when they saw this, and said, “What is the point of this waste?

v 9…For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.”

v 10…But Yeshua, aware of this, said to them (notice it was all of them), “Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to me.

v 11… For the poor you have with you always (Deut 15.11); but you do not always have me.

v 12… For when she poured this perfume upon my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.

v 13…Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done shall be spoken of in memory of her.”

v 14…Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot (“Iscariot” may mean “suffocate” or “strangle” and that is how he dies. His name may refer to the “Zealot” party who were known as “Sicari” or “cutthroats), went to the chief priests,

v 15…and said, “What are you willing to give me to deliver him up to you?” And they weighed out to him thirty pieces of silver (“silver” is a picture of redemption, and thirty pieces is the price of a female slave and a female valuation in a vow-Lev 27.4. See also Zech 11.12-13 for an interesting prophecy).

v 16….And from then on he began looking for a good opportunity to betray him.

v 17… Now on the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread (literally “at the first” or beginning. This means the whole week of Passover and Unleavened Bread, the 14th of Nisan to the 21st. This cannot mean on the first day of unleavened bread because that comes right after Passover, and Yeshua was already dead, but he clearly is not here. This is like people today saying that the “holidays” have come but that doesn’t mean it was Thanksgiving day yet. It just means the beginning of them has come. For a brief breakdown of the chronology of the crucifixion week, we have Friday, Nisan 9, six days before Passover-John 12.1. Saturday, Nisan 10, a weekly sabbath-John 12.12-19, enters Jerusalem. Sunday, Nisan 11, the first day of the week-Mark 11.12-19, fig tree cursed. Monday, Nisan 12 -Mark 11.20, 13.1-11, teaching on the Mount of Olives. Tuesday, Nisan 13, Mark 14.12-16, Passover room made ready by deleavening, buying essentials, getting tables, chairs, etc. Wednesday, Nisan14, the last meal before unleavened bread is eaten, Yeshua gives final instructions, goes to the garden, arrested, tried, crucified, died, buried by sundown. Thursday. Nisan 15, a high sabbath and the tomb guard is given-John 19.31, Matt 27.62-66. Friday, Nisan 16, Yeshua’s body prepared with spices-John 19.38-42; Luke 23.50-56. Saturday, Nisan 17, a weekly sabbath-Matt 28.1-8, the resurrection occurs at the end of the sabbath at sundown three full days and nights. Sunday, Nisan 18, the women come and witness that the tomb is empty-Matt 28.1-8, 9-15, John 20.1-19) the talmidim came to Yeshua, saying, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover (to get the room ready-that is not an easy task)?”

v 18… And he said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher (this is a messianic title from Joel 2.23 called the “moray tzedekah” or “Teacher of righteousness”) says, ‘My time is at hand (here now); I am to keep the Passover (the “Passover” was the lamb) at your house with my talmidim.'”

v 19… And the talmidim did as Yeshua had directed them; and they prepared the Passover (this was the day of the 13th of Nisan. They had to de-leaven the room, get tables, water, pillows and whatever else they needed. The lamb could not be killed until the 14th, and Yeshua was on the cross. Contrary to popular belief, this supper was not a Passover Seder and this will be clearly shown. The Passover lamb could only be killed, according to the Torah, on the 14th of Nisan and then eaten as the sunset leading to the 15th. Yeshua was clearly dead by that time. The talmidim went ahead and prepared this, clearly not understanding that Yeshua was not going to be there).

v 20… When evening had come (the 13th leading to the 14th of Nisan), he was reclining at table with his twelve talmidim (for a “last supper” before the feast of unleavened bread came the next night when only unleavened bread could be eaten).

v 21… And as they were eating, he said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray me.”

v 22… And being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to him, “Surely not I, Lord?”

v 23… And he answered and said, “He who dipped his hand with me in the bowl is the one who will betray me.

v 24… The Son of Man (a messianic title from Dan 7.13 which is “Bar Enosh” and not the Hebrew “ben Adam”) is to go, just as it is written of him; but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”

v 25… And Judas, who was betraying him, answered and said, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi? He said to him, “You have said it yourself (correctly).”

v 26… And while they were eating, Yeshua took some bread (Greek is “artos” for regular bread. The unleavened bread eaten at Passover is “matzah” and “azumos” in Greek, so this was not a Seder); and after a blessing (which is “Blessed are you, O Lord, or God, king of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth”), he broke it and gave it to the talmidim, and said, “Take, eat (make this teaching a part of you); this is my body.”

v 27… And he took a cup and gave thanks (saying “Blessed are you, O Lord our God, king of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine”), and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you (make this a part of you)

v 28… for this is my blood (which is symbolic of teaching, marriage, covenant, wine, joy) of the covenant (the renewed covenant of Jer 31.31-34 and Deut 29.1 through 30.20. This covenant, which is not doing away with the Torah, is going to be ratified in Yeshua’s blood. It is not fully here yet, involves writing the Torah on a person’s heart, is made with Israel and Judah, when all will know the Lord. It is not the gospel, it is not doing away with the Torah and now we are under “grace” as some teach), which is to be shed for many (ordained to eternal life, the elect) for the forgiveness of sins.

v 29… But I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on (because he would be gone and this would be the last he would drink with them) until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

v 30…And after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

v 31… Then Yeshua said to them, “You will fall away (be offended, stumble) because of me this night, for it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered (this would happen that night, but it happened after the Roman-Jewish wars. The messianic community was scattered and the truth was suppressed by an influx of Gentiles who did not have a proper Torah foundation. This led to a “faith” that was anti-Torah and contained many pagan elements. This would eventually organize about 300 years after Yeshua into the “catholic” or universal church and later her protestant daughters).’

v 32… But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”

V 33… But Peter answered and said to him, “Even though all (the others here) may fall away (be offended) because of you, I will never fall away (be offended).”

v 34… Yeshua said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before the cock crows (this is not a rooster because these were not allowed in Jerusalem. The word for “rooster” is “gever” in Hebrew and it is the word used for the “temple crier” who would give out a three-fold cry before dawn for the priests to take to their stations, the Levites to their posts and the men of Israel to stand, or get ready for the morning tamid service. This would be what Peter and Yeshua would hear as he walked out later, a man in the temple called the “rooster” or crier), you shall deny me three times.”

v 35… Peter said to him, “even if I must die with you, I will not deny you.” All these talmidim said the same thing, too.

v 36…Then Yeshua came with them to a place called Gethsemane (the oil press, possibly across from the east gate) and said to his talmidim, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”

v 37… And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed.

v 38…Then he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death, remain here and keep watch with me (watch for what?  He wanted them to watch him and his body language and convulsions of distress; they didn’t even go over and ask what was wrong because they were not watching; he did not want his enemies to see him like this; he was in distress and would need their prayers for strength; he would be near the point of death, sweating blood, and would need an angel to strengthen him in Luke 22.43-44; but they were of little help).”

v 39… And he went a little beyond them, and fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible this cup pass from me; yet not as I will, but as thou will.”

v 40… And he came to the talmidim and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “So you men could not keep watch (v 38 notes) with me for one hour.

v 41… Keep watching and praying (these two things, watching and praying, go together because we need to “watch” for the why, what and how to pray) that you may not enter into temptation (testing); the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

v 42… He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, thy will be done.”

v 43… And he came back and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.

v 44… And he left them again , and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing (it is alright to keep praying about something, it is not a lack of faith, as some teach) once more.

v 45… Then he came to the talmidim and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand (or in other words, “enough”, “it’s on now and for real”, “the sand in the glass has run out”) and the son of Man is being betrayed into the hand of sinners (the “chata’im”-there are three groups on earth, the tzaddikim or the righteous, the rashim or desperately wicked, and the chata’im, or regular sinners).

v 46… Arise, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays me is at hand (here now).”

v 47… And while he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came up, accompanied by a great multitude with swords and clubs from the chief priests and elders of the people.

v 48… Now he who was betraying him gave them a sign, saying, “Whoever I shall kiss, he is the one; seize him.”

v 49… And immediately he came to Yeshua and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed him (like Joab did to Amasa before he killed him-2 Sam 20.9-10).

v 50… And Yeshua said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Yeshua and seized him.

v 51… And behold, one of those who were with Yeshua (Peter-John 18.10) reached and drew out his sword, and struck the slave (servant) of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

v 52…Then Yeshua said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword (trying to settle Peter down, he seems to be directing this to his enemies by saying “all those”. In a few short years the Jews, who are making use of the Roman sword, will perish by the same sword of the Romans).

v 53… Or do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels (an innumerable number)? 

v 54…How then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled (confirmed, given meaning-Psa 40.7; Psa 22; Psa 41.9; Isa 53; Zech 11.12 and the many messianic prophecies that Yeshua will himself use after his resurrection-Luke 24.27) that it must happen this way?

v 55… At that time, Yeshua said to the multitudes (the chief priests, the captains of the temple guard and elders-Luke 22.52), “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a robber? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize me.

v 56… But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled (confirmed, given meaning).” Then all the talmidim left him and fled.

v 57… And those who had seized Yeshua led him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.

v 58… But Peter also followed 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.

v 59… Now the chief priests and the whole council (the Sanhedrin) kept trying to obtain false testimony against Yeshua in order that they might put him to death (this was not only illegal, but it was also at night, another infraction);

v 60… and they did not find it, even though many false witnesses came forward. But later on two came forward,

v 61… and said, “This man stated, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and rebuild it in three days (he didn’t say that exactly, he said “destroy this temple” leaving up to his listeners to do it. He was referring to his body, not the temple “of God”).'”

v 62… And the high priest stood up (from his seat) and said to him, “Do you make no answer? What is it that these men are testifying against you (is it true or not)?

v 63…But Yeshua kept silent (his time had come). And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you are the Messiah, the son of God (the high priest clearly had an understanding linking the Messiah to the “son” in Psa 2.1-12 where Yehovah and the Messiah are mentioned opposing the “kings” and “rulers” who are taking counsel against them).

v 64… And Yeshua said to him, “You have said it (correctly), nevertheless I tell you, hereafter (from now on) you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power (you shall see the effects of his “sitting down” at the right hand of God by what is going to happen to Israel in the coming years. Caiaphas can only go into the earthly Holy of Holies, Yeshua will be in the heavenly temple, sitting next to God himself, and judge Caiaphas).

v 65… Then the high priest tore his robes (some say that Caiaphas broke Lev 21.10 by doing this, but this verse only applied at burials and mourning) saying, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy (blasphemy is calling something holy when it isn’t, and calling something unholy when it is);

v 66… what do you think (of the words just spoken by Yeshua)?” They answered and said, “He is deserving of death!”

v 67… Then they spat in his face and beat him with their fists; and others slapped him,

v 68… and said, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah; who is the one who hit you?”

v 69… Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a certain servant-girl (of the high priest-Mark 14.66) came to him and said, “You too were with Yeshua the Galilean.”

v 70… But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.”

v 71… And when he had gone out the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Yeshua of Nazareth.”

v 72… And again he denied it with an oath (he made an oath and put himself under a curse if he knew Yeshua -Mark 14.71), “I do not know the man.”

v 73… And a little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; for the way you talk gives you away (his Galilean dialect-Mark 14.70.  Judeans and Galileans did not like each other. Judeans felt their Hebrew was “coarse”).”

v 74…Then he began to curse (meaning that Peter devoted himself to destruction, under a curse, if he knew Yeshua) and swear (means he made an oath, he put himself under a self-curse), “I do not know the man!” And immediately a cock crowed.

v 75… And Peter remembered the word which Yeshua had said, “Before a cock crows you will deny me three times (the “cock” that was heard was not a bird because chickens and roosters were not allowed in Jerusalem, but a man who was a priest called the “temple crier” or “gever” in Hebrew, “alektor” in Greek. He unlocked the temple doors in the morning before dawn and locked them at night, placing the key in an opening in the floor under his mat where he slept. In the morning, he would unlock the doors and he would then make a three-fold cry for the priests, Levites and the Ma’amad (standing men) to go to their posts. He would do this three times. So, what they heard was the man in the temple, known as the temple crier, giving instructions for people to get ready for the morning sacrifice, called the Tamid in Num 28-1-7, not a rooster. The house of Caiaphas was very near to the temple, so this voice was very clear. There are many sources for this: Encyclopedia Judaica 14.599-616; Babylonian Talmud Yoma 20b; Artscroll book “Sukkot”; Artscroll Yom Kippur Machzor, p 196 and numerous articles on the Internet under “temple crier.” So, in other words, what Yeshua was saying to Peter was that “before the beginning of the morning services, at the cry of the announcer, the temple crier, you Peter, will deny me three times.” This understanding was lost when Matthew was translated from the Hebrew into Greek, and the Greek into English, and the people were not taught Hebraic thought in order to interpret these verses.  They were taught Replacement Theology based on Greek/Christian thought ).” And he went out and wept bitterly.

Posted in Articles, Idioms, Phrases and Concepts, Tying into the New Testament, Verse-by-Verse Bible Studies

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