204 Matthew 26A The Anointing - Head or Feet

As we unpack this chapter we note that Jesus references his imminent death seven times in this chapter and three times in the book of Matthew and yet because it went against their narrative they miss this entirely and his death catches them totally by surprise. One wonders what Jesus could have shared with them if they had come to believe what he was wanting them to understand. Then in Bethany Jesus is anointed by a woman while at a meal in Simeon's home. After this event Judas agrees to betray Jesus into the hands of the pharisees. We conclude this episode with the story of the Last Supper.

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Show Notes

Matthew 26 NLT Anointing, Betrayal, Passover, Denial, Gethsemane, Arrest, Trial

The Plot to Kill Jesus

26:1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2 “As you know, Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”

Here are the references in Matthew where Jesus tells his disciples about his imminent death.

1. Matthew 16:21 Jesus would be killed

2. Matthew 17:22-23 Son of Man will be betrayed and killed

3. Matthew 20:17-19 Romans will crucify me

4. Matthew 26:2 Son of Man will be crucified

5. Matthew 26:12 Perfume prepares my body for burial

6. Matthew 26:18 My time has come

7. Matthew 26:24 Son of Man must die

8. Matthew 26:26 Bread is his broken body

9. Matthew 26:27-28 Wine is his spilled blood

10. Matthew 26:31 Shepard will be stricken

11. Mark:

a. Mark 8:31-33 Jesus would be killed and rise in 3 days

b. Mark 9:30-32 S of M will be killed. Disciples afraid to ask what he meant

c. Mark 10:32-34 S of M will be killed and rise after 3 days

12. Luke:

a. Luke 9:22-27 S of Man will be killed and rise after 3 days

b. Luke 18:31-33 S of M will be killed and rise after 3 days

13. John:

a. John 2:19 Destroy this temple and I will raise it up in 3 days

b. John 12:23-33 And when I am lifted up I will draw all to myself

The disciples did not comprehend what Jesus was telling them. As a result they would experience the greatest disappointment of their lives when he was tortured and executed. The only person who seems to have grasped that Jesus would die is John the Baptist when he declares that Jesus is the Lamb of God.

3 At that same time the leading priests and elders were meeting at the residence of Caiaphas, the high priest, 4 plotting how to capture Jesus secretly and kill him. 5 “But not during the Passover celebration,” they agreed, “or the people may riot.”

Notice who is involved in the plot. The Leading Priests and Elders, and The High Priest. It is the highest echelon of religious leadership. They have no ethical qualms about using violence to do away with this human threat to their leadership. Their only consideration is the political fallout.

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

6 Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had

leprosy. 7 While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head.

John 12 has a parallel story which occurs in Bethany and Lazarus, Martha and Mary are there. Mary pours expensive perfume over Jesus’ feet and wipes them with her hair. This could be the same event. In the story in Luke 7 the woman who perfumes Jesus’ feet is an immoral woman and scandalously keeps kissing Jesus’ feet. To compound the scandal, Jesus announces in verse 50 that her sins are forgiven. This story appears in all four gospels. It is not clear if we can conflate them into one story or leave them as at

least two different events.

No Jew had ever been cured of leprosy prior to Jesus’ ministry apart from Miriam. This implied Jesus must have healed Simon. Lepers were ostracized from society in Jesus’ day and Simon had much to thank Jesus for. This is probably the reason Simon invited Jesus to the party at his home.

Men lounged on their left side with their heads close to a low table when eating. The waiters would have had to thread their way through the bodies to replenish the food on the table. The woman would been taken for a waiter but she had more than food to deliver. Notice the emphasis on the value of her gift: beautiful alabaster jar, expensive perfume and Jesus’ head. She was anointing Jesus as her king or prophet. She was so focused on her mission of gratitude that she forgot about the aroma of the perfume

which immediately removed her anonymity.

8 The disciples were indignant when they saw this. “What a waste!” they said. 9 “It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.”

John informs us that it was Judas who objected to the waste.

Their words betray their motives. They are stingy, hard-hearted and self-serving. They cover these self- serving motives with an apparent regard for the poor.

10 But Jesus, aware of this, replied, “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me? 11 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. 12 She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. 13 I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”

The woman did not know her perfume was a preparation for Jesus’s burial. No one comprehended that Jesus was to die and resurrect as was pointed out in the comments on verse two. Jesus honours this woman by giving her action immortality.

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

14 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests 15 and asked, “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

We cannot be certain of the motive of Judas in this betrayal. Here are a few possible options.

1. Since Jesus seemed to be invincible Judas could have thought he was forcing Jesus’ hand to reveal

himself as Israel’s liberator from the Romans. In this way he was doing God’s will.

2. It could have been that Judas was in it for the money. John 12:6 identifies this motive in Judas.

3. If could also be that he felt he was a better leader than Jesus. Since he had experienced the power to

heal the sick and cast out demons, he could have thought that if he rallied the other 11 disciples, they could stage the revolt against the Romans that their country men were hoping for. Jesus would be there to feed the zealots and heal the wounded or raise the dead as necessary.

4. Perhaps, since Jesus had reprimanded Judas and he was out for revenge.

The Last Supper

17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked,

“Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?”

The Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 12:15–20;.Exodus 13:6–7; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Exodus 12:1–20) is one of the seven feasts of the Lord and is called Chag HaMatzot. It lasts for seven days and follows the celebration of Passover (Exodus 12:1-20), commemorating the swift departure of the Israelites from Egypt. Unleavened bread, symbolizing the haste with which the Israelites left Egypt and the required

removal of all leaven (or yeast) from the household which represented the removal of sin and impurity from one’s life (see 1 Corinthians 5:7).

18 “As you go into the city,” he told them, “You will see a certain man. Tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.’”

Mark 14 adds more detail.

13 So Jesus sent two of them into Jerusalem with these instructions: “As you go into the city, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 At the house he enters, say to the owner, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ 15 He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up. That is where you should prepare our meal.”

The information Jesus gave is detailed. How he knew all this is puzzling. We can with certainty say that he was Spirit led and the Spirit was the source of Jesus’ information but there might be more to the narrative than we know about.

19 So the disciples did as Jesus told them and prepared the Passover meal there.

In Matthew, Mark and Luke, this meal is on the first day of Unleavened Bread. In John it is on the night before Passover (John 13:1).

Mark 14 adds. 16 So the two disciples (Peter and John Luke 22) went into the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover meal there.

John 13 also includes the Jesus washing the disciple’s feet.

1 Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of

Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from thetable, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. 6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”

Peter is jockeying for the top spot among the disciples. He knew foot washing had been omitted but he had not lowered himself to such a menial task. He did not yet understand the Kingdom of Heaven is the kingdom of service to others.

8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”

Peter is embarrassed by Jesus’ humility, his willingness to serve the disciples.

Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”

Jesus is speaking spiritually through the literal. We are not part of him if he has not

washed away our shame and sin. This can only be true of we refuse his cleansing, which Peter has just modelled.

9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”

10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

Jesus washed the feet of Judas knowing his cruel intent. Jesus also knew the probable end of Judas and had compassion on him. Some disciples in our day avoid foot washing as it is an embarrassment to participate for different reasons. This necessary ordinance calls us to heart felt humility and forgiveness for with all and reconciliation where possible.

12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.

The “them” refers to lowly service for others. Some denominations practice literal foot washing and this is to be lauded but contextually “them” includes much more. The washing of the feet of the disciples was needed literally but it is symbolic of baptism and more essentially, a life of service to others.

Jesus Predicts His Betrayal again.

18 “I am not saying these things to all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this fulfills the Scripture that says, ‘The one who eats my food has turned against me.”

“I know the ones I have chosen” suggests that Judas had attached himself rather than been called by Jesus since Jesus is excluding at least one person in the group of disciples.

19 I tell you this beforehand, so that when it happens you will believe that I am the Messiah.

The disciples have not yet concluded that Jesus is the Messiah as foretold in the scriptures. If he is Messiah, then they do not believe he will die. They also do not believe he is divine. They are shockingly ignorant from our point of view, which raises the question of how much are we ignorant of?

20 I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me.”

Literally John the Baptist was Jesus’ messenger, but then so were the prophets which preceded him. Now he has his disciples, who are his messengers. However, his greatest messenger is the Spirit. The treatment of all the messengers is indicative of our treatment of Jesus and his Father.

20 When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table with the Twelve. 21 While they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.”

Jesus was not sharing this information to demonize Judas. He explains his motivation in verse 19. Jesus is identifying the one who will betray him to confirm that he is the Messiah. No one else suspected Judas and this insight would later convince the disciples Jesus was divine.

22 Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, “Am I the one, Lord?”

This was unthinkable for the disciples that one of them could betray him but Jesus knew the heart of every man (John 2:25). This knowledge was because Jesus was not blinded by the desire for power and position.

23 He replied, “One of you who has just eaten from this bowl with me will betray me. 24 For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!”

How terrible this would be is illustrated by the self-death of Judas.

25 Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked, “Rabbi, am I the one?” And Jesus told him, “You have said it.”

This must have been a private conversation in public between Jesus and Judas.

26 As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.”

Jesus the bread of life must be eaten by all those who understand the literal meaning of this symbolic language. We become what we eat. We emulate whatever we worship.

27 And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, 28 for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.

Jesus is giving his disciples the living water he promised the Samaritan woman. It is his blood, for it represents the eternal life he had in himself (John 1:3). This is the difference between Jesus’s death and the death of any martyr. A martyr did not give his life, it was taken from him. Jesus had to lay down his life because we suffered under the illusion that we could take it, but we could not. He had eternal life inhim. When he because a man he started to lay down his life which would culminate in his crucifixion.

Jesus did not die because of his torture and dehydration and asphyxia and hematidrosis (sweating blood) but from the emotional pain of our cruelty toward him and our rejection of him. This rejection by hiscreation—which he had created so he could love each one—literally broke his heart.

29 Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”

Wine is a symbol of teaching or joy depending on the context. Jesus is pouring out his longing to be joyfully one with his disciples in the Kingdom of heaven.

30 Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

This is the second prediction. He had already predicted the betrayal of Judas.

31 On the way, Jesus told them, “Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say,

‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

32 But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.” 33 Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.”

34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.”

35 “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same.

Overconfident, naïve, ignorant disciples who did not know themselves. How do we predict our future?

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

36 Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” 37 He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. 38 He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

All through his ministry Jesus had been caring for the 12. Now he needed to be cared for. He takes his three best friends with him, hoping for encouragement and emotional support. These were the same three men he had taken up the mountain of Transfiguration. How he hoped for empathy and understanding but it was not to be. They slept. They had nothing to offer their LORD and Master who was dying emotionally before their very eyes. Get the importance of the last two sentences above.

“My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

This is as bad as it can get. This is depression at its deepest level. It is going to kill him.

39 He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 40 Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? 41 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”

42 Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open. 44 So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again.

It is at this point in the drama that Luke 22 inserts this event.

42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. 45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.

We resume the story from Matthew 26.

45 Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!”

Up to this point Jesus’ time had not come. Now it had. The crisis of his life had come, the crisis of God’s reputation was at hand. Now it was to be seen if God was unselfish as he claimed he was.

Jesus Is Betrayed and Arrested

47 And even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests and elders of the people. 48 The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss.” 49 So Judas came straight to Jesus. “Greetings, Rabbi!” he exclaimed and gave him the kiss. 50 Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.” Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him. 51 But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, slashing off his ear. 52 “Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by the sword.

The “him” is Peter according to John 18:10

53 Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? 54 But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?”

Prophecy or prediction is not causation. We cannot say this often enough because the writers of the New Testament appear to say the opposite. The reason the writers do this is because the doubt about Jesus’ authenticity is dispelled if it can be demonstrated that the Old Testament predicted the event. Jesus’ society was an authoritarian society based on the revelation of their sacred writings. In this brief statement Jesus confirms the existence of large numbers of angels loyal to him. He also reveals that he has a larger agenda than what the angels have. They would be prepared to rescue him but he does not want to be rescued. He must first deal with the prince of this world and his rebellious angels.

55 Then Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there teaching every day. 56 But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures.”

At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled. Jesus emphasizes this is a moral contest not a physical one. He was deserted by every human being. He had to face the crisis alone at this point. Did he remember Mary’s anointing to strengthen himself? He

will turn to God for certainty at the end of his ordeal. It is the rejection, betrayal, abandonment, denial and mockery of mankind that literally broke the heart of Jesus.

Jesus before the Council

57 Then the people who had arrested Jesus led him to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of religious law and the elders had gathered. 58 Meanwhile, Peter followed him at a distance and came to the high priest’s courtyard. He went in and sat with the guards and waited to see how it would all end. 59 Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council were trying to find witnesses who would lie about Jesus, so they could put him to death. 60 But even though they found many who agreed

to give false witness, they could not use anyone’s testimony. Finally, two men came

forward 61 who declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”

Jesus metaphorical or symbolic statement is used against him. The leaders are desperate to have him executed and are willing to be dishonest to accomplish their murderous desires.

62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I demand in the name of the living God—tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

The high priest is goading Jesus. Jesus breaks the impasse by admitting he is the Messiah

64 Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future, you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.”Jesus also confirms he is Messiah by claiming that he will be at God’s right hand and coming in the clouds. 65 Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your verdict?”

Blasphemy means to pretend you are God or to attribute the work of God to demons. Jesus was accused of healing people by the power of Beelzebub.

“Guilty!” they shouted. “He deserves to die!”

This is a kangaroo court. It is not due process it is a lynching, an execution by public opinion.

67 Then they began to spit in Jesus’ face and beat him with their fists. And some slapped him, 68 jeering, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you that time?”

These actions reveal the thoughts of those participating. Jesus has no protection from the leaders because they are thinking the same way. How embarrassing that we treated our creator and Saviour in this shameful way. When we are cruel to others we are being cruel to Jesus for they are his brothers and sisters.

Peter Denies Jesus

69 Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came over and said to him, “You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But Peter denied it in front of everyone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. 71 Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, “This

man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. “I don’t even know the man,” he said.

What sort of a coward are you Peter? You know you are lying. Is it your shame because you are a Galilean among Judeans that you feel this cowardly?

73 A little later some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, “You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent.” 74 Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed.

Peter reverts to profanities to cover his cowardice.

75 Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly. Peter is profoundly guilty in his own mind and heart. He left, embarrassed to death. It is a miracle that he did not take his own life in his discouragement.

Ian Hartley, April 2025