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Matthew 26:1-19 ESV
When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.” Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.” Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.” Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him. Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.'” And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.
I. DON’T FEAR THE REAPER (1-13)
A. Matthew sets up betrayal of Judas, writing 2 scenes simultaneously. Jesus knows death is near. Jewish leaders need a traitor. But who?
B. Judas is the traitor. A public rebuke from Jesus was final straw.
C. Jesus defends Mary and her generous act of heartfelt worship.
II. BETRAYAL OF JUDAS (14-16)
A. How could Judas turn his back on Jesus?
1. He was under the influence of the Devil (John 13:27)
2. Judas never actually genuine follower of Jesus (Heb 6:4-6)
3. It was the appointed time for Jesus to die and Jesus had to be betrayed for the plan of God to save mankind to unfold.
III. A GOOD DAY TO DIE (17-25)
A. Many tried to kill Jesus before. It was Passover now, a perfect time for God to kill His lamb (John 1:29)
B. Jesus celebrated the Passover meal with His disciples and revealed that 1 of them would betray Him and cause His death.
C. Judas would trigger the death of Jesus & redemption of mankind, but it would have been better if he had never been born.
D. Jesus identifies Judas as His betrayer quietly and send Judas to do it. (John 13:22-30)
IV. A LAST AND FIRST MEAL (26-29)
A. Jesus takes last Passover & reinterprets it to become first Lord’s Supper.
B. The body of Jesus would be broken as He took the punishment and wrath of God for our sin in our place.
C. As the body of Jesus was broken, His blood would be spilled and it is by His blood that the wrath of God for our sin is satisfied.
V. RECLAIMING THE POWER OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
A. Jesus passed a single loaf & single cup, asking the disciples to join & be one with Him in His death and sacrifice.
B. Not only is the Lord’s Supper a remembrance of what Jesus did but a reminder of what Jesus will do in future.