Peter had been with Jesus, in fact, Jesus commended him saying in Matthew 16:17 “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” when in Matthew 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!”. But now, in this moment of distress, Peter denies Christ. As Paul later says in 1 Corinthians 2:14 “But the natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him” and Peter, not yet baptised with the Holy Spirit, is caught up in his natural emotions. None of them can see Jesus for who he is until after his resurrection but in 1 Corinthians 2:6–8 Now we do speak wisdom among the mature, but wisdom not of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are perishing, 7 but we speak the hidden wisdom of God in a mystery, which God predestined before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew. For if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 

You Also Were With Jesus

Matthew 26:69–75
Jesus had warned Peter that he would deny him and now, as Jesus has been taken, Peter is recognized as he sits outside with a crowd of others waiting to see the outcome in

Matthew 26:69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a female slave came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.”

he immediately denies that he was with Jesus in

Matthew 26:70 But he denied it in the presence of them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean!”

then another recognizes him and he denies again and then others recognize him and in

Matthew 26:74 Then he began to curse and to swear with an oath, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed.

There is something in our human nature, a fear that causes us to change our story as Peter did here. Peter was a dedicated follower of Jesus when things were going well, but when persecution came, he distanced himself. It was a natural self-preservation reaction that caused him to not only deny Christ but to lie about who he was.

I Have Sinned By Betraying Innocent Blood!

Matthew 27:1–10 

Are You The King of the Jews?

Matthew 27:11–14
Jesus had asked his disciples in

Matthew 16:15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Peter answered in

Matthew 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!”

and Jesus responded in

Matthew 16:17 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

Now, as Jesus has been taken, he is silent until Caiaphas the Jewish high priest asks in

Matthew 26:63 But Jesus was silent. And the high priest said to him, “I put you under oath by the living God, that you tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God!”

Jesus responds in Matthew 26:64 “you will see” and then is taken to the Governor, Pilate, who asks in

Matthew 27:11 So Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, saying, “Are you the king of the Jews?” And Jesus said, “You say so.”

Jesus commended Peter for receiving the revelation of who he was but there were many others, even well educated and intelligent people that could not understand. These people were truly blind to the truth, yet acted as if they were wise. Jesus said it this way to his disciples in

John 14:17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world is not able to receive, because it does not see him or know him. You know him, because he resides with you and will be in you.

and Paul later said it this way in

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he is not able to understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Whom Do You Want Me To Release

Matthew 27:15–26

Hail, King of the Jews!

Matthew 27:27–31 

Let Him Come Down From the Cross, and We Will Believe in Him!

Matthew 27:32–44
Jesus was led to the place outside the city where he would be crucified and in

Matthew 27:35–36 And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots. 36 And they sat down and were watching over him there.

Pilate had required an inscription on his cross in

Matthew 27:37 And they put above his head the charge against him in writing: “This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.”

This was the final witness, this was the moment when some might have said, did you see the miracles, did you hear the grace in his teaching? They might have said, this is wrong to kill this man but in

Matthew 27:39 And those who passed by reviled him, shaking their heads

and in

Matthew 27:41–42 In the same way also the chief priests, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, 42 “He saved others; he is not able to save himself! He is the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him!

but this was God’s plan, he would not come down from the cross, but he would rise again and as he said to Caiaphas “you will see” he is described in

Revelation 1:17–18 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead person, and he placed his right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid! I am the first and the last, 18 and the one who lives, and I was dead, and behold, I am living forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and of Hades.

Study Verses

• Matthew 26:69–75 You Also Were With Jesus
• Matthew 27:11–14 Are You The King of the Jews?
• Matthew 27:32–44 Let Him Come Down From the Cross, and We Will Believe in Him!

Today’s Reading

• Matthew 26:69-75
• Matthew 27:1-44

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The fulfillment of God’s plan is near. Jesus has his last supper with his disciples and uses the “(todah), a sacrifice of bread and wine offered in thanksgiving to the Lord” to connect his body and blood with the covenant of salvation, our redemption and reconciliation to God through him. His body, the bread, is broken for our healing and his blood, the cup, poured out as payment for our sin. This is a work that he must face alone and even though all of his disciples agree in Matthew 26:35 “Even if it is necessary for me to die with you, I will never deny you!”, they are all scattered as he is taken. As he comes before the high priest he is challenged one last time in Matthew 26:63 “tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God!” and Jesus answers in Matthew 26:64 “But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” They cannot bear to hear it and respond in Matthew 26:66 “He deserves death!”.

One Of You Will Betray Me

Matthew 26:17–25 

This Is My Blood Of The Covenant

Matthew 26:26–30
In his last few hours with his disciples, Jesus observes what we call the Lord’s Supper or Communion or the Eucharist. There are two main parts, the bread and the wine but these are only symbols of the work that he was about to do as he gave his life on the cross. Jesus first gave thanks for the bread, his body in

Matthew 26:26 Now while they were eating Jesus took bread and, after giving thanks, he broke it, and giving it to the disciples, he said, “Take, eat, this is my body.”

His body, broken for us, was part of the sacrificial offering, a part of the covenant God was establishing with us as described in

Isaiah 53:4–5 However, he was the one who lifted up our sicknesses, and he carried our pain, yet we ourselves assumed him stricken, struck down by God and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon him, and by his wounds we were healed.

Then, Jesus took the cup, his blood in

Matthew 26:27–28 And after taking the cup and giving 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 the forgiveness of sins.

and it was his blood that paid the price for our sin. It was his blood that sealed the covenant as it says in

Hebrews 9:22 Indeed, nearly everything is purified with blood according to the law, and apart from the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

And it is no surprise that “In the sacrificial system of the Jerusalem temple, the most common rite was perhaps the תּוֹדָה‎ (todah), a sacrifice of bread and wine offered in thanksgiving to the Lord … More than a century after the fall of the temple, the Talmud records the rabbinic belief that in the age of the Messiah, “all sacrifices will cease except the todah sacrifice. This will never cease in all eternity” (Pesiqta, quoted in Gese, “Origin,” 133).¹ 

You Will Deny Me Three Times

Matthew 26:31–35
Jesus knew his disciples and he wanted to prepare them for what was coming so in

Matthew 26:31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me during this night, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

but he also steps right past this denial, which will be traumatic for them, and says in

Matthew 26:32 “But after I am raised, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

Have you ever said this? “I will never …!”. It seems there are for all of us, times that test us and we fail. We often hear this account of Peter’s denial, and even though he said he would die for Jesus, in

Matthew 26:35 Peter said to him, “Even if it is necessary for me to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the disciples said the same thing.

and even though all of the other disciples also affirmed they would die! Peter did deny him three times just a few hours later. But Peter wasn’t the only one that fell away, the other disciples weren’t anywhere to be found when Jesus suffered the false accusations and physical abuse through his trial.

Not As I Will, But As You Will

Matthew 26:36–46

The Disciples All Abandoned Him And Fled

Matthew 26:47–56 

Tell Us If You Are The Christ, The Son of God!

Matthew 26:57–68
As Jesus stands alone before the leaders of Israel, they are looking for accusers that would justify their intent to kill him in

Matthew 26:59–60 Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus in order that they could put him to death. 60 And they did not find it, although many false witnesses came forward. And finally two came forward

Then, there is this statement that Jesus did make in

Matthew 26:61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it within three days.’ ”

Jesus had not been talking about the temple in Jerusalem, he was talking about the temple, his body and his statement was a prophetic word about what they were about to do as they crucified him. Since Jesus doesn’t answer this, the high priest asks straight out in

Matthew 26:63 But Jesus was silent. And the high priest said to him, “I put you under oath by the living God, that you tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God!”

Jesus has already answered with the demonstration of power to heal, with the demonstration of forgiveness of sin, and answers them finally “you will see” in

Matthew 26:64 Jesus said to him, “You have said it. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

They have not believed until now and they refuse to believe pronouncing sentence on Jesus in

Matthew 26:66 What do you think?” And they answered and said, “He deserves death!”

Study Verses

• Matthew 26:26–30 This Is My Blood Of The Covenant
• Matthew 26:31–35 You Will Deny Me Three Times
• Matthew 26:57–68 Tell Us If You Are The Christ, The Son of God!

Today’s Reading

• Matthew 26:17-68

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References

• 1. Hahn, S. (2016). Lord’s Supper, Theological Issues. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

The disciples are concerned about Jesus establishing his kingdom, and ask in Matthew 24:3 “what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”. He answers in Matthew 24:36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows—not even the angels of heaven nor the Son—except the Father alone”. Then he gives them parables teaching them to be faithful and then he says in Matthew 25:31 “Now when the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne” and will separate the sheep and the goats”. But then Jesus says in Matthew 26:2 “You know that after two days the Passover takes place, and the Son of Man will be handed over in order to be crucified.” His death isn’t what they were anticipating. When this woman comes and anoints Jesus for burial, the disciples react badly. Their minds were on meeting the needs of the crowds that followed and they weren’t hearing Jesus as he said in two days he would be crucified. But she heard. She responded and came with oil to anoint Jesus for burial. God’s ways are not ours and here, there was only one person, this woman with her oil, that fully aligned with God’s plan.

The Wise Ones

Matthew 25:1–13

Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant

Matthew 25:14–23

Because I Was Afraid

Matthew 25:24–30 

When the Son of Man Comes In His Glory

Matthew 25:31–46
There is a day coming when Jesus Christ, “the Son of Man” will return in

Matthew 25:31 Now when the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.

and when he does, everyone will stand before him for judgment in

Matthew 25:32–33 And all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them from one another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right and the goats on the left.

and they will be separated by one simple principle, did you care for anyone else? in

Matthew 25:34–36 Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world! 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me as a guest, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you cared for me, I was in prison and you came to me.’

This wrecks our religious thinking because it won’t be about what we believed or doctrine or our family line or nationality but it will be about what we did. Did we see a need and meet it? Or did we see a need and turn our back? Isn’t this what Jesus meant when he said love your neighbor as yourself? 

The Son of Man Will Be Crucified

Matthew 26:1–5
Jesus has answered his disciples questions about when the Son of Man would establish his kingdom and now tells them that he will be crucified in

Matthew 26:2 “You know that after two days the Passover takes place, and the Son of Man will be handed over in order to be crucified.”

and the writer of Matthew makes the historic note that while Jesus was off on the Mount of Olives teaching his disciples, the religious men of God were in the “palace of the high priest” plotting to kill Jesus in

Matthew 26:3–4 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, who was named Caiaphas, 4 and plotted in order that they could arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him.

While Jesus had been teaching the importance of doing good, meeting the needs of those around you, the religious were only concerned with the perceptions of the people, they were concerned with how they could kill Jesus without causing and uproar in

Matthew 26:5 But they were saying, “Not during the feast, so that there will not be an uproar among the people.”

 

She Did It To Prepare Me For Burial

Matthew 26:6–16
During this time, a woman brings oil and poured it out on Jesus in

Matthew 26:7 a woman came up to him holding an alabaster flask of very expensive perfumed oil, and poured it out on his head while he was reclining at table.

The disciples react badly and complain that this is a waste that the oil should have been sold to meet the needs of the poor in

Matthew 26:8–9 And when the disciples saw it they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor!”

Jesus comes to her defense in

Matthew 26:10 But Jesus, knowing this, said to them, “Why do you cause trouble for the woman? For she has done a good deed for me.

and then Jesus says that her action was for a purpose in

Matthew 26:12 For when this woman poured this ointment on my body, she did it in order to prepare me for burial.

It isn’t clear whether this woman knew Jesus was going to die, although he had just told his disciples he would be crucified so “Whether or not the woman is thinking of Jesus’ burial, he interprets her action this way (v. 12; cf. John 19:39–40)”.¹

He knew there would not be time for proper preparation of his body for the tomb as the Sabbath and Passover was close and his crucifixion was coming quickly.

I prefer to think that she was listening as Jesus spoke and her heart was broken as he talked about being crucified. That it was her great love for him that caused her to respond when no one else bothered to make any preparation.

Study Verses

• Matthew 25:31–46 When the Son of Man Comes In His Glory
• Matthew 26:1–5 The Son of Man Will Be Crucified
• Matthew 26:6–16 She Did It To Prepare Me For Burial

Today’s Reading

• Matthew 25:1-46
• Matthew 26:1-16

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References

• 1. Chamblin, J. K. (1995). Matthew. In Evangelical Commentary on the Bible (Vol. 3, p. 755). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

As the disciples are walking through the temple courts with Jesus they are admiring the buildings. Jesus refocuses their attention by saying in Matthew 24:2 “not one stone will be left here on another stone that will not be thrown down!” They come to him later and ask in Matthew 24:3 “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus warns them about those that will come in his name and about the conflicts in Matthew 24:7 “nation will rise up against nation … and … famines and earthquakes”. But this is not what Jesus wants them to be concerned about. Instead, he tells them a parable about a master that returns and finds his servant faithfully working. But this servant isn’t just doing the jobs of normal maintenance that everyone must do, this servant was in charge of the household and was responsible for the provision others needed in Matthew 24:45 “Who then is the faithful and wise slave whom the master has put in charge of his household slaves to give them their food at the right time?”. Yes, there will be conflict and tribulation until the end but we are called to be the supply, we are the conduit of God’s love as it says in John 7:38 the one who believes in me. Just as the scripture said, ‘Out of his belly will flow rivers of living water.’ ”

Blessed Is the One Who Comes In the Name of the Lord!

Matthew 23:37–39 

What Will Be The Sign of Your Coming

Matthew 24:1–8
Jesus and his disciples are walking through the temple courts and his disciples are admiring the buildings much as we might in

Matthew 24:1 And as Jesus went out of the temple courts he was going along, and his disciples came up to point out to him the buildings of the temple.

and Jesus reminds them that the things built by men’s hands don’t last. The things men admire, the things men worship, the things of our own creation have no eternal value. The disciples understand that Jesus is speaking about God’s kingdom so later, they ask in

Matthew 24:3 And as he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came up to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

Jesus responds with a warning in

Matthew 24:4–5 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Watch out that no one deceives you! 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will deceive many.

and there are many that say, and there have been many who have said they have come in the name of the Lord, yet they are seeking their own will, or even worse, the will of the evil one. It says in

2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

but we know in the end, conflict will arise in

Matthew 24:7 For nation will rise up against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

and as Jesus went on to say, these are the beginning of the end in

Matthew 24:8 But all these things are the beginning of birth pains.

This Gospel of the Kingdom Will Be Proclaimed

Matthew 24:9–14

As the Lightning Comes From the East and Flashes to the West

Matthew 24:15–28 

The Sign of the Son of Man Will Appear in Heaven

Matthew 24:29–35
As difficult as it seems to us, Jesus won’t return until “after the tribulation of those days” but when he comes, every person on earth will know it in

Matthew 24:29 “And immediately after the tribulation of those days, ‘the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken.’

then, they, all the tribes, Muslim or Christian, Catholic or Atheist, Palestinian or Israeli, will all see him, and they will not only know that he is God, but they will also mourn because of their unbelief, because of their rebellion in

Matthew 24:30 And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man arriving on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Then comes the end. This is the last moment for anyone to accept Jesus Christ as who he is, the saviour of the world, their own personal saviour. And, after a moment of recognition, after a moment of mourning, after this last moment where some may turn and acknowledge Jesus, he will gather the elect in

Matthew 24:31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect together from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other end of it.

One Will Be Taken and One Left

Matthew 24:36–44 

Who Then Is the Faithful and Wise

Matthew 24:45–51
What will God find you doing when Jesus Christ returns? How will you be living your life? Are you one that now says in

Luke 13:35 Behold, your house has been left to you! And I tell you, you will never see me until the time will come when you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”

If you have accepted Jesus Christ, will you be declared a faithful servant? You will be if in

Matthew 24:46 Blessed is that slave whom his master will find so doing when he comes back.

but we don’t know when he will return and this is where our faithfulness is tested and proven. We that believe, we will be “giving them their food”. We are God’s servants, but not only in worship to him but also in service, as the source of supply for those around us.

Study Verses

• Matthew 24:1–8 What Will Be The Sign of Your Coming
• Matthew 24:29–35 The Sign of the Son of Man Will Appear in Heaven
• Matthew 24:45–51 Who Then Is the Faithful and Wise

Today’s Reading

• Matthew 23:37-39
• Matthew 24:1-51

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In the world, men seek position, they seek to be acknowledged by others. But Jesus says the greatest in the kingdom of heaven are those that serve. Gods kingdom doesn’t work as the world does. Gods kingdom is different and Jesus explains not only the resurrection that will occur in the end but that life as we know it will also be different. Jesus lists all the ways men seek to exalt themselves and also the ways men present themselves so others will follow them, but this is not the way to greatness in God’s kingdom. The servant is the greatest in God’s eyes.

Give to Caesar the Things of Caesar

Matthew 22:15–22 

You Are Mistaken, Because You Do Not Know the Scriptures

Matthew 22:23–33
According to “the Jewish law, if a man dies without children, his brother must marry his widow. In this way he can raise a son and heir for his dead brother. This is called levirate marriage, and enables a man’s name to live on after his death (Deuteronomy 25:5–6). It’s a kind of ‘resurrection’ without involving heaven or an afterlife.¹ and it is this law the Sadduccees wanted to use to get Jesus to say there was no resurrection. Instead, Jesus pointed out their error in

Matthew 22:29 But Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God!

What we understand about God is mostly based on our human experience with some revelation as we have learned through the scriptures. And here, Jesus tells us something about life in “the resurrection”. There won’t be procreation as there is on the earth and there won’t be marriage either.

Which Commandment is Greatest

Matthew 22:34–40

How Then Does David Call Him ‘Lord’

Matthew 22:41–46 

The Greatest Among You Will Be Your Servant

Matthew 23:1–12
After being challenged by the scribes and the Pharisees, Jesus speaks in

Matthew 23:1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples,

and he told them to honor the position of these men because they “sit on the seat of Moses” in Matthew 23:2 and the people should honor them for that and obey the law of Moses as he says in

Matthew 23:3 Therefore do and observe everything that they tell you, but do not do as they do, for they tell others to do something and do not do it themselves.

Jesus says these men do these things “to be seen by people” in Matthew 23:5 and because “they love the place of honor” in Matthew 23:6 and they love the “greetings in the marketplaces” in Matthew 23:7. Then Jesus says in

Matthew 23:8–10 But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ because one is your teacher, and you are all brothers, 9 And do not call anyone your father on earth, for one is your heavenly Father. 10 And do not be called teachers, because one is your teacher, the Christ.

These people take the seat of God, of Jesus himself as they exalt themselves above their brothers. In Christ, Jesus says

Matthew 23:11–12 And the greatest among you will be your servant. 12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

 

For Which is Greater, the Gold or the Temple That Makes Holy?

Matthew 23:13–24
Jesus says “woe to you, scribes and Pharisees” seven times, six times also calling them hypocrites.

• they shut up the kingdom of heaven and prevent others from entering
• they search for others to covert and make them worse
• they swear by the gold of the temple
• they tithe on the littlest things and neglect justice and mercy
• they are clean on the outside but full of greed and self-indulgence
• they appear righteous but are full of lawlessness
• they kill the prophets

These have turned the priesthood into their own self serving source of money from the people. Yet, Jesus calls them blind and then asks them in

Matthew 23:19 Blind people! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift holy?

They have missed the position of God in their lives. He is the Holy one.

Inside They Are Full of Greed and Self-Indulgence!

Matthew 23:25–36

Study Verses

• Matthew 22:23–33 You Are Mistaken, Because You Do Not Know the Scriptures
• Matthew 23:1–12 The Greatest Among You Will Be Your Servant
• Matthew 23:13–24 For Which is Greater, the Gold or the Temple That Makes Holy?

Today’s Reading

• Matthew 22:15-46
• Matthew 23:1-36

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References

• 1. Knowles, A. (2001). The Bible guide (1st Augsburg books ed., p. 431). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg.