Intro to Matthew 26:17-30

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 4/17/2024 11:27 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                                      Focus:  Intro to Matthew 26:17-30

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                               Reference: Matthew 26:17-30

 

            Message of the verses:  “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.

 

            In John MacArthur’s commentary he entitles this chapter “The Last Passover” as that truly was the last Passover that was celebrated even though in today’s world the Jewish people still celebrate Passover.  I am speaking on a technical way as once the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Passover Lamb died on the cross at the exact time that the Passover lambs were killed then there was no need for anymore Passovers to be celebrated.

 

            John MacArthur writes the following introduction for these verses:  “As noted throughout these volumes, Matthew presents Jesus as King, the sovereign Lord of the universe come to earth in human flesh.  Even in the midst of Jesus’ betrayal, mock trials, and execution, He is revealed in humble but regal dignity.  Far from diminishing His majesty and glory, those events portray the powerful and culminating expression of glory, those events portray the powerful and culminating expression of His sovereign grace and power.  Through man’s ultimate act of sinful depravity God accomplished His ultimate act of righteous redemption.

 

            “In the previous chapter, four initial elements of preparation for Jesus’ death were unlocked.  Each of those involved the plan and work of others than Christ Himself.  Now, on Jesus’ last day (Thursday) with the disciples until after His resurrection, Matthew presents four elements of Jesus’ own preparation for His sacrificial death:  experiencing the final Passover (26:17-25), establishing the Lord’s Supper (vv. 26-30), helping the impotent disciples (vv. 31-35), and praying to the Father (36-39).  The present chapter will discuss the first two of those elements.”

 

            Now I will continue looking at the next introduction which consists of Matthew 26:17-25 in which MacArthur entitles this section:

 

“Experiencing The Final Passover”

 

            “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."

 

            MacArthur then gives this short introduction to these verses:  “Leading up to and including the beginning of the final Passover meal are four sub-elements of Jesus’ own preparation for His sacrificial death: setting the time (vv. 17-19), sharing the table (vv. 20-21a), shocking the Twelve (vv. 21b-24), and signifying the traitor (v. 25).”

 

            Lord willing in the next SD we will begin to look at “Setting The Time.”  I believe that this section will take a number of days to get through it, but what we will be looking at is some very important verses which speaks of the most important thing that has ever happened on God’s earth as the Son of Man is about to prepare Himself for His crucifixion, which will pay for our sins.

 

4/17/2024 11:55 AM