Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Matthew 26

Mat 26:4 And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.

consulted

Jhn 11:47; Act 4:25-28.

Mat 26:5 But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.

uproar among the people

Mat 21:26; Mar 14:2.

Mat 26:6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,

Jesus was in Bethany

Mar 14:3; Jhn 12:1-8.

Simon the leper

Mar 16:9; Luk 15:2.

Mat 26:7 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.

a woman

i.e. Mary of Bethany.

poured it on his head

No contradiction of John 12:3 is implied. The ordinary anointing of hospitality and honour was of the feet (Luk 7:38) and head (Luk 7:46). But Mary of Bethany, who alone of our Lord's disciples had comprehended His thrice repeated announcement of His coming death and resurrection, invested the anointing with the deeper meaning of the preparation of His body for burying. Mary of Bethany was not among the women who went to the sepulchre with intent to embalm the body of Jesus.

Mat 26:11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.

me ye have not always

Luk 5:34-35; Jhn 16:28.

Mat 26:12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.

for my

Supply to prepare me.

burial

Mat 16:21-23; Mar 16:1.

Mat 26:13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

gospel

Gospel. Mar 1:1, 14-15. (Gen 12:1-3; Rev 14:6.)

world

i.e. earth.

Mat 26:15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

thirty pieces of silver

Zec 11:12-13.

Mat 26:18 And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.

My time is at hand

Luk 9:51; Jhn 8:20; 16:32.

Mat 26:20 Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.

he sat down with the twelve

The order of events on the night of the Passover supper appears to have been:

1. The taking by our Lord and the disciples of their places at the table;
2. the contention who should be greatest;
3. the feet-washing;
4. the identification Judas as the traitor;
5. the withdrawal of Judas;
6. the institution of the supper;
7. the words of Jesus while still in the room (Mat 26:26-29; Luk 22:35-38; Jhn 13:31-35; 14:1-31);
8. the words of Jesus between the room and the garden (Mat 26:31-35; Mar 14:26-31; Jhn 15; 16; 17); it seems probable that the high-priestly prayer (Jhn 17) was uttered after they reached the garden;
9. the agony in the garden;
10. the betrayal and arrest;
11. Jesus before Caiaphas; Peter's denial.

(Here read John 13:2-30.)

Mat 26:21 And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

one of you shall betray me

Jhn 6:70-71; 13:21.

Mat 26:23 And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.

He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish

Psa 41:9; 55:12-14; Jhn 13:18, 26.

Mat 26:24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.

The Son of man goeth as it is written

Mar 9:12; Luk 24:25-27, 44-46; Jhn 19:28.

good for that man if he had not been born

Jhn 17:12; Act 1:25.

Mat 26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

Jesus took bread

Mar 14:22-25; Luk 22:19-20.

blessed it, and brake it

1Co 10:16.

this is my body

1Co 11:23-29; 1Pe 2:24.

Mat 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

this is my blood

Sacrifice (of Christ). Jhn 1:29. (Gen 4:4; Heb 10:18.)

the new

Covenant (New). Mar 14:24. (Isa 61:8; Heb 8:8-12.)

testament

covenant.

remission

Forgiveness. Summary: The Greek word translated "remission" in Mat 26:28; Act 10:43; Heb 9:22, is elsewhere rendered "forgiveness." It means, to send off, or away. And this, throughout Scripture, is the one fundamental meaning of forgiveness—to separate the sin from the sinner. Distinction must be made between divine and human forgiveness:

1. Human forgiveness means the remission of penalty. In the Old Testament and the New, in type and fulfilment, the divine forgiveness follows the execution of the penalty. "The priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he had committed, and it shall be forgiven him" (Lev 4:35). "This is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission [sending away, forgiveness] of sins" (Mat 25:28). "Without shedding of blood there is no remission" (Heb 9:22). See "Sacrifice" (Scofield Genesis 4:4, note; Hebrews 10:18, note). The sin of the justified believer interrupts his fellowship, and is forgiven upon confession, but always on the ground of Christ's propitiating sacrifice (1Jo 1:6-9; 2:2).
2. Human forgiveness rests upon and results from the divine forgiveness. In many passages this is assumed rather than stated, but the principle is declared in Eph 4:32; Mat 18:32-33.

Forgiveness. (Lev 4:20.)

sins

Sin. Scofield Romans 3:23, note.

Mat 26:29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

kingdom

Scofield Matthew 3:2, note.

(Here read John 14:1-31.)

Mat 26:30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

when they had sung an hymn

Mar 14:26.

(Here read John 15; 16; 17.)

Mat 26:31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

All ye shall be offended

Mar 14:27.

smite

Zec 13:7.

the shepherd

Christ (First Advent). Mat 27:9-10. (Gen 3:15; Acts 1:9.)

Mat 26:33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

yet will I never be offended

Mar 14:29-31; Luk 22:31-34; Jhn 13:36-38.

Mat 26:34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice

Mar 13:35; Jhn 18:27.

Mat 26:36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place

Mar 14:32-42; Luk 22:40-46; Jhn 18:1.

Mat 26:37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

began to be sorrowful

Isa 53:3; Lam 1:12; Jhn 12:27.

Mat 26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

prayed

Bible prayers (N.T.). Mat 27:46. (Mat 6:9; Rev 22:20.)

let this cup pass from me

The "cup" must be interpreted by our Lord's own use of that symbol in speaking of His approaching sacrificial death (Mat 20:22; Jhn 18:11). In view of Jhn 10:17-18, He could have been in no fear of an unwilling death. The value of the account of the agony in the Garden is in the evidence it affords that He knew fully what the agony of the cross would mean when His soul was made an offering for sin (Isa 53:10) in the hiding of the Father's face. Knowing the cost to the utmost, He voluntarily paid it.

Gen 22:6-8; Heb 5:7.

not as I will, but as thou wilt

Psa 40:8.

Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

temptation

Temptation. Luk 8:13. (Gen 3:1; Jas 1:14.)

the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak

Psa 103:14-16; Rom 7:15; 8:23; Gal 5:17.

Mat 26:45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Sleep on now, and take your rest

Psa 69:20; Jhn 2:25.

sinners

Sin. Scofield Romans 3:23, note.

Mat 26:47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

Judas, one of the twelve, came

Mar 14:43; Luk 22:47; Jhn 18:3; Act 1:16.

Mat 26:48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.

Whomsoever I shall kiss

Mat 26:50; Mar 14:44-45; Luk 22:48.

Mat 26:49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.

Hail, master; and kissed him

2Sa 20:9; Psa 55:13.

Mat 26:50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

Friend

Greek Hetaire, comrade. Perhaps the most touching thing in the Bible. The Lord does not disown Judas.

Mat 26:51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.

drew his sword

Mar 14:47; Luk 22:49-51; Jhn 18:10-11.

Mat 26:53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

twelve legions

2Ki 6:17; Luk 2:13-14.

angels

Scofield Hebrews 1:4, note.

Mat 26:54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

scriptures be fulfilled

Mat 26:24; Jhn 19:28; Act 13:29.

Inspiration. Mat 28:19-20. (Exo 4:15; Rev 22:19.)

Mat 26:55 In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.

Are ye come out…with swords and staves

Mar 14:48-49; Luk 22:52-53.

Mat 26:56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

all the disciples forsook him

Mar 14:50. Cf. 2Ti 4:16.

Mat 26:57 And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

laid hold on Jesus led him away

A comparison of the narratives gives the following order of events in the crucifixion day:

1. Early in the morning Jesus is brought before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin. He is condemned and mocked (Mat 26:57-68; Mar 14:55-65; Luk 22:63-71; Jhn 18:19-24).
2. The Sanhedrin lead Jesus to Pilate (Mat 27:1-2, 11-14; Mar 15:1-5; Luk 23:1-5; Jhn 18:28-38).
3. Pilate sends Jesus to Herod (Luk 23:6-12; Jhn 19:4).
4. Jesus is again brought before Pilate, who releases Barabbas and delivers Jesus to be crucified (Mat 27:15-26; Mar 15:6-15; Luk 23:13-25; Jhn 18:39-40; 19:4-16).
5. Jesus is crowned with thorns, and mocked (Mat 27:26-30; Mar 15:15-20; Jhn 19:1-3).
6. Suicide of Judas (Mat 27:3-10).
7. Led forth to be crucified, the cross is laid upon Simon: Jesus discourses to the women (Mat 27:31-32; Mar 15:20-23; Luk 23:26-33; Jhn 19:16-17. For the order of events at the crucifixion see Scofield Matthew 27:33, note.

to Caiaphas the high priest

Mar 14:53; Luk 22:54; Jhn 18:12-14.

Mat 26:58 But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.

Peter followed him

Mar 14:54; Jhn 18:15-16.

palace

court.

servants

officers.

Mat 26:59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;

false witness against Jesus

Psa 35:11; Mar 14:55-60.

Mat 26:61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

destroy the temple of God

Mat 27:40; Jhn 2:19-22.

Mat 26:63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

Jesus held his peace

Isa 53:7.

tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God

Mar 14:61-64; Luk 22:69-71.

Mat 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

sitting on the right hand of power

Psa 110:1; Mar 14:62; Act 7:55-56.

coming in the clouds of heaven

Dan 7:13-14; Mat 24:30; Rev 1:7.

Mat 26:65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.

ye have heard his blasphemy

Jhn 10:31-36.

Mat 26:67 Then did they spit in his face, and and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,

spit…and buffeted him

Isa 50:6; 52:14; Mar 14:65; Luk 22:63-65; Jhn 18:22-23.

smote him

Mic 5:1; Jhn 19:3.

Mat 26:69 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.

Peter sat without in the palace

Mar 14:66-72; Luk 22:55-62; Jhn 18:15-18, 25-27.

Mat 26:71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.

another maid

Cf. Mat 26:69; Mar 14:69; Luk 22:58; Jhn 18:25. A discrepancy has been imagined in these accounts. Let it be remembered that an excited crowd had gathered, and that Peter was interrogated in two places: "With the servants" (Mat 26:58) where the first charge was made (Mat 26:69); "the porch" where a great number of people would be gathered, and where the second and third interrogations were made by "another maid" and by "they," i.e. the crowd (Mat 26:71, 73; Jhn 18:25).

Mat 26:73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.

thy speech bewrayeth thee

Act 2:7.

Mat 26:74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

I know not the man

Contra, Mat 16:16-17.

immediately the cock crew

Mat 26:34.