Today’s gospel (Matthew 26:1 – 27:66 DKV) serves also as our sermon. It is the divinely inspired account of our Lord’s suffering, death and burial. That said it is more than reportage. Because this is God’s Word, that carry’s the H.S. with it, it makes us more devoted to our Christ who was fully devoted to us.
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1 Now when Jesus had finished saying all these things he said to his disciples, 2 “You know that two days from now will be Passover, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified. 3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, Caiaphas by name 4 and conspired how they might secretly arrest Jesus to kill him. 5 But they said: “not during the Feast, lest the people riot.”
6 Now when Jesus was at the home of Simon the leper in Bethany 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment and poured it on his head as he reclined at table. 8 When the disciples saw this they were indignant and said, “Why this waste? 9 This ointment could have been sold and the money given to the poor.” 10 Aware of this Jesus said to them, “Why are you vexing the woman? She has done a beautiful thing for me. 11 For the poor you have with you always. But you do not always have Me. By pouring this myrrh on my body, she prepared my body for burial. 13 Truly I say to you wherever the gospel is preached in all the world, what she has done for me will be told in remembrance of her.”
14 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “How much will you give me if I hand him over to you? And they settled on thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that time on he sought an opportunity to betray him.
17 Now on the First Day of Unleavened Bread the disciples said to Jesus, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The teacher says: My time is near, I am keeping the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.
20 When it was evening he reclined at table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating he said, “Truly! I say to you that one of you will betray me,” 22 and they were deeply grieved and each one of them started to ask him, “Surely it is not I, Lord?”
23 He answered and said, “The one who dips his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him. But Woe! to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would have been better for that man had he not been born.” 25 Judas, who would betray him, said, ‘Surely not I Rabbi?’ He said to him, “You have said so.”
26 Now while they were eating Jesus, took bread and blessed and broke and gave to the disciples and said, “Take! Eat! This is my body.” 27 And taking a cup and blessing it he gave to them saying, “Drink of it all of you 28 for this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, poured out for many for the remission of sins. 29 I tell you that I will never drink this fruit of the vine again, until I drink the new wine, with you, in my Father’s Kingdom.
30 And when they had sung a hymn they went to Olive Mountain.
31 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will fall away from Me this night, for it is written ‘Strike down the shepherd and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered.’ But after I am raised up I will go before you to Galilee.”
33 But Peter said to him “even if all fall away because of you, I will never fall away!” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this night before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you I will never deny you;” all the disciples said the same.
36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane and said to the disciples, “stay here while I go over there to pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, filled with sorrow and distress. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is filled with sorrow to the point of death; stay here and watch with Me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face in prayer and said, “My Father! If it is possible let this cup pass from Me. Nevertheless, not as I desire, but as you desire!” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “So could ye not watch with me for one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation, for the Spirit is eager, but the Flesh is weak.”
42 Again for a second time he went to pray saying, “My Father! If this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, let your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping; because their eyes were so heavy. 44 So he left them again and went off to pray a third time saying the same thing once again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. Behold! The hour is near when the Son of Man is to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Arise and let us go, Behold! my betrayer is at hand.” 47 And while he was still speaking Behold! Judas one of the Twelve came, and with him a large crowd with swords and clubs from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48
Now the traitor had given them a signal saying, “The one whom I kiss is he. Seize him! 49 Then he went immediately to Jesus and said, “Greetings Rabbi,” and he kissed him. 50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come to do.” Then they came forward and seized Jesus and arrested him. 51 And Behold! Suddenly one of those who were with Jesus reached for his sword, drew it, and struck the servant of the high priest cutting off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back in its sheath, for all who take up the sword will die by the sword.”
53 Do you not realize that I can call upon my Father who would promptly send me twelve legions of angels? 54 But how, then should the Scriptures be fulfilled that ordain that this is the way it must be?”
55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “You come out with swords and clubs to capture me as though I were a bandit? While I sat in your temple every day teaching, and you never laid a hand on me?
56 But all this took place so that the writings of the prophets should be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and ran away.
57 Then those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest where the scribes and elders had assembled. 58 And Peter followed him at a distance as far as the high priest’s courtyard where he entered and sat down with the guards to see what would happen.
58 Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin kept looking for false evidence against Jesus that they might have him put to death; 60 but they found none even though many false witnesses came forward.
Later two came forward 61 and said, “This man said ‘I have the power to destroy the temple of God and three days later rebuild it.” 62 Then the high priest stood up and said to him, “have you no answer to the charges these men are bringing against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I put you under oath by the living God that you tell us, are you the Christ, the Son of God?” 64 Jesus said to him, “You said it. But I tell you.p from here on you.p will see the Son of Man himself seated at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his garment and said, “He has blasphemed! What evidence do we still need; Behold! Now you have heard the blasphemy. 66 What is your judgment? They answered and said, “He deserves to die.” 67 Then they spit in his face and struck him, and others slapped him 68 and said, “prophesy for us O Christ, who is it that hit you?”
69 Now Peter was sitting outside, in the courtyard, and a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.” 70 But he denied it and said in front of them all, “I don’t know what you are talking about.” 71 And when he had gone out to the gate another servant-girl saw him and said to the people there, “He was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 And again he denied and swore, “I don’t know the man.” 73 And a short while later those who were standing about came up and said to Peter, “You are certainly one of them! Your accent gives you away.” 74 Then he began to curse and to swear solemnly, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered what Jesus had said, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went away and wept bitterly.
27:1 When morning came all the chief priests and the elders of the people conspired against Jesus in order to put him to death. 2 And they tied him up, took him away, and handed him over the Pilate the governor. 3 Then Judas, his betrayer, saw that he had been condemned, he returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “what is that to us? See to it yourself.” 5 Then he threw down the money in the in the temple, and left, and went off and hanged himself.
6 Then the chief priests taking the silver said, “It is not lawful to put it back into the treasury since it is blood-money.” 7 So they took deliberated, and bought the Potter’s Field as a graveyard for strangers. 8 Therefore that field is still called “Field of Blood.” 9 Then the word spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by the sons of Israel, 10 and they gave them for the Potter’s Field as the LORD directed me.”
11 Now Jesus stood before the governor and the governor asked him saying, “Are you the king of the Jews? Jesus said “You have said so.” 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and the elders he gave no answer.
13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many charges they have made against you?” 14 But he gave him no answer, not even one word, so that the governor marveled.
15 Now during the Feast it was customary for the governor to release one prisoner for the people, whoever they desired. 16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner named Barabbas. 17 So when they gathered Pilate said to them, “Which do you want me to release? Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Christ? 18 For Pilate knew that it was because of jealousy that they handed him over.
19 Now while he was seated on the judgment seat his wife sent a message to him saying, “Have nothing to do with just man. For I have suffered many things today because of a dream I had about him.”
20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds so ask for Barabbas, and to kill Jesus.
21 Then the governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas.” 22 Then Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do to Jesus who is called the Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified.” 23 He then said, “What harm has he done?” But they cried out all the more, “Let him be crucified.” 24 Pilate then seeing that he was getting nowhere, and that a riot was imminent, took water and washed his hands before the crowd and said, “I am innocent regarding this man’s blood. You see to the matter.” 25 And all the people answered, “His blood be upon us and upon our children.” 26 Then he released Barabbas to them, had Jesus scourged, and handed him over to be crucified.
27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole cohort around him. 28 And they stripped him and dressed him in a purple robe. 29 They fashioned a crown made of thorns and placed it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand, and fell down before him in mockery and said, “Hail! King of the Jews.” 30 They spate on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 And when they had finished mocking him they took off the robe, dressed him in his own clothes, and led him away to be crucified.
32 And as they were making their way they found a man from Cyrene named Simon; and forced him to carry the cross. 33 And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, “The Place of the Skull,” 34 they gave him wine to drink, mixed with gall, which he tasted but refused to drink.
35 And when they had crucified him they divided his garments and cast lots for them, that what was spoken by the prophet might be fulfilled, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” 36 Then they sat there and kept watch over him.
37 Then above his head they placed the accusation that read: This is Jesus the King of the Jews. 38 Then crucified with him were two bandits, one on his right and one on the left. 39 And those who passed by derided him shaking their heads 40 saying, “O you who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself. If you are the Son of God come down from the cross.” 41 Thus also the chief priests reviled him saying, “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! If he is the King of Israel let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe on him. 43 He trusts in God, now let him rescue him if he wants him.” For he said, “I am God’s Son.” 44 The bandits who were crucified with him taunted him as well.
45 Now from the sixth hour darkness covered all the earth until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice saying, “Eli Eli lama sabachthani?” That is, “My God my God why have you forsaken me?” 47 Some of the bystanders hearing this said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” 48 And at once one of them ran to get a sponge filled with sour wine, and put it on a reed. 49 But the others said, “Wait! Let us see if Elijah will come to save him.” 50 Then Jesus again cried out with a loud voice and released the Spirit. 51 And Behold! The veil in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split. 52 And the tombs were opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. 53 And exiting their tombs, after his resurrection, came into the holy city and appeared to many.
54 Then the centurion and those keeping watch over Jesus with him, saw the earth quake and the other things taking place and were overcome with great fear and said, “In truth this man is the Son of God.”
55 There were also many women there looking on from a distance, the same women who had followed Jesus from Galilee ministering to his needs. 56 Among them was Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
57 In the evening there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph who himself had become a disciple of Jesus. 58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered the release of the body. 59 Joseph then took the body and wrapped it in a clean shroud, 60 and laid it in his own new tomb which he had hewn out of rock, and he rolled a great stone against the door, and then left the grave.
61 Mary Magdalene was there, as well as the other Mary sitting in front of the tomb. 62 On the next day, following the day of preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees went together to Pilate 63 and said, “Sir! We recall that this imposter, when he was alive, said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 And so give an order to secure the tomb until the third day. Lest his disciples come and steal him and say to the people, ‘He rose from the dead.’ Then the last deception will be greater than the first.”
65 Pilate said to them, “You have guards. Go and secure it as you can.” 66 So they went and secured the tomb by putting a seal on the rock, and placing a guard.