Day 291: Matthew 25-28

(The previous post covered the Pharisees discontinuing of their confrontations of Jesus and Jesus' prophecy about the end times.)

Matthew 25

(Verses 1-13: the Parable of the Ten Virgins.)

¹ Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
² And five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
³ For the foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them:
⁴ but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
⁵ Now while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
⁶ But at midnight there is a cry, Behold, the bridegroom! Come ye forth to meet him.

(The "bridegroom" showed up at an unexpected time.)

⁷ Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

(The virgins trimmed their lamps. Trimmed meant "to make ready.")

⁸ And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are going out.
⁹ But the wise answered, saying, Peradventure there will not be enough for us and you: go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
¹⁰ And while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast: and the door was shut.

(The virgins who were not ready missed the bridegroom. Notice, Jesus did not say the wise virgins should have given their oil to the foolish virgins. When it came to Salvation, Jesus motivated people with rational self-interest: Jesus showed the individual what they would gain in the long term for themselves, and themselves alone, if they made the right decision in the short term.)

¹¹ Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
¹² But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
¹³ Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour.

(Watch (have integrity) for we do not know when Jesus will return.)

(Verses 14-30: the Parable of the Talents.)

¹⁴ For it is as when a man, going into another country, called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
¹⁵ And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his several ability; and he went on his journey.

("Talents" were given to the servants according to their own ability (uniqueness). The talents came from the master.)

¹⁶ Straightway he that received the five talents went and traded with them, and made other five talents.
¹⁷ In like manner he also that received the two gained other two.
¹⁸ But he that received the one went away and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

(Two servants gained more by trading: interacting with others according to their uniqueness. The servant with one talent went and hid it; he did not interact with anyone.)

¹⁹ Now after a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and maketh a reckoning with them.
²⁰ And he that received the five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: lo, I have gained other five talents.
²¹ His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

(The servant with five talents gained five more. He was profitable. The lord called him good and faithful.)

²² And he also that received the two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: lo, I have gained other two talents.
²³ His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

(Likewise, the same things were stated about the servant with two talents. The servants who were profitable were made rulers over many things.)

²⁴ And he also that had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou didst not sow, and gathering where thou didst not scatter;
²⁵ and I was afraid, and went away and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, thou hast thine own.
²⁶ But his lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I did not scatter;
²⁷ thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back mine own with interest.

(The servant who hid his talent stated that he thought the master was a hard man and reaped where he did not sow. This was not true. The talents came from the master. He did sow. However, the master stated he would judge the servant by the servant's own words. The servant was told he should have at least gained interest on the talent (which still would have been profitable) by giving it to the bankers. Notice, this would have required one interaction. Remember, the master was gone a very long time. Getting exactly what he sowed back after a long time was the same as getting back less. Just like in America's economy, a dollar fifty years ago was worth more than a dollar today.)

²⁸ Take ye away therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him that hath the ten talents.
²⁹ For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away.
³⁰ And cast ye out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.

(The talent was taken away from the unprofitable servant and he was cast into "outer darkness." Notice, the talent was given to the servant who was most profitable. That was a wise investment by the master. Also, the unprofitable servant would have avoided being cast into "outer darkness" if he had one interaction with the banker. This parable was both a Salvation and Reward parable. The parable ended with Salvation: people either entered into the joy of the lord or outer darkness. However, how much talents each had was different, and became more different. This was Reward. The one with the most got even more. If the one who had less got more, then it would be possible that everyone could end up with the same amount of Reward in heaven.)

(Verses 31-46: the Parable of the Sheep and Goats.)

³¹ But when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory:
³² and before him shall be gathered all the nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats;
³³ and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

(The sheep were set on the right hand (honor) and the goats were set on the left hand (dishonor). Jesus will come into His glory at the final judgment after the Millennium.)

³⁴ Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

(The sheep will inherit God's Kingdom.)

³⁵ for I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in;
³⁶ naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
³⁷ Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or athirst, and gave thee drink?
³⁸ And when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
³⁹ And when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
⁴⁰ And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it unto me.

(These people did good works to other people as an effect of God working through them.)

⁴¹ Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels:
⁴² for I was hungry, and ye did not give me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink;
⁴³ I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
⁴⁴ Then shall they also answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
⁴⁵ Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of these least, ye did it not unto me.
⁴⁶ And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life.

(These people did not do good works because they did not allow God to work through them in grace, which would have resulted in Righteousness. The Righteousness (or unrighteousness) of the "sheep" (or "goats") is the deciding factor of where they go: "eternal punishment" or "eternal life.")




Matthew 26
¹ And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these words, he said unto his disciples,
² Ye know that after two days the passover cometh, and the Son of man is delivered up to be crucified.

(Here was the fourth pronouncement by Jesus concerning His crucifixion. This pronouncement gave the timing of the events: the feast of Passover.)

³ Then were gathered together the chief priests, and the elders of the people, unto the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas;
⁴ and they took counsel together that they might take Jesus by subtlety, and kill him.
⁵ But they said, Not during the feast, lest a tumult arise among people.

(The rulers conspired against Jesus, however they did not want to do it during the feast of Passover.)

⁶ Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
⁷ there came unto him a woman having an alabaster cruse of exceeding precious ointment, and she poured it upon his head, as he sat at meat.

(A woman anointed Jesus with "exceeding precious ointment.")

⁸ But when the disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?
⁹ For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.

(The Disciples were angry and wondered why the ointment was not sold for the poor.)

¹⁰ But Jesus perceiving it said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.
¹¹ For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.
¹² For in that she poured this ointment upon my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.
¹³ Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, that also which this woman hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.

(Jesus explained that she did a good thing because Jesus would be leaving them soon and she did it for Jesus' burial.)

¹⁴ Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
¹⁵ and said, What are ye willing to give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they weighed unto him thirty pieces of silver.
¹⁶ And from that time he sought opportunity to deliver him unto them.

(Judas went to the chief priests and set up a deal to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.)

¹⁷ Now on the first day of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Where wilt thou that we make ready for thee to eat the passover?
¹⁸ And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Teacher saith, My time is at hand; I keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.
¹⁹ And the disciples did as Jesus appointed them; and they made ready the passover.

(The first feast of God (see Leviticus 23) was Unleavened Bread. The first day of Unleavened Bread would be our Tuesday sunset to Wednesday sunset. The feast of Passover did not have to be eaten on the day of Passover. It needed to be eaten during or before the day of the feast. Jesus had Passover with His Disciples early so that He would be sacrificed on the actual day of Passover.)

²⁰ Now when even was come, he was sitting at meat with the twelve disciples;
²¹ and as they were eating, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
²² And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began to say unto him every one, Is it I, Lord?
²³ And he answered and said, He that dipped his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.
²⁴ The Son of man goeth, even as it is written of him: but woe unto that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had not been born.

(Jesus stated that it would be better for Judas to have never been born. This was another verse that showed Judas did not end up in heaven...ever.)

²⁵ And Judas, who betrayed him, answered and said, Is it I, Rabbi? He saith unto him, Thou hast said.

(Verses 26-29: the Lord’s Supper.)

²⁶ And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it; and he gave to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
²⁷ And he took a cup, and gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
²⁸ for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many unto remission of sins.
²⁹ But I say unto you, I shall not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

(During the Passover meal, there were four cups of wine. Two were drunk before the meal and two after. The third was drunk with the desert bread (Afikomen) and became our communion. The third cup represented Redemption which was provided for us by Jesus' Blood. The fourth cup represented Praise for the Completion of Everything. Jesus would not drink of this fourth cup until everything was completed in His Father's Kingdom after Final Judgment.)

³⁰ And when they had sung a hymn, they went out unto the mount of Olives.

(After the Lord's Supper, they sung a hymn.)

³¹ Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended in me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
³² But after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.

(This was Jesus' fifth pronouncement of His impending death. This pronouncement gave the additional information that the Disciples would be scattered and Jesus would meet them in Galilee after He was raised. Jesus warned the Disciples that they "will" be offended because of Him that night.)

³³ But Peter answered and said unto him, If all shall be offended in thee, I will never be offended.

(Peter said he would never be offended. Peter told Jesus, the Son of God, that He was wrong!)

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

(Jesus told Peter of his three betrayals. Jesus knew the causes within Peter that would lead to his betrayal.)

³⁵ Peter saith unto him, Even if I must die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

(Peter still said he would not deny Jesus and so did all the Disciples.)

³⁶ Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto his disciples, Sit ye here, while I go yonder and pray.
³⁷ And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and sore troubled.
³⁸ Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: abide ye here, and watch with me.
³⁹ And he went forward a little, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.

(Jesus knew He would have to be crucified to fulfill prophecy, so He was not looking for a way to avoid crucifixion. Satan had entered Judas and God the Father knew how bad it would get for Jesus. When Jesus found out from the Father about the coming circumstances, Jesus asked if it be possible to be crucified under different circumstances. Jesus may also have been more specifically referring to His having to be separated from God when He died. Not only did Jesus love the Father greater than anyone ever has, He had never experienced separation from God the Father, and He had witnessed the devastation that occurred throughout history when people chose to be separated from the Father.)

⁴⁰ And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
⁴¹ Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
⁴² Again a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, My Father, if this cannot pass away, except I drink it, thy will be done.

(This time, Jesus prayed contrastively. He prayed if this cannot pass away. Either way, Jesus was willing to do God's Will God's way even though He did not want to.)

⁴³ And he came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.
⁴⁴ And he left them again, and went away, and prayed a third time, saying again the same words.

(Jesus prayed three times in the garden of Gethsemane: verses 39, 42, 44.)

⁴⁵ Then cometh he to the 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.
⁴⁶ Arise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that betrayeth me.
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 priest and elders of the people.

(Judas arrived with a great multitude of soldiers.)

⁴⁸ Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he: take him.
⁴⁹ And straightway he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, Rabbi; and kissed him.
⁵⁰ And Jesus said unto him, Friend, do that for which thou art come. Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

(Jesus called Judas "friend" and told him to do what he came to do. Then the soldiers took Jesus.)

⁵¹ And behold, one of them that were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear.

(John 18:10 recorded the "one of them" was Peter who took his sword and struck a servant of the high priest's and cut off his ear.)

⁵² Then saith Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into its place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
⁵³ Or thinkest thou that I cannot beseech my Father, and he shall even now send me more than twelve legions of angels?
⁵⁴ How then should the scriptures be fulfilled that thus it must be?

(Jesus could have asked for 72,000 angels to rescue Him. Jesus, in His own words, was able to do something other than God's Will, and intentionally chose to do God's Will in order to fulfill the scriptures.)

⁵⁵ In that hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a robber with swords and staves to seize me? I sat daily in the temple teaching, and ye took me not.
⁵⁶ But all this is come to pass, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples left him, and fled.

(All the Disciples forsook Jesus and fled, just as Jesus said they would.)

⁵⁷ And they that had taken Jesus led him away to the house of Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.
⁵⁸ But Peter followed him afar off, unto the court of the high priest, and entered in, and sat with the officers, to see the end.

(Peter followed from far off.)

⁵⁹ Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death;

(The rulers sought false witnesses against Jesus.)

⁶⁰ and they found it not, though many false witnesses came. But afterward came two,

(They could find none, until two came.)

⁶¹ and said, This man said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
⁶² And the high priest stood up, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
⁶³ But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou art the Christ, the Son of God.

(Jesus held His peace at the accusations. Jesus did not defend Himself. However, the high priest made a request by God to state whether He was the Christ.)

⁶⁴ Jesus said unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Henceforth ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.
⁶⁵ Then the high priest rent his garments, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy: what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard the blasphemy:
⁶⁶ what think ye? They answered and said, He is worthy of death.

(Jesus answered and the high priest declared "blasphemy." So, there was no "right" answer for Jesus to give in the eyes of the religious leaders. The people agreed that Jesus was guilty of death.)

⁶⁷ Then did they spit in his face and buffet him: and some smote him with the palms of their hands,

(The people started spitting in Jesus' face and buffeting (blow with the fist) Him and others slapped His face. Jesus knew this would happen during His praying in the garden.)

⁶⁸ saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ: who is he that struck thee?
⁶⁹ Now Peter was sitting without in the court: and a maid came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus the Galilaean.
⁷⁰ But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.
⁷¹ And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and saith unto them that were there, This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth.
⁷² And again he denied with an oath, I know not the man.
⁷³ And after a little while they that stood by came and said to Peter, Of a truth thou also art one of them; for thy speech maketh thee known.
⁷⁴ Then began he to curse and to swear, I know not the man. And straightway the cock crew.

(Peter denied Jesus three times (verses 70, 72, 74) and immediately the rooster crowed.)

⁷⁵ And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

(When Peter heard the rooster, he remembered Jesus' words and wept bitterly.)




Matthew 27
¹ Now when morning was come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:
² and they bound him, and led him away, and delivered him up to Pilate the governor.

(The rulers and the people brought Jesus bound to Pontius Pilate, the governor.)

³ Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
⁴ saying, I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood. But they said, What is that to us? see thou to it.
⁵ And he cast down the pieces of silver into the sanctuary, and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.

(Judas sinned against the embodiment of Right and Just and was forgiven to his face. The amount of guilt Judas felt was the greatest anyone has ever felt, to the point of not being able to think clearly. Consequently, he committed suicide.)

⁶ And the chief priests took the pieces of silver, and said, It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood.
⁷ And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.
⁸ Wherefore that field was called, the field of blood, unto this day.
⁹ Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was priced, whom certain of the children of Israel did price;
¹⁰ and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.

(The chief priests bought land with the money given back by Judas. Jeremiah may have prophesied this, but it was also recorded in Zechariah 11:12-13.)

¹¹ Now Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.

(Pilate asked Jesus if He was the King of the Jews and Jesus said "Thou sayest." Remember, Jesus could not say, "I am the Son of God" without being in pride.)

¹² And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

(When Jesus was accused of the chief priests and elders He answered nothing.)

¹³ Then saith Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?
¹⁴ And he gave him no answer, not even to one word: insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

(Jesus did not defend Himself. This caused Pilate to marvel greatly.)

¹⁵ Now at the feast the governor was wont to release unto the multitude one prisoner, whom they would.
¹⁶ And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
¹⁷ When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?
¹⁸ For he knew that for envy they had delivered him up.
¹⁹ And while he was sitting on the judgment-seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that righteous man; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

(Pilate's wife called Jesus a "righteous man." Pilate was trying to find a way to avoid killing Jesus.)

²⁰ Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
²¹ But the governor answered and said unto them, Which of the two will ye that I release unto you? And they said, Barabbas.
²² Pilate saith unto them, What then shall I do unto Jesus who is called Christ? They all say, Let him be crucified.
²³ And he said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out exceedingly, saying, Let him be crucified.

(Pilate asked what should be done with Jesus, trying to avoid dealing with Jesus. The people cried out for Jesus to be crucified. Pilate asked "Why?" The people just cried out louder. All of Pilate's attempts to avoid killing Jesus had failed.)

²⁴ So when Pilate saw that he prevailed nothing, but rather that a tumult was arising, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man; see ye to it.

(Pilate "washed his hands," representing Jesus' Blood not being on his hands. Pilate called Jesus a "righteous man." How incredible was it that a man was condemned to death by the government even though the government said He was righteous, that religious leaders wanted Him dead but could not carry out the judgment?)

²⁵ And all the people answered and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

(The people stated their will that Jesus' Blood would be on theirs' and their children's hands.)

²⁶ Then released he unto them Barabbas; but Jesus he scourged and delivered to be crucified.

(Jesus was scourged and sent to be crucified. Again, Jesus knew this would happen when He was in the garden.)

²⁷ Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered unto him the whole band.
²⁸ And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
²⁹ And they platted a crown of thorns and put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!

(Jesus was given a scarlet robe, a crown of thorns, and a reed in His right hand. The soldiers then mocked Jesus. However, notice the soldiers knelt before Jesus and proclaimed, "Hail, King of the Jews!" This was a clear example of the how and why behind our actions being more important than the what. If the what was more important, then these soldiers would have been praising Christ. However, their intentions were mocking and with a right what and a wrong how and why…they were being evil.)

³⁰ And they spat upon him, and took the reed and smote him on the head.
³¹ And when they had mocked him, they took off from him the robe, and put on him his garments, and led him away to crucify him.

(Then they spit on Him and hit His head (with the thorns on it) and when they were done they led Him away to be crucified. Again, Jesus knew all of this would happen.)

³² And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to go with them, that he might bear his cross.
³³ And they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, The place of a skull,
³⁴ they gave him wine to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted it, he would not drink.
³⁵ And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments among them, casting lots;
³⁶ and they sat and watched him there.
³⁷ And they set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

(THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS was inscribed over Jesus' head.)

³⁸ Then are there crucified with him two robbers, one on the right hand and one on the left.
³⁹ And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads,
⁴⁰ and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself: if thou art the Son of God, come down from the cross.
⁴¹ In like manner also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
⁴² He saved others; himself he cannot save. He is the King of Israel; let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe on him.

(Jesus was tested by the people while He was dying.)

⁴³ He trusteth on God; let him deliver him now, if he desireth him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
⁴⁴ And the robbers also that were crucified with him cast upon him the same reproach.
⁴⁵ Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.

(It was now sundown on Passover, when the lambs were being offered in the temple. Jesus' death had to occur on Passover to point people to Him being the Passover Lamb. Once sundown occurred, Jesus could die.)

⁴⁶ And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
⁴⁷ And some of them stood there, when they heard it, said, This man calleth Elijah.
⁴⁸ And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
⁴⁹ And the rest said, Let be; let us see whether Elijah cometh to save him.
⁵⁰ And Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit.
⁵¹ And behold, the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake; and the rocks were rent;

(Jesus gave up His life willingly. No one took it. He held out until sundown Passover. Jesus cried with a loud voice and gave up His spirit and then the veil of the temple was torn in two. The veil was what separated man and God. Jesus' death bridged this gap.)

⁵² and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints that had fallen asleep were raised;
⁵³ and coming forth out of the tombs after his resurrection they entered into the holy city and appeared unto many.

(Graves were opened and many that "slept arose.")

⁵⁴ Now the centurion, and they that were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake, and the things that were done, feared exceedingly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

(Some Roman soldiers feared greatly and said, "Truly this was the Son of God.")

⁵⁵ And many women were there beholding from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:
⁵⁶ among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
⁵⁷ And when even was come, there came a rich man from Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:
⁵⁸ this man went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded it to be given up.
⁵⁹ And Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
⁶⁰ and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed.

(They could not do anything to Jesus' body on the day of the feast of Passover. So, they had to bury Him as soon as possible and then wait to prepare the body.)

⁶¹ And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.
⁶² Now on the morrow, which is the day after the Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together unto Pilate,
⁶³ saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said while he was yet alive, After three days I rise again.
⁶⁴ Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest haply his disciples come and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: and the last error will be worse than the first.

(The Pharisees had security set up around Jesus' body in an attempt to prevent Jesus' body from being stolen. Jesus died on our sunset Thursday, which would have been Friday. The day of preparation was Friday, which was another day that the Jews could not prepare a body for burial.)

⁶⁵ Pilate said unto them, Ye have a guard: go, make it as sure as ye can.
⁶⁶ So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, the guard being with them.




Matthew 28
¹ Now late on the sabbath day, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

(The Sabbath was Saturday, which was another day the Jews could not prepare a body for burial. Jesus went three days and nights (our Thursday, Friday, and Saturday) without being able to be prepared for burial. We have seen that Jesus twice stated the sign of Jonah would be given to the Jews: Matthew 12:39 and Matthew 16:4. That sign involved Jonah being in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights. It was now sunrise Sunday. The women could prepare Jesus' body for burial once it was light (sunrise) on Sunday.)

² And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it.

(A great earthquake occurred from an angel descending from heaven. The angel rolled the stone from the door and sat on it.)

³ His appearance was as lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
⁴ and for fear of him the watchers did quake, and became as dead men.
⁵ And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, who hath been crucified.
⁶ He is not here; for he is risen, even as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

(The angel told the women that he knew they were there for Jesus but that He had risen. He told the women to see for themselves.)

⁷ And go quickly, and tell his disciples, He is risen from the dead; and lo, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
⁸ And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word.
⁹ And behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and took hold of his feet, and worshipped him.

(Jesus met His Disciples in Galilee, just like He stated during His fifth pronouncement of His death: Matthew 26:31-32.)

¹⁰ Then saith Jesus unto them, Fear not: go tell my brethren that they depart into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
¹¹ Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city, and told unto the chief priests all the things that were come to pass.
¹² And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave much money unto the soldiers,
¹³ saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
¹⁴ And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and rid you of care.
¹⁵ So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continueth until this day.

(The elders gave money to the soldiers to lie about Jesus saying that Jesus' Disciples stole His body.)

¹⁶ But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, unto the mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
¹⁷ And when they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted.

(The Disciples worshipped Jesus but some doubted.)

(Verses 18-20: The Great Commission.)

¹⁸ And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth.
¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit:
²⁰ teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

(Jesus commanded the Disciples to make disciples and to teach all the nations the things Jesus commanded them.)

(The New Testament began with four accounts of Jesus' time on earth. The first of these Gospel Accounts was written by St. Matthew. Matthew was also called Levi. He was a Disciple and wrote a firsthand account. It was believed this account was written within five years of Christ's death. Many scholars believed Matthew preached among the Jews for fifteen years and was not a martyr. His account was focused on the Jews and understanding specifics of the Jewish culture which helps many passages take on deeper meaning.)

Day 292