The Motley Crew
Matthew Bible Study
Matthew 26:47-56
June 22, 2011
The Questions
Read
Matthew 26:47-56
1.
Is this the first time Judas has had a symbol of friendship connected
to his betrayal?
2.
What does this say about the pattern of sinful actions without
repentance?
“He
who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it
a second and a third time till at length it becomes habitual.”
Thomas Jefferson Quotes (American) – 3rd U.S.
President (1801-1809). Author of the Declaration of Independence.
1762-1826.
3.
Lenski says they seized Him – but they never touched a more
willing prisoner. What do you think?
4.
Who was Jesus' sword swinging companion?
5.
Who was the temporarily earless servant of the high priest?
6.
What else do we learn about this Garden event from Luke 22:38?
7.
Nonetheless what is the problem with Peter's actions … and how
does it apply to us?
8.
How much is a legion?
9.
Who is in control … then and now!
Unless otherwise indicated, all citations from the Holy Bible are
from the New International Version, copyright 2011, used with
permission.
The Motley Crew
Matthew Bible Study
Matthew 26:47-56
June 22, 2011
Some Suggested Answers
We
began with prayer.
Read
Matthew 26:47-56
Jesus
Arrested
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived.
With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the
chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had
arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest
him.” 49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings,
Rabbi!” and kissed him.
50 Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”[d]
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 51
With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew
it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his
ear.
52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to
him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do
you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my
disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would
the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a
rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture
me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not
arrest me. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the
prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted
him and fled.
Footnote
d. Or “Why have you come, friend?”
Unless otherwise indicated, all citations from the Holy Bible are
from the New International Version, copyright 2011, used with
permission.
Parallel
Verses
Mark
14:43-52
Jesus
Arrested
43 Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With
him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief
priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.
44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one
I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.”
45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and
kissed him. 46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47 Then one of
those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high
priest, cutting off his ear.
48 “Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that
you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Every day I
was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest
me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” 50 Then everyone
deserted him and fled.
51 A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following
Jesus. When they seized him, 52 he fled naked, leaving his garment
behind.
Luke 22:47-53
Jesus
Arrested
47 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was
called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached
Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you
betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
49 When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they
said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” 50 And
one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his
right ear.
51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched
the man’s ear and healed him.
52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple
guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a
rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? 53 Every day I
was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me.
But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”
John 18:2-11
2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had
often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the garden,
guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief
priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and
weapons.
4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and
asked them, “Who is it you want?”
5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.
“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was
standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,”
they drew back and fell to the ground.
7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.
8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking
for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the
words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of
those you gave me.”[a]
10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high
priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s
name was Malchus.)
11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not
drink the cup the Father has given me?”
Footnotes:
John
18:9 John 6:39
John 6:39
And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of
all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.
1.
Is this the first time Judas has had a symbol of friendship connected
to his betrayal?
No.
The first time was when Judas dined with Jesus, dipping the bread
into the bowl. Satan had Judas completely at that point. Words and
deeds can make totally different statements.
John 13:26-27
Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom
I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.”
Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son
of Simon. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
Although
Satan had already influenced Judas to do various things against the
spirit of Jesus' teachings, and had entered into the conspiracy to
betray the Lord, when Judas took the bread, Satan had him completely.
It
is interesting to remember that Jesus is still reaching out to Judas,
trying to bring him back. In Luke's Gospel we read: “Judas, are
you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:48) This is
a question, not a condemnation. Even then, Judas could have been
saved, like the man on the cross who would be promised that “...
today day you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23.43.
Pastor
Eddie remembered that in Ethiopia, the greeting of friendship is
three kisses.
The
conversation turned to Jesus' experience in the Garden. It was hard.
This was the Agony. In this we see Jesus as fully human and fully
divine. The human accepted the divine decision, even though the human
felt abandoned. And an angel was sent by the Father to comfort Him.
Luke 22:43.
The
Lutheran Study Bible
had this note to Matt. 26:38:
Fully human, Jesus experienced the horror and difficulty of death;
unlike all others, He had done nothing to deserve this death.
We
recalled John 3:17 with its message that the Son was sent not to
condemn the world, but to save the world.
It
was interesting that when Jesus said “I am he,” the Roman
mob “drew back and fell to the ground.” John 18:6. And,
again showing His compassion, after He identified Himself, He said
“If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” John
18:8. In this He was fulfilling the prophecy that “I have not
lost one of those you gave me.”
John 6:39
And this is the will of him who sent me, that I
shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at
the last day.
Darlene
observed that we continue to see the Good Shepherd, all the way to
the end.
It
was observed that sheep are dumb. And they stink, too. (I hope that
none of you don't take this too personally … I tried not to).
Post
Script.
Dr. Lenski discussed the “sign” that Judas would give to
the Roman military force who would seize Jesus. Lenski wrote that
“The symbol of most intimate affection and love, the kiss, is
made the signal for marking this traitor's victim for the army of his
captors. … The verb Χαίρειν
[chiarein] is used to indicate all kinds of friendly greeting and
always expresses the wish of happiness and well-being.” (pp.
1047-1048).
But Judas was not content with a simple kiss. Dr. Lenski continues:
Judas “threw his arms about Jesus and kissed him not once, as
the simplex of the verb denotes (v. 48), but showered him with
kisses, the addition of κατά
thus intensifying the verb.....” (p. 1048)
2.
What does this say about the pattern of sinful actions without
repentance?
“He who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much
easier to do it a second and a third time till at length it becomes
habitual.” Thomas Jefferson Quotes (American) – 3rd
U.S. President (1801-1809). Author of the Declaration of
Independence. 1762-1826.
When sinful actions are not immediately corrected, the person may
feel like he or she has “gotten away with it.” And as
this repeats itself over time, eventually, a person's moral compass
will become so skewed that they feel that they can get away with
anything. We sometimes see this attitude among the powerful in our
society (how often have we seen powerful men commit adulterous
actions?). The fallacy, of course, is that
without
true repentance God has a very
long memory.
Matthew 7:26
“But everyone who hears these words of
mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who
built his house on sand.”
3.
Lenski says they seized Him – but they never touched a more
willing prisoner. What do you think?
John 18:4. “Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen
to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”
John 18:11. “Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your
sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”
Dr.
Lenski wrote at pp. 1049-1050:
Before a move is made to arrest Jesus what John 18:4-9 records takes
place: Jesus delivers himself into the hands of this multitude. The
betrayal of Judas was worth nothing. Jesus points himself out,
prevents any molestation of the eleven, and actually gives himself
up. His passion was wholly voluntary. It is thus that the chiliarch
[the military commander of this 200 man cohort] and possibly also the
strategos [the senior
military commander, a “general”] order men to step
forward in order to take Jesus prisoner. John
says they bound him. Yet they never touched a more willing prisoner.
Jesus
was going willingly, peacefully at the “right time.” He
was in control. Note that He was not a willing prisoner in the sense
of “looking forward” to His death, but, rather, in the
sense of being the voluntary Paschal Lamb” for all peoples,
tribes, languages and nations.” (Rev. 11:9)
Dr.
Lenski had earlier noted that after greeting Jesus with a kiss,
“Jesus does not hurl the traitor from him nor use his
omnipotent power to blast him. Jesus submits to this traitorous
kissing; it is his Father's and his own will to accept all the
indignities, shame, suffering, agonies men will heap upon him even
unto death.” Lenski, p. 1048.
Mark 14:49
“Every day I was with you, teaching in the
temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be
fulfilled.”
Matthew 26:55-56
In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am
I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs
to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you
did not arrest me. But this has all taken place that the writings of
the prophets might be fulfilled.”
Likewise
in John 18:10-11, after one of the disciples drew his sword and
struck the high priest's servant, Jesus commanded: “Put your
sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”
4.
Who was Jesus' sword swinging companion?
Peter,
of course.
John 18:10. “Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it
and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right
ear. ...”
5.
Who was the temporarily earless servant of the high priest?
Malchus.
John 18:10. “Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it
and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right
ear. (The servant’s name was
Malchus.)”
Luke
records that Jesus healed the injury inflicted on Malchus:
Luke 22:49-51. “When Jesus’ followers saw what was
going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our
swords?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest,
cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, “No more of
this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.”
[Emphasis added]
6.
What else do we learn about this Garden event from Luke 22:38?
Luke 22: 38
“The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.”
“That’s enough!” he replied.”
When
Jesus said “That's enough,” it was intended both to
indicate that that was sufficient, and, as the Lutheran Study
Bible observed, to end the conversation. As the disciples would
learn in a few minutes, this is a battle that will not be won on this
earth by swords, and that Jesus – after being comforted by one
of God's angels – was resolved to “drink the cup.”
Luke
22:39-44
39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives,
and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to
them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41
He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and
prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me;
yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven
appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he
prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling
to the ground
Picture left: Carl Heinrich Bloch, “An
angel comforting Jesus before his arrest in the Garden of
Gethsemane,” 1865-1879.
7.
Nonetheless what is the problem with Peter's actions … and how
does it apply to us?
Peter
has taken action single-handedly. He still seems to be operating
under the idea that Jesus will be a worldly messiah … one who
will lead an army to evict the occupying Romans.
In
addition, he was being too self-reliant … by golly, “God
helps those who help themselves!” (as mother used to say). But
there are some things that Peter (and us) cannot fix. This was in the
hands of Jesus, from start to finish.
Finally,
this was not in accordance with the Will of the Triune God. Peter
should have allowed the action to proceed as Jesus wanted. In
addition, the government and proper authorities have the power for
the overall protection of the people.
8.
How much is a legion?
Matthew 26:53
“Do you think I cannot call on my
Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve
legions of angels?”
A
Roman legion, at full strength, was 6,000 soldiers. Twelve legions
would be 72,000, which is only slightly less that the combined
populations of the cities of Athens and Decatur, Alabama.
By
way of comparison, Jordan–Hare Stadium, the home stadium for
Auburn University, has a seating capacity of 87,451. Bryant–Denny
Stadium, home for the University of Alabama football team, has a
seating capacity of 101,821.
9.
Who is in control … then and now!
The
will of the Triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit –
will be done. The Scriptures will be fulfilled.
Dr.
Lenski observed:
About 200 Roman soldiers and certainly at least as many Temple police
and besides that a nondescript rabble that ran along to see the
excitement block the entrance to Gethsemane. Jesus meets this crowd,
his disciples are ranged behind him. He is perfect master of the
situation, and all that occurs does so only with his consent. Lenski,
p. 1047.
John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in
me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take
heart! I have overcome the world.”
Rev. 5:5
“ … the Lion of the tribe of Judah,
the Root of David, has triumphed.”
Matthew 28:20b
“And surely I am with you always, to
the very end of the age.”
The Bible:
Basic Instruction Manual
Before Leaving Earth
We
closed with prayer.
Additional
Scripture.
John
13:18-30. Jesus Predicts His Betrayal
18 “I am not referring to all of you; I know
those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: ‘He
who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.’
19 “I am telling you now before it happens,
so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He. 20 I tell
you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever
accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”
21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and
testified, “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray
me.”
22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which
of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was
reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and
said, “Ask him which one he means.”
25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who
is it?”
26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give
this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then,
dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of
Simon. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
“What you are about to do, do quickly,”
Jesus told him, 28 but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said
this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought
Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to
give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread,
he went out. And it was night.
For
Additional Study
The
Prayer
And Study Resources
web
page has a listing of
some
research web sites
that
I use. In addition,
Additional
Research Resources
is
a page with a more complete list of Bible and Lutheran resources,
plus there is the
Research
Resources Checklist,
which is the web page I use when I first begin a Bible study. Both of
these last two web pages are always growing, and please let me know
if you are aware of other great sites.