When Jesus announces the betrayal by Judas at the Passover, He alludes to Psalm 41:9. The one who dipped his hand with me in the dish, Jesus says, betrays Him; centuries earlier, David had written, “My close friend, in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against . . . . Continue Reading »
Given its prominence in the NT, it’s striking that the LXX rarely speaks of “breaking bread.” One of the few times the phrase occurs is in Jeremiah 16:7, where, strikingly, it is joined to a statement about a “cup of consolation.” Broken bread and cup is . . . . Continue Reading »
My co-pastor Toby Sumpter wondered whether Matthew was up to something in describing the first day of the feast as the “first of unleavened” ( te prote ton azumon , 26:17). It seems so. The other gospels don’t use the same phrase; Mark says “first day” and . . . . Continue Reading »
Through much of Matthew’s gospel, Jesus is surrounded by multitudes who marvel at His teaching and works (5:1; 7:28; 9:8; 12:23; 13:2; etc.). They marvel all the way up to His battles in the temple (21:46; 22:33). The last time He teaches a multitude is in chapter 23 (v. 1). After . . . . Continue Reading »
To head off the possibility that the disciples will steal Jesus’ body, the priests and Pharisees ask Pilate for a guard at the tomb (Matthew 27:62-65). If the disciples are successful, “the last deception will be worse than the first” (v. 64). It’s a familiar phrase: . . . . Continue Reading »
After Jesus’ Passover with His disciples, they leave singing for the Mount of Olives. Last time they were on the Mount, Jesus predicted the destruction of a temple. His return to the mountain marks the initial fulfillment of that prophecy: Jesus is the temple, torn down and raised . . . . Continue Reading »
Matthew 26:31-75 is organized mainly as a series of small chiasms The first is in verses 31-35: A. Jesus predicts the fall of the disciples, based on Scripture, vv 31-32 B. Peter protests, v 33 C. Jesus predicts Peter’s triple denial, v 34 B’. Peter protests again, v 35a A’. All . . . . Continue Reading »
INTRODUCTION With the plotters closing in on Him, Jesus celebrates the Passover with His disciples, but in the process He transforms it into a meal centered on the gift of His body and blood and celebrating the cutting of a new covenant. THE TEXT “Now on the first day of the Feast of . . . . Continue Reading »
The poor you will always have with you, Jesus says in defending the woman’s “wasteful” devotion, but you won’t always have me. The key to understanding this is to recognize that Jesus speaks of the woman pouring oil on His “body.” The key is to recognize . . . . Continue Reading »
Comparing the beginning and end of Matthew’s passion narrative (Matthew 26:1-16; 28:1-20), Daniel Patte notes that both involve a confrontation between Jesus and the Jewish leaders. But the balance of that confrontation shifts; Jesus begins in apparent passivity (“delivered . . . . Continue Reading »
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