I can’t fit it all together, but in general outlines, it’s clear that Matthew’s Passion narrative is tracking with Zechariah 9-14. There are a couple of fixed points: Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem explicitly fulfills Zechariah 9 (cf. Matthew 21:5), and despite the fact . . . . Continue Reading »
The woman pours perfume on Jesus’ head (Matthew 26:7). Jesus says she has “cast” ( ballo ) the perfume on his “body” ( soma ; v. 12). It is like the precious oil upon the head, that runs down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard, down to the skirts of His . . . . Continue Reading »
The opening episodes of Matthew 26 are organized in a fairly neat chiasm: A. Passover, delivered up, chief priests, plot, 26:1-5 ( paradidomi , v 2; archiereus, v 3) B. Woman pours myrrh on Jesus, 26:6-7 ( muron , v 7) C. Disciples complain: give to poor, 26:8-9 ( ptochos , v 9) D. Jesus: . . . . Continue Reading »
Abraham received the coins from Thares (i.e., Terah), and bought a field with them from the people of Jericho; Joseph was also purchased with them (” his etiam Joseph est emptus ab Ismahelitis”); then they came into Pharaoh’s treasury, and then into the treasury of the Queen of . . . . Continue Reading »
The priests and elders who plot against Jesus determine not to do it during the Passover, to avoid an “uproar” (26:5). The word is used only one other time in Matthew, to describe the “uproar” among the Jews who are rioting in front of Pilate’s Praetorium . . . . Continue Reading »
“Jesus had finished all these words” (Matthew 26:1). Not only has Jesus finished the last of the five discourses; He has stopped speaking to Israel altogether. Through the next several chapters, He barely speaks at all. This is an announcement of judgment against . . . . Continue Reading »
The priests pay Judas 30 pieces of silver to betray Jesus (Matthew 26:15). The amount of the payment takes us back to Exodus 21:32 and Zechariah 11:12-13. Here I want to muse on the connection between Matthew and the Exodus passage. The scenario in Exodus is this: A man owns a dangerous . . . . Continue Reading »
David Garland comments that the first part of Matthew’s Passion narrative (26:2-56) begins with the plot of the priests and elders and then is divided into six scenes: 1. Anointing for burial, 26:6-13 2. Judas’ betrayal, 26:14-15 3. Preparation for Passover, 26:17-19 4. Last Supper, . . . . Continue Reading »
INTRODUCTION After the Olivet Discourse, Jesus “finished all these words” (26:1; cf. 7:28; 11:1; 13:53; 19:1). His public ministry of teaching Israel is over. Like Moses (Deuteronomy 32:45), nothing remains for Him but to die. THE TEXT “Now it came to pass, when Jesus had . . . . Continue Reading »
In my sermon notes from last week, I took the position that Jesus makes a transition in verse 14 to talking about a final judgment, and the time between Jesus’ ascension and the end of this creation. Two details hint that Jesus has changed theme. First, 25:13 matches 24:42, and thus closes . . . . Continue Reading »
Subscribe
Latest Issue
Support First Things
