Matthew Chapter 26



"Bethany; The Second Anointing; Last Supper, the Betrayal."

This Bible Study is written by Roger Christopherson, and it's transcription/ location is provided by http://www.theseason.org/plough.htm

Matthew 26:1 "And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, He said unto His disciples,"

Matthew 26:2 "Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified."

The feast of the Passover, is the first of the three annual festivals at which all the men must appear at the sanctuary. It is a memorial feast day in remembrance of that day in Egypt, when the death angel passed over the homes of the Israelites that had the blood of the slaying lamb on their door posts. The event is recorded in Exodus 12:21-22.

Exodus 12:21-22; "Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.[21] And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.[22]"

In the first event it was required that the pashal, or sacrificial Lamb be without blemish, and thus it became typical of Jesus Christ. 

Hebrew Strong's #6453 pecach- Passover 
a) the sacrifice of Passover 
b) the animal victim of the Passover 
c) Festival of the Passover


I Peter 1:18-19; "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;" [18] "But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:" [19]

It was no accident that Jesus was heading for Jerusalem, and the Temple at this time, to be betrayed and crucified, for the events that surrounded this time of the crucifixion had been planned from before the very foundations of this earth flesh age. 

I Peter 1:20; "Who verily was foreordained [forewarned] before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you." 

Jesus journey that brought Him to the cross at Calvary hill, and shed His blood was the focus of the entire plan of God. It is why flesh man and woman was created, so that each of God's children be born of woman, and have the free will to chose God, or Satan which is destruction.

To all people that claim to be Christians, and a member of the body of Christ, Christ became our Passover. I Corinthians 5:7; "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:" 

We are to purge the "old leaven", which is the heathen customs of tradition from our lives, and look to Christ only for our salvation. Many today celebrate the "feast of Ishtar", which is Easter, and call it of Christ, because they have mixed the heathen, with the death of Christ, and somehow that makes it alright in their minds. Christ became our Passover at His death, and that is our focus. Today the most of the Church world that calls themselves Christian, have not purged out the "old leaven", and in fact they have no idea of where the customs that practice even came form. It is also through their "old leaven", or traditions that they will end up, in this generation, following the Antichrist as the true Christ.

Our celebration must be the Passover, to the true Christ; and not to Ishtar, and her feast of Easter. If this is confusing to you, it is time to do your studies. How do we celebrate to Christ on Passover? Just as He will tell us later in this chapter, with the communion.

Matthew 26:3 "Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,"

Many assume that the high priest, or this Caiaphas, was appointed by God, however this position was a political position, and he was appointed by a Roman Governor. The name "Caiaphas" means depression. Remember back in Matthew 23:2, that the scribes and the Pharisees sit in the seat of Moses. They were the Kenites, which were from the Nethinims that assumed the roles of priests, as we read in both Ezra and Nehemiah. It is from these sons of Cain that the High priests were appointed, for they controlled the priesthood and the Temple, at the time of Christ.

Matthew 26:4 "And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him." 

This is the religious community, that controlled the Temple, and ruled over the House of Judah. These Kenite lawyers, that called themselves priests and elders show their parentage of "Cain", and "Satan" here, as they planned the murder of Jesus. 

Their nature reflects back to Genesis 4:8; "And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel, and slew him." These men were the offspring of Cain the first murderer, and they have their father's nature. This religious community does not know who Christ is, because they have so changed the laws and words of the prophets that they did not understand the times and events when they came to pass.

This is exactly as it is today, in the religious communities who have also so modified and changed the Word of God to conform to their traditions, that they are just as blind as the Pharisees, and the high priest "Caiaphas". The subtlety in today's religious leaders, to consult and attack anyone that disturbs their traditions, even to the point of consulting and planning with the government, is common in the press today.

Today some of the most damnable practices that God condemned are supported and allowed by many churches today, such as sodomy, abortion, and so on, and the people sit under their pastors and priests, and are so ignorant of the scriptures, will take pleasure in the support of these abominations.

Matthew 26:5 "But they said, "Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people."

Now this is what this pack of Nethimins, (the Kenites that are parading as priests and leaders of God), are saying. This is what that crooked Caiaphas, is planning to do with Jesus. The whole plan of the murder is so set and planned that the people which have already been blinded by their lies will accept the murder as being a good thing. That is how Satan works, hidden and in the dark, with lies and deceptions so that the ignorant masses will accept the lie as a good thing.

That is how the Communist mind works; and when the truth comes, so does freedom. That is also how all Satanic acts are committed; in darkness and deception. Today we have many in high government positions, that are killing to test the mind of our people to see if we are also ignorant and would accept their lies. 

These religious leaders of Jesus time were really presenting some kind of religion, when at the base of it all is the murder of Jesus. They felt Jesus was attacking the religious forms and thievery of the people that these Kenites had developed. The people loved Jesus, for He was teaching them, and healing their sickness and deformities. This then became a problem, for it had to be done in a manner that would conform to their lies, and deceptions or they would have riots on their hands.

Make a mental note that it was the decision of the hierarchy of the church, or Temple not to crucify Jesus Christ on that day of Passover. Then let it strengthen you that it was fore written, that it must take place on that day. We will see that God is in control, and that it is in fact the day of the crucifixion, that He would pay the price of our sins. In the end, they really did not have as much to do with the control as they might think, for God carried out the plan in every detail, to bring it to pass.

Matthew 26:6 "Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,"

This is the same "Simon the leper" that we read of in Matthew 21:1-11.

Matthew 26:7 "There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat."


Remember now that this is the second anointing of Jesus, for the first anointing was when Jesus feet were anointed by Mary and recorded in John 12:3-8. The first anointing took place six days before the Passover, and this anointing is the second day before the Passover.

Matthew 26:8 "But when His disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, "To what purpose is this waste?"

Notice that the entire family of disciples complained at this anointing, where at the first anointing it was only Judas that complained at the waste of money on the oil. The minds of the disciples are being prepared by God, for the scattering that will come about shortly.

Matthew 26:9 "For this ointment might have been soul for much, and given to the poor."

Matthew 26:10 "When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me."


Jesus is asking them, and trying to settle the disciples down, as He calls attention to this woman's good work.

Matthew 26:11 "For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always."

Matthew 26:12 "For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial."

Even to this day, when we anoint with the oil of God's people, olive oil, we anoint on the head in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but the oil that this woman brought and anointed Jesus with was far greater in monetary value then olive oil.

Matthew 26:13 "Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her."

Why was Jesus raising this woman to such a point of respect? Yet while this act of love was being given to Christ, all the disciples could do was babble and complain. This woman did a holy and Godly thing.

The point was that the poor would always be with them, but what Christ was about to do, gave hope not to the poor at that time, but the ointment that she gave, anointed Christ for His burial, and anointed the poor of the whole world, that is every poor and wretched sinner, all of us, so we could have salvation. This woman was anointing the greatest gift of all ages, and all times that could ever be given to the poor.

This woman was thinking of the scripture, and ministering to the Lord of lords, and King of kings, and all men including the disciples fell short, yet she knew the truth. This woman followed the instructions and directions of the Holy Spirit to the letter. This woman anointed the Savior of the world, which is the greatest gift to the poor in spirit and of mind. This is why we are to remember her. She become the one to physically anoint our Lord, and even today our act of anointing is in the manner that she anointed Jesus.

Matthew 26:14 "Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,"

"Iscariot" in the Hebrew means "man of Kerioth". It comes form the Hebrew language, the prime in the Hebrew dictionary, # 7149, meaning the builder of the city. This refers to Cain who was the founder, and first builders of cities from Genesis 4:17. They were the Kenites, the offspring of Cain.

Matthew 26:15 "And said unto them, "What will ye give me, and I will deliver Him unto you?" And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver."

We have a lot of people in the church business today, and this is the bottom line of their ministry; "How much will you give me?" Judas is asking, "How much will you give me for the body of Christ?" Judas settled with the Kenites, and covenanted which was to them a fair value of the Savior of the world, that price was the "price of one slave".

Friend, this price was decided a long time before Judas bartered at the gate with the Kenite priests and elders. In Zechariah 11, the "poor of the flock" are the "cheap traffickers", or the Kenites that sell God's children. Let's start in Zechariah 11:10; "And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people." This is the Old Covenant, which we call the Old Testament. "Beauty" is the staff, which is to say Christ.

Zechariah 11:11; "And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the Lord." God is telling us that these "sheep traffickers" knew it, and they knew what they were doing. It was preset.

Zechariah 11:12; "And I said unto them, "If ye thing good, give me my price; and if not forbear." So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver." This is the price of the staff, "beauty", who is our Lord Jesus Christ. that is the price these sheep traffickers, the Kenites put on Christ's value, the price of one slave.

Zechariah 11:13; "And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD."


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And that is exactly as it was in that day in the house of the Lord, when Judas ran back after the crucifixion, just before he repented, and he took those thirty pieces of silver and he threw them down on the marble floors of the temple.

Those Kenite priests, Pharisees and elders picked up those thirty pieces of silver off the floor, the blood money that they had given for the price of the Savior, and they bought the potters field. The potters field is out side the potters gate, and it is the place where all the broken and junk pottery is thrown. Broken and beyond repair from the potters wheel is discarded here. They are the vases that could not be put back together.

The lesson to us is that by the potters field being purchased, meant that Christ could take the broken and shattered lives of people, broken beyond the means of repair. His blood purchased all the broken pieces, so that He can take those earthen vessels, and put them back together. Make them of value to them and to Him, that they came be of value in his Kingdom, as well as right here on earth. Christ can put the new mind and value in them, and shape each to His perfection. Christ paid the price, so that you can be somebody in the eyes of God, and that is where it counts.

Zechariah 11:14; "Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel."  

This is as it is today, there are two separate houses today, the house of Judah, the Jews, and the House of Israel, the Christian nations.

Zechariah 11:15; "And the Lord said unto me, "Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd." God is telling us that in time He will send us this foolish shepherd, the Antichrist, and he will rule over the two houses with his instruments.

Zechariah 11:16: "For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces."

No this false shepherd will not care one bit for the people that go whoring after him, for he knows that his time is very short, and he is busy claiming all the souls that he can. The Antichrist shall deceive and bring about the deception of the whole world, except for God's elect, those sealed with the truth in their minds.

Zechariah 11:17; Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened."

God is saying that He is going to cut his strength off, and Satan is already been condemned to the pit. This shall happen after the short reign that he has on this earth. Gods word is complete, and every detail that happens in this chapter is written about by the prophets of old. There is a time coming again when many calling themselves Christians will sell Christ our again, only to many their souls will be given away in ignorance.

Matthew 26:16 "And from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him."

This is to say that Judas sought to betray the Messiah.

Matthew 26:17 "Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto Him, "Where wilt Thou that we prepare for Thee to eat the passover."

Understand that this is not the Passover of the Lamb. The Passover of the unleavened bread, comes on the fourteenth of Nisan, the first month of the Jewish calendar. The fifteenth of Nisan was the high Sabbath, the first day of the feast. This is recorded in Numbers 28:17, The meal is prepared on the fourteenth but served on the next day. It is one that will eat the feast of the unleavened bread, that will be the lamb. This then is the Passover that we are to celebrate, the feast of the Lamb, and Christ is that one. Christ is our Passover, and the feast that we partake of is in the Communion.

Matthew 26:18 "And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples."

In the Greek it is very specific, it says to a certain man. This preparation was arranged by the Holy Spirit, and it showed that there was a destiny for this householder, as He prepared the place for the last supper of Jesus with His disciples. It doesn't matter how small of a part that you play in the plan of God, but that you fill that duty faithfully.

Matthew 26:19 "And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover."

This is the feast of the unleavened bread.

Matthew 26:20 "Now when the even was come, He sat down with the twelve."

In the Hebrew calendar, it was the 14th that they sat down to take of the meal, and when sundown came in the evening, it becomes the 15th, the high Sabbath.

Matthew 26:21 "And as they did eat, He said, "Verily say unto you, that one of you shall betray me."

The one that would betray Jesus was also planned by Almighty God, and every detail of the betrayal. This is why we are to leave the judging of Judas to the Father, for He repented, and it is not our right to judge.

Matthew 26:22 "And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto Him, "Lord, is it I?"

The average Christian thinks that there is no way that they could ever betray Jesus. However if you are confused by end times prophesy, more then likely you will betray Jesus, at the coming to the Antichrist. That is what Matthew twenty four was all about; our preparing that we would not be deceived, for that is the betrayal.

Matthew 26:23 "And He answered and said, "He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me."

This made it obvious that it would be one of His own.

Matthew 26:24 "The son of man goeth as it is written of Him: but woe into that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born."

Jesus is telling them that this is in God's plan, it was written in His Word, and must come to pass exactly as it was written. Jesus is saying that it would be good had that man not been born, because of the disgrace and shame that will be upon him. Judas was chosen from the world that was, and Judas had a destiny to fulfill this purpose in God's plan. This doesn't mean that He is going to hell, but because of the shame, it would have been good that He had not entered into this flesh body.

Matthew 26:25 "Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said."

Judas is like the little boy that already got into the cookie jar, he had already performed the deed, and he knew very well that he was the one that Jesus was talking about. Jesus is acknowledging that fact that He knew that it had already been done.

Matthew 26 :26 "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body." 

Jesus was setting forth the Holy Communion, the action that we are to take that is symbolic of His body, with the blessings said over It. For He received the stripes, and the crucifixion, but it is our bodies that receives the healing when we believe on His name.

Matthew 26:27 "And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink ye all of it;"

Matthew 26:28 "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."

This is the new testament, which is the New Covenant between Christ and His church. As in the old covenant blood was required, but in the New Covenant, that blood was not of sheep and animals, but Jesus sealed that covenant with His own blood; Once and for all times. When we raise the cups to our lips in the Holy Communion, it is to remember that precious shed blood that was given for the remission or your sins. His blood covers every sin that you have or ever will sin, except that of Mark 13:11, and that is not possible to this date.

This act goes back to Exodus 24:8; "And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, "Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words." This act of Moses was the first Covenant that the Lord made with His people, and it is all fulfilled in the blood of Christ.

This is why all the blood sacrifices are done away with, because the New covenant did away with the old covenant, and in place of obedience to the God and the covenant that we now have, we observe the communion, as Christ is laying it out here.

When you repent, and request it of the Father, in Jesus Name, then and only then are you under the power of the blood of Jesus Christ, that forgives all your sins. Once repented and forgiven, the remission is complete, it is over and gone. Yet many people like to hang on to their past, and use it for vanity sake. They still hold themselves guilty, as if Christ did not forgive them. This is offending to the Almighty God, and to His Son, Jesus Christ. When anything is repented, in Jesus name, it is over and done with.

The communion is Passover, even to this day.

Matthew 26:29 "But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."

This is Jesus Christ's promise that He would return at the second advent. These disciples took the cup and drank it, and that cup sealed all the promises that Jesus made with them, and it was the one thing that they were to do whenever Christians met, that they would remember the sacrifice that was made for them. This is the New Covenant that Jesus Christ made With us, That is that His blood on that cross would pay the full price for the remission of all of our sins, when we believe on His Name, and repent our sins to the Heavenly Father, in Jesus name.

Matthew 26:30 "And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives."

This is the same mount that Jesus gave His last teaching on, that we read of in Matthew chapters 23-25. The hymns that Jesus and the disciples sang were the songs sang at the feast of the unleavened bread. They were Psalm 115, 116, 117, and 118. In the Hebrew text, they are known as the "Hallewlu-Yah" chapters. Which in the Hebrew means, "Praise ye the Lord."

When Jesus quoted those words on the cross, My God, My God why hast thou forgotten me." He was quoting scripture from Psalm 22, where David said the words. God did not forget Jesus, but Jesus was carrying out every detail of the what was written in the Old Testament by the Prophets. We will also later, learn that even the gambling by the Roman soldiers over the robe of Christ was in the fulfillment to Prophecy. It was no accident, or spur of the moment that praise hymns were sang following the Communion, and what hymns were proper at the table of the Lord.

At the back of this book are the Hymns that the disciples following the communion, from Psalm 115, 116, 117, and 118. They are the praise chapters of the Psalms, and We as believers and followers of Christ should become very much aware of each of them. When the disciples sang these Psalms, Judas had departed to betray the Lord, and that evening Christ would be taken and crucified on the cross. Each of Christ's disciples sat there on the mount of Olives, and faced Jesus in person, and each now knew that His time with them was very short, in this life.

However, they all knew that Christ's journey to the cross had to be made, and the victory would would come because of that sacrifice. Friend all the praise for our victory in Christ, belongs to our Lord Jesus Christ, for He is our hope. This is why we sing songs of praise at the Communion table. When you read those Psalms you understand why the disappointment, why He was crucified, and why the price had to be paid, and Jesus did it all just for you, my friend.

Matthew 26:31 "Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad."

When the disciples turned and ran, how sad but it was prophesied in Zechariah 13:7; "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.

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Why would the scattering take place? To spread the truth of the Gospel, that Christ had come and paid the price.

There will also be another scattering in the end times, when the Antichrist shall appear, and the most of the flock of Christ will be scattered blindly into the Antichrist's camp. We are to wake up, and be watchmen for our time, to see to it that we are not one of the scattered.

Matthew 26:32 "But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee."

Jesus is promising them that He is not going to stay in that tomb. He told them here where He would meet them after His resurrection. Do you think that they all rushed there to wait on Him? We will see later; of course not. Some of them even went back to their fishing nets.

Matthew 26:33 "Peter answered and said unto Him, "Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended."

When emotions are running high, the words of nothingness comes forth. In the time of this emotional high, with Christ just telling them that His death was at the door for Him; Peter's will was that He not falter in his support of Jesus; However, God's will was that the Word be fulfilled, and Zechariah 13:7 was God will, written down by Zechariah. Jesus knew that every last disciple would leave Him, when that time of His suffering came.

Matthew 26:34 "Jesus said unto him, "Verily I say unto thee, that this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice."

Jesus told Peter that before the morning, and the cock crows, you will deny me three times. I'm sure this popped Peters emotional balloon. This is another part of Jesus' teaching, for after the resurrection, Peter came back to Jesus and repented three times, as he repeated his love for Christ those three times. Jesus took Peter and used him to build His church upon, for Peter became the firm in his convictions, even to the point of death, when he met the risen Christ.

Matthew 26:35 "Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples."

My friend listen good, Satan the Antichrist is going to appear on this earth very soon. It is time to prepare yourself mentally for the events that he shall bring with him. They will be supernatural, and many of the events will be similar to that of the sounding of the seventh trumpet when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. Thou you say the same words that these disciples spoke, and make all sorts of commitments, see to it that you don't fall as each of Jesus disciples fell, when the time of tribulation, and the crucifixion came to Christ.

Emotions simply will not give you the strength to stand against the Antichrist, but the wisdom and knowledge sealed in your mind will. When you prepare yourself to stand as a true watchman, then you will stand. You are not going to fly out of here in some rapture.

Matthew 26:36 "Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, "Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder." "

Jesus, the office of the Son of man, wishes to speak to the office of the Father about what is going to happen. Jesus asked His disciples to sit and wait awhile for His return.

Matthew 26:37 "And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy."


Jesus was the Living Word, and He knew every detail that He was going to be subjected to. He also knew the deception that would come about at the end of this earth age, and that many would deny Him in ignorance at that time. That is what He was sorrowful and heavy about. Not because of what He had to God through, for this was the purpose that He came to earth as a baby, and subjected Himself to pain. Christ was heavy because of all those that will turn their back on His cross.

Matthew 26:38 "Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me." 

Jesus sets in motion the watchman.

Matthew 26:39 "And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."


What was this cup? The statement is: Let thy kingdom come in without this cup". In Isaiah 51:17, we will see the cup. "Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the Lord the cup of His fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out."

Jesus knew He would die on the cross, and that wasn't the cup of wrath. What is going to happen at the end of this age is going to "cup of trembling", as the whole world chases after the Antichrist. It is the wrath of God that is brought on all those who say they love Him, and then they go whoring after Satan. In ignorance they allow themselves to accept the spin doctors of the religion's doctrine, and they accept the first Christ, as Jesus, instead of waiting for the Messiah. Jesus sorrow comes from His knowledge of the wrath that will come upon all those dear Christians that accepted Satan, because they did not the oil [truth of God's Word] in their lamps [hearts and minds].

This is the cup. Isaiah 51:22; "Thus saith thy Lord the Lord, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of His People, "Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of My fury; thou shalt no more drink it again:" This is what Jesus is saying to His elect, concerning His elect. This is you.

This is Jesus passing the cup of temptation, the cup of trembling to those that know the truth. Jesus is telling you that God's wrath is against His enemy, but they are still His children, and He has love for each of them. Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 23:37; How He pleaded with Jerusalem, but they would not listen. They killed the prophets and turn their backs on Him, and now they are about to murder Him.

When Jesus Christ returns at the end of the tribulation of the Antichrist, that cup will be in His hand, and it will be a cup of fury against those that are His enemy. God's vengeance will be against those that refuse to seal the truth in their minds. Today is the day and time of the watchman. It is time to stand your watch, that this cup not be directed to you.

Matthew 26:40 "And He cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, "What, could ye not watch with me one hour?"

There is a lesson for us in this verse; "What, could ye not watch with me one hour?" It concerns us that are living in the generation of the end times. It concerns that time just before the Antichrist will be on the earth, ruling over his religious system made up of the kings, or agencies of power, that will control the entire earth.

Friend, it is important that you do not go to sleep, and allow the spirit of slumber to come upon you, in this generation.

Revelation 17:12; "And the ten horns [agencies of power] which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast."

 In other words, one worldism will never become a total reality until the "son of Perdition", Satan the Antichrist heals the deadly wound of the political beast, or system, and then would come this one hour. This hour is called the "hour of temptation", and we are to become watchmen to watch for that hour, and also be watchmen in that hour. Jesus has given us the signs and the seasons to be watchmen for.

This "hour of temptation" of the Antichrist is not a literal hour, but a five month period, as written in Revelation 9:5, 10.

Matthew 26:41 "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

This gives away the hour that He is speaking of. The flesh likes to follow after the ways of man, and get on their emotional highs, and chase after the teachings of man. The churches named in Revelation 2, and 3 are the types of churches that will exist in the final generation. Jesus is talking, and John is doing the writing, as Jesus is addressing the church in Philadelphia, and He is telling us why He loves this church. They knew who the Kenites were, those that claimed to be Jews and were not, but were of the synagogue of Satan. They knew true doctrine, for the traditions of men.

Revelation 3:10; "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee form the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell on the earth."

  The "word of My patience" is God's Word, the Bible. That "hour of temptation" is that time we just read about in Revelation 17:12.

The temptations that God put the disciples through, was a warning to us today, to wake up and pay attention, as the hour of temptation comes upon us. That though you say you love Christ with heart and soul, it is real easy to go to sleep, and not pay attention to the plan of God. God is sending Satan to earth to tempt people that say that they love Christ. Those that know the false doctrines of the Kenites, as the church of Philadelphia did, simply will not be tempted by Satan, for they know what to expect, and they can identify him when He comes. Those others will not, and will chase off after him. When you see the slop that Satan will dish out to Christians, it just will not be tempting, for you have the seal, or knowledge of God in your forehead.

Matthew 26:42 "He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done."

The cup of wrath, along with this cup, Jesus felt was a good price to pay. Jesus felt it was worth what He had to go through, to save your soul for the eternal destruction. If we just repent, and turn to Him in faith, then it was worth it. Jesus went to the cross in obedience that the Father's will be accomplished.

Matthew 26:43 "And He came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy."

The disciples were under great strain, with the emotional pressures of the events, and teaching that had taken place, and then it was the time of the Passover, and the men were physically beat. You can relate to this in looking at the Christmas day celebration, with all its preparation, and then add to it the emotions of the close friend betraying them, and the fact that that night Jesus will be taken. The disciples eyes were heavy with the troubles of the world.

Friend, this is a time where we simply can not allow the troubles of the world to shut our spiritual eyes to the events that are now taking place. The end results can claim your very soul.

Matthew 26:44 "And He left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words."

Jesus prayed the same words, three times for emphasis. I hope this draws your attention to His prayer.

Matthew 26:45 "Then cometh He to His 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."

Matthew 26:46 "Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me."

Jesus now senses the approach of Judas, and the pack of priests, Pharisees and elders that are coming in force to take Him and murder Him. Jesus tells His disciples to get up and get ready for the time of betrayal is at hand.

This is an example of the many betrayals that we will see in our generation. For as we say in Matthew 24:10, Mark 13:12, and Luke 21:16. In Luke 21:16; "And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall the cause to be put to death." There are two witness that will be put to death, for they will be the sign of the last three and one half days of this flesh age as written in Revelation 11: 9-12.

When the betrayals come, it is part of God's plan, for the betrayals will cause the elect to witness of Him, as you allow the Holy Spirit of God to speak through you. The wisdom of the Holy Spirits words will be such that no one can counter what is said, and that is why we are not to premeditate what is said at that time.

Matthew 26:47 "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 priests and elders of the People."

Here comes Judas the traitor, with his Satanic army to take Christ. Are they from the pits of hell, or the Roman forces; No my friend, it is the Kenite religious leaders, and the elders of the people, that have followed their traditions of men.

Looking back on history we see that the religious community has done more harm to the Christians then the sinners, and all the Roman soldiers of that day. In their anxiety to be faithful to God, they go out and chase after strange doctrines, trying to please God, and they turn away the very world of God, and the simplicity of His word. It is no different today as it was then. The religious leaders, and those that follow them still chase after strange doctrines of men. With all the new movements that are breaking out today, it is to bad that people cant see that mixing heathen tradition. All things of God are written in His Word.

Matthew 26:48 "Now he that betrayed Him gave them a sign, saying, "Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is He: hold Him fast."

This is the same way the your friends and family, as well as your religious will betray you, during the hour of temptation, with a holy kiss. The kiss is the spiritual kiss of death. This is called the Judas kiss.

Matthew 26:49 "And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, "Hail, Master"; and kissed Him."

This is a friendly greeting, to one that Jesus loved. In that greeting was betrayal. In this greeting scripture again is fulfilled.

Matthew 26:50 "And Jesus said unto him, "Friend, wherefore art thou come?" Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took Him."

This was prophesied in Psalm 41:9; "Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heal against me."   Remember that Judas did eat of the bread of Communion, and supped right after him. To "lift up his heal against me," is one of the sign of the sons of Satan.

Psalm 41:10; "But thou, O Lord, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, That I may requite them. God did raise Jesus up and made all His prophecy come to pass.

Matthew 26:51 "And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's and smoted off his ear."

Many teach that this was Peter that drew the sword.

Matthew 26:52 "Then said Jesus unto him, "Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword."

We have this rag tag army, that the religious community sent out to take Christ, and Christ's own men were armed with swords that were able to sever the ear of this one servant of the high priest. These men of God were very righteous, in keeping their swords sharp. Peter was doing a good thing when he was protecting his own, yet, this was a thing that had to be done, so Jesus took the protection away from Himself, and submitted to them.

A man of God will always stand up for that that is right, and when he protects his own, he is doing a righteous thing. This goes against what many are teaching, as they teach that we are to turn our cheek and allow Satan's forces to kick the Christians around. Jesus had His disciples armed with swords to protect their own. However the sword that we are to use in the end times, is the Word of God, and it is found Revelation 1:16, which will not cut an ear off, but their emotions to the point of submission to God.

Matthew 26:53 "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?" 

Matthew 26:54 "But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?"

Jesus is telling His disciples that what is going to happen, must come to pass, that the scriptures must be fulfilled. The scripture fulfilled here is Isaiah 53:7; "He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not his mouth." It was scripture that their ears were not to be cut off. In this case there was to be no resistance, but total submission, as a lamb being lead to the slaughter.

Matthew 26:55 "In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me."

This wasn't a real army, but a bunch of misfits with their hoes and rakes, following their Kenite leaders. Jesus looked at these misguided souls, and reminded them that He had sat daily in the temple, and they never even lifted a hand against Him. With this bunch of misfits, Jesus eleven could have put this pack of cowards on the run, and no angels were necessary, Yet it is written that Christ would submit to them.

Matthew 26:56 "But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook Him, and fled."

Jesus is all alone now, and the disciples left. Remember though, that Jesus told them that He would rejoin them three days after His crucifixion, in Galilee.

Matthew 26:57 "And they that had laid hold on Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled."

This is the top of the Religious community. Remember in Ezra and Nehemiah we were taught that the duties of the Levitical had been taken over by the Nethinims, the Kenites that assumed their positions while the House of Judah was in captivity in Babylon. The three families of scribes assumed their duties also in Babylon, as recorded in I Chronicles 2:55; "And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez [Jerusalem]; the Tirathites, the Shimaethites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hamath, the father of the house of Rechab."

Friend, the murderers of Christ; the ones that plotted, and lied to set up the shedding of Jesus blood were the High priests, and the Kenite Pharisees and scribes, along with the elders of the people that followed these Temple leaders. Caiaphas the high priest was not placed in power by God, but by the Roman Governor.

Matthew 26:58 "But Peter followed Him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end."

Peter was strong to have gone into the palace at this time, and it was God's destiny to have Peter at this place at this time.

Matthew 26:59 "Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put Him to death:"

You didn't read over that did you? the religious community sought out a bunch of liars, to support their evil deeds.

Let's put this in English, and in our modern times. Did the religious community see after a righteous man that could get to the bottom of this in truth? NO! They went after liars that they could bring false charges against Christ. This was a legal act, with hand on the Bible, and swearing before the very God, that they would kill His Son.

Matthew 26:60 "But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,"

Though there was a lot in the religious community that wanted to lie before God. Yet at the last, two stepped forth.

Matthew 26:61 "And said, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.' "

This testimony is using the very words that God had spoken, out of context, which made it a lie; as recorded in Saint John 2:19; "Jesus answered and said unto them, "Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up." Jesus was referring to His own body as the Temple of God, for it is. This is recorded in Revelation 21:22, where it talks about the fact that in the next age Christ is the Temple. "And I saw no Temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it." Christ's body is the Temple then, and our bodies are the Temple of the Holy Spirit of God. Do you see what is happening? they are applying a spiritual teaching to the physical realm. They simply are not rightly dividing the Word of God.

That new Temple that Jesus Christ would rebuild is the beautiful, spiritual resurrected body that He will have after His resurrection.

Matthew 26:62 "And the high priest arose, and said unto Him, "Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?"

This old high priest and the mind of petrified wood, and could not see beyond materialism, that the money plate. A true Kenite. He knew how long it took them to build the physical Temple that they were planning their murder in. This self-righteous hypocrite priest came to Christ and said, speak up, have you nothing to say?

Matthew 26:63 "But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, "I adjured the by the living God that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God."

Jesus was fulfilling the prophecy and not defending Himself. Remember Isaiah 53:7; "...As a sheep before the shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth." Knowing the piety of the religious community of today, I can see this old boy, in all of his self-righteous, demanding of the very Son of the Almighty God to give him an answer. And Jesus said nothing. It is almost humorous today how the religious community think of God as a tool at their disposal.

The very question asked of Jesus, shows that these religious sorts, had no idea of what was written in the word. If a man said this and was not the Christ, then it would be blasphemy; yet, as they listen to Jesus teachings, and watched the healings, and paid attention to the events that were taking place, they would have known.

Jesus does speak up:

Matthew 26:64 "Jesus saith unto him, "Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven."

Jesus told them, "You are the ones that said that I was the Son of God, but I will tell you this much;" and He quotes form the scriptures again. Jesus is about to be killed, and He is now telling them in what manner He will be coming when they see him again.

Matthew 26:65 "Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, "He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard His blasphemy."

It is not sacrilegious that we should liken many of the present day religious leaders to this high priest, they love to drag up someone that falls short, to make an example to others, and shame them in public. They play act, for they find pleasure in their own speeches, when the mere repentance of the sinner forgives the sin.

Though it was in fulfillment to scripture, it is still a lesson to be learned. These self-righteous types, miss the greatest gift in all Christian reality, and that is of forgiveness. When unbelievers could be converted, through the act of mercy that God gives, they parade before God, just like Satan their father is doing in heaven, accusing the brethren. You see it in many churches today, they draw the poor misguided sinner before the congregation, and degrade that person, for their own self gratification. Friend, God will judge you far more harsh then that sinner, just for the act of judging her.

Matthew 26:66 "What think ye ? "They answered and said, "He is guilty of death."

Remember, the word Caiaphas means depression. These religious leaders assumed that Christ said one thing, when He was restating what they had said of Jesus, and thus they all said "He is guilty." A real pack of swell guys in this religious community, seeking out liars to support their beliefs, and protect their system.

Matthew 26:67 "Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,"

The religious community is spitting, buffeting and slapping an innocent person, for the sake of their own vanity, and system protection. Friend, as this is taking place, remember is it is happening because, "thus saith the Lord." It was written in His Word, and planned before the foundations of this earth flesh age came about. Jesus Christ absorbed this for the purpose of allowing you to be drawn back to the Heavenly Father, and have your sins forgiven.

Matthew 26:68 "Saying, "Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, who is he that smote thee?"

Jesus was mocked and He opened not His mouth. People like this don't need repentance, they need discipline, and in due time, they will get it. That is what the Millennium age is all about.

Matthew 26:69 "Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, "Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee."

Remember Jesus told Peter that before the cock crowed three times, he would deny Christ? Well Peter is sitting out side the hall of Jesus trial, and this girl called attention to the fact that Peter was a Galilean, with Christ. this made the first time of denial.

Matthew 26:70 "But he denied before them al, saying, "I know not what thou sayest."

Matthew 26:71 "And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, "This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth."

This made the second denial, even more strongly, with an oath.

Matthew 26:72 "And again he denied with an oath, "I do not know the man."

Matthew 26:73 "And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, "Surely thou also art on of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee."

This time the Galilean speech gave Peter away, and they knew that Peter was with Christ, yet Peter denied it again, this was the third time. Peter had did exactly as Jesus said He would do, denied Him three times.

Matthew 26:74 "Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, "I know not the man." And immediately the cock crew."

When Peter was swearing and cursing, denying that he knew Christ, off in the distance the cock crew. Did Peter do this on his own? I don't believe so, for it is a lesson to us that we must be careful, especially in this generation that we do not deny Him. When the Antichrist appears, it will be easy to see all the wonders and supernatural things going on, and deny Christ, and claim the wrong Christ.

We are living in a time where most of the pulpits in our land are teaching their members to follow after a false Christ and preparing them to go with the first Christ. That is denying the true Christ. Do you know which Christ is the true one. That was what Matthew 24 was all about, not being deceived.

Matthew 26:75 "And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly."

Peter knew what he had done, and he was ashamed of himself. He went out and wept bitterly. His mind was set to defend Christ in the beginning, but his flesh was weak. Later we will see where Peter repented three times to Christ, as he identifies Jesus as the Son of the Living God.

Many living today will also deny God, as the time of the hour of temptation comes near. I hope you have the seal of the knowledge of the Word of God in your mind, to keep you from being deceived by Satan's wonders and supernatural powers.

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