- Observations:
- Matt 26:1,2 Fourth major prediction of Jesus' death to disciples
- Opposition has been rising for some time
- A person is considered high priest until he dies
- Romans had replaced Annas (initially with Eleazar and then Caiaphas)
- Caiaphas held the office (until 36 AD) but most Jews viewed Annas as high priest
- Annas was Caiaphas' Father in law
- Trial is incredibly unusual in the amount of injustice. At least 21 rules were violated during the trial (Fruchtenbaum, MB009, 2005)
- By the time of the trial, Judaism had developed a large body of law controlling every facet of Jewish life. Within this law were the commandments with explained how the Sanhedrin was to conduct a trial.
- According to Exodus 23:8, there was to be no arrest by ecclesiastical authorities that was affected by a bribe.
- There are no steps of criminal proceedings after sunset.
- Judges and Sanhedrin members could not participate in the arrest
- There were to be no trials before the morning sacrifice.
- All trials were to be public: secret trials were forbidden.
- Sanhedrin trials were only to be held in the Hall of Judgment in the Temple Compound.
- The proper procedure for the trial was to be: first the defense, then the accusation. The judges who argued for innocence were to speak before the ones who argued for guilt.
- While all judges of the Sanhedrin may argue in favor of acquittal, all may not argue in favor or guilt.
- On the basis of Deuteronomy 19:1-5, there were to be two or three witnesses, and their testimonies had to be in perfect agreement.
- There was to be no allowance for the accused to testify against himself.
- Based on Leviticus 21:10, the high priest was forbidden to tear his garments.
- The charges against the defendant were not to originate with the judges; they could only investigate charges brought to them.
- When the charge was blasphemy; guilt could only be established if the defendant had actually pronounced the very name of God.
- A person could never he condemned on the basis of his own words alone.
- The judges’ verdict could never he announced at night.
- In cases of capital punishment, the trial and the verdict of guilt could not occur at the same time. They had to be separated by at least 24 hours.
- Voting for the death penalty had to be done by individual count beginning with the youngest judge so that the younger would not be influenced by the elder.
- A unanimous decision for guilt showed innocence since it was impossible for a minimum of twenty-three men or a maximum of seventy-one men to agree without plotting
- The sentence could only he pronounced three days after the guilty verdict.
- A person condemned to death could not be beaten or scourged beforehand.
- Judges were to be humane and kind.
- No trials are allowed on the eve of the Sabbath or on a feast day.
- The only point is to see some of the irregularities of the trial. The other gospels provide additional information
- What does the passage suggest of the Roman soldiers?
- Brutal
- Selfish
- John tells us that the charge above Jesus was written in three languages, which explains why the gospels each seem to suggest a different rendering (Mk 15:26; Lk 23:38; Jn 19:19)
- Why place the "charge" on the cross?
- It was not unusual
- Pilate's way of getting back at the Pharisees
- Who are the groups that comment on Jesus and what do they say?
- Two robbers (probably more correctly, rebel guerillas) -- heaped insults (Isa 53:12); later on, one of the men will change his opinion
- People -- charge him with blasphemy (although they are the ones blaspheming since they charge him unjustly)
- The leaders -- mocked him. They justify their actions since God does not intervene
- Darkness covers the land from noon until 3:00pm
- Usually represents judgment, tragedy, or impending disaster
- It could be on the Jews
- It could also be on Jesus
- Jesus cries out (quoting Ps 22:1) -- what is the significance?
- Worst part of the crucifixion was the cross and the separation
- First time in all eternity
- Fourth of seven statements Jesus makes on the cross
- Father, forgive them
- Today, you shall be with me in paradise
- Woman, behold your son. Behold your mother
- My God, my God, why have you forsaken me
- I thirst
- It is finished
- Father, into your hands I commend my spirit (vs 50 hinted)
- What is the result of Jesus death?
- The temple curtain separating the holy of holies from the most holy place is torn
- Why from top to bottom? God is doing the tearing
- This terminates the end of the Mosaic covenant; Jesus now replaces the temple
- NOTE: Resurrection of some OT saints occurs during Jesus resurrection and may be related to Lev 23:10-14, the feast of the first fruits where the people bring a token of the harvest to the priests
- Verse 4 and 5 are separated in terms of time
- Why did the women go to the tomb?
- The Sabbath didn't end until dusk on Saturday. That only gave them enough time to buy the spices. There was not enough time to prepare the body
- Also, it wasn't a well-thought through plan since they would not have been able to move the stone out of the way. Possibly they were expecting help from the guards
- Why does Matthew choose a story using the women?
- Because it wasn't fabricated
- It doesn't make the future leaders look very good
- It was a historical reality
- The empty tomb is a fact and there is no explanation or argument that holds up against the facts
- Who does Jesus appear to first?
- The women -- not a good choice if you are fabricating a story (truth is always stranger than fiction)
- Why do some doubt?
- Because, it is unbelievable, even when seen by an eyewitness
- This account leaves out a lot of the intervening occurrences by Jesus
- Matthew finishes his account with a command, what is it?
- "As you go" make disciples
- Go, teach, and baptize are adverbs. Only one verb μαθητεύω [matheteuo /math·ayt·yoo·o/] Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
- Teach them to obey everything I commanded you
- What was Jesus last command to them? "make disciples"
- What are we commanded to do? "make disciples"
- How do you make disciples?
- Most people are not comfortable with this command
- Many don't feel qualified
- My simple instructions:
- Walk with God yourself (you can't help anyone if you are not growing -- you are just a hypocrite)
- Come along side other believers
- Share prayer requests
- Read the word together
- Encourage each other
Background on
Dates:
See
Dan
9:24-27
Matthew 26:1–5 (ESV) —
1 When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, 2 “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of
Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the
palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill
him. 5 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be
an uproar among the people.”
The
Messiah actually underwent two trials, with three phases each. First, came the
religious trial where the charge was blasphemy then, came the civil trial
where the charge was sedition.
Matthew 26:59–68 (ESV) —
59 Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false
testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, 60 but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At
last two came forward 61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the
temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’ ” 62 And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make?
What is it that these men testify against you?” 63 But Jesus
remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living
God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you
will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the
clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He
has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard
his blasphemy. 66 What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves
death.” 67 Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some
slapped him, 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that
struck you?”
Matthew 27:35–44 (ESV) —
35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them
by casting lots. 36 Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. 37 And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This
is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” 38 Then two robbers
were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. 39 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three
days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him,
saying, 42 “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the
King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in
him. 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he
desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” 44 And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the
same way.
Matthew 27:45–53 (ESV) —
45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until
the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a
loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God,
why have you forsaken me?” 47 And some of the bystanders,
hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” 48 And one of
them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a
reed and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others
said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his
spirit.
51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to
bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had
fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs
after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
Matthew 28:1–10 (ESV) —
1 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week,
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord
descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.
5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that
you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here,
for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the
dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.
See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear
and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold,
Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his
feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and
tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
Matthew 28:16–20 (ESV) —
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which
Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some
doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in
heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore
and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to
observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to
the end of the age.”
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