CHAPTER 26. THE PASSION HISTORY. These Chapter s give with exceptional fulness and minuteness of detail the story of Christ's last sufferings and relative incidents. The story finds a place in all four Gospels (Mark 14:15; Luke 22:23; John 18:19), showing the intense interest felt by Christians of... [ Continue Reading ]
πάντας τ. λόγους τούτους, all these sayings, most naturally taken as referring to the contents of chaps. 24, 25, though a backward glance at the whole of Christ's teaching is conceivable. Yet in case of such a comprehensive retrospect why refer only to words? Why not to both _dicta et facta_ ?... [ Continue Reading ]
_Introductory_ (Mark 14:1-2; Luke 22:1-2).... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 26:1-2 contain a prediction by Jesus two days before Passover of His approaching death; Matthew 26:3-5 a notice of a consultation by the authorities as to how they might compass His death. n the parallels the former item appears as a mere date for the latter, the prediction being eliminated.... [ Continue Reading ]
τὸ πάσχα, used both of festival, as here, and of victim, as in Matthew 26:17. The Passover began on the 14th of Nisan; it is referred to here for the first time in our Gospel. παραδίδοται, present, either used to describe vividly a future event (Burton, M. T., § 15) or to associate it with the feast... [ Continue Reading ]
τότε, two days before Passover. συνήχθησαν points to a meeting of the Sanhedrim. εἰς τὴν αὐλὴν denotes the meeting place, either the _palace_ of the high priest in accordance with the use of αὐλή in later Greek (Weiss), or the court around which the palatial buildings were ranged (Meyer) = _atrium_... [ Continue Reading ]
ἵνα with subjunctive after a verb of effort or plan; in classic Greek oftener ὅπως with future indicative (Burton, § 205). δόλῳ by, craft, a method characteristic of clerics; _indigna consultatio_ (Bengel); cowardly and merciless.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἔλεγον δὲ : δὲ points back to Matthew 26:1, which fixes the passion in Passover time, while the Sanhedrists thought it prudent to keep off the holy season for reason given. μὴ, etc., to avoid uproar apt to happen at Passover time, Josephus _teste_ (B. J., i., 4, 3).... [ Continue Reading ]
τοῦ δὲ Ἰησοῦ, etc.: indicates the scene, in Bethany, and in the house of Simon known as the leper (the one spoken of in Matthew 8:2 ?). The host of Luke 7:36 ff. was a Simon. On the other hand, the host of John 12:1 f., or at least a prominent guest, was Lazarus, brother of Martha and Mary. This and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Anointing in Bethany_ (Mark 14:3-9, _cf._ John 12:1-11). Six days before Passover in John; no time fixed in Mt. and Mk. Certainly within Passion week. The thing chiefly to be noted is the setting of this pathetic scene, between priestly plotting and false discipleship. “Hatred and baseness on eithe... [ Continue Reading ]
ἀλάβαστρον, an “alabaster” (vase), the term, originally denoting the material, being transferred to the vessel made of it, like our word “glass” (Speaker's _Com._), in common use for preserving ointments (Pliny, N.H., iii., 3). An alabaster of nard (μύρου) was a present for a king. Among five precio... [ Continue Reading ]
ἠγανάκτησαν, as in Matthew 20:24. The disciple-circle experienced various annoyances from first to last: Syrophenician woman, mothers and children, ambition of James and John, Mary of Bethany. The last the most singular of all. Probably all the disciples disapproved more or less. It was a _woman's_... [ Continue Reading ]
δοθῆναι, etc., to be given (the proceeds, subject easily understood) to the _poor_. How much better a use than to waste it in the expression of a sentiment!... [ Continue Reading ]
γνοὺς, perceiving though not hearing. We have many mean thoughts we would be ashamed to speak plainly out. τί κόπους παρέχετε, etc., why trouble ye the woman? a phrase not frequent in classic authors, though similar ones occur, and even this occasionally (_vide_ Kypke); found not only here but in Lu... [ Continue Reading ]
suggests a distinction between general ethical categories and duties arising out of special circumstances. ommon men recognise the former. It takes a genius or a passionate lover to see and swiftly do the latter. Mary saw and did the rare thing, and so achieved an ἔργον καλὸν. ἐμὲ δὲ οὐ π., “a melan... [ Continue Reading ]
πρὸς τὸ ἐνταφ., to prepare for burial by embalming; so near is my death, though ye thought not of it: effect of the woman's act, not her conscious purpose. The Syriac version introduces a _quasi_. She meant nothing but to show her love, quickened possibly by instinctive foreboding of ill. But an act... [ Continue Reading ]
τὸ εὐ. τοῦτο, _this_ gospel, the gospel of my death of love. ἐν ὅλῳ τῷ κόσμῳ : after ὅπου ἐὰν might seem superfluous; not so, however: it serves to indicate the range of the “wheresoever”: wide as the world, universality predicted for Christianity, and also for the heroine of the anointing. Chrysost... [ Continue Reading ]
τότε, then; the roots of the betrayal go much further back than the Bethany scene _vide_ on Matthew 17:22-23 but that scene would help to precipitate the fatal step. Death at last at hand, according to the Master's words. Then a base nature would feel uncomfortable in so unworldly company, and would... [ Continue Reading ]
_Judas offers to betray Jesus_ (Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:3-6).... [ Continue Reading ]
τί θέλετε, etc., what are ye willing to give me? Mary and Judas extreme opposites: she freely spending in love, he willing to sell his Master for money. What contrasts in the world and in the same small circle! The mercenary spirit of Judas is not so apparent in Mk. and Lk. κἀγὼ, etc.: καὶ introduci... [ Continue Reading ]
εὐκαιρίαν, a good occasion, the verb, εὐκαιρέω (Mark 6:31), belongs to late Greek (Lobeck, _Phryn._, p. 125).... [ Continue Reading ]
_Arrangements for Paschal Feast_ (Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22:7-13).... [ Continue Reading ]
τῇ δὲ πρώτῃ τ. ἀ. The sacred season which began on the 14th Nisan and lasted for seven days, was two feasts rolled into one, the Feast of the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and it was called by either name indifferently. ποῦ, where? A much more perplexing question is: when? Was it on th... [ Continue Reading ]
ὑπάγετε, go ye into the city, _i.e._, Jerusalem. πρὸς τὸν δεῖνα, to such a one, evidently no sufficient direction. Mk. and Lk. are more explicit. Mt. here, as often, abbreviates. Doubtless a previous understanding had been come to between Jesus and an unknown friend in Jerusalem. Euthy. suggests tha... [ Continue Reading ]
ὀψίας δὲ γ. It is evening, and the company are at supper, and during the meal (ἐσθιόντων αὐ., Matthew 26:21) Jesus made a startling announcement. At what stage is not indicated. Elsner suggests a late stage: “Cumfere comedissent; vergente ad finem coenâ,” because an early announcement would have kil... [ Continue Reading ]
_The presence of a traitor announced_ (Mark 14:18-21; Luke 22:21-23).... [ Continue Reading ]
παραδώσει με, shall betray me. General announcement, without any clue to the individual, as in Mk. Matthew 26:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
λυπούμενοι seems a weak word, and the addition of the evangelist's pet word σφόδρα does not make it strong. None of the accounts realistically express the effect which must have been produced. ἤρξαντο helps to bring out the situation: they _began_ to inquire after some moments of mute astonishment.... [ Continue Reading ]
ὁ ἐμβάψας, he who dipped, dips, or shall have dipped. The aorist participle decides nothing as to time, but merely points to a single act, as distinct from a process (_cf._ the present in Mk.). The expression in Mt. does not necessarily identify the man unless we render: who has just dipped, and con... [ Continue Reading ]
ὑπάγει, goeth, a euphemism for death. _Cf._ John 13:33. καλὸν ἦν without the ἄν, not unusual in conditional sentences of this sort: supposition contrary to fact (_vide_ Burton, M. T., §§ 248 9).... [ Continue Reading ]
ἐσθ. δὲ αὐτῶν : same phrase as in Matthew 26:21, with δὲ added to introduce _another_ memorable incident of the paschal supper. No details are given regarding that meal, so that we do not know how far our Lord followed the usual routine, for which consult Lightfoot, _Hor. Heb._, or Smith's _Dictiona... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord's Supper_ (Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:19-20).... [ Continue Reading ]
ποτήριον, a cup, the article being omitted in best MSS. It is idle, and in spirit Rabbinical, to inquire which of the four cups drunk at the paschal feast. The evangelist had no interest in such a question. εὐχαριστήσας : a different word from that used in reference to the bread, but similar in impo... [ Continue Reading ]
τὸ αἷμά μου : the very colour of the wine suggestive; hence called αἷμα σταφυλῆς in Deuteronomy 32:14; my blood, pointing to the passion, like the breaking of the bread. τῆς διαθήκης (for the two gen. μου τ. δ. dependent on αἷμα, _vide_ Winer, 30, 3, 3), the blood of me, of the _covenant_. The intro... [ Continue Reading ]
contains an express statement of the fact implied in the preceding actions, _iz._, that death is near. It is the last time I shall drink paschal (τούτου τ. γ., etc.) wine with you. I am to die at this passover. The second half of the sentence is not to be taken prosaically. It is the thought of meet... [ Continue Reading ]
ὑμνήσαντες. With this participle, referring to the last act within the supper chamber the singing of the paschal hymn (the Hallel, part 2, Psalms 115-118, or possibly a _new_ song, Grotius) we pass without, and after talk between Jesus and the disciples, arising out of the situation, arrive at the s... [ Continue Reading ]
_Gethsemane_ (Mark 14:26-42; Luke 22:39-46).... [ Continue Reading ]
τότε, then, on the way through the valley between the city and Olivet, the valley of Jehoshaphat (Kedron), suggestive of prophetic memories (Joel 3, Zechariah 13, 14), leading up, as well as the present situation, to the topic. πάντες, all; one false-hearted, all without exception weak. ἐν ἐμοὶ, in... [ Continue Reading ]
predicts a brighter future to alleviate the gloom. he shepherd will yet again go before His flock (προάξω, _pastoris more_, Grotius), leading them. εἰς τ. Γαλιλαίαν, the place of reunion. This verse is wanting in the Fayam Fragment, which Harnack regards as a sign of its great antiquity. Resch, _Agr... [ Continue Reading ]
εἰ πάντες σκανδαλισθήσονται, if, or although, all shall be offended; the future implies great probability of the case sussposed; Peter is willing to concede the likelihood of the assertion in reference to all the rest. ἐγὼ οὐδέποτε, _I, never_, vehemently spoken and truly, _so far as he knows himsel... [ Continue Reading ]
ἐν. τ. τ. ν., repetition of statement in Matthew 26:31, with added emphasis (ἀμὴν, etc.), and = never? This night I tell you. πρὶν ἀλέκτορα φωνῆσαι : more exact specification of the time to make the statement more impressive = before the dawn. ἀλέκτωρ, poetic form for ἀλεκτρυών. This fowl not mentio... [ Continue Reading ]
: intensified protestation of fidelity καὶ before ἐάν (κἂν) intensive, ntroducing an extreme case, death for the Master. οὐ μή, making the predictive future emphatically negative = I certainly will not. ὁμοίως, similarly, weaker than Mk.'s ὡσαύτως. Very improbable, thinks De Wette. But the disciples... [ Continue Reading ]
_The agony_ (so called from the word ἀγωνία in Luke 22:44, a ἅπαξ λεγ.).... [ Continue Reading ]
χωρίον, a place in the sense of a property or farm = _villa_ in Vulgate, _ager_, Hilary, _Grundstück_, Weizsäcker's translation. Γεθσημανῆ, probably = גַּת שֶׁסֶן, an oil press. Descriptions of the place now identified with it in Robinson's _Researches_, Furrer's _Wanderungen_, and Stanley's _Sinai... [ Continue Reading ]
παραλαβὼν : He takes the same three as at the transfiguration along with Him that they may be near enough to prevent a feeling of utter isolation. ἤρξατο, He began. This beginning refers to the appearance of distress; the inward beginning came earlier. He did His feeling till He had reduced His foll... [ Continue Reading ]
τοτὲ λέγει αὐτ.: He confides to the three His state of mind without reserve, as if He wished it to be known. _Cf._ the use made in the epistle to the Hebrews of this frank manifestation of weakness as showing that Christ could not have usurped the priestly office, but rather simply submitted to be m... [ Continue Reading ]
μικρὸν, a little space, presumably near enough for them to hear (_cf._ Luke 22:41). ἐπὶ πρόσωπον, on His face, not on kness, _summa demissio_ (Beng.). πάτερ, Father! Weiss in Markus-Evang. seems to think that the one word Abba was all the three heard, the rest of the prayer being an expansion and in... [ Continue Reading ]
ἔρχεται : not necessarily immediately after uttering the foregoing prayer. Jesus may have lain on the ground for a considerable time silent. τῷ Πέτρῳ : all three were asleep, but the reproach was most fitly addressed to Peter, the would-be valiant and loyal disciple. οὕτως : Euthy. puts a mark of in... [ Continue Reading ]
λέγων, saying; whereupon follow the words. Mark simply states that Jesus prayed to the same effect. οὐ δύναται : οὐ not μὴ. He knows that it is not possible, yet the voice of nature says strongly: would that it were!... [ Continue Reading ]
_Further progress of the agony_. That Jesus had not yet reached final victory is apparent from His complaint against the disciples. He came craving, needing a sympathy He had not got. When the moment of triumph comes He will be independent of them.... [ Continue Reading ]
καθεύδοντας : again! surprising, one would say incredible on first thoughts, but not on second. It was late and they were sad, and sadness is soporific.... [ Continue Reading ]
esus leaves them sleeping and goes away again for the final struggle, praying as before.... [ Continue Reading ]
καθεύδετε λ. κ. ἀναπαύεσθε, sleep now and rest; not ironical or reproachful, nor yet seriously meant, but concessive = ye may sleep and rest indefinitely so far as I am concerned; I need no longer your watchful interest. The Master's time of weakness is past; He is prepared to face the worst. ἡ ὥρα... [ Continue Reading ]
_The apprehension_ (Mark 14:43-52; Luke 22:47-53). εἷς τ. δώδεκα, as in Matthew 26:14, repeated not for information, but as the literary reflection of the chronic horror of the apostolic church that such a thing should be possible. That it was not only possible but a fact is one of the almost undisp... [ Continue Reading ]
ἔδωκεν : the traitor, as he approached the place where he shrewdly guessed Jesus would be, _gave_ (_dedit_, Vulg [139]), not _had given_. His plan was not cut and dry from the first. In flashed upon him as he drew near and began to think how he would meet his Master. The old charm of the Master reas... [ Continue Reading ]
κατεφίλησεν, kissed Him heartily. In late Greek there was a tendency to use compounds with the force of the simple verb, and this has been supposed, to be a case in point (De Wette). But coming after φιλήσω, Matthew 26:48, the compound verb is plainly used with intention. It occurs again in Luke 7:3... [ Continue Reading ]
ἑταῖρε : so might a master salute a disciple, and disciple or companion is, I think, the sense of the word here (so Elsner, Palairet, Wolf, Schanz, Carr, Camb. N. T.). It answers to ῥαββί in the salute of Judas. ἐφʼ ὃ πάρει, usually taken as a question: “ad quid venisti?” Vulg [140] Wherefore art th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blood drawn_. ἰδού, introducing a second scene connected with the apprehension (_cf._ Matthew 26:47); the use of a weapon by one of Christ's disciples. A quite likely occurrence if any of them happened to have weapons in their hands, though we may wonder at that. It might be a large knife used in c... [ Continue Reading ]
ἀπόστρεψον : Jesus could not encourage the use of arms by His disciples, and the order to sheathe the weapon He was sure to give. The accompanying word, containing a general legal maxim: draw the sword, perish with the sword (the subsequent history of the Jewish people a tragic exemplification of it... [ Continue Reading ]
gives another reason for not using the sword: if it were God's will that His Son should be rescued it could be done in a different way. he way suggested is described in military language, the verbs παρακαλεῖν and παριστάναι being both used in classics in connection with military matters, and the wor... [ Continue Reading ]
πῶς οὖν : refers to both forms of aid, that of the sword and that of angels (Grotius, Fritzsche); rescue in any form inconsistent with the predicted destiny of Messiah to be a sufferer. ὅτι οὕτω, etc., the purport of all prophetic scripture is that thus it should be: apprehension and all that is to... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jesus complains of the manner of His apprehension_. ἐν ἐκ. τ. ὥρᾳ, connects with ἐκράτησαν αὐτόν in Matthew 26:50. Having said what was necessary to the bellicose disciple, Jesus turns to the party which had come to arrest Him, here called τοῖς ὄχλοις. ὡς ἐπὶ λῃστὴν, etc.: the words may be taken ei... [ Continue Reading ]
τοῦτο δὲ, etc.: a formula of the evangelist, introducing another reference by Jesus to the prophecies in these terms, ἵνα πληρωθῶσιν, etc. Jesus reconciles Himself to the indignity in the manner of His arrest, as to the arrest itself, and all that it involved, by the thought that it was in His “cup”... [ Continue Reading ]
_Before Caiaphas_ (Mark 14:53-65; Luke 22:54; Luke 22:66-71). πρὸς Καιάφαν, to Caiaphas, who sent them forth, and who expects their return with their victim. ὄπου, where, _i.e._, in the palace of Caiaphas. γρ. καὶ πρ.: scribes and presbyters, priests and presbyters in Matthew 26:3. Mk. names all the... [ Continue Reading ]
is the prelude to the story of Peter's denial, hich is resumed at Matthew 26:69 after the account of the trial. Similarly in Mk. Lk. gives the story without interruption. μακρόθεν, from afar: Peter followed his Master, having after a while recovered from the general panic; more courageous than the r... [ Continue Reading ]
τ. συν. ὅλον, the _whole_ Sanhedrim, _cf._ πάντες in Hebrews 3:16, the statement in both cases admitting of a few exceptions. ψευδομαρτυρίαν, _false_ evidence, of course in the first place from the evangelist's point of view (μαρτυρίαν in Mk.), but substantially true to the fact. They wanted evidenc... [ Continue Reading ]
_The trial_.... [ Continue Reading ]
οὐχ εὗρον : they found not false witness that looked plausible and justified capital punishment. πολλῶν π. ψ.: it was not for want of witnesses of a kind; many offered themselves and made statements, but they did not serve the purpose: either trivial or inconsistent; conceivable in the circumstances... [ Continue Reading ]
οὗτος ἔφη, this person said: then follows a version of a word really spoken by Jesus, of a startling character, concerning destroying and rebuilding the temple. An inaccurate report of so remarkable a saying might easily go abroad, and the version given by the two witnesses seems from Matthew 27:40... [ Continue Reading ]
ἀναστὰς ὁ ἀρ.: the high priest rose up not because he felt the evidence just led to be very serious, rather in irritation because the most damaging statements amounted to nothing more serious. A man could not be sentenced to death for a boastful word (Grotius). οὐδὲν ἀποκρίνῃ … καταμαρτυροῦσιν : eit... [ Continue Reading ]
ἐσιώπα : Jesus seeing the drift of the questions gave the high priest no assistance, but continued silent. ἐξορκίζω (ἐξορκόω more common in classics). The high priest now takes a new line, seeing that there is no chance of conviction any other way. He puts Jesus on His oath as to the cardinal questi... [ Continue Reading ]
σὺ εἶπας : in current phrase = I am. Was Jesus morally bound to answer? Why not continue silent? First, the whole ministry of Jesus had made the question inevitable. Second, the high priest was the proper person to ask it. Third, it was an important opportunity for giving expression to His Messianic... [ Continue Reading ]
τότε : At last they have, or think they have, Him at their mercy. διέρρηξεν, etc.: a very imposing act as the expression of true emotion; in reality a theatrical action demanded by custom and performed in accordance with rule: length and locality of rent, the garments to be rent (the nether; all of... [ Continue Reading ]
ἔνοχος θανάτου : death the penalty of blasphemy, Leviticus 24:15, and of being a false prophet, Deuteronomy 18:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 26:67-68 : to judicial injustice succeed personal indignities: spitting in the face (ἐνέπτυσαν), miting with the fist (ἐκολάφισαν, not Attic, κονδυλίζω used instead), or with the open hand (ἐρράπισαν, originally to beat with rods). Euthy. Zig. distinguishes the two last words thus: κολαφισμὸ... [ Continue Reading ]
ὁ δὲ Π.: δὲ resumes the Peter-episode introduced at Matthew 26:58. ἐκάθητο, was sitting, while the judicial proceedings were going on. αὐλῇ, here means the court, _atrium_; the trial would take place in a chamber within the buildings surrounding the court. μία π., _one_ servant girl, to distinguish... [ Continue Reading ]
_Peter's denial_ (Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:54-62). The discrepancies of the four accounts here are perplexing but not surprising. It would be difficult for any one present in the confused throng gathered within the palace gate that night to tell exactly what happened. Peter himself, the hero of the ta... [ Continue Reading ]
οὐκ οἶδα, etc.: affectation of extreme ignorance. So far from knowing the man I don't even know what you are talking about. This said _before all_ (ἔμπ. πάντων). First denial, entailing others to follow.... [ Continue Reading ]
εἰς τ. πυλῶνα, to or towards the gateway, away from the crowd in the court. ἄλλη (παιδίσκη), another saw him, and said, not to him, but to others there (not easy to escape 1). οὗτος, etc., this person, pointing to him, was, etc.... [ Continue Reading ]
μεθʼ ὅρκου : second denial, more emphatic, with an oath, and more direct: I know not the man (τὸν ἄν.).... [ Continue Reading ]
οἱ ἑστῶτες, loungers; seeing Peter's confusion, and amusing themselves by tormenting him. ἀληθῶς, beyond doubt, you, too, are one of them; of the notorious gang. ἡ λαλιά : They had heard him speak in his second denial, which so leads up to a third. Galilean speech was defective in pronouncing the gu... [ Continue Reading ]
καταθεματίζειν (here only, καταναθ. in T. R., probably belonging to vulgar speech, Meyer), to call down curses on himself, sign of irritation and desperation; has lost self-control completely. καὶ εὐθὺς : just after this passionate outburst _a cock crew_. “Magna circumstantia,” Beng.... [ Continue Reading ]
καὶ ἐμνήσθη : The cock crowing caused a sudden revulsion of feeling, and flashed in on Peter's mind the light of a vivid recollection: the word his Master had spoken. πρὶν, etc., repeated as in Matthew 26:34. ἐξελθὼν, going out, neither in fear of apprehension (Chrys., Euthy.) nor from shame (Orig.,... [ Continue Reading ]