Matthew 26:15

And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples, For the exposition, see the notes at Mark 14:1....

14-16 There were but twelve called apostles, and one of them was like a devil; surely we must never expect any society to be quite pure on this side heaven. The greater profession men make of religion, the greater opportunity they have of doing mischief, if their hearts be not right with God. Observe, that Christ's own disciple, who knew so well his doctrine and manner of his life, and was false to him, could not charge him with any thing criminal, though it would have served to justify his treachery. What did Judas want? Was not he welcome wherever his Master was? Did he not fare as Christ fared? It is not the lack, but the love of money, that is the root of all evil. After he had made that wicked bargain, Judas had time to repent, and to revoke it; but when lesser acts of dishonesty have hardened the conscience men do without hesitation that which is more shameful....

Verse Matthew 26:15. _THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER._] τριακοντα αργυρια, _thirty_ _silverlings_; but στατηρας, _staters_, is the reading of the Codex Bezae, three copies of the _Itala, Eusebius_, and _Origen_ sometimes; and στατηρας αργυριου, _silver staters_, is the reading of the famous Basil MS. No. 1, in Griesbach, and one copy of the _Itala_. A _stater_ was the same as the shekel, and worth about 3_s_. English money, according to Dean Prideaux: a goodly price for the Saviour of the world! _Thirty staters_, about 4_l_. 10_s_. the common price for the meanest slave! See Exodus 21:32. The rabbins say, thirty _selain_ of pure silver was the standard price for a slave, whether _good_ or _bad, male_ or female

EXPOSITION Ch. 26-28:20 THUS JESUS ENTERS UPON HIS KINGDOM. Before attempting to expound this most momentous section of the gospel history, we must make up our minds concerning the solution of the difficulties which are involved in some details in the account of the Supper. The supposed discrepancy between the narrative of the synoptists and that of St. John has exercised the minds of commentators from the earliest times unto the present, and enormous ingenuity has been expended in endeavouring to harmonize what are regarded as conflicting statements. The two chief difficulties are these: According to the synoptists, as generally understood, our Lord and his apostles ate the Passover, _i.e. _the Paschal lamb, when he instituted the Holy Communion; according to St. John, the death of Christ took place before the Passover was celebrated. Hence

AND SAID [UNTO THEM],.... Though the words, "to them", are not in the original text, they are rightly supplied; as they are by the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic versions, and in Munster's Hebrew Gospel; and mean the chief priests to whom Judas went, and to whom he made the following proposal; WHAT WILL YE GIVE ME, AND I WILL DELIVER HIM TO YOU? They did not ask him to do it, he first made the motion; a barbarous and shocking one! to deliver his Lord and Master, with whom he had familiarly conversed, and from whom he had received so many favours, into the hands of those that hated him; nor was he concerned what they would do to him, or what would become of him, when in their hands: all his view, and what he was intent upon, was, what they would give him for doing it. They did not tempt him, by first offering him so much money, if he would betray him; but he himself...

6, 7. _Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, 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._ This is not the woman who anointed Christ's feet with ointment, but another of the holy women who ministered to him. I believe this was Mary, the sister of Lazarus, who came to Jesus, «having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.» 8, 9. _But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor._ When you do the best you can do, from the purest motives, and your Lord accepts your service, do not expect that your brethren will approve all your actions. If you do, you will be greatly disappointed. There was never a more beautiful proof of...

13. THE PASSION OF THE KING. Chapter s 26-27. CHAPTER 26 1. His Death Planned. (Matthew 26:1 .) 2. Mary of Bethany Anointing the King.(Matthew 26:6 .) 3. The Betrayal. (Matthew 26:14 .) 4. The Last Passover.(Matthew 26:17 .) 5. The Lord's Supper Instituted.(Matthew 26:26 .) 6. Peter's Denial Announced and the Scattered Sheep.(Matthew 26:30 .) 7. In Gethsemane. ...

THE BETRAYAL (Mark 14:10 f.*, Luke 22:3). Mt., who omits the three hundred pence of the preceding incident, alone tells us that Judas received thirty pieces of silver. This is due to Zechariah 11:12 f. Note how, in contrast to Mk. and Lk., he makes greed the motive of Judas....

THE BEGINNING OF THE LAST ACT OF THE TRAGEDY (Matthew 26:1-5)...

WILL YE GIVE... ?. what are ye willing to give? WILL. Greek. _thelo._ App-102. COVENANTED WITH HIM. they placed for him [in the balance]: i.e. they weighed to him. THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER. See App-161. These were shekels of the Sanctuary. App-51. This was the price of an ox which had gored. servant (Exodus 21:32). It was here destined for the purchase of sacrifices....