Matthew 26

Matthew 26:3

Assembled together,] in publike Senate or great Councell which judged of the most weighty matters, as of a false Prophet, such an one as they judged Christ to be. And this Senate consisted of seventy Iudges besides the High Priest, and the chiefe Magistrate of the people. Numbers 11:16-17; Numbers 11:24.

Matthew 26:5

The feast day,] in the dayes of unleavened bread, presently after the Passeover, which were no festivall dayes. The Iewes observe in their writings that their noted executions were reserved untill those solemne dayes, to cause the greater terrour and example, by reason of the great concourse of people to the feast: but here the Priests advise not to proceed that way for feare of the peoples rising.

Matthew 26:6

Bethany,] See Matthew 21:17 The Leper,] the cause of this sirname is unknowne, peradventure he had bin cured of the leprosie by the Lord.

Matthew 26:7

There came,] by Iohn the 12. 1, 2. 12. it appeares that this hapned before Christs entrance into Ierusalem. It may be that S. Matthew reserved this history for this place to make a continued narration of Iudas his treason after the first occasion of it, which he took upon the losing of the price of this oile, whereby he hoped to reape some benefit Powred it,] to honour him according to the custome of those times.

Matthew 26:8

His Disciples,] Iohn 124. this is especially referred to Iudas, who it is likely was the author of this murmuring.

Matthew 26:11

Alwayes,] the meaning is: you have alwayes oportunity enough to releeve the poore, but as for me who shall shortly dye for you; and my corporall presence shortly after bee taken away from you, will not know how to yeeld me any more humane service, this woman hath done me as it were the last; correspondent to that which they doe to dead bodies imbalming them: which seeing it could not be done after my death (see upon Mark 16:1.) she hath as one should say anticipated the doing of it in my life time. So Christ doth esteeme of this deed more then the woman her selfe expected, he would.

Matthew 26:15

Thirty peeces,] the Italian thirty sheckels,] according to the prophesie of Zec 11:12. and because that was the set price for servants that were killed. Exodus 21:32. it seemes there was some hidden mistery in this number, Christ having taken upon him the forme of a servant.

Matthew 26:17

The first day,] namely the fourteenth day of the first moneth, in the end of which they were to eat the Paschall Lambe, Exodus 12:18. Luke 22:7. which Christ strictly observed. But the Iewes by an ancient tradition even from that time that they dwelt in Babylon, as it is thought, when a great feast, especially the Passeover was immediately before the Sabbath, as it hapned at our Saviours passion, they rejourned the feast untill the Sabbath, to avoid the great incommodity of having two festivall dayes one after another; and therefore in this Passeover they did eat the Lambe a day after the Lord had eaten it, as it appears by Iohn 18. 28. and 19. 14. wherupon also that Sabbath is called the great day, that is to say the yeerly feast, Iohn. 19. 31.

Matthew 26:18

My time,] some important affaire urgeth me to celebrate the Passeover before the rest of the people (though peradventure the man did not understand this secret) and it should seeme that it was lawfull for any man that would, to eat the Passeover the proper appointed day if he pleased to burthen himselfe with the observing of two festivall dayes together.

Matthew 26:23

That dippeth,] that ordinarily, and now at this present also eateth with me, Marke 14. 18. according to the prophesie of Psal. 41. 9.

Matthew 26:24

Goeth,] to his death, or shall shortly die.

Matthew 26:26

Were eating,] that is to say, whilest they were yet at table. Others expound it after they had eaten, namely the Paschall Lambe, Luke 22:20. 1 Corinthians 11:25 Tooke bread,] a part of the bread, or of the unleavened cake, whereof they had eaten with the Lambe. Here Christ ordaineth the new Sacrament of the Christian Church which is the holy Communion, correspondent in its sense and use to the ancient Passeover: which was also cancelled by this. Now as the Iewes divided this. Paschall Supper into two parts; in the first they did eat the Lamb, and in the second they did eat all round of an unleavened cake dipt in a sawe made with bitter herbes, and did drinke of the same cup called the cup of praise, Psal. 116. 13. and it is likely that all this was done by our Saviour after that second part, Luke 22:20. and that the ceremonies were taken from thence Blessed it,] using the ordinary act of prayer at meales which was done here by Christ, not so much in regard of the food of the body, as in regard of the food of the soule to true beleevers, by himselfe: whereof this corporall bread was to be the Sacrament and seale. Mark 14:22.

Luke 22. 17. 19. Or as Saint Paul saith. 1 Corinthians 10:16. he blessed the bread, that is to say, he changed the ordinary and naturall use thereof into a Sacrament of the souls food: and desired of God that this ceremony might be verified by his grace and spirit in the souls of beleevers, and the true effect produced in them Break it,] in remembrance of the breaking of Christs body, 1 Corinthians 11:24. by the piercing of it upon the Crosse; or by his sufferances both in soule and body, all the while that he was man This is,] this bread which is consecrated by me is the sacrament of my body offered as an expiatory sacrifice for you.

So oftentimes the spirituall names are attributed to these corporall parts of the Sacraments as are correspondent to them: as well by the analogie of the signification, as by the vertue of sealing, and by the reality of the spirituall thing given and effected by God, together with the use of the signe in true beleevers. See Genesis 17:10. Exod. 12. 11. and 40. 15. 1 Cor. 10. 4. 16. Ephes. 5. 26.My body,] that is to say, my flesh. Iohn 6. 53, 54. to which Christ afterwards distinctly addeth his blood: not only to represent himselfe whole by these two parts, as Hebrews 2:14. but chiefly to shew that his body in this Sacrament ought to be considered and apprehended by faith, not so much living or glorified, as offered in true sacrifice of expiation; in which the blood was to be spilt, and the thing offered to be cut in peeces, verse 28. 〈◊〉 Cor. 11. 24. Finally, under these two words Christ comprehendeth his whole person, with his merit, obedience, vertue, and benefits, wherein consists the true pasture of the soul, receaved to a spirituall and everlasting life by the mouth of it, which is faith, which also unites Christ unto it, as food is united to the body.

Matthew 26:28

For this,] a reason why he commandeth them to participate of this cup, because that it is the true Sacrament of the blood of the covenant of grace, opposite to the figurative blood of the ancient covenant of the law, Exodus 24:8 Of the new,]upon which is grounded the everlasting covenant of God with men, manifested and given out in a new manner, more cleerly, powerfully, and fully under the Gospell then under the law. See Ier. 31. 31. Hebrews 8:8 Is shed,] that is to say, must be shed, and will shortly be shed indeed.

Matthew 26:29

Henceforth,] that is to say behold this is the last meale that I shall make with you in this world, to testifie unto you my boundlesse charity, and leave you a perpetuall pledge of my self, untill I doe receive you into the Communion of mine everlasting goods in heaven, which shall bee new ones, that is to say of another nature and qualitie, though figured by the corporall eating and drinking, Matth. 8. 11. Luke 14:15. Revel. 3. 20. and 19. 9. Now though Christ did eate sometimes after his resurrection, with his Disciples, yet that was not as being yet in the necessities of an animall life: but by a certaine secret dispensation to certifie his Disciples of the truth of his person, Acts 10:41.

Matthew 26:30

An hynme] which was one or more of Davids Psalmes, as the Iewes write, wherewith ended the Paschall Supper.

Matthew 26:31

Offended] See Matthew 11:6.

Matthew 26:36

Gethsemane] it was some place of the mount Olives, the word may signifie in the Hebrew tongue an oyle presse. Or in the Syriack tongue a butter churne.

Matthew 26:37

Sorrowfull] in his humane nature, in respect of which he had all the naturall affections like to men, excep sinne, Heb. 2. 18. and 4. 15. No Christs deity did for a while suspend the influence of its joy and comfort, by an unspeakeable dispensation to let his humanity suffer those horrible, & incomprehensible torments, equivalent in weight with the everlasting ones, to give Gods justice satisfaction for the sinnes of all the elect, for which he had made himselfe a curse, Galatians 3:13. bearing upon himselfe the wrath and curse of God which he overcame and satisfied by his perfect righteousnesse, Isay 53. 6. 10.

Matthew 26:38

And watch,] to be witnesse of my sufferings, and to be instructed and strengthned by 〈◊〉 example.

Matthew 26:39

O my father,] a purely naturall desire in Christ, meer man by which for a short moment, he was afraid of death and of the torments, and did shunne them, but was quickly recalled to obedience by a deliberate will to submit himselfe to God. And besides that, this desire was but conditionall under the will of God accepted of by Christ, from the cotemplation of which he was a while diverted by the extremity of horrors. Therefore there was no sinne, but onely a short conflict of nature, presently overcome by reason and a firme will. Or a small suspension quickly overcome by a most strong resolution, This cup,] see Matthew 20:22.

Matthew 26:41

The Spirit,] that operation of Gods Spirit which is in you, is indeed very fervent and vigorous: but it is withstood and counterpoized by the oppositions of your remisse and corrupt nature: wherefore you might easily be overcome, if you did not by prayer to God obtaine new strength; and by your watchfulnesse you did not keepe your selves from the deceipts of the wicked one. See Galat. 5. 17.

Matthew 26:43

Were heavie] not so much with naturall sleepinesse, as with extreame griefe, Luke 22:45.

Matthew 26:45

Sleepe on] an ironicall kinde of speech: as Thee said I could not awake you with my words; here are other people, who will awake you in another manner.

Matthew 26:46

Let us bee going] not to runne away but to goe meet with mine enemies: And so he sheweth his free-will to offer himselfe to death, after he had overcome and ruled all humane affection.

Matthew 26:51

One of them] namely Peter, Ioh. 18. 10.

Matthew 26:52

That take] that is to say have undertaken to shed humane bloud, without any calling.

Matthew 26:53

Twelve] which was the compleate number of a Roman army which Christ peradventure thought upon.

Matthew 26:60

Found they none] well agreeing, and that had any conformity, betweene two, or three, whereby they might legally condemn him according to the Law, Deuteronomy 17:6.

Matthew 26:61

I am able] they falsifie the words, and subvert Christs meaning, and therefore are called false witnesses.

Matthew 26:63

Held his peace] bearing his calumnies patiently and being disposed to not hinder nor stay the prefixed houre of his death. And to shew that he did voluntarily take upon him the qualitie of guiltie before men; for a signe that he did as such an one appeare before God for them: Yet without wresting or concealing the truth which was necessary to bee known of all men concerning his person and office.

Matthew 26:64

Hereafter] in time to come, at my second comming to judgement I will make it plainely appeare what I am, which you now aske me in derision and malice Of power] the name of God Himselfe, used amongst the Iewes.

Matthew 26:65

Rent] to faine great zeale and wrathfulnesse, as against a great blasphemie, as they used to doe when they saw or heard of some cruell act. See Ier. 36. 24.

Matthew 26:67

Did they spit] as it were upon a condemned malefactor.

Matthew 26:68

Saying] after they had covered his face, Mar. 14 65.

Matthew 26:71

Of Nazareth] see Matthew 2:23.

Matthew 26:73

Thy speech] rough, Galileish, Acts 2:7. the Apostles being most of them of that Country, where the Lord was most frequently conversant, Ioh. 7. 52.