Division V
(Matthew 19:2 – 26:1
19:2-22:46 Narrative: Rejection of the King
19:2 Perean Ministry
Opening
Jesus has moved his healing ministry to Perea, that is Bethany beyond the Jordan.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 19:1-2
1 And it came to pass, when Jesus completed these words, He removed from Galilee, and came into the borders of Judea, beyond the Jordan.
2 and great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them there.
19:3-12 Teaching About Divorce
Question About the Law
The Pharisees question Jesus about the legality of divorce.
Basic Principles
Jesus, in referring to Genesis 1:27, explains the basic principle that the adam was created in God’s image as male and female.
Jesus connects Genesis 2:24 with Genesis 1:27, and explains that a man after leaving his parents, shall cleave to his woman, becoming one flesh.
Higher Standards
In response to the Pharisees, Jesus sets a higher standard than Moses had.
The Greek word is πορνεία=porneia, and means prostitution; in the Latin, fornicatio, means whoredom or prostitution. Unchasity would be meant here.
This view of divorce on account of unchasity was the more conservative view held by many Jews.
The disciples assert that it is best not to marry then.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 19:3-12
3 And the Pharisees came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for every cause?”
4 And He answering said to them, “Did ye not
acknowledge, that He having made them, from the beginning male and female made them. [1]
5 “On account of this shall a man leave a father
and a mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?[2]
6 “so as to they are no longer two, but one flesh;
what therefore God did yoke together, let no man separate.”
7 They say to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a roll of divorce, and to divorce her?”
8 He says to them–“Moses for your hardness of
heart permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it has not been so.
9 “And I say to you, that, whoever should divorce
his wife, except for prostitution, and should marry another, does commit adultery; and he who did marry her that has been divorced, does commit adultery.”
10 His disciples say to Him, “If this is the case of the man with the wife, it is better not to marry.”
11 And He said to them, “Not all finds room for
this word, but to whom it has been given;
12 “for there are eunuchs who from their mother’s
womb were born so; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs who made eunuchs of themselves for the sake of the kingdom of the heavens. Who is able to find room, let him find room.”
19:13-15 Jesus Blesses the Young Children
Central Theme: Young Children
Many children die young, and so heaven is full of young children.
Jesus uses the innocency of young children as a standard.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 19:13-15
13 Then were brought to Him little children, that He could lay His hands on them and pray, but the disciples censored them.
14 But Jesus said, “Permit ye the young children,
and do not hinder them to come unto Me, for such is the kingdom of the heavens.”
15 And having laid His hands on them, He went on from there.
19:16-22 The Rich Young Man
Good - Do
The person here is talking about earning eternal life by doing good.
Keep the Commandments
Jesus doesn’t talk about doing anything, but rather keeping the Commandments. Notice that only the fifth to the ninth commandments are stated as in Exodus 20:12-16; however, the tenth commandment is really expanded upon by loving one’s neighbor as thyself. Could the Commandment to love one’s neighbor be replacing the tenth commandment?
Treasure in Heaven
Even though this man had stated that he kept watch on all these Commandments, Jesus challenged him to the truth that his possessions kept him from giving to the poor. Could this Commandment to love one’s neighbor be where this young man failed to keep?
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 19:16-22
16 And behold, someone having come to Him, said, “Good Teacher, what good thing must I do that I may have eternal life?”
17 And He said to him, “Why do thou call Me good?
There is none good, but One, that is, God. But if thou wish to enter life, keep the Commandments.”
18a He says to Him, “Which ones?”
20 The young man says to Him, “All these things have I kept watch, What yet do I lag behind?”
21 Jesus said to him, “If thou wish to be perfect,
go, sell thy possessions and give to the poor, and thou will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
22 But the young man having heard this word, went away grieving, because he was one having many possessions.
19:23-30 Principle of Salvation
Eye of a Needle
What is meant by the eye of a needle? Two ideas exist.
In Nazareth, the city gates would usually be closed lest the city was attacked. There was a small door for people to enter and exit, referred to as the eye of a needle. However, the large gate would be opened when merchants with their camels trains came to trade.
Another theory is that Jesus was using hyperbole when referring to a camel going through a sewing needle.
Either way, it would be harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.
Central Theme: All Things Possible with God
Mankind cannot save themselves, but only God can.
Eye of a Needle
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 19:23-30
23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Amen, I say to
you that with difficulty a rich person will enter into the kingdom of heaven! 24 “And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to
go through the eye of a needle than a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God.”
25 And having heard, his disciples were exceedingly amazed, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
26 But having looked at them, Jesus said to them, “With mankind this is impossible, but with God
all things are possible.”
27 Then answering, Peter said to Him, “Behold, we left everything and followed Thee. What then will there be for us?”
28 And Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you
that ye having followed Me in the regeneration of the world when the Son of Man should sit on his his throne of glory, ye also shall sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 “And everyone who left houses or brothers or
sisters or father or mother or wife or children or
fields on account of my name shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit eternal life. 30 “But many who are first will be last, and the last
shall be first.”
20:1-16 Parable of the Vineyard Workers
Jewish Time
First hour = Dawn – 8 am
Third hour = 9-10 am
Sixth hour = Noon-1 pm
Ninth hour = 3-4 pm
Eleventh hour = 5-6 pm
Twelfth hour = 6pm – Sundown
Temple Liturgical Services & Jesus
FIRST HOUR: Dawn – 8 am
Morning sacrifice of 1st male lamb (Num. 28:4-8).
Jesus is bound and delivered to Pontius Pilate to be sentenced to death (Mt. 27:1-2).
THIRD HOUR: 9-10 am
Morning prayer time begins (Acts 2:15).
Jesus is crucified (Mk. 15:25).
SIXTH HOUR: Noon-1 pm
2nd lamb drinks from a gold cup and remains near the altar until it is sacrificed (Mishnah: Tamid, 3:4); Individual prayers begin (Acts 10:9).
Jesus is given vinegar to drink (Mt. 27:48);
Darkness is over the land (Mt 27:45).
NINTH HOUR: 3-4 pm
Evening sacrifice of 2nd male lamb (Antiquities of the Jews 14.4.3; second hour of prayer (Acts 3:1, 10:3, 30).
Jesus dies (Mt. 27:46).
ELEVENTH HOUR: 5-6 pm
Burning of incense and priestly benediction (Mishnah: Tamid, 6:3-7:2; Num. 6:24-26).
Jesus’ body is prepared with a hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes, and wrapped in linen. (Jn. 19:38-40).
Although not mentioned in Scripture, did Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin (Mk. 14:43, Lk. 23:50), and Nicodemus, a Pharisee (Jn. 3:1), give a priestly benediction?
Central Theme: Reward
The workers were paid the same, by which they had all agreed to the same reward.
Unjust or Wrong
Although it seems unfair that those who labored longest received the same as those who labored least; however, they all agreed to the same wages. If the master chose to give those who worked one hour a day’s earnings, that was his prerogative.
For Many Are Called, But Few Chosen
Although everyone is called, few are chosen to enter the Kingdom of God because they don’t want to live by kingdom principles. The one who worked all day chose to complain against the master rather than be happy to what he agreed.
Many hear the call of the gospel, but few receive it. God must draw the hearts of those responding to the gospel message.
The Textus Receptus agrees with an early 4th/5th century manuscript, W 032, concerning this last part of this particular verse.
Vineyard
Denarius
A denarius, a Roman coin, was the common day’s wage.
1 gold aureus = 2 gold quinarii
2 gold quinarii = 25 silver denarii
25 silver denarii = 50 silver quinarii
50 silver quinarii = 100 bronze sestertii
100 bronze sestertii = 200 bronze dupondii
200 bronze dupondii = 400 copper asses
400 copper asses = 800 copper semisses
800 copper semisses = 1,600 copper quadrantes
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 20:1-16
1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man, a master
of the house, who went out early in the day to hire workmen into his vineyard.
2 “And having agreed with the workmen for a
denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3 “And having gone out about the third hour, he
saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
4 “And said to them; ‘Go ye also into the
vineyard, and whatever may be right I will
give you.’ And they went.
5 “Again having gone out about the sixth and ninth
hour, he did in like manner.
6 “And about the eleventh hour, having gone
out, he found others standing idle, and says to them, ‘Why have ye stood here all the day idle?’
7 “They say to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He
says to them, ‘Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatever may be right, ye shall receive.’
8“And late in the day having come, says
the master of the vineyard to his steward, ‘Call the workmen, and pay them their reward, having begun from the last unto the first.’
9 “And having come those about the eleventh
hour, they received a denarius each.
10 “And the first having come, they considered
that they will receive more; and they also received a denarius each.
11 “And having received, they were murmuring
against the master of the house,
12 Saying, ‘These last produced one hour, and
thou made them equal to us, to whom having borne the burden of the day and the burning heat.’
13 “But answering to one of them, said, ‘Companion,
I do thee no wrong: did thou not agree with me
for a denarius?’
14 “‘Take what is thine, and go! But I wish to give to
this last person, as to thee also.
15 “‘Or is it not lawful for me what I wish to do with
my own? Or is thine eye evil, because I am good?’
16 “So the last shall be first, and the first last:
for many are called, but few chosen.”
20:17-19 Principle Third Prediction of Death, Resurrection
Third Prediction of His Death
Could the disciples, whom Jesus was foretelling that He would be crucified and raised from the dead, receive this news again?
Third Day
In the year 33 AD, Passover was held on April 3 falling on Friday; the Yom HaBikkurim or Rishit Katzir, the waving of the barley on the day of firstfruits, was on April 5, falling on Sunday.
Since Jesus died on the Jewish Passover, held on Friday, then on the third day, on Sunday, he would be raised.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt.20:17-19
17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples in private, and on the way He said to them,
18 “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of
Man shall be delivered up unto the chief priests and scribes, and they shall condemn Him to death,
19 “And shall deliver Him up to the Gentiles to mock,
and to flog, and to crucify: and the third day He shall be raised.”
20:20-28 Principle of a Mother's Request
Joseph's Family
Mother: Salome
Salome, was the mother of the sons of Zebedee, John and James. She was a daughter of Joseph and the widow of Cleopas, Joseph’s brother. Therefore, Jesus was her much younger half-brother.
Salome was a common name for females in that time, and might be a Hellenized form of shalom, meaning peace.
Salome would be a much older half-sister to Jesus, and therefore, James and John would be half-nephews to Jesus.
Mother of the Sons of Zebedee
Salome, the mother of the sons of Zebedee, worships Jesus and asks for a favor from Him. Jesus asks what is is, and she responds with her wish about her sons’ position in the future kingdom.
Drink the Cup and Baptism
The conversation shifts to the plural with Jesus directing his answer to the two sons. He asks them if they can drink the cup and be baptized.
Ten Were Vexed
Salome would want her sons to be next to Jesus in his kingdom rather than her sister’s sons, James (the less) and Joses, or Peter and the others. Naturally, this request would vex the others.
Servant
This Greek word for servant here is διάκονο = diakonos, in which the word deacon is derived.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 20:20-28
20 Then came to Him the mother of the sons
of Zebedee with her sons, she worshipping and asking something from Him.
21 And He said to her, “What do thou wish?”
She says to Him, “Say that these two sons of mine may sit, one on thy right hand and the other on thy left, in thy kingdom.”
22 But answering Jesus said, “Ye have not known
what ye ask for yourselves. Are ye able to drink the
cup that I, I am about to drink? and the baptism that I, I am baptized to be baptized?”
They say to Him, “We are able.”
23 And he says to them, “Indeed ye shall drink
My cup, and ye shall be baptized with the baptism that I, I am baptized: but to sit on my right hand and on my left is not mine to give, but it shall be given for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”
24 And having heard, the ten were vexed concerning the two brothers.
25 But Jesus having called them to himself, said, “Ye have known that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and the great ones exercise authority
over them.
26 “But it shall not be so among you: but whoever
should wish to become great among you, let him be your servant;
27 “And whoever should wish to be first among you,
let him be your slave:
28 “Even as the Son of Man came not to be
ministered, but to minister, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
20:29-34 Principle of the Two Blind Men who recived sight
NT Jericho
Jericho, also known as the city of palm trees, is located northeast of Jerusalem just above the Dead Sea. It is situated 800 feet below sea level. The New Testament Jericho extended past the Old Testament Jericho.
Blind Men
The two blind men represent a spiritually blind Israel. One of the men was Bartimaeus.
Son of David
Although blind, the two men understood that Jesus is the Son of David. Of course, the crowd didn’t approve.
Central Theme: What Do Ye Wish
Obviously, Jesus would see their need. But he posed the question to the two men, so that they could speak out their need.
Our Eyes May Be Opened
Their request ‘that our eyes may be opened’ was representative of Israel’s need.
Followed Him
After they are healed, they became followers of the Lord Jesus.
Jericho
Ascent from Jericho
Leaving Jericho, the ascent rises approximately 3200 feet toward Jerusalem. A robust traveler could complete the arduous 15-mile hike in about 8 hours.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 20:29-34
29 And they going forth from Jericho, a great multitude followed Him.
30 And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, having heard that Jesus is passing by, cried out, saying, “Lord, show mercy upon us, Son of David.”
31 And the multitude censored them, that they should keep silence: but they cried out all the more, saying, “Lord, show mercy upon us, Son of David.”
32 And having stood, Jesus called them and said, “What do ye wish I should do for you?”
33 They say to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be
opened.”
34 And having felt compassion, Jesus touched their eyes: and straightway they recovered sight, and they followed Him.
21:1-11 The Triumphal Entry
Passion Week
Bethphage
Bethphage means house of unripe figs.
Donkey colt
A colt is a male foal, while a filly is a female foal. A foal is a young donkey.
Daughter of Zion
The daughter of Zion implies that God is Jerusalem’s father.
Humble
Jesus stated in the Beatitudes that the meek will inherit the earth (Mt. 5:5).
Was Shaken
Matthew uses the Greek word, σείω = seiō, which means to shake, and is closely related to the Greek word, σεισμός=seismos, meaning earthquake.
In other words, when Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey and a colt, and the multitudes shouting praises, the city was greatly shaken!
Passover Lamb
A Passover Lamb was kept in safekeeping from the tenth day until the fourteenth day when it was sacrificed. Likewise, Jesus stayed in the Jerusalem area from the tenth day to the fourteenth day when he was crucified. Since the new day began at sunset, Jesus arrived in Jerusalem as the Passover Lamb prior to the commencement of the tenth day.
Lion of Judah
Astronomically, when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the moon would have been in the constellation of Leo (Ari), the Lion of Judah, the great rampant lion, leaping to rend, with his feet over the writhing body of Hydra, the Serpent, which is in the act of fleeing. The sun would have been in the constellation of Aries (T’leh), the Sacrificial Ram or Lamb.
God had orchestrated the timing of Jesus’ arrival into Jerusalem to correlate with the heavenly drama. The date of his arrival would have been on the first day of the week, March 29, 33 AD.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 21:1-11
1 And when they brought near to Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, unto the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
2 saying to them, “Go ye into the village opposite
you, and straightway ye will find a donkey having been tied, and a colt with her. Having loosened them bring ye them to Me.
3 “And if anyone may say anything to you, ye shall
say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and straightway he will send them.”
4 All this came to pass that it might be fulfilled that having been poured out by the prophet, saying:
5 ‘“Say ye to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, thy King is coming to thee, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and a colt, a foal of a beast for the yoke.'”[5]
6 And the disciples having gone and having done as Jesus commanded them.
7 They brought the donkey and the colt, and put upon them their cloaks, and He set upon them.
8 And a very great multitude spread their cloaks on the road; and others were cutting off branches from the trees and were spreading them on the road.
9 And the multitudes, those going before Him and those following, were crying out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He coming in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!”[6]
10 And He having entered into Jerusalem, all the city was shaken, saying, “Who is this?”
11 And the multitudes were saying, “This is the prophet, Jesus, the one from Nazareth of Galilee.”
21:12-17 Jesus Cleanses the Temple
Passion Week
Temple
Temple
The Court of the Gentiles was outside the Temple area.
Past the Gate Beautiful was the Court of the Women, and past the Nicanor Gate was the main Temple Court were only men could congregate.
Blind and Lame
Could the blind or lame be at the temple?
At the time of Jesus, the blind or lame were allowed in the Court of the Gentiles, but not past the Gate Beautiful.
There was no Scriptural reason to exclude the blind or lame, except they could not serve as priest. To deny them access where other men congregated was a manmade rule.
Vexed
Why were the chief priests and scribes vexed?
1) The blind and lame came to Jesus in the main Temple Court, that is, past the Court of the Gentiles and the Court of the Women.
2) The children were praising Jesus with the words, “Hosanna to the Son of David”
Bethany
Bethany means house of affliction.
Bethany
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 21:12-17
12 And Jesus entered into the temple of God, and cast out all those selling and buying in the temple, and overturned the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of those selling the doves.
13 And He says to them, “It has been written,
‘My house shall be called a house of prayer;’ but ye did make it a ‘den of robbers.'”[7]
14 And the blind and lame came to Him in the temple; and He healed them.
15 And the chief priests and scribes having seen the wonders that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David;”[8] they were vexed.
16 And they said to Him, “D0 thou hear what these children say?” And Jesus says to them, “Yes, did ye
never read, ‘Out of the mouth of children and nursing babies Thou did prepare praise?'”[9]
17 And having left them, He went forth out of the city into Bethany; and lodged there.
21:18-22 The Barren Fig Tree
Fig Tree
Figs have two seasons:
1) The spring crop is called the breba or bakkurot in Hebrew, produced on the previous year’s new growth, and begins appearing somewhere between the spring equinox and Shavuot (Pentecost).
2) The main crop ripens in late summer or early fall.
The breba figs appear before the leaves. So, when Jesus saw the fig tree with leaves, he was expecting to see some fruit on it since it was springtime.
The fig tree represents the priesthood and maybe even Israel.
Mountain
Is the mountain a reference to Jerusalem?
Fig leaves
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 21:18-22
18 And early in the day having returned into the city, He hungered.
19 And having seen one fig tree on the road, He came to it, and found nothing in it, except leaves only. And He says to it, “No more from thou may fruit be to the age.” And immediately the fig tree dried up.
20 And the disciples having seen, marveled, saying, “How immediate is the fig tree dried up!”
21 And answering Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say
to you, If ye may have faith, and may not doubt, not only will ye do this of the fig tree, but even to this mountain ye shall say, ‘Be thou lifted, and be thou cast into the sea;’ it shall come to pass.
22 “And all things, as much as ye may ask in
prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”
21:23-27 Jesus' Authority Challenged
Authority
They chief priests and elders are questioning Jesus’ authority. Of course, if He told them they would have been angry.
Jesus had responded that He would not tell them. Why? They knew the answer and yet kept silent.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 21:23-27
23 And of Him having come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him while he was teaching, saying, “By what authority are thou doing these things? and who gave thee this authority?”
24 And answering Jesus said to them, “I also will ask you one matter, which if ye should tell Me, I also will tell you by what authority I do these things.
25 “From where was the baptism of John? from
heaven, or of men?”
And they were considering with themselves, saying, “If we should say, ‘From heaven;’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did ye not believe him?’
26 “But if we should say, ‘Of men;’ we fear the multitude; for all hold John as a prophet.”
27 And they answered Jesus, and said, “We do not know.”
And He said to them, “Neither I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
21:28-32 The Parable of the Two Sons
Two Children
The first son represented the chief priest and elders, and the second son represented the publicans and harlots. The publicans and harlots, who were far from God, repented; but the chief priest and elders who were stewards of God’s priesthood, had turned away from God.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 21:28-32
28 “And what do ye think? A man had two children. And
having come to the first, he said, ‘Son, go work in my vineyard today.’
29 But he answering, said, ‘I do not wish to:’
but afterwards having repented, he went.
30 And having come to the second, he said in like
manner. But he answering, said, ‘I go, sir:’ but went not.
31 “Which of the two did the will of his father?”
They say to Him, “The first.”
Jesus says to them, “Amen I say to you, that the
publicans and the harlots do go before you into the kingdom of God.
32 “For John came unto you in the way of
righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, having seen, repented not afterwards to believe him.”
21:33-46 The Parable of the Wicked Tenants
Hedge
A hedge was build around the vineyard to prevent wild animals from destroying the vineyard (Ps. 80:12-13, Song. 2:15).
Tower
A tower was built so a watchman could be on the lookout for plunders.
Husbandmen
Husbandmen were farmers who knew how to cultivate the land.
Writings
Known as the Ketuvim in Hebrew, the Writings consisted of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs (Solomon).
Head of a Corner
Who is the cornerstone, or head of a corner, but Jesus Christ.
The cornerstone is the foundation stone, and the rest of the building was aligned to it. It set the geographic location of the building.
Winepress
Evil Husbandmen
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 21:33-46
33 “Hear ye another parable: There was a certain
man, a master of a house, who planted a vineyard, and placed a hedge round it, and dug in it a winepress, and built a tower, and farmed it out to husbandmen, and went abroad.
34 “And when the season of the fruits brought near,
he sent his servants unto the husbandmen, to receive his fruits.
35 “And the husbandmen having taken his servants,
one they thrashed, and one they killed, and one they stoned.
36 “Again he sent other servants more than the first,
and they did to them in the same manner.
37 “But later he sent unto them his son, saying, ‘They
will reverence my son.’
38 “But the husbandmen having seen the son, said
among themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize his inheritance.’
39 “And having taken him, they cast him out of
the vineyard, and killed him.
40 “Therefore when the master of the vineyard
should come, what will he do to those husbandmen.”
41 They say to Him, “Evil men, he will evilly destroy them, and will farm out the vineyard to other husbandmen, who will pay him the fruits in their seasons.”
42 Jesus says to them, “Did ye never read in
the Writings, ‘A stone that the builders
rejected, this became head of a corner.’ From the Lord this has come to pass, and it is wonderful in our eyes?” [10]
43 “Because of this I say to you, that the kingdom of
God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth its fruits.
44 “And he having fallen on this stone shall be
broken: but on whomever it shall fall, it will crush him.”
45 And the chief priests and Pharisees having heard his parables, they knew that He speaks about them;
46 but seeking to seize Him, they feared the multitudes, because they were holding Him as a prophet.
[10] Psalms 118:22-23
22:1-14 The Parable of the Banquet
Fatlings
Fatlings are young animals that have been fattened up for slaughter.
For Many Are Called, But Few Chosen
Although everyone is called, few are chosen to enter the Kingdom of God because they don’t want to live by kingdom principles, such as the one who chose not to wear a wedding garment.
Many hear the call of the gospel, but few receive it. God must draw the hearts of those responding to the gospel message.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 22:1-14
1 And having answered, Jesus again spoke in parables to them, saying,
2 “The kingdom of the heaven was likened to a man,
a king, who made wedding feasts for his son,
3 “And he sent forth his servants to call those having
been called to the wedding feasts, but they were not willing to come.
4 “Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, ‘Say
to those who have been called, ‘Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and the fatlings have been killed, and all things are ready: come ye to the wedding feasts.’ ‘
5 “But they having overlooked it, went away, one to
his own field, and another to his business;
6 “And the rest having seized his servants,
maltreated them, and killed them.
7 “But the king having heard was wroth: and
having sent forth his armies, he destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
8 “Then he says to his servants, ‘The wedding
feasts indeed is ready, but those having been called were not worthy.
9 “‘Be going ye then on the passage ways, and as
many as ye should find, call ye to the wedding feasts.’
10 “And those servants having gone forth into the
roads, gathered together all, as many as they found, both evil and good: and the wedding feast was full of those reclining at table.
11 “And the king having entered in to perceive
those reclining at table, he saw there a man not clothed in a wedding garment;
12 “And he says to him, ‘Companion, how did
thou enter in here not having a wedding garment?’ And he was put to silence.
13 “Then the king said to the servants, ‘Having
bound his hands and feet, and take him up, and cast him forth into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of the teeth.’
14 “For many are called, but few chosen.”
22:15-22 Paying Taxes to Caesar
Herodians
Herodians were those who wanted to see a Herod on the throne again. Although the Pharisees opposed them, these two factions joined together against Jesus.
Tribute unto Caesar
The Jews had been under tribute to Caesar from 63 BC when Pompey had conquered Jerusalem, and Judea became a client kingdom of Rome. In 37 BC, the Romans established the Herodian Kingdom as a client kingdom. Because Judaea was a client kingdom of Rome, she was forced to pay tribute.
In AD 6, Rome joined Judea, Samaria, and Idumea into one Roman province called Judaea. At this point taxes were collected by Rome.
Pay ... the things of Caesar to Caesar
Many Christians have supported an income tax on the erroneous basis that we should render the things of Caesar to Caesar. Are we under tribute or belong to another country?
Initially our country was not set up to pay an income tax, because our founding fathers believed a direct tax on income was wrong. However, Karl Marx advocated the graduated income tax. Unfortunately, the political climate of 1913 pushed for the 16th Amendment which gave power to Congress to lay and collect taxes on income. Although the 16th Amendment should be repealed, Christians need to understand that Jesus was not advocating an income tax.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 22:15-22
15 Then having gone, the Pharisees took counsel how they might entrap Him in word.
16 And they send out to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we have known that Thou are true, and Thou does teach the way of God in truth, and Thou are not caring a thought for no one: for Thou do not look to the face of men.
17 ‘Tell us therefore, What do Thou think? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?’
18 But Jesus having known their baseness, said, “Why do you test Me, hypocrites?
19 “Shew Me the tribute coin.” And they brought to Him a denarius.
20 And He says to them, “Whose is this image and this inscription?”
21a They say unto him, “Caesar’s.”
21b Then He says to them, “Pay therefore the things of
Caesar to Caesar; and the things of God to God.”
22 And having heard, they marveled, and having left Him, they went away.
22:23-33 Sadducees Question the Resurrection
Sadducees
The wealthy Sadducees held the central power at the Temple at Jerusalem and controlled the Sanhedrin, held that the literal interpretation of the Torah was only valid, and rejected the resurrection of the dead, the afterlife, and a spiritual world.
Although they recognized the Prophets and Writings as being divinely inspired, they refused to accept them as sources of Law.
Resurrection
Resurrection means to rise from the dead.
Writings
Known as the Ketuvim in Hebrew, the Writings consisted of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs (Solomon).
Job 19:25-27, and several verses in Psalms (16:9-11, 17:15, 49:14-15, 73:25-26) mention the resurrection.
Jesus was saying they did not understand the Writings or the power of God.
I AM
The beauty of Jesus’ answer is his reference to the I AM is not only in the present tense as it was in Exodus, but he is quoting from the Torah.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 22:23-33
23 In that day came to Him the Sadducees, who are saying that there is no resurrection from the dead, and they questioned Him,
24 Saying, “Teacher, Moses said, If anyone should die, not having children, his brother shall marry his wife, and shall raise up seed to his brother.[11]
25 “Now there were with us seven brothers: and the first, having married, died, and not having seed, he left his wife to his brother:
26 “In like manner the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.
27 “And last of all the woman died also.
28 “Therefore in the resurrection of which of the seven will she be wife? for they all had her.”
29 And answering, Jesus said to them, “Ye do stray, not knowing the Writings, nor the power of God.
30 “For in the resurrection, neither do they marry,
nor are given in marriage, but are as angels of God in heaven.
31 “But concerning the resurrection of the dead, did ye not read that which was spoken to you by God, saying,
32 “‘I AM the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.'”[12]
33 And heaving heard, the multitudes were amazed at his teaching.
[12] Exodus 3:6, 15-16
22:34-40 The Greatest Commandment
Lawyer
What is meant by lawyer is a doctor of the Jewish law, or an expert in religious law.
Central Theme:
First and Great Commandment
The great commandment is taken from Deut. 6:4-5, ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength.’
Second Commandment
In order to truly love your neighbor, you must be able to love God.
Some say you must learn to love yourself to love your neighbor. But to love your neighbor or yourself, you must be in right relationship with God.
The Law and the Prophets
The Law and the Prophets refers to all the Old Testament Scriptures.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 22:34-40
34 But the Pharisees having heard that He did put to silence the Sadducees, were gathered together unto Him.
35 And one of them, a lawyer, did question, testing Him, and saying,
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”
37 And Jesus said to him, “‘Thou shall love the
Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy understanding.’
38 “This is the first and great
commandment.[13]
39 “And the second is like to it, ‘Thou shall love
thy neighbor as thyself.’[14]
40 “On these two commandments hang all the Law and
the Prophets.”
22:41-46 Whose Son Is The Christ?
Central Theme: LORD
LORD here is a reference to the future Messiah, who will be a son of David.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 22:41-46
41 And of the Pharisees having been gathered together, Jesus questioned them,
42 Saying, “What think ye concerning the Christ? of
whom is He Son?” They say to Him, “Of David.”
43 He says to them, “How then does David in spirit
call him Lord, saying,
44 “‘The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on
my right hand, till I should set thine enemies as thy footstool of your feet?’[15]
45 “If then David calls him Lord, how is He his son?”
46 And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor dared anyone from that day to question Him no more.
[15] Psalms 110:1
23:1-26:1 Teaching: Olivet Discourse
23:1-12 Scribes and Pharisees: Show
Seat of Moses
The public teaching of the Synagogues were performed on the ‘seat of Moses’.
Phylacteries
A set of small boxes, containing parchment scrolls inscribed with Torah verses, were worn on the forehead and arm. Deut. 11:18 is often cited for this reason.
Tzitzit
Rabbi
Rabbi means O my Master in Hebrew.
Guide
καθηγητής = kathēgētēs can be translated as guide, master, or teacher.
Christ
Christ is the Messiah.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 23:1-12
1 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes, and to his disciples,
2 Saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sat down on the
seat of Moses:
3 “All things then, as many as they may say to you to observe, observe and do; but do not ye after their works, for they say and do not.
4 “For they tie together heavy and intolerable burdens, and lay them on the shoulders of men; but with their finger they are not willing to move them.
5 “But all their works they do for to be seen of men: and they widen their phylacteries, and exaggerate the Tzitzit of their cloaks,
6 “And they love the first reclining couches at the meals, and the first seats in the synagogues,
7 “And the greetings in the market-places, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
8 “And ye, may ye not be called Rabbi: for one is your Guide, the Christ; and all ye are brethren.
9 “And ye may not call any your father on the earth: for One is your Father, who is in heaven.
10 “Neither may ye be called Guides: for One is your Guide, even Christ.
11 “But the greater among you shall be your servant.
12 “And whoever will exalt himself shall be abased;
and whoever will humble himself shall be exalted.
23:13-33 Scribes and Pharisees: Eight Woes
Woe
Jesus uses the word, woe, eight times towards the Scribes and Pharisees.
Proselyte
Here, a proselyte was a convert to Judaism. The Scribes and Pharisees travelled afar to make converts.
Gehenna
Some of the wicked kings had sacrificed their children by fire to false gods in the Valley of Gehenna, Jer. 7:31. Gehenna was deemed to be cursed because of the idol worship and the slaughter of their sons to Baal. In Rabbinic writing, Gehenna was the destination of the wicked.
Sanctuary
The sanctuary is not the Temple, but more likely the Holy of Holies.
Cup
Plastered Tombs
The tombs of the dead, also known as sepulchers, were plastered or whitewashed with lime powder on the 15th of Adar out of respect for the dead, and to prevent a person from accidental defilement.
Lawlessness
Lawlessness, as used here, would mean ‘without the religious Law’, or ‘without the Torah’. After comparing the Scribes and Pharisees to plastered tombs, Jesus informed them that they were hypocrites and lawless (without the Law).
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 23:13-33
13 “Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven before men: for ye neither enter in, nor those entering in ye do not permit to come in.
14 “And woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour the houses of widows, and for a pretense offer long prayer: because of this ye shall receive excess judgment.
15 “Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
for ye go round the sea and the dry land to make one proselyte, and when it should happen, ye make him a son of Gehenna twice as much than yourselves.
16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who are saying,
‘Whoever should swear by the sanctuary, it is nothing; but whoever should swear by the gold of the sanctuary, he is a debtor!’
17 “O fools and blind: for which is greater, the gold,
or the sanctuary having sanctified the gold?
18 “And, ‘Whoever may swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever may swear by the gift that is upon it, he is bound to render.’
19 “O fools and blind: for which is greater, the gift, or
the altar sanctifying the gift?
20 “He therefore having sworn by the altar, does swears by it, and by all things thereon.
21 “And he having sworn by the sanctuary, does swear by it, and by Him dwelling therein.
22 “And he having sworn by the heaven, does swear
by the throne of God, and by Him sitting thereon.
23 “Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
for ye pay tithe of the mint and the dill and the cumin, and have neglected the heavier matters of the Law: the judgment, the mercy, and the faith. These, ought to be
done, and not to neglect the other.
24 “O blind guides, who are straining off the gnat,
but are swallowing a camel.
25 “Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
for ye cleanse from without the cup and the plate, but from within they are full of robbery and unwholesomeness.
26 “O blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup and of the plate, that the outside of them may become clean also.
27 “Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
for ye are like plastered tombs, which indeed outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead bones, and of all uncleanness.
28 “So also ye outwardly indeed do appear righteous
to men, but inwardly ye are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29 “Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
for ye build the tombs of the prophets, and adorn the monuments of the righteous,
30 “And ye say, ‘If we would have been in the days
of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in the blood of the prophets.’
31 “So ye bear witnesses to yourselves, that ye are
the sons of them who having murdered the prophets.
32 “And ye, fill ye up the measure of your fathers.
33 “O Serpents! O Generation of vipers! How might
ye escape from the judgment of Gehenna?”
23:34-39 Scribes and Pharisees: Encouraging Perjury
Abel
Abel, the second son of Adam and Eve, was killed by his older brother, Cain.
Zacharias
Although some think that the Old Testament Zacharias, the son of Jehoiada the high priest, is being referenced by Jesus; but, Zacharias was murdered by King Joash.
Zechariah, son of Berekiah, was a priest and prophet after the exile. We do not know how he died.
Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, could have served as a legitimate high priest. However, we do not know his father’s name. Was he murdered by the priests or Pharisees?
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 23:34-39
34 “Because of this, behold, I send to you prophets,
and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye will kill and crucify; and some of them ye will flog in your synagogues, and will persecute them from city to city:
35 “That on you may come all the righteous
blood being poured out on the earth, from the blood of the righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.
36 “Amen, I say to you, All these things shall come
upon this generation.”
37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that are killing the prophets, and are stoning those having been sent unto thee, how often would I gathered together thy children, in which way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and ye would not!
38 “Behold, your house is left to you desolate.
39 “For I say to you, Ye may not see Me from now
until ye should say, ‘Blessed is He coming in the name of the Lord.'”[16]
[16] Psalms 118:26
24:1-2 Temple Destruction Foretold
A Stone Upon a Stone
Jesus predicts the destruction of the temple, which happened in August 70 AD.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 24:1-2
1 And having gone forth, Jesus was going away from the temple: and his disciples came to Him for to show Him the buildings of the temple.
2 And Jesus said to them, “See ye not all these
things? Amen, I say unto you, a stone upon a stone may not be left here, that shall not be taken down.”
24:3-14 End of the Age
I AM
The false Christs will mislead many by claiming to be the “I AM”.
Central Theme: On Account of My Name
On account of Jesus’ name, we will be delivered up to affliction, killed, and hated.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 24:3-14
3 And He was sitting upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him in private, saying, “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the consummation of the age?”
4 And answering, Jesus said to them, “Beware lest
any one mislead you.
5 “for many shall come in my name, saying, I AM the
Christ; and shall mislead many.
6 “And ye shall be likely to hear of wars and reports of wars; take heed, be ye not stirred, for it is needful all these things to come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 “For nation shall rouse against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and plagues, and earthquakes in places.
8 “And all these things are the beginning of
travails.”
9 “Then they shall deliver you up to affliction, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated by all the nations on account of my
name.”
10 “And then many shall be made to stumble, and shall deliver up one another, and shall hate one another.
11 “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall mislead many.
12 “And because lawlessness shall prevail, the love of the many shall grow cold.
13 “But he having endured to the end, he shall be saved.”
14 “And this Good News of the kingdom shall be proclaimed in all the world for a testimony to all the nations; and then shall come the end.”
24:15-22 Abomination of Desolation
Abomination of Desolation
The abomination of desolation came when the pagan Roman armies invaded Jerusalem in AD 63-70. (Historia Ecclesiastica iii.5) Many of the Christians were spared when they relocated to Pella in Perea.
Let Them Flee Into The Mountains
Some of Judaea lies in the Negev and the coastal plains, where armies could easily march through. However, other parts of Judaea is mountainous, and the word into is a better translation than to, because it would be important to go into the mountains and hide.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 24:15-22
15 “When ye therefore may see the abomination
of desolation, having been spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, (whoever is reading, let him think:)[17]
16 “Then those in Judaea, let them flee into the
mountains:
17 “He on the housetop, Let him not come down to take
up any thing out of his house:
18 “And the one in the field, let him not turn back to take his cloaks.
19 “And woe to those being pregnant in their womb, and to those nursing babies in those days!
20 “But pray ye that your flight might not be in winter, nor on a sabbath:
21 “For then shall be great affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the world till now, no, nor may be.
22 “And if those days were not shortened, no flesh would be saved: but because of the elect, those days shall be shortened.”
[17] Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11
24:23-31 The Return of the Son of Man
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 24:23-31
23 “Then if any one may say to you, ‘Behold, here is
the Christ, or there;’ may ye not believe.
24 “For false Christs and false prophets shall rise,
and they will give great signs and wonders; so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.
25 “Behold, I have said it to you beforehand.
26 “If therefore they may say to you, ‘Behold, He is
in the wilderness;’ may ye not go forth: ‘Behold, he is in the chambers;’ may ye not believe.
27 “For as the lightning comes forth from the east,
and shines as far as the west; so shall also be the coming of the Son of Man.
28 “For wherever the carcass may be, there shall
the eagles be gathered together.”
29 “And straightway after the affliction of those
days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from the heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: [18]
30 “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man
in the heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth beat their breasts, and they shall see the Son of Man coming upon the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.[19]
31 “And he shall send his angels with a great sound
of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heavens unto the other end.”
24:32-35 The Lesson of the Fig Tree
Fig Tree
Figs have two seasons:
1) The spring crop is called the breba or bakkurot in Hebrew, produced on the previous year’s new growth, and begins appearing somewhere between the spring equinox and Shavuot (Pentecost).
2) The main crop ripens in late summer or early fall.
The breba figs appear first before the leaves in early spring.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 24:32-35
32 “And from the fig tree learn ye a parable: When
her branch may already have become tender, and may put forth its leaves, ye know that the summer is near:
33 “So also YE, when ye may see all these things,
ye know that it is near, at the doors.
34 “Amen, I say to you, This generation may not
pass away, till all these things may come to pass.’
35 “The heaven and the earth shall pass away, but
My words shall not pass away.”
24:36-51 Be Ready At Any Hour
Marrying
Marrying might not have been referring to marriage between a man (ish) and a woman (ishah), but rather it might have been referring to the marriage of the sons of God with the daughters of the adam, which produced the Nephilim (Genesis 6:1-5).
Also, people were occupied with partying rather than the judgment that would descend upon them.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 24:36-51
36 “But concerning that day and the hour no one has known, not even the angels of heaven, except my Father only.
37 “And as the days of Noe, so shall be also the coming of the Son of Man.
38 “For as they were in the days before the flood eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, till the day Noe entered into the ark,
39 “And they did not know till the flood came, and took all away; so shall be also the coming of the Son of Man.
40 “Then two men are in the field; one is taken, and the other is left.
41 “Two women are grinding in the mill; one is taken, and the other is left.
42 “Watch ye therefore, for ye have not known in what hour your Lord does come.
43 “But this know ye, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief comes, he would watch, and would not suffer his house to be dug though.
44 “Because of this also ye, be ye ready: for in what hour do ye not think the Son of man comes.”
45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom
the master did set over his household, to give them the nourishment in season?
46 “Happy is that servant, whom his master having come shall find so doing.
47 “Amen I say to you, That he shall set him over all
his possessions.
48 “And if that evil servant may say in his heart, ‘My master delays to come;’
49 “And may begin to beat the fellow-servants, and to eat and to drink with the drunken;
50 “The master of that servant will come in a day
when he does not expect, and in an hour to which he does not know,
51 “And will punish him with the last severity, and
will appoint his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of the teeth.”
25:1-13 The Parable of the Ten Virgins
Ten
Ten represents completion.
Lamps
Lamps represent us, who hold the Light.
Five
Five represents grace.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 25:1-13
1 “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened to
ten virgins, who having taken their lamps, went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 “And five of them were prudent, and five moronic.
3 “Those who were moronic having taken their
lamps, did not take with themselves oil:
4 “But the prudent took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 “And the bridegroom tarrying, they all dozed and were sleeping.
6 “And at midnight a cry was made, Behold, the bridegroom comes; go ye forth to meet him.
7 “Then all those virgins arose, and prepared their lamps.
8 “And the moronic said to the prudent, ‘Give us of
your oil; for our lamps are going out.’
9 “But the prudent answered, saying, ‘Not so; lest
there may not be sufficient for us and you: but go ye rather unto those selling, and buy for yourselves.’
10 “And they while going away to buy, the bridegroom came; and those ready went in with him to the wedding: and the door was shut.
11 “And afterwards the other virgins come,
saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’
12 “But he answering said, ‘Amen, I say unto you,
I have not known you.’
13 “Watch ye therefore, for neither have ye known
the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man comes.”
25:14-30 The Parable of the Talents
Talent
A talent is worth 129 pounds, 14 ounces of gold or silver.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 25:14-30
14 “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man going
abroad, did call his own servants, and delivered up to them his possessions.
15 “And to the one he gave five talents, and to another
two, and to another one; to each according to his ability; and went abroad straightway.
16 “And having gone, he having received the five talents traded with them, and gained five other talents.
17 “In like manner also, he having received the two, he also gained two others.
18 “But he having received the one, having gone away, dug in the earth, and hid the money of his master.
19 “And after a long time the master of those
servants comes, and settles an account with them.
20 “And having come, he having received the five
talents brought other five talents, saying, ‘Master, thou delivered five talents to me: behold, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 “And his master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant: thou were faithful over a few things, I will appoint thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy master.’
22 “And having come, he also having received the two talents said, ‘Master, thou delivered two talents to me: behold, I have gained two more talents besides them.’
23 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; thou were faithful over a few things, I will appoint thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy master.’
24 “And having come, he also having received the
one talent said, ‘Master, I knew thee that thou are a hard man, reaping where thou did not sow, and gathering from where thou did not scatter:
25 “‘And having been afraid, having gone away, I
hid thy talent in the earth: behold, thou have what is thine.’
26 “And answering, his master said to him, ‘Evil servant, and idle! thou had known that I reap where I did not sow, and gather from where I did not scatter:
27 “‘It was needful for thee then to cast my money
to the bankers, and I having come, I should receive my own with interest.
28 “‘Take therefore the talent from him, and give
it to him having the ten talents.’
29 “For to every one having shall be given, and he shall be made to abound; and from him not having, even that which he has shall be taken from him.
30 “And cast ye forth the unprofitable servant
into outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of the teeth.”
25:31-46 The Sheep and the Goats
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 25:31-46
31 “And whenever the Son of Man may come in his
glory, and all the holy angels with him, then He shall sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 “And all the nations shall be gathered together
before Him: and He shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats:
33 “And He shall set the sheep indeed on his right
hand, but the goats on the left.”
34 “Then shall the King say to those on his right
hand, Come ye, the blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom having been prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 “For I hungered, and ye gave me to eat: I thirsted,
and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me:
36 “Naked, and ye clothed me: I was weak, and
ye examined me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.”
37 “Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying,
‘Lord, when did we see thee hungering, and fed thee? or thirsting, and we gave thee to drink?
38 “‘When did we see thee a stranger, and received
thee? or naked, and we clothed thee?
39 “‘And when did we see weak, or in prison, and
we came unto thee?'”
40 “And answering, the King shall say to them, ‘Amen I say to you, Inasmuch as ye did it to one of the least of these my brethren, ye did it to Me.’
41 “Then shall He say also to those on the left hand,
‘Go away from Me, being cursed, into the eternal fire, that having been prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 “‘For I did hunger, and ye gave Me nothing to eat: I
did thirst, and ye gave Me no drink:
43 “‘I was a stranger, and ye did not receive Me:
naked, and ye did not clothe Me: weak, and in prison, and ye did not minister to Me.’
44 “Then shall they answer, they also saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungering, or thirsting, or a stranger, or naked, or weak, or in prison, and we did not minister to Thee?’
45 “Then shall He answer them, saying, ‘Amen I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to Me.’
46 “‘And these shall go away to eternal punishment: but the righteous to eternal life.'”
26:1-2 Closing Conclusion
Passover
Not only is Jesus informing his disciples that the Passover is approaching, but He will become the Passover Lamb. This is the fourth prediction of his death.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 26:1-2
1 And it came to pass, when Jesus completed these words, He said to his disciples,
2 “Ye have known that after two days is the Passover,
and the Son of Man is delivered to be crucified.”