WE have Looked at the Life of Christ on earth up until the Cleansing of th Temple and the Three Parables spoken to the Jewish Leadership. These were showing that they knew: that they needed to repent (i.e change their minds and their ways), but they refused. The Nation bore the consequences of their rebellion and moral chaos when they were defeated by the Romans in AD 70 and 135.
They knew He had spoken these parables against them and they looked for a way to arrest Him immediately but they feared the crowd.
Now we look at the sequence of Events according to Luke’s Gospel.
1. Paying Taxes to Caesar. Lk 20:20-26
They kept a close watch on Him and sent deceiving, flattering spies, to trap Him in what he said so that he might be handed over to the power and authority of the Roman Governor. Lk 20:20
Luk 20:21 And they asked Him, saying, Teacher, we know that you say and teach rightly, and do not accept the person of anyone, but truly teach the way of God.
Luk 20:22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar or not?
Luk 20:23 But He perceived their craftiness and said to them, Why do you tempt Me?
Luk 20:24 Show Me a coin. Whose image and inscription does it have? They answered and said, Caesar's.
Luk 20:25 And He said to them, Therefore render to Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and to God the things which are God's.
Luk 20:26 And they could not take hold of His words before the people. And they marveled at His answer and were silent.
Notes: 1. They watched him - Παρατηρησαντες, Insidiously watching. See on Luk_14:1 (note).
Spies - Εγκαθετους, from εν, in, and καθιημι, I let down, to set in ambush. One who crouches in some secret place to spy, listen, catch, or hurt. Hesychius explains the word by ενεδρευοντες, those who lie in wait, or in ambush, to surprise and slay. Adam Clark
Matthew says :How they might entangle him - To entangle means to “ensnare,” as birds are taken by a net. This is done secretly, by leading them within the compass of the net and then suddenly springing it over them.
Their profound malice appears farther in the choice of their companions in this business, viz. the Herodians. Herod was at this very time at Jerusalem, whither he had come to hold the passover. Jesus, being of Nazareth, which was in Herod’s jurisdiction, was considered as his subject. Herod himself was extremely attached to the Roman emperor, and made a public profession of it: all these considerations engaged the Pharisees to unite the Herodians, who, as the Syriac intimates, were the domestics (servants) of Herod, in this infernal plot.
2. “Teacher, we know that you say and teach rightly, and do not accept the person of anyone, but truly teach the way of God.”v.21 They hoped by flattery to throw Him off His guard.JFB Watch for flatterers, their plan is to deceive.
3. Their Insidious Question Luk 20:22 “Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar or not?”
They asked "Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar?" designing if He said "no" to give Him up to the Roman governor, if "yes" to stir up the people against Him as violating the law (Deu_17:15). "He perceived their craftiness, and said, “Why tempt ye Me? show Me a penny. (a denarius.)"See Matt 17:24-27 Fausett. “why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?” as he might well call them, who feigned themselves just persons, pretended a great deal of respect for him, call him master, compliment him with the characters of a faithful, sincere, and disinterested preacher; yet by putting the above question, designed no other than to ensnare him, and bring him into disgrace or trouble.
Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar? - Tribute was the tax paid to the Roman government.
Caesar - The Roman emperor.
The name Caesar, after the time of Julius Caesar, became common to all the emperors, as Pharaoh was the common name of all the kings of Egypt. The “Caesar” who reigned at this time was Tiberius - a man distinguished for the grossest vices and most disgusting and debasing sensuality.Barnes
4. His Amazing Answer Luk 20:24 Show Me a coin. Whose image and inscription does it have? They answered and said, Caesar's.
The Coin was a DENARIUS, the tribute money paid to the Romans which the Jews hated.
The tribute-money - The money in which the tribute was paid.
This was a Roman coin. The tribute for the temple service was paid in the Jewish shekel; that for the Roman government in foreign coin. Their having that coin about them, and using it, was proof that they themselves held it lawful to pay the tribute; and their pretensions, therefore, were mere hypocrisy. A penny - A Roman denarius, worth about 14 cents =7d (circa 1880’s).
5. Luk 20:24 Show Me a coin. Whose image and inscription does it have? They answered and said, Caesar's.
Luk 20:25 And He said to them, Therefore render to Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and to God the things which are God's.
They say unto him, Caesars - The image was the head of the emperor; the superscription, his titles. Julius Caesar was the first who caused his image to be struck on the Roman coin. Tiberius was emperor at this time.A.Clark.
This answer is full of consummate wisdom. It establishes the limits, regulates the rights, and distinguishes the jurisdiction of the two empires of heaven and earth. The image of princes stamped on their coin denotes that temporal things belong all to their government. The image of God stamped on the soul denotes that all its faculties and powers belong to the Most High, and should be employed in His service.
But while the earth is agitated and distracted with the question of political rights and wrongs, the reader will naturally ask, What does a man owe to Caesar? - to the civil government under which he lives? Our Lord has answered the question - That which IS Caesar’s. But what is it that is Caesar’s? 1. Honour. 2. Obedience. And 3. Tribute..
1. The civil government under which a man lives, and by which he is protected, demands his honor and reverence.
2. The laws which are made for the suppression of evil doers, and the maintenance of good order, which are calculated to promote the benefit of the whole, and the comfort of the individual should be religiously obeyed.
3. The government that charges itself with the support and defense of the whole, should have its unavoidable expenses, however great, repaid by the people, in whose behalf they are incurred; therefore we should pay tribute.
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| Caesar Tiberius |
The tribute of half a shekel, which the law, (Exo_30:13, Exo_30:14), required every person above twenty years of age to pay to the temple, was, after the destruction of the temple, in the time of Vespasian, paid into the emperor’s exchequer. This sum, Melancthon supposes, amounted annually to Three Tons Of Gold.
PNT Render to Cæsar. The use of Cæsar's coin as the current money was an acknowledgment of Cæsar. Let them return his coin when demanded.
Unto God the things that are God's. Obedience in moral and spiritual things. Faith, love, obedience and liberal giving for God's work. We are to obey the human government over us, and to obey God. When the first requires us to disobey God, we are to obey him, whatever may be the peril. Act_5:29.
2. The Widow’s Offering.
Luk 21:1 Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box,
Luk 21:2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.
Luk 21:3 And he said, "Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.
Luk 21:4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."ESV
He sat over against the treasury. This incident of the widow's mites is omitted by Matthew, but given in Luk_21:1-4. It is given as a contrast to the hypocrisy of the scribes.
Treasury. A name given by the rabbins to thirteen chests, called trumpets, from their shape, which stood in the court of the women, at the entrance to the treasure-chamber. "Nine chests were for the appointed temple tribute, and for the sacrifice-tribute; that is, money-gifts instead of the sacrifices; four chests for free-will offerings, for wood, incense, temple decoration, and burnt offerings.--Lightfoot.
Beheld how the people cast money. Jesus still takes note of our offerings. Before the passover, free-will offerings, in addition to the temple tax, were made.
V.2 There came a certain poor widow. Here, as in other places in the Bible, we must remember the exceedingly depressed and dependent condition of a poor man's widow in the countries where our Lord was. The expression is almost proverbial for one very badly off, and most unlikely to contribute anything to a charitable purpose.
Two mites. The smallest of Jewish coins, about the value of one-fifth of a cent. It took its name from its extreme smallness, being derived from an adjective signifying thin. PNT
lepton
Thayer Definition: 1) thin, small 2) a small brass coin, equivalent to the eighth part of an “as”, worth about a 1/5 of a cent
A farthing. Mark (not Luke) adds for his Roman readers an explanation, using a Greek word (taken from the Latin), meaning the fourth part, as our word "farthing" does. The value is only of importance as showing upon how minute a gift our Lord pronounced this splendid panegyric, Words of Praise, which might be envied by a Croesius or Rothchilds.
Luk 21:3 And he said, "Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.
Luk 21:4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."ESV
Our Lord sees and knows. He doesn’t count what we have put in the offering but what we have left.
3. Signs of the End of the Age.
Luk 21:5 When some were remarking about the Temple, how it was embellished with beautiful stones and dedicated gifts, He said,
Luk 21:6 "As to these things which you now admire, the time is coming when there will not be one stone left here upon another which will not be pulled down."
Luk 21:7 "Rabbi, when will this be?" they asked Him, "and what will be the token given when these things are about to take place?"
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| Replica of the Second Temple in Jerusalem |
Notes:
v.5 The Second Temple which had been beautified by Herod trying to gain favour with the Jews who hated him for his allegiance to Rome and his gaining his Kingdom from the Romans
v.6. Here He prophecies the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans.
v.7. The timing and the Signs of this happening. This was very important news for them. They had thought that the Messiah would set up His Kingdom and that they would have priviledged positions in His reign.
When shall these things be? This discourse to the disciples on the Overthrow of the Temple, Jerusalem, the Jewish Nation and the Second Coming of our Lord, is reported here, in Mark, chapter 13, and in Matthew, chapter 24. Matthew's account is much the fullest.
Luk 21:8 "See to it," He replied, "that you are not misled; for many will come assuming my name and professing, 'I am He,' or saying, 'The time is close at hand.' Do not go and follow them.
See to it," He replied, "that you are not misled;WNT Don't be fooled by those who will come and claim to be me. CEV "Be careful that you are not deceived. Many will come using my name. They will say, 'I am he!'GW
deceived [planaō] Thayer Definition:
1) to cause to stray, to lead astray, lead aside from the right way 1a) to go astray, wander, roam about
2) metaphorically 2a) to lead away from the truth, to lead into error, to deceive 2b) to be led into error 2c) to be led aside from the path of virtue, to go astray, sin 2d) to sever or fall away from the truth 2d1) of heretics 2e) to be led away into error and sin
See Mat_24:4-5 (2), Mat_24:11, Mat_24:24, Mar_13:5-6 (2), 1Jo_1:8, 1Jo_3:7, Rev_20:3, Rev_20:8
Do not go and follow them. [those deceivers] do not be their disciples, or follow them where they would lead you; for nothing but destruction will be the consequence of it.
Luk 21:9 But when you hear of wars and turmoils, be not afraid; for these things must happen first, but the end does not come immediately."
Wars and turmoil seem to be the first sign. Matt 24:6 Ye shall hear of wars. The Jewish war began in A. D. 66, and ended five years after. During this period all the Roman empire was filled with commotion. Nero, the emperor, was overthrown by Galba; six months after, Galba was overthrown by Otho; a few months after, Otho was overthrown by Vitelius; a little later, he was overthrown by Vespasian. All of these but the last, who ascended the throne shortly before Jerusalem was destroyed, died violent deaths.
A. Clark says : These may be seen in Josephus, Anti. b. xviii. c. 9; War, b. ii. c. 10; especially as to the rumors of wars, when Caligula ordered his statue to be set up in the temple of God, which the Jews having refused, had every reason to expect a war with the Romans, and were in such consternation on the occasion that they even neglected to till their land.
Luk 21:10 Then He said to them, "NATION WILL RISE IN ARMS AGAINST NATION, AND KINGDOM AGAINST KINGDOM.
Notes: After speaking of the Destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 then he turns to the End of the age.
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| Destruction of the temple AD70 |
Luk 21:12 "But before all these things happen they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you up to synagogues and to prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my sake.
Luk 21:13 In the end all this will be evidence of your fidelity.
Luk 21:14 "Make up your minds, however, not to prepare a defence beforehand,
Luk 21:15 for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to withstand or reply to.
Luk 21:16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives, friends; and some of you they will put to death.
Luk 21:17 You will be the objects of universal hatred because you are called by my name;
Luk 21:18 and yet not a hair of your heads shall perish.
Luk 21:19 By your patient endurance you will purchase your lives.
Barnes :A hair of your head perish - This is a proverbial expression, denoting that they should not suffer any essential injury. This was strikingly fulfilled in the fact that in the calamities of Jerusalem there is reason to believe that no Christian suffered. Before those calamities came on the city they had fled to “Pella,” a city on the east of the Jordan. See the notes at Mat_24:18.
By persevering in bearing these trials you “will” save your lives, or you will be safe; or, by persevering “preserve” your lives; that is, do not yield to these calamities, but bear up under them, for he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved. Compare Mat_24:13.
The fall of Jerusalem AD70 foretold.
Luk 21:20 "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has drawn near.
Luk 21:21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the fields enter into her.
Luk 21:22 For these are the days of vengeance, to fulfill all that has been written.
Luk 21:23 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing a baby in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath among this people.
Luk 21:24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
The times of the Gentiles.
Shall be in possession of the Gentiles, or be subject to them. The expression also implies that it would be an “oppressive” subjection, as when a captive in war is trodden down under the feet of the conqueror. Anciently conquerors “trod on” the necks of those who were subdued by them, Jos_10:24; 2Sa_22:41; Eze_21: 29. The bondage of Jerusalem has been long and very oppressive. It was for a long time under the dominion of the Romans, then of the Saracens, and is now of the Turks, and is aptly represented by a captive stretched on the ground whose neck is “trodden” by the foot of the conqueror.
This Happened until 1967, When the Old City of Jerusalem was taken by the Jewish Paratroopers for the first time since AD 70. Now they are in charge of the City and it will never be taken from them again. It is their Capital. Read “Dateline Jerusalem” by CBN Newsman Mitchell.
| At the Wailing Wall - The KOTEL 1967 |
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| Joy at the reunification of the City of Jerusalem |
Luk 21:25 "And there shall be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, as the sea and the waves roar,
Luk 21:26 men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming upon the earth, for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
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| The Sea Roars |
Luk 21:27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Luk 21:28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."
4. Judas agrees to betray Jesus.
Luk 22:1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover.
Luk 22:2 And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they might kill Him, for they feared the people.
Luk 22:3 Then Satan entered into Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.
Luk 22:4 And he went off and spoke with the chief priests and captains about how he might betray Him to them. Luk 22:5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread or The Passover, so called because no leavened bread was eaten during the passover week. (The Jewish people celebrate Passover as a commemoration of their liberation over 3,300 years ago by God from slavery in ancient Egypt that was ruled by the Pharaohs, and their birth as a nation under the leadership of Moses.) Wikipedia
This was to commemorate the the Exodus from Egypt where they left in haste and didn’t have time to let the dough ferment and rise.
So before the feast of unleavened Bread begins they remove all chametz (yeast or leaven) from their houses. They cook Matzot flat bread without yeast and they usually pierce it with a fork.
[Shmura Matzo]
Adam Clark comments : In Exodus 23:14 three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year - The three feasts here referred to were,
1.The feast of the Passover;
2.The feast of Pentecost;
3.The feast of Tabernacles.
1.The feast of the Passover was celebrated to keep in remembrance the wonderful deliverance of the Hebrews from Egypt.
2.The feast of Pentecost, called also the feast of harvest and the feast of weeks, Exo_34:22, was celebrated fifty days after the Passover to commemorate the giving of the law on Mount Sinai, which took place fifty days after, and hence called by the Greeks Pentecost.
3.The feast of Tabernacles, called also the feast of the ingathering, was celebrated about the 15th of the month Tisri to commemorate the Israelites’ dwelling in tents for forty years, during their stay in the wilderness. See on Leviticus 23 (note).
“God, out of his great wisdom,” says Calmet, “appointed several festivals among the Jews for many reasons:
To perpetuate the memory of those great events, and the wonders he had wrought for the people; for example, the Sabbath brought to remembrance the creation of the world; the Passover, the departure out of Egypt; the Pentecost, the giving of the law; the feast of Tabernacles, the sojourning of their fathers in the wilderness, etc.
Satan entered into Judas Iscariot Lk 22:3
The Chief Priests and the Scribes were scheming to kill Jesus at the feast but they were afraid of the ordinary people who generally loved Jesus.
Judas had been chosen with the Twelve and designated an ‘Apostle’. Matt 10:4 Mark 3:13-18.
He objected to Mary, Lazarus’ sister, pouring half a litre of pure nard, an expensive perfume, on Jesus’ feet. He suggested it could be sold and the money given to the poor. Joh 12:6 The reason he said this was not that he cared for the poor, but that he was a thief, and that being in charge of the money-bag, he used to steal what was put into it.
How could Jesus have someone like this man among the twelve and also to give him the money bag? In His Foreknowledge Jesus saw what was to take place but allowed him to run his course.
Note Judas “Iscariot “.
The appellation “Iscariot” comes from the Hebrew “Ish-kerioth,” most likely meaning “man of Kerioth.” Kerioth was a small town ten miles south of Hebron, identified today with the ruins of el-Kureitein. It was listed as one of the towns in the territory of Judah (Joshua 15:25) <theunholygrail.net>
So we see that Jesus knew that he would betray Him Jn 13:1-26
Now the devil had prompted Judas to betray Jesus.Jn 13:2 And Satan entered into Judas. He gave himself up to do the work of Satan. See Mat_26:14-16. Compare Ananias in Acts 5:3.
It is the one we listen to that has the influence on the outcomes of our lives.
Mark 14:11 The Chief Priests and Co., were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
He betrayed Jesus in the garden with a Kiss. Jn 18:1-6 Lk 22:48
His remorse ends up with him committing suicide.Act_1:18 Indeed, then, this one purchased a field with the reward of unrighteousness. And falling headlong, he burst apart in the middle, and all his bowels gushed out.
What a terrible end for an unfaithful character.
Be warned.
5. The Last Supper.
This is the traditional Passover supper of Jesus with His disciples on the eve of His crucifixion. [wordnetweb]
Luk 22:7 And the day of the Unleavened Bread came, when the passover must be killed.
Luk 22:8 And He sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare the passover for us, so that we may eat.
Luk 22:9 And they said to Him. Where do You desire that we prepare?
Luk 22:10 And He said to them, Behold, when you have entered into the city, you will meet a man bearing a pitcher of water. Follow him into the house where he enters.
Luk 22:11 And you shall say to the master of the house, The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room where I shall eat the passover with My disciples?
Luk 22:12 And he shall show you a large, furnished upper room. Prepare there.
v.7 And the day of unleavened bread came. Note this is not just the feast of Unleavened Bread which went for a whole week. Josephus calls both the fourteenth and fifteenth of Nisan, "the day of unleavened bread." Many great scholars believe the Lord's passover was eaten one day before the Jews ate theirs, and that he died about the time that the paschal lambs were slain for the Jews' passover. See notes on Joh_18:28 and Joh_19:31.PNT
v.10. And He said to them, Behold, when you have entered into the city, you will meet a man bearing a pitcher of water. Follow him into the house where he enters.
Mat 26:18 And He said, Go into the city to such a man, and say to him, The Master said, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.Mark and Luke say, and tells them, "there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house, where he entereth in", Mar_14:13; who seems to be not the master of the house, but a servant, that was sent on such an errand.
This is a very considerable instance of our Lord's prescience of future contingencies; he knew beforehand, that exactly at the time that the disciples would enter Jerusalem, such a man, belonging to such a house, would be returning with a pitcher of water in his hand; and they should meet him; and follow him, where he went, which would be a direction to them what house to prepare the passover in;
v.11 say to the master of the house; [for the man bearing the pitcher of water seems to be a servant only:]
The Guestroom. kataluma kat-al'-oo-mah Strong's
From G2647; properly a dissolution (breaking up of a journey), that is, (by implication) a lodging place: - guestchamber, inn.
Christ was on His way to the Crosss and this was a lodging place enroute.
and they made ready the passover; provided a lamb, and got it killed and dressed, and prepared every thing necessary for the keeping of the feast, according to divine appointment; See Gill on Mat_26:19.
and they made ready the passover; they went and bought a lamb; they carried it to the temple to be slain in the court, where it was presented as a passover lamb for such a number of persons; they had it flayed, cut up, the fat taken out, and burnt on the altar, and its blood sprinkled on the foot of it: they then brought it to the house where they were to eat it; here they roasted it, and provided bread, and wine, and bitter herbs, and a sauce called "Charoseth", into which the herbs were dipped: and, in short, everything that was necessary.
Luk 22:13 And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
Luk 22:14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him.
Luk 22:15 And he said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.
With desire I have desired KJV - This is a Hebrew form of expression, and means “I have greatly desired.” The reason why he desired this we may suppose to have been:
- That, as he was about to leave them, he was desirous once of seeing them together, and of partaking with them of one of the religious privileges of the Jewish dispensation. Jesus was “man” as well as God, and he never undervalued the religious rites of his country, or the blessings of social and religious contact; and there is no impropriety in supposing that even he might feel that his human nature might be prepared by the service of religion for his great and terrible sufferings. Barnes
Luk 22:16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."
cp. Mat 26:29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."
That is, the observance of the Passover, and of the rites shadowing forth future things, here end.
I am about to die. The design of all these types and shadows is about to be accomplished. This is the last time that I shall partake of them with you. Hereafter, when my Father’s kingdom is established in heaven, we will partake together of the thing represented by these types and ceremonial observances - the blessings and triumphs of redemption. Barnes.
Luk 22:17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, "Take this, and divide it among yourselves.
Luk 22:18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."
Luk 22:19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."
Luk 22:20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
And he took the cup and gave thanks,.... There were four cups of wine drank at the passover, which the poorest man in Israel was obliged to drink; and over each of which a blessing was pronounced (m): and this was one of them, and seems to be the first; for the passover was begun by mixing a cup of wine, and blessing it, or giving thanks over it (n); and which was usually done in the 
http://passoversedermeal.com/img/passover-seder-meal.jpg
Jewish Passover Seder Meal:
1. Festival Blessing - Drink from 1st cup of wine
2. Passover Narrative and Little Hallel (Psalm 113) - Drink from 2nd cup of wine
3. Main Meal: Eat the roasted lamb, unleavened bread, and the bitter herbs and spices - Drink from the 3rd cup of wine (Cup of Blessing)
4. The Passover is completed with the singing of the Great Hallel (PSALMS 114-118), the drinking of the 4th cup of wine, and closed when the presiding priest or host says the phrase, "TEL TELESTI" which is interpreted as "IT IS FINISHED" or "IT IS CONSUMATED".http://passoversedermeal.com/bible-verses.html
The Four Cups of Wine in the Passover
Mike Ratliff explains “After the lighting of the candles, the Brechat Haner, the four cups of wine portion of the feast begins. The leader would then say, “As we read through the Haggadah, we will drink of ‘cup of the fruit of the vine,’ four times. These four cups stand for the four “I wills” that are recorded in Exodus 6:6-7.
Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. (Exodus 6:6-7 ESV)
As the Lord spoke these words to Moses, He revealed to him the plan by which He would redeem the children of Israel. In a prophetic sense, God was also revealing how He would redeem His elect to become His children. Based on the four promises in the passage above we have the four cups of the Passover feast.
- The Cup of Sanctification – based on God’s statement, “I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians”
- The Cup of Judgment or Deliverance- based on God’s statement, “I will deliver you from slavery to them”
- The Cup of Redemption – based on God’s statement, “I will redeem you with an outstretched arm”
- The Cup of Praise or Restoration – based on God’s statement, “I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God”.
v.19 He took the Bread, gave thanks, and broke it, and gave it to them saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
And he took bread and gave thanks,.... Or blessed it, as in Mat_26:26. Here begins the account of the Lord's supper after the passover was eaten;Jesus took bread - That is, the unleavened bread which they used at the celebration of the Passover, made into thin cakes, easily broken and distributed.Barnes
The jewish Thanks for the bread:ברוך אתה ה' א‑לוהינו, מלך העולם, המוציא לחם מן הארץ.Transliteration: Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam, hamotzi lehem min ha'aretz.
Translation: "Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth."Wikipedia
To bless [eulogeō yoo-log-eh'-o] Strong’s
From a compound of G2095 and G3056; to speak well of, that is, (religiously) to bless (thank or invoke a benediction upon, prosper): - bless, praise.
When we give thanks and ask the blessing we invoke the Benediction of God upon the bread. When Jesus feed the 5,000 he took the five loaves and the two fish and gave thanks. Then the Multiplication began.
Why would Jesus invoke a blessing upon the bread which represented His body soon to broken for us? He was offering the bread as a symbol of His Body to God for Blessing. He was instituting the Lord’s Supper.
He broke the bread. [the Matzo]
Breaking the Bread has a message for us. Jesus allowed his body to be beaten, bloodied and bruised and then finally pierced with cruel nails all for our transgressions. Wow. This is what the Lord thinks of me and what he thinks of my sin and rebellion.
The New covenant in Jesus’ Blood.
Luk 22:20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
Perhaps it might be better to paraphrase the passage thus: This cup which is poured out for you, signifies the blood of the new covenant, which is shortly to be ratified in (or by) the shedding of my blood. Or, This cup is the new covenant, poured out for you with my blood: - that is, the paschal sacrifice and my sacrifice happen together.A.Clark.
The Old Covenant Did Old Testament prophets predict that God would make a new covenant with his people? Jer. 31:31-34. Would this be an everlasting covenant? Jer. 32:38-40; Ezek. 16:60-62; 37:26; Isa. 55:3.
Two things about the covenant made at Sinai [ the Old Covenant] : 1) The Sinai covenant was temporary, serving a temporary purpose, and 2) it was not complete for God's ultimate plan and purpose. The new covenant, unlike the one made at Sinai, will last forever. It is designed for eternal life. "If there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another" (Heb. 8:7). Grace Communion Int.
The New Covenant was a new disposition or agreement God made with mankind. Remember a covenant must has PROMISES, SYMBOLS, and PARTIES to the Covenant.
Heb_8:6, It is a better Covenant.
Heb_8:8-10 A Covenant of Better promises.Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant which I shall covenant with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind, and I shall inscribe them upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
Heb_10:16,The Promises repeated again
Heb_10:29, Punishment for those who do not keep the covenant.
Heb_12:24, Jesus is the Mediator of the new Covenant
Heb_13:20 Through the blood of the everlasting covenant - Some understand this in the following way, that “God brought back our Lord from the dead on account of his having shed his blood to procure the everlasting covenant.” Others, that the Lord Jesus became the great Shepherd and Savior of the sheep by shedding his blood to procure and ratify the everlasting covenant.” The sense, however, will appear much plainer if we connect this with the following verse: “Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead, our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, make you, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, perfect in every good work to do his will.” The Christian system is termed the everlasting covenant, to distinguish it from the temporary covenant made with the Israelites at Mount Sinai; and to show that it is the last dispensation of grace to the world, and shall endure to the end of time. A, Clark
6. His Prayer in the Garden and Arrest.
Luk 22:39 And going out, He went to the Mount of Olives, according to His custom, and His disciples also followed Him.
Luk 22:40 And having come to the place, He said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation."
Luk 22:41 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed,
Luk 22:42 saying, "Father, if You will, remove this cup from Me--nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."
Luk 22:43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.
Luk 22:44 And being in agony, He prayed more fervently. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down onto the ground.
Luk 22:45 And rising up from prayer, coming to the disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow.
Luk 22:46 Then He said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise up and pray, lest you enter into temptation."
He prayed and said, "Father, if You will, remove this cup from Me--nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." Emtv
This is the cry of the Son to His Father as he faced the enormity of the Undertaking He was on. It was the humanity of Jesus shining through as He knew what the Cup of Suffering entailed.
This is true SURRENDER to say, “Not my will but thine be done”.
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The Cup of the Wrath of God
Jesus is in absolute agony, sweating blood, as he prays honestly with the Father. What is the cup he is so grieved about? It is the cup of the wrath of God. Every sin is like a drop into a cup. We pour the sin in. God, at the end of this life, pours out commensurate wrath. Yet Jesus submits his will to the Father’s; he exchanges places with us on the cross and drinks every single drop of the wrath of God. The cross is where the love of God is most clearly seen: wrath was poured out on Jesus, and love was poured out for us. [M. Driscoll].
Applications.
1. Many Christians across the world today have seen what Jesus did and have surrendered to follow Him to the Cup of suffering and persecution. What is our commitment in the face of such consequences of following Him.
2. Prayer and surrender are the true avenues to be strengthened when we face such things today. Think of our brothers and Sisters in Syria and Egypt. May the Angels of God strengthen them right now. They will strengthen you too today. v 43
3. Fall at the feet of our blessed saviour and acknowledge that the wrath you deserved has fallen on Jesus.
7. Peter’s Denial of Christ.
Luk 22:54 And having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the house of the high priest. And Peter was following from a distance.
Luk 22:55 Now when they had lit a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat in their midst.
Luk 22:56 And a certain servant girl, seeing him sitting at the fire and gazing at him, said, "This man was also with Him."
Luk 22:57 But he denied Him, saying, "Woman, I do not know Him."
Luk 22:58 And after a little while another person saw him and said, "You also are one of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not!"
Luk 22:59 Then after about one hour had passed, another was firmly insisting, saying, "Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean."
Luk 22:60 But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying!" And immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.
Luk 22:61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."
Luk 22:62 And going outside, Peter wept bitterly.
Question: "What was the reason behind Peter's denial of Jesus?"
Answer:The story of Peter’s threefold denial of Christ is found in all four Gospel accounts:Matthew 26:69-74,Mark 14:66-72,Luke 22:55-62, andJohn 18:15-18,25-27. But why would the chief of the disciples, the one closest to Jesus, deny even knowing Him? There were two main reasons why Peter denied Jesus: weakness and fear.
Peter’s denial was based partially on weakness, the weakness born of human frailty. After the Last Supper, Jesus took His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane to await His arrest. He told them to stay awake and pray while He went off to pray alone. When He returned to them, He found them sleeping. He warned Peter to stay awake and pray because although his spirit might be willing, his flesh was weak. But he fell asleep again and by the time the soldiers had come to arrest Jesus, it was too late to pray for the strength to endure the ordeal to come. No doubt his failure to appropriate the only means to shore up his own weakness—prayer— occurred to him as he was weeping bitterly after his denials. But Peter learned his lesson about being watchful, and he exhorts us in1 Peter 5:8, “Be on the alert, because your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Peter’s weakness had caused him to be “devoured” momentarily as he denied his Lord because he hadn’t been prepared through prayer and he underestimated his own weakness.
A second reason for Peter’s failure was fear. To his credit, although all the others had fled (Mark 14:50), Peter still followed Jesus after His arrest, but he kept his distance so as not to be identified with Him (Mark 14:54). There’s no question that fear gripped him. From the courtyard, he watched Jesus being falsely accused, beaten and insulted (Mark 14:57-66). Peter was afraid Jesus would die, and he was fearful for his own life as well. The world hated Jesus and Peter found that he was not prepared to face the ridicule and persecution that Jesus was suffering. Earlier Jesus had warned His disciples as well as us today: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” (John 16:18;Matthew 24:9). Peter quickly found he wasn’t nearly as bold and courageous as he had proclaimed and in fear he denied the One who had loved him.
8. The Guards Mock Jesus.
Luk 22:63 Now the men who were holding Jesus were mocking Him and beating Him.
Luk 22:64 And having blindfolded Him, they were striking His face and asking Him, saying, "Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You?"
Luk 22:65 And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him.
Mocking and beating our Saviour
mocked empaizō emp-aheed'-zo Strongs: From G1722 and G3815; to jeer at, that is, deride: -
9. Jesus before The Sanhedrin - Pilate and Herod
The Great Sanhedrin was made up of a Chief/Prince/ Leader called Nasi (at some times this position may have been held by the Kohen Gadol or the High Priest), a vice chief justice (Av Beit Din), and sixty-nine general members.[3] In the Second Temple period, the Great Sanhedrin met in the Hall of Hewn Stones in the Temple in Jerusalem. WIKIPEDIA
Luk 22:66 As soon as it was day, the whole body of the Elders, both High Priests and Scribes, assembled. Then He was brought into their Sanhedrin, and they asked Him,
Luk 22:67 "Are you the Christ? Tell us." "If I tell you," He replied, "you will certainly not believe;
Luk 22:68 and if I ask you questions, you will certainly not answer.
Luk 22:69 But from this time forward the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of God's omnipotence."
Luk 22:70 Thereupon they cried out with one voice, "You, then, are the Son of God?" "It is as you say," He answered; "I am He."
Luk 22:71 "What need have we of further evidence?" they said; "for we ourselves have heard it from his own lips." WNT
Notes.
1. .“Are you the Christ?” was their question. At first He refused to give a clear answer.
2. Then He spoke of His being seated as the Son of Man [a messianic Name] at the right hand of God’s Omnipotence or Power. Wow, this was more than they expected.Hereafter shall the son of man,.... Meaning himself, who was truly man, and then in a low and mean form, and thought by the Jews to be a mere man; though this character was known by them to belong to the Messiah, especially what follows; as that he should
sit on the right hand of the power of God: as he did after his resurrection, and ascension, and which was manifest by the destruction of their nation, city, and temple; See Gill on Mat_27:64.J. Gill
3. “are you the Son of God? for they knew that the Messiah, or the son of man, that was to sit at the right hand of God, and come in the clouds of heaven, was the Son of God:
and he said unto them, ye say that I am; or rather the words may be rendered, "ye say it", and ye say right; it is the very truth: "for I am"; that is, "the Son of God", as the Ethiopic version here adds; which sense agrees with Mar_14:62 and the following words seem to require this sense and version.
4.."What need have we of further evidence?" they said; He had made Himself in their eyes equal with God and so He had blasphemed. This was worthy of death.
Before Pilate
Luk 23:1 Then the whole assembly rose and brought Him to Pilate, and began to accuse Him.
Luk 23:2 "We have found this man," they said, "an agitator among our nation, forbidding the payment of tribute to Caesar, and claiming to be himself an anointed king."
Luk 23:3 Then Pilate asked Him, "You, then, are the King of the Jews?" "It is as you say," He replied.
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| Pontius Pilate The Roman Governor |
Luk 23:4 Pilate said to the High Priests and to the crowd, "I can find no crime in this man."
Luk 23:5 But they violently insisted. "He stirs up the people," they said, "throughout all Judaea with His teaching--even from Galilee (where He first started) to this city."
Luk 23:6 On hearing this, Pilate inquired, "Is this man a Galilaean?"
Luk 23:7 And learning that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction he sent Him to Herod, for he too was in Jerusalem at that time.
Jesus before Herod.
Herod's jurisdiction,.... The country which was under his power, and he had the government of; for Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, Luk_3:1. This was Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the great, and the same that beheaded John the Baptist; wherefore as soon as Pilate found that Jesus was one of his province, immediately he sent him to Herod: to be examined, and to have his cause tried before him: and this he did partly, that he might be rid of this troublesome business; and partly that he might show to Herod what a regard he had to his jurisdiction, and power; and that he was unwilling to break in upon it, or usurp that to himself, which did not belong to him:
Notes:
1. v.14 I have found no fault in this Man regarding those things of which you accuse Him;
Why would Pilate hand Jesus over to the wishes of the Jewish Elders when he was innocent?
J. Gill - I have examined Him not only privately, and alone, between themselves in the judgment hall, Joh_18:33 but openly in the presence of them, when he brought forth Jesus to them, and heard their charges, and urged him to answer to them, Mat_27:11
I cannot perceive any charge proved against him, or any crime he is guilty of, for which punishment should be inflicted on him; or at least, that he should be put to death:
touching, or with regard to
those things, whereof ye accuse him. The Syriac and Persic versions read, "all those things"; intimating, that he had carefully looked into, and examined every thing, and had omitted nothing, and that all their accusations, and charges, put together, did not make it appear that he was guilty of a single crime.
Thus, very early the next morning they brought Jesus to Pilate, hoping that he would concur with their decision. They accused Jesus of many things, but He remained silent. Pilate was amazed that He didn't try to defend Himself. The governor perceived that this was not really a question of criminal action, but that the Jews were jealous of Jesus. Therefore, he made several attempts to release Him. He was eager to appease the Jews, however, and was unable to persuade them that Jesus should be released. Though he did not believe Jesus was guilty, he ended up sentencing Him to death because he feared the start of a riot. Roman soldiers scourged Jesus, mocked Him, and led Him out to be crucified. <Christianity Emmanuel>
Note 2. Luk 23:18 And they all cried out at once, saying, Away with this One! And release to us Barabbas Luk 23:19 (who was thrown into prison because of a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder).
From what this custom arose, or by whom it was introduced, is not known. It was probably adopted to secure popularity among the Jews, and to render the government of the Romans less odious. Any little indulgence granted to the Jews during the heavy oppression of the Romans would serve to conciliate their favor, and to keep the nation from sedition. It might happen often that when persons were arraigned before the Romans on charge of sedition, some special favorite of the people, or some leader, might be among the number. It is evident that if they had the privilege of recovering such a person, it would serve much to allay their feelings, and make tolerable the yoke under which they groaned.
Barabbas Barabbas's name appears as bar-Abbas in the Greek texts. It is derived ultimately from the Aramaic בר-אבא, Bar-abbâ, "son of the father". According to some ancient New Testament manuscripts and the early biblical scholar Origen,[14] the full name of Barabbas may have been Jesus Barabbas, and it appears as such in the margin of some translations of Matthew 27:16-17 Wikipedia
And they cried out all at once,.... The chief priests, rulers, and people, not bearing to hear of a release of him, now they had got him in their hands; and enraged at the proposal, in a most clamorous way, cried out, as one man, immediately: J.Gill
Saying, away with this man; to the cross; to Calvary, the place of execution; away with him out of the world; he is not fit to live: J.Gill
and release unto us Barabbas; whose character is given in the next verse; See Gill on Mat_27:16.J.Gill
1. What would this condemned Murderer have felt when he was released and jesus of Nazareth was condemned to be crucified.? I guess he would be grateful and forever changed.
2. We have been let off too. Christ Died for the ungodly, for sinners for me and for you. The wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life.
3. The whole teaching of substitution is so important. Christ in my place suffered on the Cross.
4. The Jews chose to release the guilty and condemn the Innocent saying, His blood be upon our heads...... WHO DO YOU CHOOSE?
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