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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadSpurgeon Verse Expositions - Matthew 26:20 - 26:30
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Mat_26:20. Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.
Why so many people celebrate the Lord’s supper in the morning, I cannot imagine, unless it be that they desire to do everything contrary to their Lord’s command and example: “When the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.” I do not think there is any binding ordinance making the evening the only time for the observance of this ordinance; but to make the morning the only time is certainly not according to the Word of God.
Mat_26:21-22. And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, —
There was enough to make them sorrowful in the fact that their Lord had just told them that one of the twelve who were his body-guard, his closest companions, his nearest and dearest friends, would betray him. “They were exceeding sorrowful,” —
Mat_26:22. And began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?
It shows a beautiful trait in their character that they did not suspect one another, and least of all, I suppose, did they suspect Judas; but each one asked, “Lord, is it I?” It is an admirable way of hearing a sermon to take it home to yourself, especially if there be a rebuke or a caution in it.
Mat_26:23-24. And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
The doom of the wicked is something far worse than non-existence, or Christ would not have said, concerning Judas Iscariot, “It had been good for that man if he had never been born.” This is especially true of all those who, having for a while consorted with Christ, afterwards deny it and betray him. O brothers and sisters, may all of us be kept from this terrible sin! May none of us ever betray our Master after all the fellowship we have had with him! It would be better to die for him than to deny him; and it would be better never to have been born than to have been in intimate association with him, and then to have betrayed him.
Mat_26:23. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.
“It is even so,” With a sorrowful gesture, he made it plain to his sad little circle of friends and followers that he knew all that was going to happen, and that Judas was the man who was going to turn traitor.
Mat_26:26. And as they were eating, —
As they were eating the Passover. The one ordinance gradually melted into the other: “As they were eating,” —
Mat_26:26-27. Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
“Each one of you, my disciples, take a draught of this cup.”
Mat_26:28. For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
They had had gross sin brought prominently to their minds; they had had a personal reminder of their own liability to sin; and now they were to have a personal pledge concerning the pardon of sin: “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sin.”
Mat_26:29. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.
Taking, as it were, the great Nazarite vow never to taste of the fruit of the vine “until that day.” He will keep his tryst with us, my brethren; and we shall drink the new vine of his Father’s kingdom with him by-and by; but, until then, he waits.
Mat_26:30. And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
This exposition consisted of readings from Mat_26:20-30; And 1Co_11:20-26.