1. Preparations for Jesus’ crucifixion 26:1-46There were several events that led up to Jesus’ arrest. Matthew did not present them in strict chronological order but in a logical narrative order. read more
This event evidently happened on the previous Saturday evening (John 12:1). [Note: Hoehner, Chronological Aspects . . ., p. 91.] The reference to two days before the Passover in Matthew 26:2 dates the plot to seize Jesus, not the anointing in Simon’s house. [Note: M’Neile, p. 373; Hendricksen, p. 898; Taylor, p. 527.] Apparently Jesus spent the evening of that Saturday in the home of Simon, a healed leper, with His disciples and other guests. John recorded that Lazarus was there, his sister... read more
Jesus’ anointing for burial 26:6-13 (cf. Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-8) read more
Evidently Judas Iscariot led the disciples’ criticism of Mary’s act (John 12:4). According to the Gospel records, every time Mary tried to do something for Jesus she was misunderstood. [Note: Wiersbe, 1:95.] The disciples failed to appreciate the significance of what Mary was doing and that such an anointing was appropriate in view of Jesus’ identity as "the Lord’s Anointed" and His impending death (cf. Matthew 16:21-28; Matthew 17:22-23; Matthew 20:18-19). Regardless of Judas’ true motive the... read more
The Betrayal. The Last Supper. Arrest of Jesus, and Trial Before the High Priest1-5. A Council is held against Jesus (Mark 14:1; Luke 22:1: cp. John 13:1).2. After two days] This fixes the date as Tuesday, if the Passover was on Thursday night; or Wednesday, if, as is more probable, it was on Friday night. Is betrayed] This clear prediction is peculiar to St. Matthew.3. And the scribes] RV omits. The palace] RV ’the court,’ i.e. the central quadrangle, the house being built round a square plot... read more
(6) Now when Jesus was in Bethany.—The narrative is given out of its proper order on account of its connection (as indicated in St. John’s record) with the act of the Traitor. St. John fixes it (John 12:1) at six days before the Passover, i.e., on the evening that preceded the entry into Jerusalem. It was, therefore, a feast such as Jews were wont to hold at the close of the Sabbath.In the house of Simon the leper.—Of the man so described we know nothing beyond the fact thus mentioned. It is... read more
(7) There came unto him a woman.—We learn from St. John (John 12:3) that this was Mary the sister of Lazarus. It is hardly conceivable (unless we conjecture that she came in veiled, and that St. John alone knew her) that the writers of the first two Gospels, or those from whom they derived their knowledge, could have been ignorant who she was, and we can only see in their suppression of the name an example of the singular reticence which sealed their lips as to every member of the family at... read more
(8) When his disciples saw it.—There is a singular narrowing of the limits in the three narratives. St. Mark reports that “some had indignation;” St. John (John 12:4), as knowing who had whispered the first word of blame, fixes the uncharitable judgment on “Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son.” The narrow, covetous soul of the Traitor could see nothing in the lavish gift but a “waste” (literally, perdition) that was matter for reproach. There is something almost terribly suggestive in the fact that our... read more
(9) This ointment might have been sold for much.—St. Mark and St. John agree in giving the Traitor’s computation. It might have been sold for three hundred denarii, a labourer’s wages for nearly a whole year (Matthew 20:2), enough to feed a multitude of more than 7,500 men (John 6:7). St. John adds the damning fact that the pretended zeal for the poor was the cloak for the irritation of disappointed greed. “He was a thief, and bare the bag.” He was, i.e., the treasurer or bursar of the... read more
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Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Matthew 26:8
Matthew 26:8. But when his disciples saw it— It appears from Joh 12:4-6 that none but Judas found fault with what this woman had done. St. Matthew has probably put the disciples in general, for one of the disciples; as he says elsewhere, with St. Mark, that the thieves reviled Christ, though it appears from St. Luk 23:39 that there was but one guilty of thatcrime. By the figure called enallage, the plural number is put for the singular, which Longinus mentions as an elegance in his treatise on... read more