Matthew 25-27

Matthew 25

Olivet Discourse Continued 

Parable of the Ten Virgins

• Ten bridesmaids wait for the bridegroom
• Five wise (with oil), five foolish (without)
• Bridegroom delayed so all fall asleep
• At midnight, he arrives
• Foolish are unprepared and miss the wedding
• Door is shut

Parable of the Talents 

• Master entrusts servants with resources (talents)
• Two invest and multiply
• One buries it out of fear
• Master returns:
  • rewards faithful servants
  • judges the unfaithful one

The Final Judgment 

• Son of Man comes in glory and sits on His throne
• Nations gathered before Him
• Separation:
  • sheep (right)
  • goats (left)
• Criteria: how they treated “the least of these”
  • feeding, clothing, visiting
  • Some people say this is the Revelation Final Judgment, while others say they are two judgments (since criteria is based off of moral doing)

Matthew 26

Plot to Kill Jesus 

• After finishing His teaching, Jesus tells His disciples:
  • Passover is in two days
  • He will be handed over to be crucified
• Chief priests and elders gather at the house of the high priest (Caiaphas)
  • They conspire to arrest Jesus and kill Him
  • They decide not during the feast (to avoid angering the public)

Anointing at Bethany

• Jesus is at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper
• A woman (Mary, John 12) pours expensive ointment on His head
• Disciples criticize: say it could have been sold and given to the poor
• Jesus defends her:
  • calls it a beautiful act
  • says she is preparing Him for burial
• Declares her act will be remembered wherever the gospel is preached (!!)

Judas goes to the chief priests. Agrees to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver

• Thirty silver pieces is price of a slave (Exod 21:32)
•  Zechariah 11:12–13

The Last Supper 

• During Passover, Jesus gathers with the twelve
  • Announces one of them will betray Him
  • Each disciple asks, “Is it I?”
  • After Judas asks, Jesus says “You have said so.”
• Lord’s Supper:
  • bread is His body
  • cup is His blood of the covenant
• Says His blood is poured out “for many for the forgiveness of sins”
• Predicts He will not drink again until the kingdom

Peter’s Denial Foretold 

• Jesus predicts all disciples will fall away
• Quotes Zechariah 13:7: “Strike the shepherd…”
• Peter insists he will never fall away
• Jesus predicts Peter will deny Him three times before the rooster crows

Gethsemane 

• Jesus goes to the garden with disciples
• Takes Peter, James, John deeper
• He is deeply distressed:
  • “My soul is very sorrowful”
• Prays three times:
  • “Let this cup pass… yet not as I will, but as You will”
• Disciples repeatedly fall asleep
• Jesus resolves to face what is coming

Three words used between verses 37-38

• λυπέω: sorrow
• ἀδημονέω: distress / agitation
• περίλυπος: overwhelming, soul-crushing grief

Arrest of Jesus 

• Judas arrives with a crowd armed with swords and clubs
• Identifies Jesus with a kiss
• One disciple (Peter) strikes a servant’s ear
• Jesus rebukes violence: “all who take the sword will perish by the sword”
• Declares He could call angels but submits
• Disciples flee
  • Zechariah 13:7

Trial Before the Sanhedrin 

• Jesus is taken to Caiaphas (High priest)
• False witnesses are brought with accusations
• High priest demands: “Are you the Christ, the Son of God?”
• Jesus affirms and references Daniel 7
• Leaders accuse Him of blasphemy
• They mock and beat Him

Peter Denies Jesus

• Peter follows at a distance
• Three times denies knowing Jesus
• Rooster crows
• Peter remembers Jesus’ words and he weeps bitterly

Matthew 27

• Religious leaders formally decide to put Jesus to death. They bind Him and deliver Him to Pontius Pilate (Roman governor)

 Death of Judas 

• Judas regrets his betrayal and returns the silver
• Leaders refuse responsibility
• Judas hangs himself
• Money used to buy “Field of Blood”
  • See Acts 1:18-19

Jesus Before Pilate 

• Pilate questions Jesus:
  • “Are you the King of the Jews?”
• Jesus largely remains silent
• Custom: release one prisoner
  • Crowd chooses Barabbas (a rebel) instead of Jesus
• Pilate symbolically washes his hands and orders Jesus to be crucified

Roman soldiers mock Jesus:

• robe, crown of thorns, reed
• Kneel in fake worship
• Beat and spit on Him (after scourging – which can kill an individual)

Crucifixion 

• Simon of Cyrene forced to carry cross
• Jesus crucified at Golgotha Γολγοθᾶ (Place of skull) 
• Offered sour wine (to numb pain) but He refuses
• Soldiers divide His garments
  • Psalms 22:18
• Sign above Him: “King of the Jews”
• Mocked by passersby, leaders, criminals

Death of Jesus 

• Darkness covers land (noon–3pm)
• Jesus cries:
  • “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1)
  • Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani אֵלִי אֵלִי לְמָה שְׁבַקְתַּנִי
• He yields His spirit
• Immediate signs:
  • temple veil torn (top to bottom)
  • earthquake
  • tombs opened
• Centurion declares:
  • “Truly this was the Son of God”

Why don’t we ever talk about these verses? 52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

Burial of Jesus 

• Joseph of Arimathea requests the body
  • Wraps and places it in a new tomb
• Large stone rolled in place
• Women observe location
• Religious leaders remember Jesus’ prediction of resurrection
  • Ask Pilate to secure the tomb
  • Stone sealed and guard posted

Application

Matthew 25–27 shows that what really matters is being ready for Jesus and living faithfully. Jesus also shows His deep love by willingly going to the cross, even when people rejected Him.