Matthew Henry

and they conspired to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him. “But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”

“If Judas had not been an apostle, he could not have been a traitor; if men had known the way of righteousness, they could not have abused it. I will deliver him unto you.”

While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, which she poured on His head…

“Probably, he was one who had been miraculously cleansed from his leprosy by our Lord Jesus, and he would express his gratitude to Christ by entertaining him; nor did Christ disdain to converse with him, to come in to him, and sup with him.”

When the disciples saw this, they were indignant and asked, “Why this waste? This perfume could have been sold at a high price, and the money given to the poor.”

“We must not think that time waste, that is spent in the service of Christ, or that money waste, which is laid out in any work of piety; for, though it seem to be cast upon the waters, to be thrown down the river, we…”

Aware of this, Jesus asked, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful deed to Me.

“The poor must not rob Christ; we must do good to all, but especially to the household of faith. Christ's approbation and commendation of the kindness of this good woman.”

By pouring this perfume on Me, she has prepared My body for burial.

“This was as it were the embalming of his body; because the doing of that after his death would be prevented by his resurrection, it was therefore done before; for it was fit that it should be done some time, to show that he was…”

Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached in all the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

“None of all the trumpets of fame sound so loud and so long as the everlasting gospel. Note, (1.) The story of the death of Christ, though a tragical one, is gospel, glad-tidings, because he died for us. (2.)”

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”

“Note, Before solemn ordinances there must be solemn preparation. They knew that he had no house of his own wherein to eat the passover; in this, as in other things, for our sakes he became poor.”

He answered, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him that the Teacher says, ‘My time is near.

“Let us then keep the feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity. Observe, When our Lord Jesus invited himself to this good man's house, he sent him this intelligence, that his time was at hand.”

And while they were eating, He said to them, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray Me.”

“He foresaw the treachery and baseness of a disciple of his own, and yet went on; took care of those that were given him, though he knew there was a Judas among them; would pay the price of our redemption, though he foresaw some would…”

They were deeply grieved and began to ask Him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?”

“29 . [3.] It troubled them most of all, that they were left at uncertainty which of them it was, and each of them was afraid for himself, lest, as Hazael speaks ( 2 Kings viii.”

Jesus answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with Me will betray Me.

“He mentions this, to make the treachery appear the more exceeding sinful. Note, External communion with Christ in holy ordinances is a great aggravation of our falseness to him. It is base ingratitude to dip with Christ in the dish, and yet betray him.”

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.”

“The time when it was instituted-- as they were eating. At the latter end of the passover-supper, before the table was drawn, because, as a feast upon a sacrifice, it was to come in the room of that ordinance.”

Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.

“For this is my blood of the New Testament. Therefore drink it with appetite, delight, because it is so rich a cordial.”

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

“It is very proper after the Lord's supper, as an expression of our joy in God through Jesus Christ, and a thankful acknowledgment of that great love wherewith God has loved us in him.”

“I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.”

“He made them his confessors, and that was the absolution they gave him; more like the priests of devils than like the priests of the holy living God. [1.] See here how carelessly they speak of the betraying of Christ.”

So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

“Secondly, He became his own executioner; He hanged himself; he was suffocated with grief, so Dr. Hammond: but Dr. Whitby is clear that our translation is right.”

And when He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He gave no answer.

“Not as I will, but as thou wilt. He knew what his Father's will was, and therefore silently committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.”

So when the crowd had assembled, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”

“What shall I do then, saith Pilate, with Jesus, who is called Christ? He puts the people in mind of this, that this Jesus, whose release he proposed, was looked upon by some among them as the Messiah, and had given pregnant proofs of his…”

For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.

“When David was envied by Saul, he was the darling of the people; and any one that heard the hosannas with which Christ was but a few days ago brought into Jerusalem, would have thought that he had been so, and that Pilate might safely…”

While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered terribly in a dream…

“Secondly, It was a fair warning to Pilate; Have nothing to do with him. Note, God has many ways of giving checks to sinners in their sinful pursuits, and it is a great mercy to have such checks from Providence, from faithful friends, and from…”

But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus put to death.

“Here, [1.] We cannot but look upon these wicked priests with indignation; by the law, in matters of controversy between blood and blood, the people were to be guided by the priests, and to do as they informed them, Deut. xvii.”

“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they replied.

“He hoped that he had gained his point, to have Jesus released. But, to his great surprise, they said Barabbas; as if his crimes were less, and therefore he less deserved to die; or as if his merits were greater, and therefore he better deserved…”

“What then should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify Him!” “Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?”

“Now was truth fallen in the street, and equity could not enter; where one looked for judgment, behold, oppression, the worst kind of oppression; for righteousness, behold, a cry, the worse cry that ever was, Crucify, crucify the Lord of glory.”

When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd.

“Thus their sin was their ruin. Observe how easily we may be mistaken in the inclination of the common people; the priests were apprehensive that their endeavours to seize Christ would have caused an uproar, especially on the feast day; but it proved that Pilate's…”

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.

“Their attendance on Christ not only to the grave, but in the grave, represents his like care for those that are his, when they have made their bed in the darkness.”