Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus came, “unto a place called Gethsemane, and said unto the disciples, Sit you here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then said he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry you here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as you will. And he came unto the disciples, and finds them asleep, and said unto Peter, What, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then came he to his disciples, and said unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that does betray me”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse forty-seven of his book, Matthew writes, “Judas … came” where we read:
And while he yet spoke, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
The verse reads, “And while he yet spoke, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, ...” Matthew began words, “and while he yet spoke” which means “and during the time and moment when Jesus was uttering, declaring and proclaiming His words”, “lo” or “behold, look and see”, “Judas” which refers to “the apostle who betrayed Jesus whose name means he shall be praised”, “one of the twelve” which means “a certain one of Jesus' twelve disciples” “came” or “approached and came near”, “and with him” or “and alongside Judas” “a great multitude” which means “a huge, large and great group or collection of people” “with swords” or “having, holding, owning and possessing large knives or small curved swords” “and staves” which means “and beams, timbers, logs, sticks and staffs”. Matthew shared how as Jesus was speaking, Judas approached Him with a large crowd of people who were carrying “swords, knives, sticks and staffs”.
The verse goes on to say “... from the chief priests and elders of the people.” Matthew continued with the words, “from the chief priests” which means “commissioned and positioned by the high priests who were comprised in addition to one holding the high priestly office, both those who had previously discharged it and although disposed, continued to have great power in the State, as well as the members of the families from which high priest were created, provided that they had much influence in public affairs” “and elders” or “those advanced in age, term of rank or office and members of the great council or Sanhedrin who were rulers” “of the people” which refers to “the people within Israel”. Matthew shared how the “religious leaders” who were the “high priests” and “rulers” among the people approached Jesus with Judas.
When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we discover how this plan of Judas' “betrayal” of Jesus occurred. Judas did not come alone. He brought a huge crowd or mob of people with him who were armed with weapons and ready to fight should the need arise. All these people were part of the plan to “betray” Jesus, and because Jesus knew this was God's plan of “salvation” for the sins of man, He allowed them to come. At any moment He could have stopped the whole process, and those who thought they were in “power” would have been eliminated immediately. However, because He loves people and wants them to live eternally with Him, Jesus allowed and endured this heinous activity. Let all who read these words carefully consider the price Jesus paid for their “salvation” and submit their lives to Him as a personal “Savior and Lord” today.
Next time Matthew shares how Judas, “gave them a sign, saying, whomsoever I shall kiss”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
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Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
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