Taking Jesus to Kill Him - Matthew 26:4

Matthew the apostle wrote, “and it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples. You know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified. Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse four of his book, Matthew writes how the religious leaders “consulted that they might take Jesus by subtlety, and kill him” where we read:

And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtlety, and kill him.

The verse reads, “And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtlety, ...” Matthew began with Jesus' words, “and consulted” which means “and gave counsel and deliberated” “that they might take” or “so the religious leaders could master, rule, seize and lay hands upon” “Jesus” which refers to “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate” “by subtlety” or “through craft, deceit and guile”. Matthew shared how the religious leaders “deliberated” so the could “lay hold on” Jesus in a “deceitful” way.

The verse continues, “... and kill him.” Matthew added the words, “and kill him” which means “and inflict mortal death, extinguish and abolish” Jesus. Matthew shared how the religious leaders desired to “extinguish the life of” Jesus.

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see how pernicious these “chief priests, scribes and elders” were. Their gathering together at “Caiaphas' house” was performed to devise a way to “deceitfully” capture Jesus so they could “kill him”. We might ask “why”? He did miracles among them, blessed them, offered salvation to them, and yet, Jesus was a threat to these men's positions. So, their solution was to “trick Him” and take His life. God's plan of “salvation” is through belief in His Son Jesus Christ, and those who receive Him as “Savior and Lord”, however, those who do not receive Him are as these religious leaders who attempt to “capture Jesus” and destroy His offer of “everlasting life”.

Next time we see Matthew share how the religious leaders, “said, Not on the feast day”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.