Note: At the end of this study is an article I wrote a few years ago about the subject of this week's study. Please do read.
Today's lesson comes from Matthew 26: 17-32. This is the final week of Jesus' earthly ministry before the resurrection. It is late Wednesday and Jesus has been preaching all day. He ends about noon and heads through the city, out the gate, and on to Mount Olivet. The chief priests, scribes and elders will be plotting through the night to develop a plan that will end with the execution of Jesus. Early Thursday morning preparation will be made for the Passover. This is a major celebration in the Jewish faith. Multitudes will be descending on Jerusalem for the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. There would be a slaughter of approximately 250000 lambs symbolizing the Lamb of God that would be slain in a few days.
The first section is "The Preparation." vv. 17-20 Passover was on 14 Nisan (in March or April) and would be followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread 15-21 Nisan. You can read about the Passover in Leviticus 23: 4,5 and the Feast of Unleavened Bread at Leviticus 23: 6-8. There was much preparation to be done before the Passover. It was primarily a home activity. For several weeks, the Jewish households began to cleanse the home from all leaven. Every part of the house was checked. No dirt could be left. All stoves, kettles and clothes were to be cleaned and made ready for the celebration. At sunset on 14 Nisan, the head of the family went to the synagogue for the first evening prayer. From that point on, many prayers would be spoken during the Passover. In the evening, all members of the family would gather around the table. The head of the family would be dressed in a white gown and cap. There would be four questions asked by the children, by the wise, the simple, the foolish, and the one who was unable to inquire (an infant). This was called a Seder service. The story of the Jews deliverance from Egypt would be remembered. No Gentiles were allowed to be seated at the Passover, only Jews.
Some interesting facts about the Passover:
1. Jesus' parents traveled to Jerusalem yearly to celebrate Passover. At age 12, Jesus went with them (Luke 2: 41-50).
2. The Passover lamb was to be a perfect male without spot or blemish (Exodus 12: 5).
3. The only bread eaten was unleavened bread. However, see my article at the end of this study.
4. On the night before Passover, the father does a final search for for any remaining leaven in the house.
The next section is "The Pronouncement." vv. 21-25 In this section, Jesus announces that He is going to be betrayed. In verse 21, Jesus announces He will be betrayed. In verse 22, the disciples are sorrowful and every one of them is not sure if they are the one to betray Jesus. In verse 23, Jesus provides the test for the betrayer to be identified (the one that dips his hand with Jesus). In verse 24, He reminds everyone of the prophecies in the Old Testament, that He would be betrayed and killed (Psalm 41:9; Daniel 9:26; Isaiah 53:4-9). In verse 25, Judas asks if it is him, even though he knew it was him. Jesus confirms that he is the one by the phrase, "Thou hast said."
It is puzzling to me that the disciples had the reaction they did in verse 22. There must have been confusion in their minds on what betrayal meant. In some sense, we all betray Christ every day in that none of us have divine perfection. John Wesley spoke of Christian Perfection which is far different. Christian Perfection is loving God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and your neighbor as yourself. Divine perfection is far outside our capabilities. However, the betrayal Christ spoke of was much different. Judas would be possessed by Satan and seek tom destroy the Son of God. Thank God, while the betrayal was successful, the end result brought about the perfect sacrifice for our sins!
The third section is "The Communion." vv. 26-30 In this section, Jesus transforms the Passover meal into the Christian sacrament of the "Last Supper." Jesus breaks the bread and says "Take, eat; this is my body." Then, Jesus takes the cup and says, "Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." When we read these verses through Gentile eyes, almost two thousand years after they were spoken, we lose the shock value of what is being said to the disciples. Every Jewish boy would have started learning the book of Leviticus at around age 5. They would have been familiar with the first book of Moses known as Genesis. In Genesis 9:6, we read, "Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind." The idea of cannibalism would have been repulsive to a first century Jew. Yet, that is what Jesus is symbolically asking His disciples to do. Moreover, Genesis 9: 2-4 states in part: "But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it." Leviticus 17:14 states: "For the life of every creature is in its blood: its blood is it's life." Jews didn't eat blood and certainly would not drink it. The disciples minds had to be exploding with questions and confusion.
Truly, Jesus was creating a new ritual to be followed. This was not a typical Passover. This was the institution of something new. His body was to be broken for us. His blood was going to be shed for our sins so that we might be forgiven. While this may have been confusing to the disciples, we can look back with clarity because we have the written Word of God and we can rejoice. No confusion exists for us. We know what is occurring.
The fourth section is "The Conclusion." vv. 31, 32 In verse 31, Jesus tells His disciples that they will all stumble at His being taken and abused this night. He tells them that the will be ashamed of Him. The disciples had to be so confused, but later it would all be made clear to them. In verse 32, Jesus provides hope to them. He will rise again and go before them. The disciples offense would turn to a committed group willing to die for their Savior.
The Golden Text is "For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Matthew 26:28) In the sacrificial system, "without shedding of blood there is no remission." It took blood being given for sins to be forgiven. Our Lord Jesus Christ was the perfect sacrifice for us, holt and without blemish. His blood purchased our salvation for all eternity.
My summary points:
1. We need to make preparations to see the Lord, including the removal of all leaven (sin) and live a consecrated life to Him.
2. We can remain loyal to the Lord Jesus Christ as we live a life of repentance and submission to Him.
3. We can commune with God every moment of the day, not just on the weekend.
Next week, "The Death of Jesus." (Matthew 27:45-61)
The Last Supper
By Dr. Barry Jenkins
Some people think that Jesus was creating something new when He established the “Lord’s Supper.” Most English Bibles will say something like, “The Lord’s Supper Instituted.” Others seeking to establish the Hebraic roots of the faith insist that Yeshua was celebrating a traditional Passover meal. Who is right or, are they both wrong? Scripture and Hebraic customs shed some light.
In 30 A.D., Wednesday was Nisan 13. After sunset, Passover began on Nisan 14, which was a Thursday. Friday was Nisan 15 and was a Sabbath day. Saturday was Nisan 16 and was the seventh day Sabbath. In 30 A.D., there were back to back Sabbaths. It was on Wednesday that Jesus began to make plans for Passover. Later Christian tradition moves the last meal to Thursday night. It appears that Jesus was arrested on Wednesday night, crucified on Thursday, never had the passover meal on Thursday evening, and rose from the dead on Nisan 17, which was early morning on the day after the last Sabbath (what we call Sunday). How can we know this time table is accurate?
John specifies that the Wednesday night “last supper” was “before the festival of Passover (John 13:1).”He also informs us that when Jesus’ accusers appeared before Pilate on Thursday morning, they would not enter Pilate’s courtyard because they would be defiled and would not be able to eat the Passover that evening (John 18:28). I find it convincing proof that Jesus was not celebrating Passover because of the Greek word used for “bread.” It was artos and refers to a loaf of bread, i.e. the bread had leaven and had risen. In the Septuagint, a different Greek word is used to describe the unleavened bread commanded to be used in Exodus 12. It is the word azymos and it means unleavened or unfermented. Jesus used a loaf of bread on the night before His arrest. Have you ever seen a loaf of matzos? No Torah observant Jew would eat leavened bread once Passover began. Further, no Torah observant Jew would encourage others to disobey God’s command to eat unleavened bread. For Jesus to remain Torah observant, the last meal could not be a Passover meal.
Another point of interest is would Jesus choose not to be with His four brothers, two sisters, and mother on such an important celebration as Passover? It would seem that what we call the “Last Supper” occurred on Passover eve. We need to investigate all the things we think we know. We need Biblical truth. It is there, if we will investigate.
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