will ye give me, and I will deliver him into your hands? They agreed therefore to give him thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from henceforward he watched for a favourable opportunity to betray him. 17 Now on the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples came to JESUS, and said to him; where will you have us dress the Paschal Lamb for you? 18 He answered; Go into the city, at such a man's house, and say to him, the master sends us to tell you, that his time is at hand, and that he is coming to keep the passover at your house, with his disciples. 19 Accordingly the disciples did as JESUS had ordered them, and they made ready the passover. 20 In the evening, he sat at table with his twelve disciples. 21 And as they were eating, he said to them; assuredly, I tell you, that one of you shall Thirty pieces.] i. e. Thirty shekels, which made about £3. 15s. of our money. Thirty shekels were the price of a slave [and the ransom of a servant's life.] Exod. xxi. 32. v. 17. The first day of unleavened bread.] We learn from St. Mark xiv. 12. and Luke xxii. 7. that this was done the very day on which the paschal lamb was killed; for though the feast of unleavened bread did not, properly speaking, begin till the 15th of April, Levit. xxiii. 5. Numb. xxviii. 16, 17. yet they began to abstain from leavened bread on the evening of the fourteenth day. Exod. xii. 18. The paschal lamb.] Gr. The passover. This word was often used to denote the lamb itself, that was killed and eat during the celebration of this solemnity. See Exod. xii. 43. 2 Chron. xxxvii. 12, 13. Mark xiv. 12. Luke xxii. 7. (See the introduction, p. 164.) v. 18 The city.] i. e. To Jerusalem, which was called the city, by way of eminence, as Rome was styled by the Latin writers, urbs, or the city, without the addition of any other word. Such a man's.] There is a description of him in St. Mark xiv. 13. and St. Luke xxii. 10. To keep.] Eat the Paschal Lamb. v. 19. The disciples.] Peter and John. See Luke xxii. 8. v. 20. In the evening.] After sunset. v. 21. As they were eating.] The Paschal Lamb. betray me. 22 At this they were exceedingly troubled, and began every one to say to him; Lord, Is it I? 23 And he replied; he that dips his hand with me in the dish, he it is that shall betray me. 24 As for the Son of Man, he is going according to what has been written of him; but woe to him by whom the Son of Man shall be betrayed; it had been better for that man, if he had never been born. 25 Then Judas, he that was to betray him, said to him; master, is it I? you have said it, replied JESUS. 26 After they had done eating, JESUS took bread, and having given God thanks, he broke it, and gave it ver. 23. Mark xiv. 20. Luke xxii. 21. v. 24. Ps. xxii. Isa. liii. 3. Dan. ix. 26. Luke xxiv. 26, 46. Acts xvii. 3. xxvi. 23. John xyii. 12. v. 25. John xiii. 2. Matt. xxvi. 64. compare Mark xiv. 62. v. 26. 1 Cor. xi. 24. Mark xiv. 22. Luke xxii. 19. v. 23. He that dips.] We may suppose that this was what Judas was doing at that very instant. Dish.] It was a vessel full of vinegar, wherein they dipped the bitter herbs. v. 24. Is going.] Thus doth Jesus Christ describe his approaching death. See a like expression, Gen. xv. 2. comparing the Hebrew with the Seventy. v. 25. You have said it.] This expression is equivalent to a positive assertion, both in sacred and profane authors, compare Matt. xxvi. 64. with Mark xiv. 62. The first time Jesus Christ discovered that he should be betrayed, he only told it in John's ear, that Judas was to be the author of that black piece of villany. John told it to Peter, but the rest knew nothing of it. Now Jesus Christ plainly points at him. v. 26. Had done eating.] Jesus Christ instituted the holy communion after the Paschal feast. See Luke xxii. 20. and 1 Cor. xi. 25. This passage may otherwise be rendered, they were yet eating, when, &c. Took bread.] Or, a loaf. Which, according to custom, was unleavened. The loaves of the Jews were round, flat, thin, and consequently very easy to break. Given God thanks.] To bless, and to give thanks, are one and the same thing. See the note on Matt. xiv. 19. This is my body.] This loaf [or bread] which I now have in my hand, and order you to take and eat, is my body. Is-] i. e. Signifies, or represents, according to the style of the sacred writers. Thus Gen. xl. 12. The three branches are three days, ver. 18. The three baskets are three days, ch. xli. 26. The seven fat cows are seven years, Dan. viii. 20. The ram with two horns, are the to his disciples, saying, take, eat, this is my body. 27 Then he took the cup, and having given thanks, he gave it them, saying; drink ye all of this; 28 For this is my blood, the blood of the new covenant, which shall be shed for many, for the remission of sins. 29 Now I declare to you, that from henceforth I will drink no more of this fruit of the vine, till I drink it new with you in the kingdom of my Father. 11. v. 28. Matt. xx. 28. v. 29. Mark xiv. 25. Gal. iv. 24. Rom. v. 15. Heb. Luke xxii. 18. Acts kings of Media and Persia. St. Paul having spoken of Sarah and Hagar, adds, These are the two covenants. Rev. i. 20. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches. Lastly, Exod. xii. After God had spoken of the Paschal Lamb, he says, This is the Lord's passover. Now our Saviour substituting the holy communion for the passover, follows the style of the Old Testament, and uses the same expressions as the Jews were wont to use at the celebration of the passover. Body-] The word oua that is used in the original, signifies properly a dead body, without blood. Thus the Jews were wont to call the Lamb they eat at the Paschal supper, The body of the Lamb. The Syriac translator hath rendered the original word by another, signifying a dead carcase. Several fathers of the church, instead of this is my body, have translated this is my flesh. It is very plain, that Jesus Christ meant it so, since he makes mention of the effusion of his own blood. (See the Introduction, 181.) v. 27. Then he took the cup.] Namely, after supper, according to the custom of the Jews, who were wont to conclude the Paschal feast by drinking a cup, which they styled the cup of blessing. v. 28. This is my blood.] This is to be understood of the blood, as separated from the body. Every sacrifice consisted of two parts, of flesh and blood; and the most considerable part of the sacrifice, was the blood. See Levit. xvii. 11. and Exod. xxiv. 8. The blood of the new covenant.] The first covenant was ratified with blood. See Exod. xxiv. 8. where it is said of the blood of the sacrifices; This is the blood of the covenant, &c. As to Jesus Christ's calling wine, blood, there is nothing in the expression that ought to seem strange. See Ecclesiasticus i. 17. Maccab. vi. 34. For many.] i. e. For all mankind. In the Hebrew and Greek languages; the word many is frequently used for all. Thus St. Chrysostom and Theophylact understood this passage. See Matt. XX. 28 v. 29. I will not drink.] He continues to give them notice of his approaching death and sufferings. 30 And when they had sung the Hymn, they went into the Mount of Olives. 31 Then JESUS said to them; I shall be to you all, this night, an occasion of falling; for it is written; I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be dispersed. 32 But when I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. 33 Whereupon Peter said to him; though you shall be, to all the rest, an occasion of falling, yet you shall never v. 30. John xviii. 4. v. 31. Matt. xi. 6. Mark xiv. 27. John Zech. xiii. 7. v. 32. Matt. xxviii. 16. Mark xiv. 28. v. 33. John xiii. 37. xxi. 32. xvi. 7. This fruit of the vine.] The Jews made use of the same circumlocution to denote wine, when they where celebrating the passover. Till I drink.] The Jews were wont to describe future happiness by the words eating and drinking. Matt. viii. 11. New.] i. e. Of a quite different nature, in the same sense as we meet with new heavens, a new earth, the new Jerusalem, &c. In the kingdom of my father.] i. e. Either in heaven, or after the resurrection, which was in a manner the opening and beginning of that kingdom, which God is to administer by his Son. This verse is thus paraphrased by Dr. Clark; "I will have the Jewish passover commemoration no longer continued; but the things of which these were the figures, shall now be fulfilled and accomplished in the kingdom of the Messiah." See Dr. Whitby, Note on Mark xiv. 25. v. 30. The hymn.] The Jews were ordered to drink four cups at the celebration of the passover; and the fourth concluded the whole ceremony. After the master of the house had drunk it, they sung one Psalm, and then went their ways. This cup was called the cup of thanksgiving, and the Psalm was styled the Hymn of release: They sung six Psalms during the celebration of the passover, namely, Psal. 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118. some before, and some after the Paschal supper. [See Introduction, p. 186.] The Mount of Olives.] Which stood over against the temple of Jerusalem about fifteen stadia from the city. Thither Jesus Christ was generally wont to retire after having taught in the temple. Luke xxi. 37. xxii. 39. John viii. 1. v. 31. I shall be to you all.] Or, You shall all forsake me. Gr. You shall be all scandalised in me. Now this expression, to be scandalised in any one, signifies frequently in the gospels, and especially in that of St. Matthew, to fall away, to forsake a person in adversity, not to discharge the office of a friend, or a disciple towards him. See ch. xi. 6. xiii. 21. xxiv. 10. Mark iv. 17. xiv. 27. Luke vii. 23. John xvi. 1. In all these passages, the word to scandalise, cannot be used. [See the Translator's Preface, p. 9.} v. 32. Into Galilee.] See Matt. xxviii. 7, 10, 16, 17. be so to me. 34 JESUS replied to him, I tell you for certain, that this very night, before the cock has crowed, you shall deny me three times. 35 But Peter said to him; though I was to die with you, I would not deny you; and all the disciples said the same. 36 After this, JESUS went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to them; sit down here, whilst I go yonder to pray. 37 But he took with him Peter, and the two sons of Zebedee: then he began to be seized with sorrow and anguish. 38 And he said to them; my soul is sorrowful, even to death, stay here, and watch with me. 39 Then going a little further, he prostrated himself on his face, and prayed in this manner: O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; however, let thy will be done, and not mine. 40 He returned afterwards to his disciples, and having found them ver. 34. Mark xiv. 30. Luke xxii. 34. Mark xiv. 32. John xiii. 38. v. 36. John xii. 27. v. 88. Ps. cxvi. 3. 30. vi. 38. xii. 27. Matt. xx. 22. John v. 34. Crowed.] i. e. Before the cock hath done crowing; for the cock crows at several times. See Mark xiv. 30. [and the Introduction, p. 218.] 36. Gethsemane.] A village at the bottom of the mount of Olives, where was a garden. Sit down here.] These are the very words that Abraham said to his servants, when he went to sacrifice Isaac, Gen. xxii. 5. v. 37. Peter, &c.] The same that he had taken along with him to be witnesses of his transfiguration. v. 38. Sorrowful to death.] See a like expression, Jonah iv. 9. v. 39. Going a little further.] About a stone's cast, Luke xxii. 41. so that the apostles could both hear and see him. Cup.] i. e. This kind of death, this punishment according to the style of the eastern nations. See Ezek. xxiii. 31, 32, 33. Rev. xiv. 10. Matt. xx. 23. v. 40. Sleeping.] It was then very late in the night for after supper Christ made them a long discourse. See John xiv. xv. xvi. xvii. and besides, they were oppressed and stupified with sorrow. See Luke xxii. 45. Y Y |