SOURCE FOR QUESTIONS
Matthew 26:1 through 28:20

‍KEY VERSE FOR MEMORIZATION
“For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:28)

BACKGROUND

At this time in history, the Roman government appointed the political as well as religious leaders for Israel. Caiaphas was chosen as high priest, being son-in-law to Annas, a former high priest. It appears that Caiaphas worked well with the Romans, as he remained high priest longer than most — eighteen years. It was Caiaphas who first recommended that Jesus should die, and he, along with the other chief priests, scribes, and elders, conspired to arrest Jesus.

Matthew wrote his book primarily for Jewish Christians; therefore he emphasized Jesus’ kingly role and presented a portrayal of the Kingdom of God. Matthew strove to show that Christ’s Kingdom was in the hearts of men, and not in the politics of the time.

As world-shaping events were being plotted in Jerusalem, in a small corner in Bethany, Mary, sister to Martha and Lazarus, anointed Jesus with precious ointment from an alabaster box as a memorial for His burial. This was a small picture of what the Kingdom of God was really about — His love.

After partaking of the last supper, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane, where He fought the supreme battle of all time. Jesus’ agony was because He would bear the sins of all mankind, and would be rejected for a time by His Father. Jesus’ human flesh struggled with the physical agony before Him, but as His spirit and will were completely subjected to God, He won the battle and accepted His “cup” with peace.

After being apprehended in the Garden, the next morning Jesus was sentenced to death by the chief priests and elders. They bound Jesus and sent Him to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judaea who was known for his cruelty. Rome had taken away the Jew’s authority to perform capital punishment; therefore Roman leaders had to do the sentencing and execution. The Jews knew that a charge of blasphemy would carry no weight in a Roman court, so they accused Jesus of claiming to be superior to Caesar when He said He was the Son of God.

Those who were condemned to die by crucifixion were forced to carry their own crosses, but Jesus, weak from the terrible scourging which had been inflicted upon Him, was unable to do so. Simon, a man from Cyrene in northern Africa, was compelled to carry it for Him.

Jesus was crucified at nine o’clock in the morning. At three o’clock in the afternoon, He cried out and then died. Suddenly there was an earthquake and many graves of the saints opened. At the same time the heavy curtain in the Temple tore down the middle from the top to the bottom, opening the Holy of Holies to the common people, and thus signifying man’s ability to approach God personally. Joseph of Arimathaea, a wealthy man, an honored member of the Sanhedrin, and a secret follower of Jesus, asked for Jesus’ body and put it in his own new tomb. The chief priest and Pharisees sealed the tomb securely and set a watch of soldiers around it.

At dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and another Mary (possibly the wife of Cleopas, or the mother of James and John) were coming to the sepulchre when there was a huge earthquake, and an angel came and rolled back the stone from the door. As the women approached, the angel told them that Jesus had risen from the dead.

Matthew’s account does not speak of the forty days Jesus spent on earth after His resurrection. Instead he moves directly to Jesus’ commission to His disciples. Before this time, the field of missionary work had been only to the Jews. Now Jesus expanded that field to the whole world. Before His ascension, Jesus promised He would be with His people always, even to the end of the world.

QUESTIONS

1. In Matthew 26:6-13, we read how Mary broke the alabaster box and anointed Jesus with its contents. Some who observed her actions condemned her, suggesting the money could have been better spent on the poor. What was Jesus’ response, and what lessons can we learn from Mary’s example of devotion?
   
2. Judas was eager to make a deal with the chief priests for money (Matthew 26:14-16), but later deeply regretted this and wanted to reverse it (Matthew 27:3-10). What can we learn from Judas’ actions?
   
3. At His last supper with His disciples, Jesus took two elements from the Passover feast — the unleavened bread and the cup — and used these to depict His coming death (Matthew 26:26-29). When Jesus broke the bread, He said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” How did Jesus identify the contents of the cup? What did it symbolize?
   
4. Jesus and His disciples went to a private garden at the Mount of Olives. Describe the nature of the great struggle that He faced there alone.
   
5. At Jesus’ arrest, Peter sliced off the ear of a servant of the high priest. In his zeal to defend Christ, he got ahead of God’s plan. What application from this can we make to our lives?
   
6. Why do you think Peter was seemingly very brave when he cut off the servant’s ear, yet was later afraid when questioned by two young women and others? How might we face similar circumstances?
   
7. Possibly some in the crowd who clamored for Jesus’ death (Matthew 27:20-23) were the same people who only a few days earlier had hailed Him as their king. What conclusion can we draw from this?
   
8. What did Jesus endure on Golgotha in addition to physical suffering? Why did He stay on the Cross when it was within His power to free Himself?
   
9. Why is the Resurrection of Jesus (Matthew 28:1-7) such a fundamental element of the Gospel?
   
10. At the time of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) Jesus promised to be with us always. How does He accomplish this?

CONCLUSION

God had a perfect plan when He sent Jesus to die for our sins. Jesus was faithful and fulfilled God’s plan in every aspect. The challenge that faces us is this: What will we do with Jesus?