POURED OUT FOR MANY

Matthew 26:1-30

Key Verse 26:28

“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

What Jewish Feast was near? (1) What do you know about the Passover? What do verses 1-5 show us about Jesus? 

*The Passover (which included the Feast of Unleavened Bread).

*(For background on the Passover, see Exodus 12, esp. v.13. After that time they were commanded to observe the Feast as a way to remember God’s deliverance and the price paid. The Passover looks ahead to the deliverance of God’s people from slavery to sin and death through the blood of Jesus Christ.) 

*Jesus was fully aware of what was going on. He was in control. They said that they would arrest him, or take him, but Jesus says that he would be handed over to them.

What happened while Jesus was in Bethany? (6-7) Compare the disciples’ response to Jesus’. What meaning did Jesus find in her actions? (10-12) How did he commend her? (13)

*See verses 6-7. (Her jar of nard perfume was equal to about a year’s wages (average salary).) 

*The disciples were indignant. They saw her actions as a “waste.” Jesus saw her actions as a “beautiful thing.”  What a contrast! They had other things in mind than what Jesus had in mind.

*Jesus says that what she did was to prepare him for his burial. 

*The basis of her pouring out the perfume is Jesus’ sacrifice. Matthew doesn’t mention who she is, not even her name, or what Jesus had done previously for her. In the same way, our basis for giving to Jesus is not because we are looking to get something, but because of what he has already done, that is, his sacrifice for us. Now is the time to give our best and fully, and Jesus is the reason. 

Read verses 14-16. What do Judas’s actions reveal about him? Why do you think Judas responded the way he did versus the woman’s actions?

*Judas was looking to get something for himself. Now he went to betray Jesus by selling him into the hands of those looking to arrest him.

*Judas stands in stark contrast to this woman here. There is no mention of her getting something for herself from Jesus, yet she poured out her best on him. Judas on the other hand was looking to get something for himself, and when he didn’t see it from Jesus, he went to get it for himself by selling Jesus to the chief priests making himself out to be Jesus’ betrayal. This serves as a warning for all of us. Judas did not look like a betrayer on the outside. Even the other disciples were surprised that he was the betrayer. But if we operate like him, looking for something for ourselves all the time, we’re going to be frustrated and in spiritual danger. 

*Life is more important than money. 

How did Jesus prepare for the Passover dinner with his disciples? (17-19) What did Jesus mean by, “my appointed time”? (18) What did Jesus tell his disciples while they were eating? (21-25) Why do you think Jesus brought up this matter in this way?

*See verses 17-19.

*This appointed time refers to the designated time of his death for the sins of the world. 

Exodus 13:10: “You must keep this ordinance at the appointed time year after year.”

Exodus 23:15: "Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread; for seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Abib, for in that month you came out of Egypt. "No one is to appear before me empty-handed.”

Exodus 34:18: "Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread. For seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Abib, for in that month you came out of Egypt.”

Daniel 9:24: "Seventy 'sevens' are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy.”

*He brought up the matter that one of his disciples would betray him.

*In one sense, we can see that Jesus was preparing for what was going to happen ahead of time. Actually, we will see that all of them fell away after Jesus was arrested and were to be brought back to him. Jesus had loved them all fully. 

How does the bread and wine represent Jesus’ body and blood? What does it mean to eat and drink of it? (1 Cor 11:26) What is the covenant? (v.28; Heb 8:6-12) Why did he pour out his blood?

*They represent the reality of what Jesus did. His body was broken and given to this world and his blood was poured out for many.

*It means to accept his sacrifice and love. 

1 Corinthians 11:26: “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.”

*See verse 28. It is the covenant of sin forgiveness for many.

*He poured out his blood. The Bible says that the life is in the blood. Jesus came to give what is most valuable: life. It was because of his love that he did it.

Leviticus 17:11: “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life.”

Hebrews 9:11-22: 11When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. 12He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. 13The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! 15For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

 16In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. 19When Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. 20He said, "This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep." 21In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

*This covenant of sin forgiveness enables us to live and serve God. 

What could the disciples learn from Jesus who gave thanks at this time? What hope what did Jesus give them? (29)

*They could learn Jesus’ love, joy and faith in God to lay down his life as the Lamb of God for the sins of the world. He didn’t see his sacrifice as a mere obligation or just the sufferings from a human point of view. We can learn Jesus’ point of view which produced joy and thankfulness in the moment of sacrifice in serving God.

*His words give them the hope of the resurrected life together with him in the kingdom of heaven.

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