Matthew 26

v1-5: "Thoughts of a suffering Christ are great support to Christians who are suffering, who are suffering with him and for him."

v6-16: We have an example of the greatest kindness done to Christ followed by an example of the greatest unkindness done to Him.  Among those who profess to follow Jesus, are those who are faithful friends and those who are false ones.

v17-25: The disciples were very troubled to hear that their Lord would be betrayed and that one of them would do it.  Even though they "were not conscious in themselves of any inclination that way - no such thought ever entered their minds - they still feared the worst and therefore asked the One who knows us better than we know ourselves, Lord, is it I? It is good for disciples of Christ always to watch themselves with a godly jealousy, especially in times of testing."

v26-30: Jesus handed the disciples the bread and said, “Take, eat,” meaning “accept Christ as he is offered to you, receive the atonement, give your approval and agreement to it, fulfilled the terms on which its benefit is offered to you; submit to his grace and to his government.”  When we believe in Jesus, all the effectiveness of his death is applied to our souls.  The cup representing Christ’s blood obtained and confirmed the new covenant which brings pardon and forgiveness and reconciliation between God and humans.

v31-35: When disciples of Christ experience times of testing and temptation, they may stumble both because Satan is active and they are weak. "We should say, “If it is possible for others to fall away, there is a danger that I may do so too.”  Those who are most in danger of falling and sinning, are those who are most confident in themselves.

v36-46: The sufferings the Lord Jesus was to experience lay before Him.  "He foresaw the betrayal of Judas, the unkindness of Peter, the hatred and corrupt ingratitude of the Jews. He knew that in a few hours he would be scourged, spit on, crowned with thorns, and nailed to the cross. Death in its most fearful appearances, death on show, accompanied by all its terror, looked him in the face.”  Yet He was still willing to submit to them and so He offered Himself and gave Himself for us.

v47-56: Jesus did not need nor did He receive the help of anyone else in achieving salvation for us.  He alone bore our sins.  He alone paid the penalty.  He did everything Himself.  He is the only the Saviour.

v57-68: The Sanhedrin could not find a reason to hand Jesus over to the Romans.  They searched for proof with numerous false witness brought before them, but they could not produce any testimony that was true or consistent.

v69-75: "This is written to warn us so that we do not sin as Peter did, so that we never, either directly or indirectly, deny Christ the Lord who bought us, by rejecting his offers, resisting his Spirit, concealing our knowledge of him, and being ashamed of him and his words, or being afraid of suffering for him and with his suffering people.”  But if we do sin, this is written so that we might be quick to repent like Peter did.  "Some of the old commentators say that as long as Peter lived, he never heard a cock crow without being caused to weep. Those who have experienced true sorrow for sin will grieve at every remembrance of it, yet not so as to hinder, but rather to increase, their joy in God, his mercy, and his grace."