Today Our Daily Bread Matthew 26 & 2 Cor 2:14

Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her daily journal.

Matthew 26:1-75
The Plot to Kill JesusThe Beginning of the Lord's SupperR106 1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, that He said to His disciples, 2"You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified." 3Then the chief priests, the scribes, F141 and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, 4and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him. 5But they said, "Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people." The Anointing at BethanyR107 6 And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, 7a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. 8But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, "Why this waste? 9For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor." 10But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. 11For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. 12For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. 13Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her." Judas Agrees to Betray JesusR108 14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15and said, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?" And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. 16So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him. Jesus Celebrates Passover with His DisciplesR109 17 Now on the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?" 18And He said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, "The Teacher says, "My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.""' 19So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover. 20When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve. 21Now as they were eating, He said, "Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me." 22And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, "Lord, is it I?" 23He answered and said, "He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me. 24The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born." 25Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, "Rabbi, is it I?" He said to him, "You have said it." Jesus Institutes the Lord's SupperR110 26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed F142 and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." 27Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28For this is My blood of the new F143 covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom." 30And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Jesus Predicts Peter's DenialR111 31 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: "I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' F144 32But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee." 33Peter answered and said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble." 34Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." 35Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And so said all the disciples. The Prayer in the GardenR112 36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, "Sit here while I go and pray over there." 37And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me." 39He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." 40Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." 42Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless F145 I drink it, Your will be done." 43And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. 44So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45Then He came to His disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand." Betrayal and Arrest in GethsemaneR113 47 And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him." 49Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed Him. 50But Jesus said to him, "Friend, why have you come?" Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. 51And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 52But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish F146 by the sword. 53Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 54How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?" 55In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. 56But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled. Jesus Faces the SanhedrinR114 57 And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. 58But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest's courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end. 59Now the chief priests, the elders, F147 and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, 60but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. F148 But at last two false witnesses F149 came forward 61and said, "This fellow said, "I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days."' 62And the high priest arose and said to Him, "Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?" 63But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, "I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!" 64Jesus said to him, "It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." 65Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, "He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! 66What do you think?" They answered and said, "He is deserving of death." 67Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, 68saying, "Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?" us, Peter Denies Jesus, and Weeps BitterlyR115 69 Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, "You also were with Jesus of Galilee." 70But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are saying." 71And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, "This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth." 72But again he denied with an oath, "I do not know the Man!" 73And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, "Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you." 74Then he began to curse and swear, saying, "I do not know the Man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. 75And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." So he went out and wept bitterly.
Footnotes
F141: 26:3 NU-Text omits the scribes. F142: 26:26 M-Text reads gave thanks for. F143: 26:28 NU-Text omits new. F144: 26:31 Zechariah 13:7 F145: 26:42 NU-Text reads if this may not pass away unless. F146: 26:52 M-Text reads die. F147: 26:59 NU-Text omits the elders. F148: 26:60 NU-Text puts a comma after but found none, does not capitalize Even, and omits they found none. F149: NU-Text omits false witnesses.
Show cross-references R106: Mark 14:1, 2; Luke 22:1, 2; John 11:45-53 R107: Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-8 R108: Mark 14:10, 11; Luke 22:3-6 R109: Mark 14:12-21; Luke 22:7-13 R110: Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:14-23; 1 Cor. 11:23-26 R111: Mark 14:27-31; Luke 22:31-34; John 13:36-38 R112: Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46 R113: Mark 14:43-52; Luke 22:47-53; John 18:1-11 R114: Mark 14:53-65; Luke 22:66-71; John 18:12-14, 19-24 R115: Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:54-62; John 18:15-18, 25-27

~ Lena’s Journalin’~
The oil cost her everything, she gave everything she had for it and all she’d given, she gave to Him, and for His work. Its cost was very significant of the appreciation and revelation she had of Him. Of what He was about to give for her. It was an expression of her love for Him in response to His great love for her, before the greatest action of all was even extended towards her. She was beginning to know enough of His love, enough of Him that she was willing to risk the giving up of her own life, somehow she knew He’d risk everything for her, someday. Even if he never did it naturally, she knew He would do it in an instant if called upon. She had no real idea, just a Divine inkling, just a great inner witness, enough of a knowing to act upon. She knew Him enough to give, Judas did not know Him enough to give, he assumed enough to take, to hide, and to deceive. What opposing forces in action here, huh? His character display is a great description of our and God’s enemy’s character. He seeks to take those he can devour, he thinks and schemes against the purposes of God in anyone’s life. He takes, steals, especially faith towards God. He seeks any opportunity he can seize, to betray.
Do you know betrayal is the most painful of inflicted sins? Why is that? Think about it, Lucifer was God the Father’s trusted ache’-angelic beings. He was entrusted with the worship of God, the glory of God, and he betrayed that trust. Pride, led to rebellion and rebellion led to betrayal and division of what was God’s love to what was self-love. These are the roots of ALL sin, all of these characteristics are characteristics of God’s enemy. So why does it hurt so badly? Because we are as God is, feel what God feel, though in minute detail, but it is the same. Jesus was here to destroy the power of this enemy and of its effect on eternity for men and women. The sin of Betrayal must be faced and dealt with. It is a very serious thing, leads to death – of relationships. The measure of hurt shows us the severity of the assault against god and the imperativeness of Jesus’ death and ultimate sacrifice to cancel out it costly debt.
Have you ever noticed verse 56, where it says then all of the disciples forsook Him and fled? We all always thought it was Judas, the Peter and that was all, but here it said all of them would have to deal with regret for lack of commitment to Jesus’ in His death for them later on. ALL….Peter stood around to see what was up. Where were the others? Peter denied the Lord. Have we ever done this? Ever? Be honest now, ever? Let’s look at what “deny” means- to declare untrue, refuse to believe, reject, refusal to recognize or acknowledge, decline to grant allowance of or to, withhold, keep back, to disregard his own interests or to prove false to himself, to act entirely unlike himself, to deny, abnegate (give up your rights to), abjure(renounce under oath), not to accept, to reject, to refuse something offered. Guilty, Guilty, Guilty. I confess I’ve been guilty! Have I always accepted every offer He’s ever brought my way? What about His gifts? What about the parts of His word I pick and choose, as though it’s my choice? Oh, God help me. It’s like we are interviewing God!, We’re seeing if He measures up to our expectations of Him, or if He fits our imaginary mold. It’s as though He has to prove His-self to us or else we won’t believe or receive Him or His Spirit, or His Word (the Son & the Word are the same, they are ONE).
He is SO merciful to us as much as we “deny” Him, He still draws us, explains to us, makes it plainer for us, serves us! He should be the one who interviews and interrogates us. He’s GOD! Yet He allows people to misconstrue His nature, misunderstand His personality, judge His will and plans, He lets us mock His name, paint foolish pictures of Him, and all the while takes any time at all to honor us and draw us closer and closer to Himself. He’s totally amazing, totally amazing. His love is so awesomely great, so greatly awesome.
Ever rejected a Godly idea you had to later ask His forgiveness for refusing? God’s love is so great that He lets us approach Him in humility and be corrected.
It’s very good to stand corrected before God. It is something that should be practiced often
(daily repetitive verse)
2 Corinthians 2:14
Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.