Today please be in
prayer for:
1. Mark Loftin
Elk City UMC
Parsons District
2. Angie Kretzer
Ebenezer (Lyons)
Geneseo
Hutchinson District
3. Andy Frazier
Lincoln Trinity UMC
Blue River District
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This Week's Lectionary:
Passion/Palm Sunday –
Purple, Red or Scarlet
6th Sunday in Lent
Liturgy of the Palms:
Matthew 21:1-11
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
Liturgy of the Passion:
Isaiah 50:4-9
Psalm 31:9-16
Philippians 2:5-11
Matthew 26:14-27:66
Or Mathew 27:11-54
Psalm 118:1 Give thanks
to Yahweh, for he is good,
for his loving kindness endures forever.
2 Let Israel now say
that his loving kindness endures forever.
19 Open to me the gates
of righteousness.
I will enter into them.
I will give thanks to Yah.
20 This is the gate of
Yahweh;
the righteous will enter into it.
21 I will give thanks to
you, for you have answered me,
and have become my salvation.
22 The stone which the
builders rejected has become the head of the corner.
23 This is Yahweh’s
doing.
It is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that
Yahweh has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it!
25 Save us now, we beg
you, Yahweh!
Yahweh, we beg you, send prosperity now.
26 Blessed is he who
comes in Yahweh’s name!
We have blessed you out of Yahweh’s house.
27 Yahweh is God, and he
has given us light.
Bind the sacrifice with cords, even to the
horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I
will give thanks to you.
You are my God, I will exalt you.
29 Oh give thanks to
Yahweh, for he is good,
for his loving kindness endures forever.
Matthew 21: 1 When they
came near to Jerusalem, and came to Bethsphage,[a] to the Mount of Olives, then
Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village that is
opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her.
Untie them, and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall
say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and immediately he will send them.”
4 All this was done,
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying,
5 “Tell the daughter of
Zion,
behold, your King comes to you,
humble, and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”[b]
6 The disciples went,
and did just as Jesus commanded them, 7 and brought the donkey and the colt,
and laid their clothes on them; and he sat on them. 8 A very great multitude
spread their clothes on the road. Others cut branches from the trees, and
spread them on the road. 9 The multitudes who went in front of him, and those
who followed, kept shouting, “Hosanna [c] to the son of David! Blessed is he
who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” [d]
10 When he had come into
Jerusalem, all the city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 The
multitudes said, “This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 21:1 TR &
NU read “Bethphage” instead of “Bethsphage”
b. Matthew 21:5
Zechariah 9:9
c. Matthew 21:9
“Hosanna” means “save us” or “help us, we pray”.
d. Matthew 21:9 Psalm
118:26
Liturgy of the Passion –
Sunday, 13 April 2014 - Sixth Sunday in Lent
PRAYER: Thematic
God of wilderness and
water,
your Son was baptized
and tempted as we are.
Guide us through this
season,
that we may not avoid
struggle,
but open ourselves to
blessing,
through the cleansing
depths of repentance
and the heaven-rending
words of the Spirit. Amen.
OR
Artist of souls,
you sculpted a people
for yourself
out of the rocks of
wilderness and fasting.
Help us as we take up
your invitation to prayer and simplicity,
that the discipline of
these forty days
may sharpen our hunger
for the feast of your holy friendship,
and whet our thirst for
the living water you offer
through Jesus Christ.
Amen.
OR
God of the covenant,
in the glory of the
cross
your Son embraced the
power of death
and broke its hold over
your people.
In this time of repentance,
draw all people to
yourself,
that we who confess
Jesus as Lord
may put aside the deeds
of death
and accept the life of
your kingdom. Amen.
OR
God of the living,
through baptism we pass
from the shadow of death
to the light of the
resurrection.
Remain with us and give
us hope
that, rejoicing in the
gift of the Spirit
who gives life to our
mortal flesh,
we may be clothed with
the garment of immortality,
through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
Intercessory
Caught between joy and
despair,
we yearn for the
fulfillment of God's desire
beyond the brokenness
and neediness of this life.
We offer thanksgiving
for God's presence with us
and petitions for the
transformation
of the church and the
world.
Prayers of the People,
concluding with:
Life-giver, Pain-bearer,
Love-maker,
day by day you sustain
the weary with your word
and gently encourage us
to place our trust in you.
Awaken us to the
suffering of those around us;
save us from hiding in
denials or taunts that deepen the hurt;
give us grace to share
one another's burdens in humble service. Amen.
Scripture
Merciful God,
your strength and
courage pour forth
to sustain the witness
of your faithful people.
Awaken in us the
humility to serve
wherever creation is
broken and in need,
that we may follow in
the way of our brother, Jesus,
die as he did to all
that separates us from you,
and with him be raised
to new life. Amen.
Isaiah 50: 4 The Lord
Yahweh has given me the tongue of those who are taught,
that I may know how to sustain with words
him who is weary.
He wakens morning by
morning,
he wakens my ear to hear as those who are
taught.
5 The Lord Yahweh has
opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious.
I have not turned back.
6 I gave my back to those
who beat me,
and my cheeks to those who plucked off the
hair.
I didn’t hide my face from shame and
spitting.
7 For the Lord Yahweh
will help me.
Therefore I have not been confounded.
Therefore I have set my
face like a flint,
and I know that I shall not be
disappointed.
8 He who justifies me is
near.
Who will bring charges against me?
Let us stand up
together.
Who is my adversary?
Let him come near to me.
9 Behold, the Lord
Yahweh will help me!
Who is he who will condemn me?
Behold, they will all
grow old like a garment.
The moths will eat them up.
Psalm 31: 9 Have mercy
on me, Yahweh, for I am in distress.
My eye, my soul, and my body waste away
with grief.
10 For my life is spent
with sorrow,
my years with sighing.
My strength fails
because of my iniquity.
My bones are wasted away.
11 Because of all my
adversaries I have become utterly contemptible to my neighbors,
A fear to my acquaintances.
Those who saw me on the street fled from
me.
12 I am forgotten from
their hearts like a dead man.
I am like broken pottery.
13 For I have heard the
slander of many, terror on every side,
while they conspire together against me,
they plot to take away my life.
14 But I trust in you,
Yahweh.
I said, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in your
hand.
Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and
from those who persecute me.
16 Make your face to
shine on your servant.
Save me in your loving kindness.
Philippians 2: 5 Have
this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form
of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied
himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. 8 And
being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes,
the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to
him the name which is above every name; 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, 11
and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of
God the Father.
Matthew 26: 14 Then one
of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, 15 and
said, “What are you willing to give me, that I should deliver him to you?” They
weighed out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From that time he sought
opportunity to betray him.
17 Now on the first day
of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, “Where do you
want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?”
18 He said, “Go into the
city to a certain person, and tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand.
I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.”’”
19 The disciples did as
Jesus commanded them, and they prepared the Passover. 20 Now when evening had
come, he was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples. 21 As they were
eating, he said, “Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me.”
22 They were exceedingly
sorrowful, and each began to ask him, “It isn’t me, is it, Lord?”
23 He answered, “He who
dipped his hand with me in the dish, the same will betray me. 24 The Son of Man
goes, even as it is written of him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of
Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born.”
25 Judas, who betrayed
him, answered, “It isn’t me, is it, Rabbi?”
He said to him, “You
said it.”
26 As they were eating,
Jesus took bread, gave thanks for[a] it, and broke it. He gave to the
disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 He took the cup, gave
thanks, and gave to them, saying, “All of you drink it, 28 for this is my blood
of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins. 29
But I tell you that I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on,
until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s Kingdom.” 30 When
they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
31 Then Jesus said to
them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is
written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be
scattered.’[b] 32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.”
33 But Peter answered
him, “Even if all will be made to stumble because of you, I will never be made
to stumble.”
34 Jesus said to him,
“Most certainly I tell you that tonight, before the rooster crows, you will
deny me three times.”
35 Peter said to him,
“Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you.” All of the disciples also
said likewise.
36 Then Jesus came with
them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to his disciples, “Sit here, while
I go there and pray.” 37 He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee,
and began to be sorrowful and severely troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My
soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch with me.”
39 He went forward a
little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible,
let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you
desire.”
40 He came to the
disciples, and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What, couldn’t you
watch with me for one hour? 41 Watch and pray, that you don’t enter into
temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 Again, a second time
he went away, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup can’t pass away from
me unless I drink it, your desire be done.” 43 He came again and found them
sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 He left them again, went away, and
prayed a third time, saying the same words. 45 Then he came to his disciples,
and said to them, “Sleep on now, and take your rest. Behold, the hour is at
hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Arise, let’s
be going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand.”
47 While he was still
speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great
multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priest and elders of the
people. 48 Now he who betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, “Whoever I kiss,
he is the one. Seize him.” 49 Immediately he came to Jesus, and said, “Hail,
Rabbi!” and kissed him.
50 Jesus said to him,
“Friend, why are you here?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took
him. 51 Behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and
drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and struck off his
ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place, for all
those who take the sword will die by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I
couldn’t ask my Father, and he would even now send me more than twelve legions
of angels? 54 How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?”
55 In that hour Jesus
said to the multitudes, “Have you come out as against a robber with swords and
clubs to seize me? I sat daily in the temple teaching, and you didn’t arrest
me. 56 But all this has happened, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be
fulfilled.”
Then all the disciples
left him, and fled. 57 Those who had taken Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the
high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. 58 But
Peter followed him from a distance, to the court of the high priest, and
entered in and sat with the officers, to see the end. 59 Now the chief priests,
the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that
they might put him to death; 60 and they found none. Even though many false
witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came
forward, 61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God,
and to build it in three days.’”
62 The high priest stood
up, and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that these testify
against you?” 63 But Jesus held his peace. The high priest answered him, “I
adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the
Son of God.”
64 Jesus said to him,
“You have said it. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of
Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of the sky.”
65 Then the high priest
tore his clothing, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more
witnesses? Behold, now you have heard his blasphemy. 66 What do you think?”
They answered, “He is
worthy of death!” 67 Then they spit in his face and beat him with their fists,
and some slapped him, 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who hit you?”
69 Now Peter was sitting
outside in the court, and a maid came to him, saying, “You were also with
Jesus, the Galilean!”
70 But he denied it
before them all, saying, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
71 When he had gone out
onto the porch, someone else saw him, and said to those who were there, “This
man also was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
72 Again he denied it
with an oath, “I don’t know the man.”
73 After a little while
those who stood by came and said to Peter, “Surely you are also one of them,
for your speech makes you known.”
74 Then he began to
curse and to swear, “I don’t know the man!”
Immediately the rooster
crowed. 75 Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said to him, “Before the
rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” He went out and wept bitterly.
27:1 Now when morning
had come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel
against Jesus to put him to death: 2 and they bound him, and led him away, and
delivered him up to Pontius Pilate, the governor. 3 Then Judas, who betrayed
him, when he saw that Jesus was condemned, felt remorse, and brought back the
thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, “I have
sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood.”
But they said, “What is
that to us? You see to it.”
5 He threw down the
pieces of silver in the sanctuary, and departed. He went away and hanged
himself. 6 The chief priests took the pieces of silver, and said, “It’s not
lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood.” 7 They
took counsel, and bought the potter’s field with them, to bury strangers in. 8
Therefore that field was called “The Field of Blood” to this day. 9 Then that
which was spoken through Jeremiah[c] the prophet was fulfilled, saying,
“They took the thirty
pieces of silver,
the price of him upon whom a price had been
set,
whom some of the children of Israel priced,
10 and they gave them
for the potter’s field,
as the Lord commanded me.”[d]
11 Now Jesus stood
before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, “Are you the King of
the Jews?”
Jesus said to him, “So
you say.”
12 When he was accused
by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13 Then Pilate said to
him, “Don’t you hear how many things they testify against you?”
14 He gave him no
answer, not even one word, so that the governor marveled greatly. 15 Now at the
feast the governor was accustomed to release to the multitude one prisoner,
whom they desired. 16 They had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. 17
When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you
want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called Christ?” 18 For he
knew that because of envy they had delivered him up.
19 While he was sitting
on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with
that righteous man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of
him.” 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes to ask
for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. 21 But the governor answered them, “Which of
the two do you want me to release to you?”
They said, “Barabbas!”
22 Pilate said to them,
“What then shall I do to Jesus, who is called Christ?”
They all said to him,
“Let him be crucified!”
23 But the governor
said, “Why? What evil has he done?”
But they cried out
exceedingly, saying, “Let him be crucified!”
24 So when Pilate saw
that nothing was being gained, but rather that a disturbance was starting, he
took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent
of the blood of this righteous person. You see to it.”
25 All the people
answered, “May his blood be on us, and on our children!”
26 Then he released to them
Barabbas, but Jesus he flogged and delivered to be crucified. 27 Then the
governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered the whole
garrison together against him. 28 They stripped him, and put a scarlet robe on
him. 29 They braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and a reed in
his right hand; and they kneeled down before him, and mocked him, saying,
“Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him
on the head. 31 When they had mocked him, they took the robe off of him, and
put his clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.
32 As they came out,
they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, and they compelled him to go with
them, that he might carry his cross. 33 They came to a place called “Golgotha”,
that is to say, “The place of a skull.” 34 They gave him sour wine[e] to drink
mixed with gall. When he had tasted it, he would not drink. 35 When they had
crucified him, they divided his clothing among them, casting lots,[f] 36 and
they sat and watched him there. 37 They set up over his head the accusation
against him written, “THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
38 Then there were two
robbers crucified with him, one on his right hand and one on the left. 39 Those
who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads, 40 and saying, “You who
destroy the temple, and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the
Son of God, come down from the cross!”
41 Likewise the chief
priests also mocking, with the scribes, the Pharisees,[g] and the elders, said,
42 “He saved others, but he can’t save himself. If he is the King of Israel,
let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts
in God. Let God deliver him now, if he wants him; for he said, ‘I am the Son of
God.’” 44 The robbers also who were crucified with him cast on him the same
reproach.
45 Now from the sixth
hour[h] there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.[i] 46 About
the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lima[j]
sabachthani?” That is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”[k]
47 Some of them who
stood there, when they heard it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.”
48 Immediately one of
them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed,
and gave him a drink. 49 The rest said, “Let him be. Let’s see whether Elijah
comes to save him.”
50 Jesus cried again
with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit. 51 Behold, the veil of the temple
was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were
split. 52 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen
asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they
entered into the holy city and appeared to many. 54 Now the centurion, and those
who were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake, and the things
that were done, feared exceedingly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God.”
55 Many women were there
watching from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, serving him. 56 Among
them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of
the sons of Zebedee. 57 When evening had come, a rich man from Arimathaea,
named Joseph, who himself was also Jesus’ disciple came. 58 This man went to
Pilate, and asked for Jesus’ body. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given
up. 59 Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and laid
it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out in the rock, and he rolled a great
stone to the door of the tomb, and departed. 61 Mary Magdalene was there, and
the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb. 62 Now on the next day, which was
the day after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees were
gathered together to Pilate, 63 saying, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver
said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 Command
therefore that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest perhaps his
disciples come at night and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He is risen
from the dead;’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.”
65 Pilate said to them,
“You have a guard. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went with the
guard and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone.
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 26:26 TR
reads “blessed” instead of “gave thanks for”
b. Matthew 26:31
Zechariah 13:7
c. Matthew 27:9 some
manuscripts omit “Jeremiah”
d. Matthew 27:10
Zechariah 11:12-13; Jeremiah 19:1-13; 32:6-9
e. Matthew 27:34 or,
vinegar
Matthew 27:35 TR adds
“that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: ‘They divided my
garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots;’” [see Psalm 22:18 and
John 19:24]
f. Matthew 27:41 TR
omits “the Pharisees”
g. Matthew 27:45 noon
h. Matthew 27:45 3:00 P.
M.
i. Matthew 27:46 TR
reads “lama” instead of “lima”
j. Matthew 27:46 Psalm
22:1
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John Wesley’s
Commentary-Notes for:
Psalm 118:1-2,19-29
PS 118 The form of this
psalm seems to be dramatical, and several parts of it are spoken in the name of
several persons; as it is in the book of the Song of Solomon, and in one part
of Ecclesiastes. David speaks in his own name from the beginning to ver. 22,
from thence to ver. 25, in the name of the people; and thence to ver. 28, in
the name of the priests; and then concludes in his own name. He calls upon all
about him to praise God, ver. 1-4. Encourages himself and others to trust in
God, from the experience he had had of his power and mercy, ver. 5-18. He gives
thanks for his advancement to the throne, as it was a figure of the exaltation
of Christ, ver. 19-23. The people, the priests, and the psalmist himself
triumph in the prospect of the Redeemer's kingdom, ver. 24-29.
Verse 19. Open - O ye
porters, appointed by God for this work. The gates - Of the Lord's tabernacle:
where the rule of righteousness was kept and taught, and the sacrifices of
righteousness were offered.
Verse 20. The righteous
- As David was a type of Christ and the temple of heaven, so this place hath a
farther prospect than David, and relates to Christ's ascending into heaven, and
opening the gates of that blessed temple, both for himself and for all
believers.
Verse 22. The builders -
The commonwealth of Israel and the church of God are here and elsewhere
compared to a building, wherein, as the people are the stones, so the princes
and rulers are the builders. And as these master-builders rejected David, so
their successors rejected Christ. Head stone - The chief stone in the whole
building, by which the several parts of the building are upheld and firmly
united together. Thus David united all the tribes and families of Israel: and
thus Christ united Jews and Gentiles together. And therefore this place is
justly expounded of Christ, Mark xii, 10 Acts iv, 11 Rom. ix, 32 Eph. ii, 20.
And to him the words agree more properly than to David.
Verse 24. Made - Or
sanctified as a season never to be forgotten.
Verse 25. We - These
seem to be the words of the Levites, to whom he spake ver. 19.
Verse 26. Blessed - We
pray that God would bless his person and government. Cometh - To the throne; or
from his Father into the world: who is known by the name of him that cometh or
was to come, and of whom this very word is used, Gen. xlix, 10 Isaiah xxxv, 4.
Name - By commission from him. We - We who are the Lord's ministers attending upon
him in his house, and appointed to bless in his name, Num. vi, 23 Deut. x, 8.
So these are the words of the priests.
Verse 27. The Lord - Or,
The mighty God, as this name of God signifies, and as he shewed himself to be
by this, his wonderful work. Who - Who hath scattered our dark clouds, and put
us into a state of peace, and safety, and happiness. The horns - These are
supposed to be made for this very use, that the beasts should be bound and
killed there. These three last verses are David's words.
Matthew 21:1-11
Verse 1. Mark xi, 1;
Luke xix, 29; John xii, 12.
5. The daughter of Sion
- That is, the inhabitants of Jerusalem: the first words of the passage are
cited from Isaiah lxii, 11; the rest from Zech. ix, 9. The ancient Jewish
doctors were wont to apply these prophecies to the Messiah. On an ass - The
Prince of Peace did not take a horse, a warlike animal. But he will ride on
that by and by, Rev. xix, 11. In the patriarchal ages, illustrious persons
thought it no disgrace to make use of this animal: but it by no means appears,
that this opinion prevailed, or this custom continued, till the reign of
Tiberias. Was it a mean attitude wherein our Lord then appeared? Mean even to
contempt! I grant it: I glory in it: it is for the comfort of my soul for the
honour of his humility, and for the utter confusion of all worldly pomp and
grandeur.
Verse 7. They set him
thereon - That is, on the clothes.
Verse 8. A great
multitude spread their garments in the way - A custom which was usual at the
creation of a king, 2 Kings ix, 13.
Verse 9. The multitudes
cried, saying - Probably from a Divine impulse; for certainly most of them
understood not the words they uttered. Hoseaanna - (Lord save us) was a solemn
word in frequent use among the Jews. The meaning is, "We sing hosanna to
the Son of David. Blessed is he, the Messiah, of the Lord. Save. Thou that art
in the highest heavens." Our Lord restrained all public tokens of honour
from the people till now, lest the envy of his enemies should interrupt his
preaching before the time. But this reason now ceasing, he suffered their
acclamations, that they might be a public testimony against their wickedness,
who in four or five days after cried out, Crucify him, crucify him. The
expressions recorded by the other evangelists are somewhat different from
these: but all of them were undoubtedly used by some or others of the
multitude.
Verse 11. This is Jesus
from Nazareth - What a stumbling block was this! if he was of Nazareth, he
could not be the Messiah. But they who earnestly desired to know the truth
would not stumble thereat: for upon inquiry (which such would not fail to make)
they would find, he was not of Nazareth, but Bethlehem.
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Verse 4. Given me - This
and the following passages may be in some sort understood of the prophet
Isaiah, but they are far more evidently and eminently verified in Christ, and
indeed seem to be meant directly of him. The tongue - All ability of speaking
plainly, and convincingly, and persuasively. Weary - Burdened with the sense of
his, deplorable condition. Wakeneth - Me, from time to time, and continually.
To hear - He by his Divine power assists me to the practice of all his commands
and my duties, with all attention and diligence.
Verse 6. I gave - I
patiently yielded up myself to those who smote me.
Verse 8. Justifieth -
God will clear up my righteousness, and shew by many and mighty signs and
wonders, that I lived and died his faithful servant. Let him come - l am
conscious of mine own innocency, and I know that God will give sentence for me.
Verse 9. They - Mine
accusers and enemies. The moth - Shall be cut off and consumed by a secret
curse.
Psalm 31:9-16
Verse 9. Grief - With
continual weeping.
Verse 10. Iniquity - For
the punishment of mine iniquity. Consumed - The juice and marrow of them bring
almost dried up with grief.
Verse 11. A fear - They
were afraid to give me any countenance or assistance. Fled - To prevent their
own danger and ruin.
Verse 12. A broken
vessel - Which is irreparable, and useless, and therefore despised by all.
Verse 13. Fear - Just
cause of fear.
Verse 15. My times - All
the affairs and events of my life, are wholly in thy power.
Philippians 2:5-11
Verse 6. Who being in
the essential form - The incommunicable nature. Of God - From eternity, as he
was afterward in the form of man; real God, as real man. Counted it no act of
robbery - That is the precise meaning of the words, - no invasion of another's
prerogative, but his own strict and unquestionable right. To be equal with God
- the word here translated equal, occurs in the adjective form five or six
times in the New Testament, Matt. xx, 12; Luke vi, 34; John v, 18; Acts xi, 17;
Rev. xxi, 16. In all which places it expresses not a bare resemblance, but a
real and proper equalitg. It here implies both the fulness and the supreme
height of the Godhead; to which are opposed, he emptied and he humbled himself.
Verse 7. Yet - He was so
far from tenaciously insisting upon, that he willingly relinquished, his claim.
He was content to forego the glories of the Creator, and to appear in the form
of a creature; nay, to be made in the likeness of the fallen creatures; and not
only to share the disgrace, but to suffer the punishment, due to the meanest
and vilest among them all. He emptied himself - Of that divine fulness, which
he received again at his exaltation. Though he remained full, John i, 14, yet
he appeared as if he had been empty; for he veiled his fulness from the sight
of men and angels. Yea, he not only veiled, but, in some sense, renounced, the
glory which he had before the world began. Taking - And by that very act
emptying himself. The form of a servant - The form, the likeness, the fashion,
though not exactly the same, are yet nearly related to each other. The form
expresses something absolute; the likeness refers to other things of the same
kind; the fashion respects what appears to sight and sense. Being made in the
likeness of men - A real man, like other men. Hereby he took the form of a
servant.
Verse 8. And being found
in fashion as a man - A common man, without any peculiar excellence or
comeliness. He humbled himself - To a still greater depth. Becoming obedient -
To God, though equal with him. Even unto death - The greatest instance both of
humiliation and obedience. Yea, the death of the cross - Inflicted on few but
servants or slaves.
Verse 9. Wherefore -
Because of his voluntary humiliation and obedience. He humbled himself; but God
hath exalted him - So recompensing his humiliation. And hath given him - So
recompensing his emptying himself. A name which is above every name - Dignity
and majesty superior to every creature.
Verse 10. That every
knee - That divine honour might be paid in every possible manner by every
creature. Might bow - Either with love or trembling. Of those in heaven, earth,
under the earth - That is, through the whole universe.
Verse 11. And every
tongue - Even of his enemies. Confess that Jesus Christ is Lord - Jehovah; not
now "in the form of a servant," but enthroned in the glory of God the
Father.
Matthew 26:14-27:66
Verse 14. Mark xiv, 10;
Luke xxii, 3.
Verse 15. They bargained
with him for thirty pieces of silver - (About three pounds fifteen shillings
sterling; or sixteen dollars sixty- seven cents, ) the price of a slave, Exod.
xxi, 32.
Verse 17. On the first
day of unleavened bread - Being Thursday, the fourteenth day of the first
month, Exod. xii, 6, 15. Mark xiv, 12 Luke xxii, 7
Verse 18. The Master
saith, My time is at hand - That is, the time of my suffering.
Verse 20. Mark xiv, 17;
Luke xxii, 14.
Verse 23. He that
dippeth his hand with me in the dish - Which it seems Judas was doing at that
very time. This dish was a vessel full of vinegar, wherein they dipped their
bitter herbs.
Verse 24. The Son of man
goeth through sufferings to glory, as it is written of him - Yet this is no
excuse for him that betrayeth him: miserable will that man be: it had been good
for that man if he had not been born - May not the same be said of every man
that finally perishes? But who can reconcile this, if it were true of Judas
alone, with the doctrine of universal salvation?
Verse 25. Thou hast said
- That is, it is as thou hast said.
Verse 26. Jesus took the
bread - the bread or cake, which the master of the family used to divide among
them, after they had eaten the passover. The custom our Lord now transferred to
a nobler use. This bread is, that is, signifies or represents my body,
according to the style of the sacred writers. Thus Gen. xl, 12, The three
branches are three days. Thus Gal. iv, 24, St. Paul speaking of Sarah and
Hagar, says, These are the two covenants. Thus in the grand type of our Lord,
Exod. xii, 11, God says of the paschal lamb, This is the Lord's passover. Now
Christ substituting the holy communion for the passover, follows the style of the
Old Testament, and uses the same expressions the Jews were wont to use in
celebrating the passover.
Verse 27. And he took
the cup - Called by the Jews the cup of thanksgiving; which the master of the
family used likewise to give to each after supper.
Verse 28. This is the
sign of my blood, whereby the new testament or covenant is confirmed. Which is
shed for many - As many as spring from Adam.
Verse 29. I will not
drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, till I drink it new with you in my
Father's kingdom - That is, I shall taste no more wine, till I drink wine of
quite another kind in the glorious kingdom of my Father. And of this you shall
also partake with me.
Verse 30. And when they
had sung the hymn - Which was constantly sung at the close of the passover. It
consisteth of six psalms, from the 113th to the 118th. The mount of Olives -
Was over against the temple, about two miles from Jerusalem. Mark xiv, 26; Luke
xxii, 39; John xviii, 1.
Verse 31. All ye will be
offended at me - Something will happen to me, which will occasion your falling
into sin by forsaking me. Zech. xiii, 7.
Verse 32. But
notwithstanding this, after I am risen I will go before you (as a shepherd
before his sheep) into Galilee. Though you forsake me, I will not for this
forsake you.
Verse 34. Before cock
crowing thou wilt deny me thrice - That is, before three in the morning, the
usual time of cock crowing: although one cock was heard to crow once, after
Peter's first denial of his Lord.
Verse 35. In like manner
also said all the disciples - But such was the tenderness of our Lord, that he
would not aggravate their sin by making any reply.
Verse 36. Then cometh
Jesus to a place called Gethsemane - That is, the valley of fatness. The garden
probably had its name from its soil and situation, laying in some little valley
between two of those many hills, the range of which constitutes the mount of
Olives. Mark xiv, 32; Luke xxii, 40.
Verse 37. And taking
with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee - To be witnesses of all; he began
to be sorrowful and in deep anguish - Probably from feeling the arrows of the
Almighty stick fast in his soul, while God laid on him the iniquities of us
all. Who can tell what painful and dreadful sensations were then impressed on
him by the immediate hand of God? The former word in the original properly
signifies, to be penetrated with the most exquisite sorrow; the latter to be
quite depressed, and almost overwhelmed with the load.
Verse 39. And going a
little farther - About a stone's cast, Luke xxii, 41 - So that the apostles
could both see and hear him still. If it be possible, let this cup pass from me
- And it did pass from him quickly. When he cried unto God with strong cries
and tears, he was heard in that which he feared. God did take away the terror
and severity of that inward conflict.
Verse 41. The spirit -
Your spirit: ye yourselves. The flesh - Your nature. How gentle a rebuke was
this, and how kind an apology! especially at a time when our Lord's own mind
was so weighed down with sorrow.
Verse 45. Sleep on now,
if you can, and take your rest - For any farther service you can be of to me.
Verse 47. Mark xiv, 43;
Luke xxii, 47; John xviii, 2.
Verse 50. The heroic
behaviour of the blessed Jesus, in the whole period of his sufferings, will be
observed by every attentive eye, and felt by every pious heart: although the
sacred historians, according to their usual but wonderful simplicity, make no
encomiums upon it. With what composure does he go forth to meet the traitor!
With what calmness receive that malignant kiss! With what dignity does he
deliver himself into the hands of his enemies! Yet plainly showing his
superiority over them, and even then leading as it were captivity captive!
51. And one of them
striking the servant of the high priest - Probably the person that seized Jesus
first; Cut off his ear - Aiming, it seems, to cleave his head, but that by a
secret providence interposing, he declined the blow. Mark xiv, 47; Luke xxii,
49; John xviii, 10.
Verse 52. All they that
take the sword - Without God's giving it them: without sufficient authority.
Verse 53. He will
presently give me more than twelve legions of angels - The least of whom, it is
probable, could overturn the earth and destroy all the inhabitants of it.
Verse 55. Mark xiv, 48;
Luke xxii, 52
Verse 57. They led him
away to Caiaphas - From the house of Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, to
whom they had carried him first. Mark xiv, 53; Luke xxii, 54; John xviii, 12.
Verse 58. But Peter
followed him afar off - Variously agitated by conflicting passions; love
constrained him to follow his Master; fear made him follow afar off. And going
in, sat with the servants - Unfit companions as the event showed.
Verse 60. Yet found they
none - On whose evidence they could condemn him to die. At last came two false
witnesses - Such they were, although part of what they said was true; because
our Lord did not speak some of those words at all; nor any of them in this
sense.
Verse 64. Hereafter
shall ye see the Son of man - He speaks in the third person, modestly, and yet
plainly; Sitting on the right hand of power - That is, the right hand of God:
And coming upon the clouds of heaven - As he is represented by Daniel, Dan.
vii, 13, 14. Our Lord looked very unlike that person now! But nothing could be
more awful, more majestic and becoming, than such an admonition in such
circumstances!
Verse 65. Then the high
priest rent his clothes - Though the high priest was forbidden to rend his
clothes (that is, his upper garment) in some cases where others were allowed to
do it, Lev. xxi, 10; yet in case of blasphemy or any public calamity, it was
thought allowable. Caiaphas hereby expressed, in the most artful manner, his
horror at hearing such grievous blasphemy.
Verse 67. Then - After
he had declared he was the Son of God, the sanhedrim doubtless ordered him to
be carried out, while they were consulting what to do. And then it was that the
soldiers who kept him began these insults upon him.
Verse 72. He denied with
an oath - To which possibly he was not unaccustomed, before our Lord called
him.
Verse 73. Surely thou
art also one of them, for thy speech discovereth thee - Malchus might have
brought a stronger proof than this. But such is the overruling providence of
God, that the world, in the height of their zeal, commonly catch hold of the
very weakest of all arguments against the children of God.
Verse 74. Then began he
to curse and to swear - Having now quite lost the reins, the government of
himself.
Verse 1. In the morning
- As the sanhedrim used to meet in one of the courts of the temple, which was
never opened in the night, they were forced to stay till the morning before
they could proceed regularly, in the resolution they had taken to put him to
death. Mark xv, 1; Luke xxii, 66; xxiii, 1; John xviii, 28.
Verse 2. Having bound
him - They had bound him when he was first apprehended. But they did it now
afresh, to secure him from any danger of an escape, as he passed through the
streets of Jerusalem.
Verse 3. Then Judas
seeing that he was condemned - Which probably he thought Christ would have
prevented by a miracle.
Verse 4. They said, what
is that to us? - How easily could they digest innocent blood! And yet they had
a conscience! It is not lawful (say they) to put it into the treasury - But
very lawful to slay the innocent!
Verse 5. In that part of
the temple where the sanhedrim met.
Verse 7. They bought
with them the potter's field - Well known, it seems, by that name. This was a
small price for a field so near Jerusalem. But the earth had probably been
digged for potters' vessels, so that it was now neither fit for tillage nor
pasture, and consequently of small value. Foreigners - Heathens especially, of
whom there were then great numbers in Jerusalem.
Verse 9. Then was
fulfilled - What was figuratively represented of old, was now really
accomplished. What was spoken by the prophet - The word Jeremy, which was added
to the text in latter copies, and thence received into many translations, is
evidently a mistake: for he who spoke what St. Matthew here cites (or rather
paraphrases) was not Jeremy, but Zechariah. Zech. xi, 12.
Verse 10. As the Lord
commanded me - To write, to record.
Verse 11. Art thou the
king of the Jews? - Jesus before Caiaphas avows himself to be the Christ,
before Pilate to be a king; clearly showing thereby, that his answering no
more, was not owing to any fear.
Verse 15. At every feast
- Every year, at the feast of the passover. Mark xv, 6; Luke xxiii, 17; John
xviii, 39.
Verse 18. He knew that
for envy they had delivered him - As well as from malice and revenge; they
envied him, because the people magnified him.
Verse 22. They all say,
Let him be crucified - The punishment which Barabbas had deserved: and this
probably made them think of it. But in their malice they forgot with how
dangerous a precedent they furnished the Roman governor. And indeed within the
compass of a few years it turned dreadfully upon themselves.
Verse 24. Then Pilate
took water and washed his hands - This was a custom frequently used among the
heathens as well as among the Jews, in token of innocency.
Verse 25. His blood be
on us and on our children - As this imprecation was dread. fully answered in
the ruin so quickly brought on the Jewish nation, and the calamities which have
ever since pursued that wretched people, so it was peculiarly fulfilled by
Titus the Roman general, on the Jews whom he took during the siege of
Jerusalem. So many, after having been scourged in a terrible manner, were
crucified all round the city, that in a while there was not room near the wall
for the crosses to stand by each other. Probably this befell some of those who
now joined in this cry, as it certainly did many of their children: the very
finger of God thus pointing out their crime in crucifying his Son.
Verse 26. He delivered
him to be crucified - The person crucified was nailed to the cross as it lay on
the ground, through each hand extended to the utmost stretch, and through both
the feet together. Then the cross was raised up, and the foot of it thrust with
a violent shock into a hole in the ground prepared for it. This shock
disjointed the body, whose whole weight hung upon the nails, till the persons
expired through mere dint of pain. This kind of death was used only by the
Romans, and by them inflicted only on slaves and the vilest criminals.
Verse 27. The whole
troop - or cohort. This was a body of foot commanded by the governor, which was
appointed to prevent disorders and tumults, especially on solemn occasions.
Mark xv, 16 John xix, 2.
Verse 28. They put on
him a scarlet robe - Such as kings and generals wore; probably an old tattered
one.
Verse 32. Him they
compelled to bear his cross - He bore it himself, till he sunk under it, John
xix, 17.
Verse 33. A place called
Golgotha, that is, the place of a skull - Golgotha in Syriac signifies a skull
or head: it was probably called so from this time; being an eminence upon Mount
Calvary, not far from the king's gardens. Mark xv, 22; Luke xxiii, 33; John
xix, 17
Verse 34. They gave him
vinegar mingled with gall - Out of derision: which, however nauseous, he
received and tasted of. St. Mark mentions also a different mixture which was
given him, Wine mingled with myrrh: such as it was customary to give to dying
criminals, to make them less sensible of their sufferings: but this our Lord
refused to taste, determining to bear the full force of his pains.
Verse 35. They parted
his garments - This was the custom of the Romams. The soldiers performed the
office of executioners, and divided among them the spoils of the criminals. My
vesture - That is, my inner garment. Psalm xxii, 18.
Verse 38. Mark xv, 27;
Luke xxiii, 32.
Verse 44. Mark xv, 32;
Luke xxiii, 33.
Verse 45. From the sixth
hour, there was darkness over all the earth unto the ninth hour - Insomuch,
that even a heathen philosopher seeing it, and knowing it could not be a
natural eclipse, because it was at the time of the full moon, and continued
three hours together, cried out, "Either the God of nature suffers, or the
frame of the world is dissolved." By this darkness God testified his
abhorrence of the wickedness which was then committing. It likewise intimated
Christ's sore conflicts with the Divine justice, and with all the powers of
darkness.
Verse 46. About the
ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice - Our Lord's great agony probably
continued these three whole hours, at the conclusion of which be thus cried
out, while he suffered from God himself what was unutterable. My God, my God,
why hast thou forsaken me? - Our Lord hereby at once expresses his trust in
God, and a most distressing sense of his letting loose the powers of darkness
upon him, withdrawing the comfortable discoveries of his presence, and filling
his soul with a terrible sense of the wrath due to the sins which he was
bearing. Psalm xxii, 1.
Verse 48. One taking a
sponge, filled it with vinegar - Vinegar and water was the usual drink of the
Roman soldiers. It does not appear, that this was given him in derision, but
rather with a friendly design, that he might not die before Elijah came. John
xix, 28.
Verse 50. After he had
cried with a loud voice - To show that his life was still whole in him. He
dismissed his spirit - So the original expression may be literally translated:
an expression admirably suited to our Lord's words, John x, xviii, No man
taketh my life from me, but I lay it down of myself. He died by a voluntary act
of his own, and in a way peculiar to himself. He alone of all men that ever
were, could have continued alive even in the greatest tortures, as long as he
pleased, or have retired from the body whenever he had thought fit. And how
does it illustrate that love which he manifested in his death? Insomuch as he
did not use his power to quit his body, as soon as it was fastened to the
cross, leaving only an insensible corpse, to the cruelty of his murderers: but
continued his abode in it, with a steady resolution, as long as it was proper.
He then retired from it, with a majesty and dignity never known or to be known
in any other death: dying, if one may so express it, like the Prince of life.
Verse 51. Immediately
upon his death, while the sun was still darkened, the veil of the temple, which
separated the holy of holies from the court of the priests, though made of the
richest and strongest tapestry, was rent in two from the top to the bottom: so
that while the priest was ministering at the golden altar (it being the time of
the sacrifice) the sacred oracle, by an invisible power was laid open to full
view: God thereby signifying the speedy removal of the veil of the Jewish
ceremonies the casting down the partition wall, so that the Jews and Gentiles
were now admitted to equal privileges, and the opening a way through the veil
of his flesh for all believers into the most holy place. And the earth was
shaken - There was a general earthquake through the whole globe, though chiefly
near Jerusalem: God testifying thereby his wrath against the Jewish nation, for
the horrid impiety they were committing.
Verse 52. Some of the
tombs were shattered and laid open by the earthquake, and while they continued
unclosed (and they must have stood open all the Sabbath, seeing the law would
not allow any attempt to close them) many bodies of holy men were raised,
(perhaps Simeon, Zacharias, John the Baptist, and others who had believed in
Christ, and were known to many in Jerusalem, ) And coming out of the tombs
after his resurrection, went into the holy city (Jerusalem) and appeared to
many - Who had probably known them before: God hereby signifying, that Christ
had conquered death, and would raise all his saints in due season.
Verse 54. The centurion
- The officer who commanded the guard; and they that were with him feared,
saying, Truly this was the Son of God - Referring to the words of the chief
priests and scribes, chap. xxvii, xliii, He said, I am the Son of God.
Verse 56. James - The
less: he was so called, to distinguish him from the other James, the brother of
John; probably because he was less in stature.
Verse 57. When the
evening was come - That is, after three o'clock; the time from three to six
they termed the evening. Mark xv, 42; Luke xxiii, 50; John xix, 38.
Verse 62. On the morrow,
the day that followed the day of the preparation - The day of preparation was
the day before the Sabbath, whereon they were to prepare for the celebration of
it. The next day then was the Sabbath according to the Jews. But the evangelist
seems to express it by this circumlocution, to show the Jewish Sabbath was then
abolished.
Verse 63. That impostor
said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again - We do not
find that he had ever said this to them, unless when he spoke of the temple of
his body, John ii, 19, 21. And if they here refer to what he then said, how
perverse and iniquitous was their construction on these words, when he was on
his trial before the council? Chap. xxvi, 61. Then they seemed not to
understand them!
Verse 65. Ye have a
guard - Of your own, in the tower of Antonia, which was stationed there for the
service of the temple.
Verse 66. They went and
secured the sepulchre, sealing the stone, and setting a guard - They set
Pilate's signet, or the public seal of the sanhedrim upon a fastening which
they had put on the stone. And all this uncommon caution was overruled by the
providence of God, to give the strongest proofs of Christ's ensuing
resurrection; since there could be no room for the least suspicion of deceit,
when it should be found, that his body was raised out of a new tomb, where
there was no other corpse, and this tomb hewn out of a rock, the mouth of which
was secured by a great stone, under a seal, and a guard of soldiers.
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Today’s Scripture:
Luke 24:1 But on the
first day of the week, at early dawn, they and some others came to the tomb,
bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away
from the tomb. 3 They entered in, and didn’t find the Lord Jesus’ body. 4 While
they were greatly perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in
dazzling clothing. 5 Becoming terrified, they bowed their faces down to the
earth.
They said to them, “Why
do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He isn’t here, but is risen. Remember
what he told you when he was still in Galilee, 7 saying that the Son of Man
must be delivered up into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the
third day rise again?”
8 They remembered his
words,
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Contact Information
Great Plains Episcopal
Office
9440 E Boston, Suite 160
Wichita KS 67207
316-686-0600
800-745-2350
info@greatplainsumc.org
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