Peter cuts off the High Priest’s Servant’s Ear.
Mat 26:47 He had scarcely finished speaking when Judas came--one of the Twelve--accompanied by a great crowd of men armed with swords and bludgeons, sent by the High Priests and Elders of the People.
Mat 26:48 Now the betrayer had agreed upon a sign with them, to direct them. He had said, "The one whom I kiss is the man: lay hold of him."
Mat 26:49 So he went straight to Jesus and said, "Peace to you, Rabbi!" And he kissed Him eagerly.
Mat 26:50 "Friend," said Jesus, "carry out your intention." Then they came and laid their hands on Jesus and seized Him firmly.
Mat 26:51 But one of those with Jesus drew his sword and struck the High Priest's servant, cutting off his ear.
Mat 26:52 "Put back your sword again," said Jesus, "for all who draw the sword shall perish by the sword.
Mat 26:53 Or do you suppose I cannot entreat my Father and He would instantly send to my help more than twelve legions of angels?
Mat 26:54 In that case how are the Scriptures to be fulfilled which declare that thus it must be?"
Mat 26:55 Then said Jesus to the crowds, "Have you come out as if to fight with a robber, with swords and bludgeons to apprehend me? Day after day I have been sitting teaching in the Temple, and you did not arrest me.
Mat 26:56 But all this has taken place in order that the writings of the Prophets may be fulfilled." At this point the disciples all left Him and fled.
Introduction
Despite Jesus being arrested He is still in control. He has told the disciples what will happen. Jesus knew Judas was a thief and traitor. Jesus tells him to get on with his dirty deed after he had betrayed him with a kiss.
Jesus tells Peter to put his sword away after he had cut off the High Priest’s Servant’s ear.He told Peter ‘that all who draw the sword will die by the sword.’’ Jesus declares that he could call for Twelve Legions of angels but that the Scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning his death.
Lastly He takes on the mob. “Have you come out with swords and bludgeons to catch a robber.”
He had been daily in the temple but they had not arrested Him. Now they come in the night so as to conceal their wickedness.
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| Jesus arrested in the garden |
Mat 26:47 He had scarcely finished speaking when Judas came--one of the Twelve--accompanied by a great crowd of men armed with swords and bludgeons, sent by the High Priests and Elders of the People.
Notes
Judas, one of the twelve - More deeply to mark his base ingratitude and desperate wickedness - He was One of the Twelve - and he is a Traitor, and one of the vilest too that ever disgraced human nature.
A great multitude with swords and staves - They did not come as officers of justice, but as a desperate mob. Justice had nothing to do in this business. He who a little before had been one of the leaders of the flock of Christ is now become the leader of ruffians and murderers! What a terrible fall! A.C.
Mat 26:48 Now the betrayer had agreed upon a sign with them, to direct them. He had said, "The one whom I kiss is the man: lay hold of him."
Notes
Judas had agreed on a sign to distinguish who was Jesus in the Night at the Garden.[The One I kiss is your man.] The kiss was not an unusual form of greeting often used between hosts and guests. Lk 7:45; and between Christians in 1 Thess 5:26
To use this sign was a heinous crime.It shows what depths of depravity Judas went to to get his man. He was in the camp of the enemy and he wanted the temple police to know who they were to arrest. Jesus had no intention to escape so he could have just relaxed. L.M. p. 673
Mat 26:49 So he went straight to Jesus and said, "Peace to you, Rabbi!" And he kissed Him eagerly.
Notes
Judas did not hesitate. he went straight to Jesus.
He gave the normal greeting then addressed Jesus as Rabbi
and said, hail, master; and kissed him. Just as Joab asked Amasa of his health, and took him by the beard to kiss him, and smote him under the fifth rib, 2Sa_20:9. The salutation he gave him was wishing him all health, prosperity, and happiness. The Syriac version renders it, "peace, Rabbi"; and the Persic, "peace be upon thee, Rabbi"; which was the very form of salutation the disciples of the wise men gave to their Rabbins, J.Gill
Mat 26:50 "Friend," said Jesus, "carry out your intention." Then they came and laid their hands on Jesus and seized Him firmly.
Notes
Judas was no friend of Jesus. Carry out your intentions Probably this is a question,”"Friend, why are you here?" However it seems more likely that jesus told him to get on with the job.
they came and laid their hands on Jesus and seized Him firmly.
They had found their man and now they took no chances.
Mat 26:51 But one of those with Jesus drew his sword and struck the High Priest's servant, cutting off his ear.
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| Pitts Theology Library Digital Image Archive: Peter Cuts off Malchus' Ear |
Notes
This brief show of resistance was ineffectual and rebuked by Jesus in the next verse.
Mat 26:52 "Put back your sword again," said Jesus, "for all who draw the sword shall perish by the sword.
Notes
This quick action by Jesus may have caused Peter to escape being arrested too.Jesus called him to put his sword back where it belonged.
"for all who draw the sword shall perish by the sword.
Jesus saw this use of the sword as out of line with the Will of God for His life. Those who use the sword generally end their days on the end of someone else’s sword. The warlike will perish at the hands of the warlike. This is the most unfitting end to those who are followers of the Prince of peace. Jesus way is the Way of the Cross with its repudiation of compulsion and its call for us to trust Him. L. M. p. 675
Mat 26:53 Or do you suppose I cannot entreat my Father and He would instantly send to my help more than twelve legions of angels?
Notes
Did he really think that His Master was defenseless? Did think in the face of this band of Thugs that Jesus could not have asked His father for Help?
more than twelve legions of angels? Since a Legion was about 12, 000 footsoldiers besides a number of horsemen. Twelve legions would have been sufficient to handle any situation of their day.
If force was needed then Jesus explains that he has adequate ability to call for reinforcements.
Mat 26:54 In that case how are the Scriptures to be fulfilled which declare that thus it must be?"
Notes
Jesus was submitted to completely fulfilling the Prophetic Scriptures concerning His Death
Mat 26:55 Then said Jesus to the crowds, "Have you come out as if to fight with a robber, with swords and bludgeons to apprehend me? Day after day I have been sitting teaching in the Temple, and you did not arrest me.
Notes
Why did you come out against me with swords and bludgeons like as if you were apprehending a robber
Jesus teaching and Healings had been done openly in front of everyone. He was not secretive in any way. Was Jesus a terrorist or brigand?
He was teaching publically in the temple during the days leading up to his arrest. They had not arrested him because the authorities feared the people who saw Jesus as a good man.
Mat 26:56 But all this has taken place in order that the writings of the Prophets may be fulfilled." At this point the disciples all left Him and fled.
Scriptures of the prophets - The “writings” of the prophets, for that is the meaning of the word “scriptures.” He alludes to those parts of the prophetic writings which foretold his sufferings and death.
Then all the disciples ... - Overcome with fear when they saw their Master actually taken; alarmed with the terrific appearance of armed men and torches in a dark night, and forgetting their promises not to forsake him, they all left their Saviour to go alone to trial and to death! Alas, how many, when attachment to Christ would lead them to danger, leave him and flee! Barnes
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