§ 132. PREPARATION FOR THE PASSOVER.-Bethany. Jerusalem. Matt. xxvi. 17-19. 17 Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover ? Go into the city to 18 And he said, 13 And he sendeth forth such a man, and say unto "The first day of unleavened bread" is here the fourteenth of Nisan; on which day, at, or before noon, the Jews were accustomed to cease from labour and put away all leaven out of their houses; Ex. 12. 15-17. Lightfoot, Opp. I. p. 728, sq. Hor. Heb. in Marc. 14. 12. On that day towards sunset the paschal lamb was killed; and was eaten the same evening, after the fifteenth of Nisan had begun; at which time, strictly, the festival of unleavened bread commenced, which continued seven days. In popular usage, however, the fourteenth day, being thus a day of preparation, was spoken of as belonging to the festival, and therefore is here called the "first" day. That such a usage was common, M 13. Luke xxii. 7 7 Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. 8 And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? 10 And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. "And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? 12 And he shall show you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. 13 And appears also from Josephus; who, having in one place expressly fixed the commencement of the festival of unleavened bread on the fifteenth of Nisan (Antiq. 3. 10. 5), speaks, nevertheless, in another passage, of the fourteenth as the day of that festival; B. J. 5. 3. 1. Comp. Ant. II. 4. 8. In this way, further, the same historian could say, that the festival was celebrated for eight days, Jos. Ant. 2. 15. 1. On the fifth day of the week, as the circumstances show, our Lord, after sending Peter and John to the city to prepare the passover, himself followed them thither with the other disciples, probably towards evening. § 133. THE PASSOVER MEAL. CONTENTION AMONG THE TWELVE. 14 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. 15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: 16 for I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: 18 for I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come."— h 24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. 25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. 27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. 28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. 29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me, 30 that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. a The order of the transactions during the paschal supper appears to have been the following: The taking of their places at table; the contention; the first cup of wine; the washing of the disciples' feet and reproof (§§ 133, 134); the pointing out of the traitor (§ 135); the foretelling of Peter's denial (§ 136); institution of the Lord's supper (§ 137), &c. Luke's order differs from that of Matthew and Mark, in placing by anticipation the institution of the eucharist before the pointing out of the traitor, &c. He was apparently led to this by the mention of the first cup of wine, ver. 17, 18. Afterwards he returns and narrates the previous circumstances. e About six o'clock: from three to five the pas chal lamb was killed. f See Introductory Note, p. 156. h The contention among the disciples had ap- j Phil. 2. 9-11. § 134. JESUS WASHES k THE FEET OF HIS DISCIPLES.-Jerusalem. John xiii. 1-20. Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put' into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; 3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; the riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter said unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. 11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. 12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet: ye also ought to wash one another's feet.m 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord, neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. 18 I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the Scripture may be fulfilled," He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. 19 Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. 20 The washing of the disciples' feet by their Lord and Master was an impressive lesson, that they should live in harmony and love and humility one with another. The occasion of this act was their previous contention, as related by Luke in 133. Compare Luke 24. 26, sq., with John 13. 16, sq. John's narrative is supplementary to that of Luke; and therefore he does not speak of the contention itself, because the latter had already described it. On the phrase before the feast of the passover, § 135. JESUS POINTS OUT THE TRAITOR. JUDAS WITHDRAWS.-Jerusalem. on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. 25 He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. 18 Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. 29 For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of John xiii. 30 He against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. §136. JESUS FORETELLS THE FALL OF PETER, AND THE DISPERSION OF THE TWELVE.-Jerusalem. Evening introducing the Sixth Day of the Week. John xiii. 36-38. 36 Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards." 37 Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. Matt. xxvi. 31-35. 31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written," I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. 32 But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. 33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Mark xiv. 27-31. 27 And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written," I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. 28 But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.* 29 But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. Luke xxii. 31-38. 31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. 9 On the sense of feast here, see above in Introductory Note, p. 157. Went immediately out. Judas therefore was not present at the Lord's supper, which was instituted at the close of the paschal meal. This is the obvious conclusion, at least, from the account of John, in connexion with the statements of Matthew and Mark; and it is the view taken by most harmonists and commentators. It might appear, however, from Luke's account (ch. 22. 19-21) that Judas was present; but the whole force of this proof depends on the chronological regularity of this Gospel. We have seen that it does not always follow the order of time (see Note on § 1). s John 7. 33, 34. t 1 John 2. 8-11; 4. 21. |