Matthew 27:1–31 Jesus Appears Before Pilate

[Study Aired December 15, 2025]

Today’s study is about the purposeful suffering of Christ, emphasizing Judas hanging himself, our Lord Jesus’ trial before Pilate, the crowd choosing Barabbas, Jesus being delivered by Pilates to the Jews to be crucified and finally, the soldiers mocking Him.

Jesus Delivered to Pilate

Mat 27:1  When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: 
Mat 27:2  And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. 

Before Jesus was delivered to Pilate, the chief priest, together with the elders of the people, had condemned Jesus to death. However, they could not proceed to kill Him. This was because prior to this event, the Romans had taken from the Jews the power of capital punishment, and therefore they could not put to death any man. That was why the Jews had to deliver Jesus to Pilate so that he might execute the sentence they had passed upon him. It is insightful to note that delivering Jesus to Pontius Pilate, who represents the Gentiles, is to make both the Jews and the Gentiles responsible for the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, the whole of humanity, including you and I, are responsible for the death of Christ.     

Luk 11:49  Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: 
Luk 11:50  That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; 
Luk 11:51 From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation. 

As we can see, Judah at this time of history was being ruled by Rome with Pilate as the Roman governor of Judea. According to Jacob’s prophesy to His son Judah, when the scepter, a symbol of rulership, has departed from Judah, then it means that Shiloh must come. 

Gen 49:10  The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.  

According to Strong, Shiloh is an attribute of a person and comes from tranquil which means free from disturbance or calm. This implies that Shiloh here represents Christ, the prince of peace. Thus, the rulership having departed from Judah means that the time of Christ has come. However, the leaders of the church system of Jesus’ day, together with the people, were not given to know that Christ has come. The same is happening today. Christ has come to us in the spirit bringing peace, and therefore we represent Christ here on earth. However, the church system of this world or Babylon has no clue of this as they mistreat us, not knowing that they are mistreating Christ, just as the church leaders and the people in Jesus’ day mistreated Him. 

2Co 2:14  Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 
2Co 2:15  For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 
2Co 2:16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? 

Judas Hangs Himself

Mat 27:3  Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 
Mat 27:4  Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. 
Mat 27:5  And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. 

Here we are told that Judas repented of himself when he realized that Jesus had been condemned to die. Judas hanging himself show us that he had no place of repentance because true repentance results in bringing forth fruit worthy of repentance. It is not enough to realize that we have sinned. We must go the extra step of doing what is consistent with our repentance. The fact that he killed himself means that he did not bring forth the fruit commensurate with his repentance and therefore found no place of repentance. 

Luk 3:8  Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 

Heb 12:15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 
Heb 12:16  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 
Heb 12:17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

When he regretted his actions, Judas brought back the thirty pieces of silver that Judas sold Jesus for to the chief priests and elders. The number thirty signifies our reward of rulership when the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ.

Gen 41:46  And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. 

2Sa 5:4  David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.  

What this means is that Judas rejected the reward of rulership because of the love of money which is the root of all evil. 

Rev 3:11  Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown (rulership). 

1Ti 6:9  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 
1Ti 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

It is also worth noting that when Judas confessed that he had sinned and betrayed an innocent man, the response of the chief priests and elders was that it meant nothing to them (verse 4). This implies that their conscience was seared with a hot iron. A person with conscience seared with a hot iron is a state where a person’s inner moral compass (conscience) becomes numb, insensitive, and unresponsive to right and wrong due to habitual sin and deception. This was the state of the leaders of the church system in Jesus’ time, and it applies to the leaders and the adherents of the church system of this world (Babylon) today. We also had our conscience seared with hot iron at a certain stage of our walk with Christ, when we were in the church system of this world, until the Lord had mercy on us.

1Ti 4:1  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 
1Ti 4:2  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

These verses in Timothy show us how we come to this state of having our conscience seared with a hot iron. It is when we give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of the devil that our conscience are gradually seared. 

Mat 27:6  And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. 
Mat 27:7  And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. 
Mat 27:8  Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. 

It is important to note that the price of thirty pieces of silver paid to Judas denotes the price paid for the hire of a whore, and is also equivalent to the price of a dog. It is therefore against the word of the Lord to bring the price of a dog into the house of God.

Deu 23:18  Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God. 

The silver pieces represent the price of blood. The question is, “What is the price of blood?” When Jesus was praying in Gethsemane, His sweat became like great drops of blood. Thus, the price of blood represents our labor or sweat in this life. 

Luk 22:44  And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 

The treasury is a special place of the Jerusalem Temple where worshipers deposited various offerings. We know that the temple is our body, and therefore, it is in our hearts and minds that we have the treasury. This implies that the chief priests saying that it is not lawful to put into the treasury the money representing Jesus’ betrayal because it is the price of blood signifies that we should not labor for food or the things of this world which perishes. 

Joh 6:27  Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. 

It is important to note in verses 7 and 8 that the chief priests took the money left by Judas and bought the potter’s field to bury strangers. The strangers here are those who are not Jews. We know that we are the spiritual Jews and not those who are physical descendants of Abraham. Therefore, strangers are all those who are not the Lord’s elect. 

Rom 2:28  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. 

Verses 7 and 8 therefore show us that the leaders of the church system of this world use the resources or the labor of their adherents, to make them spiritually dead. Making our brothers and sisters in Babylon spiritually dead is through false doctrines. 

2Pe 2:18  For when they speak great swelling words of vanity (false doctrines), they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 

2Pe 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 
2Pe 2:20  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 
2Pe 2:21  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 
2Pe 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. 

Mat 27:9  Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; 
Mat 27:10  And gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me. 

We can see from these verses that it is the Lord who has appointed that the labor or resources of our brothers and sisters in Babylon be used to make them blind. 

Mat 13:13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 
Mat 13:14  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
Mat 13:15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 

Jesus Before Pilate

Mat 27:11  And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. 
Mat 27:12  And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 
Mat 27:13  Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? 
Mat 27:14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. 

It is instructive to know that when Jesus was asked whether He is the King of the Jews, he witnessed a good confession and was not ashamed to own himself a king. Being king of the Jews means that He is the Lord of His elect in this age, since we are the spiritual Jews. In the fullness of time, when the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, His lordship over the whole of humanity shall be made known.  

Psa 24:1  A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 

On the other hand, Jesus did not respond to the false accusations of the chief priests and the elders. This was to fulfill what was written about Him regarding the fact that He did not open His mouth, just like a lamb which does not open its mouth when being led to the slaughter. 

Isa 53:7  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 

We must note that the Lord’s will was to do the will of His Father, and His Father’s will was for Jesus to be willing to be sacrificed as a lamb for the sin of this world. This means that He could not complain or talk back to His accusers to exonerate himself, irrespective of their false accusations. 

Joh 6:38  For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 
Joh 6:39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.  

The Crowd Chooses Barabbas

Mat 27:15  Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. 
Mat 27:16  And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. 
Mat 27:17  Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? 
Mat 27:18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.

According to the custom of the Roman governors, for the honoring of the Jews and to grace the feast of the Passover, a prisoner is released. This custom actually was an obstruction of justice as it encourages wickedness as we see many of our customs of this world not aligning with the word of the Lord. Barabbas was a hardened criminal of which the people were aware.  

Luk 23:18  And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: 
Luk 23:19 (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.) 

Jer 10:3  For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.

Pilate thought that his proposal would cause the release of Jesus as he knew it was because of envy that the chief priests wanted Him killed, and that it was not Jesus’ guilt, but His goodness, which they were provoked at. 

Mat 27:19  When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. 

Pilate’s wife’s assertion that Jesus was a just man is to affirm the fact that Jesus was the lamb without blemish and without spot, who was offered for our sins.

1Pe 1:19  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 
1Pe 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 

It was through a dream that Pilate’s wife came to know that Jesus was a just man. Throughout the Bible, we can see that the Lord uses dreams as a form of communication to the people of this world including our brothers and sisters in Babylon and also to His elect, especially in our immature state. Knowing the Lord through His words is a mature way the Lord communicates with us, His elect. 

Jer 23:27  Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal. 
Jer 23:28 The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD. 

The verses above show us that many are deceived by dreams. Does it mean that every dream is about the Lord speaking to us? The answer is no. This is because the Lord has indicated that our dreams are sometimes the result of the multitude of business. 

Ecc 5:3  For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.

What we need to know about dreams is that there is the need for it to be interpreted, and when we know the word of the Lord and their spiritual significance, it becomes easier to interpret dreams.  

Dan 4:6  Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.

Mat 27:20  But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
Mat 27:21  The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. 
Mat 27:22  Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. 
Mat 27:23  And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.

The chief priests and the elders influencing the people to vote for the release of Barabbas signifies that it is the leaders of the church system of this world who cause our brothers and sisters in Babylon to err. 

Isa 59:14  And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. 
Isa 59:15 Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment. 

Isa 5:7  For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry. 

Isa 5:13  Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst. 

Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified

Mat 27:24  When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. 
Mat 27:25  Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. 
Mat 27:26  Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. 

Pilate confessing that he was innocent of the blood of Jesus is to highlight Jesus, the lamb without spot or wrinkle which was sacrificed for our sins. Pilate washing his hands before the people to signify his innocence of the blood of Christ does not absolve him from being a partaker of the killing of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was because he had the authority to release Jesus but wanted to please the Jews. Of course, Jesus must be put to death as atonement for our sins, but woe to those who were directly involved in His death. Spiritually, when we cause our brothers and sisters to stumble in their walk with the Lord, we are putting Jesus to death. 

Luk 17:1  Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! 
Luk 17:2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. 

Isa 53:3  He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 
Isa 53:4  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 
Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 

The response of the people that the blood of Jesus be on them and their children is true in every generation. This makes every man or woman in every generation responsible for the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Luk 11:49  Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: 
Luk 11:50  That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; 
Luk 11:51 From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.

Jesus Is Mocked

Mat 27:27  Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. 
Mat 27:28  And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. 
Mat 27:29  And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! 
Mat 27:30  And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. 
Mat 27:31  And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. 

Jesus went through a lot for our sake. What helped Him to go through this suffering was His focus on the reward that was set before Him. As He is, so are we. We must also be motivated by the joy that is set before us to be able to endure the present suffering. 

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 
Heb 12:3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 
Heb 12:4  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 
Heb 12:5  And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 
Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 
Heb 12:7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 
Heb 12:8  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 
Heb 12:9  Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 
Heb 12:10  For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
Heb 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 

May His Name be Praised for His Wonderful Plan of Salvation, Amen!!

Matthew 26:1–35 The Woman With the Alabaster Box Who Anointed Jesus

[Study Aired December 1, 2025]

Today’s study looks at the plot to kill Jesus, the woman with the alabaster box of ointment who anointed Jesus at Bethany, Jesus confirming Judas as the one to betray Him, the last supper with His disciples and Jesus’ prediction of Peter denying Him three times.

The Plot to Kill Jesus

Mat 26:1  And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples, 
Mat 26:2  Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified. 

Jesus finishing all the sayings in verse 1 means that all we need to know about His coming with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness and His appearing with His angels, which heralds the kingdoms of this world becoming the kingdoms of Lord and of His Christ, has been made known to us. The fact that in verse 1 it was stated that all these sayings were directed to His disciples, lets us know that it is the Lord’s elect, symbolized by the disciples, who are given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven. 

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 
Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 
Mat 13:12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.  

The feast of the Passover commemorates the time that the Israelites were in Egypt where every male was to kill a lamb and use the blood of the lamb to smear the door post of their abode. As a result, the Lord will pass over their houses as He destroys the Egyptians. It symbolizes the beginning of our salvation as the blood of Jesus atones for our sins. 

Exo 12:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 
Exo 12:2  This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. 
Exo 12:3  Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: 
Exo 12:4  And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. 
Exo 12:5  Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: 
Exo 12:6  And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. 
Exo 12:7  And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. 
Exo 12:8  And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 
Exo 12:9  Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. 
Exo 12:10  And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. 
Exo 12:11  And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’S passover.
Exo 12:12  For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. 
Exo 12:13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. 

The lamb to be killed by every man is Christ. It is for our sins that Jesus came to die for us. It is therefore important to note that the plotters wanted to kill Jesus during the feast of Passover. This emphasizes the point that Jesus was indeed the lamb that was killed by the people of Israel with the blood smeared on the doorposts of their houses and the flesh roasted with fire for food.

Joh 1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 

The flesh of the lamb must be roasted with fire and eaten at night. This is to let us know that we cannot separate the judgment of the Lord (roasting with fire) from His words. As we are being given insight into the mysteries of the kingdom of God, we are being judged to conform to His image.

Mat 13:21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

Mat 26:3  Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, 
Mat 26:4  And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him. 
Mat 26:5  But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people. 

The categories of people mentioned here in verse 3 represent the leaders of the church system in Jesus’ days. It implies that we were all involved in the death of our Lord Jesus since we were part of the church system of this world or Babylon. This does not mean that the people of this world were not part of this plot to kill Jesus. In Psalm 2, we are shown that the heathen were also involved in killing Jesus. Thus, every human being (every man) from Adam to date is guilty of the blood of Jesus.  

Psa 2:1  Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 
Psa 2:2  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, 
Psa 2:3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

Mat 26:6  Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, 
Mat 26:7  There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.

Bethany was a village around the Mount of Olives and was about two miles from Jerusalem. Simon had probably been healed by Jesus, and the feast was held in his house. Bethany means house of dates or house of misery. The fact that Jesus was at the house of misery sums up the life of Jesus during His sojourn here on earth. He was indeed the man of sorrow acquainted with grief. 

Isa 53:3  He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 
Isa 53:4  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 
Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

As He is, so are we. Our lives here on earth cannot be described as easy going. We are to complete what remains of Christ’s sufferings with the view of doing this on behalf of His body, the church.    

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: 

The woman with the alabaster box of very precious ointment represents the church of the Lord’s elect. The pouring of the oil on Jesus’ head signifies His rulership over His elect first and later, in an age to come, this rulership will be manifested outwardly as the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. 

1Sa 10:1  Samuel took a flask of olive oil, poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “The LORD has anointed you to be ruler of his people Israel. You will rule his people and save them from all their enemies. This will be the sign that the LORD has anointed you to be ruler of his people. 

What the woman did imply was that our resources in this life as His elect must be spent on affirming the Lord’s rulership in our lives. It is also important to note that Jesus was at this point about to offer His life for our sake and that of the world. He needed the assurance that His work here on earth had not been in vain. God therefore used the church (the woman) to assure Jesus of the reward set before Him – to rule His people. This incidence was therefore to strengthen our Lord Jesus to be able to bear the cross for the salvation of the whole world. 

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 
Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 

It is also instructive to note that it was while Jesus sat at meat that He was anointed with oil. This indicates that our gathering together in His name to learn of Him is where we are assured of our reward of ruling the kingdoms of this world with our Lord Jesus Christ through what every joint supplies. 

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.  

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 
Rev 2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 

Mat 26:8  But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? 
Mat 26:9  For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. 

It is important to note that the disciples in this case were not converted yet, and therefore they were operating with the carnal mind. As we are aware, the carnal mind or worldly wisdom is enmity against God and cannot please the Lord.  

Rom 8:6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 
Rom 8:7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 
Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 

The carnal mind has a show of worldly wisdom, but is of no value when it comes to stopping the indulgence of the flesh.  

Col 2:20  If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 
Col 2:21  “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 
Col 2:22  (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 
Col 2:23  These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. (ESV)

Mat 26:10  When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.
Mat 26:11  For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. 

The church of the Lord’s elect, represented here by the woman, is the one that is doing good work upon the Lord in this age. Doing good work upon the Lord means giving our brothers and sisters in the Lord what it takes to become overcomers through the Lord’s words. 

Mat 25:40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

However, it is we, the Lord’s elect, who are always facing criticism from our brothers and sisters in the church system of this world or Babylon for not impacting our societies with good works. Here in verse 11, the Lord is turning our focus from spending our resources in this life on feeding and clothing the world. The Lord saying that we do not have Him always in verse 11 is another way of saying that we have a short life span in this age to be able to please the Lord in order to become an overcomer. 

Job 14:1  Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. 
Job 14:2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. 

Psa 39:4  LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. 
Psa 39:5 Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. 

Mat 26:12  For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. 
Mat 26:13  Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her. 

As stated in verse 12, the work of the church of the Lord’s elect (the woman) is pouring oil on the Lord’s body for His burial. The Lord’s body is the church, and the burial here is the death of the flesh. 

Eph 1:22  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.    

We anointing the Lord’s body is the same as the Lord anointing us through what every joint supplies. This means that the role of the church is to anoint us with oil for the burial of the flesh. That is to say that it is through what every joint supplies that the Holy Spirit empowers us to understand the Lord’s words and to endure the Lord’s judgment of our old man, resulting in the death of our flesh. 

Joh 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 

1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 

In verse 13, we are told that wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what the woman had done shall be told as a memorial of her. As we have indicated, the woman here is the church of the Lord’s elect. What this implies is that the gospel is preached through the church by what every joint supplies. Without the church, there is no gospel. 

Eph 3:9  And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Eph 3:10  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 
Eph 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 
Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 
Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 
Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 
Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 
Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.  

Judas to Betray Jesus

Mat 26:14  Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, 
Mat 26:15  And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. 
Mat 26:16  And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

Here we see Judas, one of the disciples of Jesus, betraying Him for thirty pieces of silver. In the account of Luke, we are made aware that the reason for Judas betraying Jesus was that he was possessed by Satan. 

Luk 22:3  Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. 
Luk 22:4  And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. 
Luk 22:5  And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. 
Luk 22:6 And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.  

It is important to note that Satan’s possession does not happen all of a sudden. As we yield to sin, we are gradually setting ourselves for Satan to have a stronghold within us. In the case of Judas Iscariot, he was described as a thief who helped himself to what was put in the money bag of the disciples. This flaw of the love of money is the opportunity that the devil exploited to cause Judas to betray Jesus for a fee of thirty pieces of silver. That is why we are admonished by the Lord to refuse to give the devil any foothold. The “foothold” is a small opening that can be expanded, leading to further spiritual compromise.      

Joh 12:4  But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 
Joh 12:5  “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 
Joh 12:6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 

Eph 4:26  Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 
Eph 4:27  and give no opportunity to the devil. 
Eph 4:28  Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
Eph 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 

The Passover with the Disciples

Mat 26:17  Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 
Mat 26:18  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.’” 
Mat 26:19  And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover. 
Mat 26:20  When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. 

The feast of unleavened bread is a seven-day feast where the Israelites were required to put away leaven out of their houses. 

Exo 12:15  Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
Exo 12:16  And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. 
Exo 12:17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance forever.  

As we are aware, the Lord told His disciples to “beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees”, which spiritually signifies the doctrines of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The Lord reclining at table with His disciples for the feast of unleavened bread shows that after acknowledging our role in the death of Christ (the significance of Passover), we are to feast on the word of the Lord alone and in so doing, we let go of the doctrines of men. 

Mat 17:5  While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 

Mat 26:21  And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. 
Mat 26:22  And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? 
Mat 26:23  And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. 
Mat 26:24  The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. 
Mat 26:25  Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said. 

We must remember that Judas was with the disciples even when many of the Lord’s disciples deserted Him. It is therefore not about how we begin, but how we end in this race, is the matter.   

Joh 6:66  From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 
Joh 6:67  Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 
Joh 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 
1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.  

As Paul said, if we are to win the prize, then we must learn to forget those things that are behind us and focus on what lies ahead. Through the Lord’s enabling, we should let go both of our successes and defeats and focus on what lies ahead.

Php 3:12  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Php 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 
Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 
Php 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.  

The Lord’s Supper

Mat 26:26  And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 
Mat 26:27  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 
Mat 26:28  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 

Jesus taking the bread, breaking it and giving to His disciples means that it is the Lord who open up His word for us to understand. That is the same as being given the key of David to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. This is a privilege given to only a few (the Lord’s elect).

Isa 22:22  And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. 

Rev 3:7  And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; 

Jesus told the disciples to eat the bread which represents His body. We are also reminded that Jesus told His disciples to eat His flesh and drink His blood. To be granted to eat the flesh or the body of Jesus means to be given the understanding of the word of the Lord.

Joh 6:53  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 
Joh 6:54  Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 
Joh 6:55  For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 
Joh 6:56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. 

To drink of the cup of His blood means recognizing that we are guilty of the blood of Christ and all the prophets. In the case of Jesus, the shedding of His blood was for our sins. 

Rev 16:5  And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus. 
Rev 16:6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. 

Luk 11:49  Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: 
Luk 11:50  That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; 
Luk 11:51 From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation. 

Mat 26:29  But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom. 
Mat 26:30  And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. 

Jesus saying that He will not drink of the fruit of the vine again until that day when He will be with His disciples in His Father’s kingdom is to remind us of the marriage feast of the lamb when He will come with His elect as the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. 

Rev 19:6  And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 
Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 
Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 
Rev 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

It is instructive to note that Jesus, together with His disciples, sang a hymn. Singing a hymn is a form of worship. In spite of the ordeal He was about to go through, He worshipped God. This is to show us the way of victory, which is to worship the Lord in His holiness irrespective of the situation we find ourselves in.

Psa 100:2  Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 
Psa 100:3  Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 
Psa 100:4  Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! 
Psa 100:5 For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. 

After singing a hymn, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives, where He was remembered for his anguished prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane before his arrest, and where he wept over Jerusalem. 

Jesus Foretells Peter’s Denial

Mat 26:31  Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 
Mat 26:32  But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 
Mat 26:33  Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” 
Mat 26:34  Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 
Mat 26:35  Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same. 

We have all fallen away at a certain point of our walk with the Lord during our time in the churches of this world. As we have seen from the word of the Lord, falling away is a necessary evil we must experience before we are given to know Christ. Jesus telling Peter that he would deny Him three times is to let us know that falling away is part of the process of spiritual maturity through the Lord’s judgment of our flesh (the significance of the number three). 

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 

We can see from these verses that the reason that we must fall away is that the Lord wants to reveal to us the man of sin or the flesh in our lives so that when He comes to judge us, we shall see His judgment as a necessary tool for the destruction of our old man or flesh. It is therefore through this process of His judgment that we can worship the Lord acceptably. The scripture which Jesus quoted to support the fact that His disciples will fall away is as follows:

Zec 13:7  Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. 
Zec 13:8  And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. 
Zec 13:9  And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

It is worth noting that after the fall away, Zechariah talked about the third part (that is, the elect) going through fire to be refined. This confirms why we must fall away at a certain point of our walk with Christ. 

Unfortunately, when we are of the flesh (the man of sin sitting in our temple), just like Peter and the rest of the disciples at that stage of their walk, we think we have what it takes to serve the Lord. It is indeed a privilege to be judged by the Lord in this age!!

Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 
Rom 11:34  For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 
Rom 11:35  Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 
Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen.

Gospels In Harmony – Christ Begins His Three Days in the Earth

Mat 26:46-57, Mark 14:41-53, Luke 22:47-54, John 18:3-14

[Study Aired January 4, 2022]

Mark 14:41 And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 
Matt 26:46 Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.
Mark 14:43 And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, 
John 18:3 having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, 
Mark 14:43 and the scribes and the elders cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. 
Matt 26:48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.
Mark 14:44 and lead him away safely. 
John 18:4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? 
John 18:5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
John 18:6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
John 18:7 Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.
John 18:8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:
John 18:9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.
Matt 26:49 And forthwith Judas came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
Matt 26:50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come?
Luke 22:48 Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?
Matt 26:50 Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus,
Luke 22:49 When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?
John 18:10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
Luke 22:51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. 
John 18:11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
Matt 26:52 for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
Matt 26:53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
Matt 26:54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
Luke 22:52 Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?
Luke 22:53 When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.
Matt 26:56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. 
Mark 14:51 And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him:
Mark 14:52 And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked. 
John 18:12 Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him, 
John 18:13 And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.
Matt 26:57 where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
John 18:14 Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

In our study today Christ is taken into custody by the leaders of the Jews. They have had enough of the Gospel of Christ and have judged him to be a heretic worthy of death. In our last study Christ was at His wits’ end and begged the Father to release Him from what was to come, if it were His will. After an angel ministered to him, Christ, knowing the will of the Father, submitted to the Father’s will. Now it is time for the three days in the heart of the earth to begin.

Matt 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

The preaching of the gospel is now over, and the next stage has begun.

Mark 14:41 And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 
Matt 26:46 Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.
Mark 14:43 And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, 
John 18:3 having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, 
Mark 14:43 and the scribes and the elders cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. 
Matt 26:48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.
Mark 14:44 and lead him away safely.

Judas was chosen to betray our Lord. This is for our sake. Christ must go away so the Comforter can come.

John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

Christ knew what was going to take place and boldly spoke to the group coming to seize him, and it shocked them.

John 18:4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?
John 18:5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
John 18:6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.

This is a fulfillment of the scriptures.

Psa 40:13-15 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me. Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil. Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.

Psa 70:1-3 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance. Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD. Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt. Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha.

Isa 28:11-13 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

Christ asks them a second time.

John 18:7 Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.
John 18:8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:
John 18:9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.

John 17:11-12 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

Only the son of perdition is lost. Judas represents the son of perdition within each of us. We all have betrayed Christ and come short of the glory of God.

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Judas now fulfills his calling.

Matt 26:49 And forthwith Judas came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
Matt 26:50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come?
Luke 22:48 Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?
Matt 26:50 Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus,

Now the other disciples are fearful of losing the Lord and want to take action.

Luke 22:49 When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?
John 18:10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.

Peter drew his sword and cut off the right ear of the high priest’s servant. This has been set up since the foundation of the world in order to destroy the old and bring in the new. Christ performs His last miracle and heals the injured man.

Luke 22:51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.

The right ear, being one member of the body, must be healed so the body can be one.

1Co 12:12-21 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

Christ now scolds the disciples, reminding them that their way is not His way.

John 18:11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
Matt 26:52 for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
Matt 26:53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
Matt 26:54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

The scriptures must be fulfilled.

Isa 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

At this stage in our walk we resist evil, thinking it is the right thing to do. Christ must do the will of the Father and resist not evil.

Matt 5:38-39 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Christ now acknowledges to the Jews that it is their time to take Him so the scripture will be fulfilled.

Luke 22:52 Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?
Luke 22:53 When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.
Matt 26:56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

The disciples have now forsaken Christ not long after they swore they would never be offended.

Matt 26:31-33 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. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

We do not have the faith required to not be offended at this time in our walk with Christ. Until the holy spirit comes to us, we will be offended by the truth.

Mark 14:51 And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him:
Mark 14:52 And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.

This man represents our old man’s sin being uncovered because of our lack of faith and understanding what is taking place.

John 18:12 Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him, 
John 18:13 And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.
Matt 26:57 where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
John 18:14 Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

As was mentioned earlier, Christ is now captive in the earth, and His judgment is beginning. We all go through this same judgment and must submit to what is written in our books.

Matt 16-18 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.

Christ does make a way of escape for us and will not lose any he has been given.

Matt 10:19-22 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Joh 6:39-40 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Gospels In Harmony – Who Betrays Jesus?

Mat 26:3-5, 14-16, Mark 14:1-2, Luke 22:1-6

[Study Aired October 12, 2021]

Luk 22:1 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.
Mar 14:1 After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread:
Mat 26:3 Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,
Mat 26:4 And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.
Mat 26:5 But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.
Luk 22:2b for they feared the people.
Luk 22:3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
Luk 22:4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.
Mat 26:15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
Luk 22:5a And they were glad,
Luk 22:6 And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.

In our last study Christ said, “Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.” Our verses in this study tell us that it is the chief priests, the scribes and the elders of the people that conspired to kill Christ.

Luk 22:1 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.
Mar 14:1 After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread:
Mat 26:3 Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,
Mat 26:4 And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.
Mat 26:5 But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.
Luk 22:2b for they feared the people.

“They feared the people?” If they were justified in their accusations, why would they fear the people? This is a fulfillment of the following scriptures:

Psa 2:1-3 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

They feared the people, so they needed someone close to Christ to betray him.

Luk 22:3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
Luk 22:4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.
Mat 26:15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
Luk 22:5a And they were glad,
Luk 22:6 And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.

Satan entered into Judas. Did Satan enter into Judas by his own will? This is what the world teaches. The world teaches if we are evil by our own “choices” then Satan has free reign within us. The world uses the following verses to convince their followers that Satan and themselves have freewill. The world also says their followers can even control Satan.

Jos 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

1Pe 5:6-9 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

The scriptures are used in such a way we will be deceived. Let’s see what the scriptures say about our so-called free will.

Joh 6:70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?

Joh 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that what soever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

Eph 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

We have no freewill. Christ has chosen everyone to do what they do, whether it be evil or good, so that the scriptures may be fulfilled. Judas was chosen to be the betrayer. He is a type and shadow of the time in our walk when we deny Christ and follow the doctrines of the world, selling his doctrines for thirty pieces of silver. Another way of seeing this is losing our first love.

Rev 2:1-5 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

As we know, Judas is not able to repent and do the first works and is removed. Judas represents our old man which cannot repent and therefore must be removed. The thirty pieces represent the process of judgment of the flesh, and the silver represents repentance.

Going back to our first verses in the study, we see when this takes place in our lives.

Luk 22:1 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.
Mar 14:1 After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread:

The feast of unleavened bread, beginning with the passover, was two days away. This represents the time we received the witness of Christ in the negative sense. We received the message of another Jesus. The messengers appeared as angels of light but were full of darkness. Paul shared the following message so we can be aware of what happened to us during this time in our walk.

2Co 11:1-15 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles. But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things. Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself. As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia. Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth. But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

As we look back at our journey, we are able to see clearly and understand that the process of salvation begins as us being the betrayer so that our old man can die. This fulfills the scriptures within us.

Gen 2:16-17 And Jehovah God commanded the man, saying, Eating you may eat of every tree in the garden; but of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil you may not eat, for in the day that you eat of it, dying you shall die. (LITV)

Even though we are commanded not to eat “of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil” that is exactly what we do so that our old man is killed. This is the only way to life and the only way we can serve God.

Eze 18:1-9 The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying, What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel. Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour’s wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman, And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man, Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.

Joh 12:23-26 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

We all betray Jesus. This is nothing we do ourselves, but it is done so that we can gain life. Christ sent Satan to us so He could lay down His life for us.

Joh 10:14-18 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

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Mat 27:1 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:

Mat 27:2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
Mat 27:3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

Mat 26:56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

Mar 14:50 And they all forsook him, and fled.

Mat 27:4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

Did these men say, ‘No Judas, this man was a false prophet. You have helped to save many from deception. You have helped to serve your God, etc.?’ No, they used Judas and then they threw him aside. “What is that to us? See you to that.”

Mat 27:5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
Mat 27:6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.
Mat 27:7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in.
Mat 27:8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.
Mat 27:9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;
Mat 27:10 And gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me.

Zec 11:1 Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars.
Zec 11:2 Howl, fir tree; for the cedar is fallen; because the mighty are spoiled: howl, O ye oaks of Bashan; for the forest of the vintage is come down.

Meaning what? That ‘Babylon’ is the flesh? Is that what ‘Babylon’ is?

Zec 11:3 There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds; [ not ‘the flesh’. God’s people don’t come out of ‘the flesh.’ That would be ‘come out of the Sea, my people.’ But that is not what we are told] for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled.

Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Rev 18:5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
Rev 18:6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
Rev 18:7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
Rev 18:8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong [ is] the Lord God who judgeth her.

Zec 11:4 Thus saith the LORD my God; Feed the flock of the slaughter;

Psa 44:22 Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.

Zec 11:5 Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not.

Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Hos 12:8 And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin.

Zec 11:6 For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD: but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour’s hand, and into the hand of his king: and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand [ the hand of the neighbor and the king] I will not deliver them.
Zec 11:7 And I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock.
Zec 11:8 Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me.
Zec 11:9 Then said I, I will not feed you: that that dieth, let it die; and that that is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another.

Rev 22:10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [ is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Zec 11:10 And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people.
Zec 11:11 And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD.
Zec 11:12 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.
Zec 11:13 And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty [ pieces] of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

Mat 27:11 And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.
Mat 27:12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.
Mat 27:13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?
Mat 27:14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
Mat 27:15 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.
Mat 27:16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
Mat 27:17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?
Mat 27:18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
Mat 27:19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
Mat 27:20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude [ of God’s own people] that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
Mat 27:21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.
Mat 27:22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.
Mat 27:23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
Mat 27:24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed [ his] hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
Mat 27:25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

Luk 19:22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

Act 3:13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate[ the flesh], when he was determined to let him go.
Act 3:14 But ye [ God’s own church] denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
Act 3:15 And [ you- God’s own church] killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

Act 10:39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

Luk 13:33 Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.

Rev 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

Rev 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
Rev 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Rev 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
Rev 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by [ the means of] those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

Jer 22:29 O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD. [ Addressed to Judah and Jerusalem; verses 1-3]

Mat 27:26 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
Mat 27:27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.
Mat 27:28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
Mat 27:29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!

Luk 19:22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

Mat 27:30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
Mat 27:31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.
Mat 27:32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
Mat 27:33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,
Mat 27:34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.
Mat 27:35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.

Psa 22:18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

Mat 27:36 And sitting down they watched him there;

Gen 37:23 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;
Gen 37:24 And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.
Gen 37:25 And they sat down to eat bread:

Lam 3:63 Behold their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their musick.
Lam 3:64 Render unto them a recompence, O LORD, according to the work of their hands.

Act 25:1 Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.

Act 25:6 And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.

Mat 27:37 And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Mat 27:38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
Mat 27:39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
Mat 27:40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest [ it] in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
Mat 27:41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking [ him], with the scribes and elders, said,
Mat 27:42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
Mat 27:43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
Mat 27:44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
Mat 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
Mat 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Mat 27:47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.
Mat 27:48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it] on a reed, and gave him to drink.
Mat 27:49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
Mat 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
Mat 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Mat 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Mat 27:53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
Mat 27:54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
Mat 27:55 And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:

Luk 8:3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

Mat 27:56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.
Mat 27:57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple:
Mat 27:58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
Mat 27:59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
Mat 27:60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
Mat 27:61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.
Mat 27:62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
Mat 27:63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
Mat 27:64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
Mat 27:65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
Mat 27:66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

So who Killed Jesus?

Act 4:24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
Act 4:25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
Act 4:26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
Act 4:27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
Act 4:28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
Act 4:29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
Act 4:30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

That being the case, when Christ makes this statement:

Mic 7:6  For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house.

Mat 10:35  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Mat 10:36  And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.

All of the relationships mentioned above are primarily spiritual relationships. While Christ’s physical brothers and sisters may not have believed on Him, we have no record at all that they were “foes… of his own household.” Those who we do know were “foes of His own household” were the scribes and Pharisees and the rulers of the people:

Act 4:26  The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
Act 4:27  For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
Act 4:28  For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

Peter tells us two chapters earlier that Pilate would have let Christ go, but the people of Israel,  “His own household,” insisted on His death:

Act 3:13  The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

Luk 23:20  Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.
Luk 23:21  But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.
Luk 23:22  And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.
Luk 23:23  And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.
Luk 23:24  And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.
Luk 23:25  And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

God’s “hand and counsel determined before  to use “the people… and… the chief priests” to “require that He might be crucified” even after Pilate had “determined to let him go.”
These are the “they of his own household” to whom Christ refers in Matt. 10:6. These are they who are always calling for the crucifixion of Christ’s elect in every generation.
So if you are experiencing persecution from church friends or relatives for your beliefs, start rejoicing in the fact that you have been “counted worthy to suffer with Him”.

Gal 6:9  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Jas 1:2  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Rom 8:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint- heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

2Ti 2:12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 

2Co 11:26  In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

I pray for the brethren that God will give you the strength to “faint not”. We are actually called to “much tribulation:”

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Count tribulation as a blessing. One of the highest honors God bestows on His elect is to be “in perils by mine own country men…  [ and] among false brothers.” It is not just our faith that pleases God. What is even more precious to God is “the trial of our faith.”

1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 
Jas 1:2  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Jas 1:3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Jas 1:4  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Rom 2:7  To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

I hope this is the encouragement you need to “continue in well doing.”