Gospel of Matthew bible study chapters 23 through 28

 

            Here is a bible study of the final six chapters of the Gospel of Matthew. This includes some powerful end times teaching and end times parables, as well as the Passion of Christ, where Jesus pays the price and dies for all of our sins on the cross, and the story of what happened after He rose again from the grave, and the great commission for all Christians which concludes the gospel of Matthew is stated at the end of chapter 28

For the previous seven chapters of the gospel of Matthew, 16 through 22 please go here:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/jay-dougherty/gospel-of-matthew-bible-study-chapters-16-through-22/10200650011586287

In Matthew chapter 23 Jesus launches in a powerful discourse to the disciples and people  and a rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees telling them how hypocritical they are, and to practice all that they preach but not to do as they do because the scribes and Pharisees do not practice what they preach, as they should. It contains many life lessons also for us to apply in our lives of what we are to avoid, like hypocrisy and a few on what to do

(Matthew 23:1)  Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,

 

(Matthew 23:2)  "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat,

 

(Matthew 23:3)  so practice and observe whatever they tell you--but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice.

 

(Matthew 23:4)  They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.

 

(Matthew 23:5)  They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long,

 

(Matthew 23:6)  and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues

 

(Matthew 23:7)  and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others.

 

(Matthew 23:8)  But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.

 

(Matthew 23:9)  And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.

 

(Matthew 23:10)  Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.

 

(Matthew 23:11)  The greatest among you shall be your servant.

 

(Matthew 23:12)  Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

 

(Matthew 23:13)  "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.

 

(Matthew 23:14)  [Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive the greater condemnation.]

 

(Matthew 23:15)  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.

 

(Matthew 23:16)  "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.'

 

(Matthew 23:17)  You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred?

 

(Matthew 23:18)  And you say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.'

 

(Matthew 23:19)  You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred?

 

(Matthew 23:20)  So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.

 

(Matthew 23:21)  And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it.

 

(Matthew 23:22)  And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.

 

(Matthew 23:23)  "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.

 

(Matthew 23:24)  You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!

 

(Matthew 23:25)  "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

 

(Matthew 23:26)  You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

 

(Matthew 23:27)  "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness.

 

(Matthew 23:28)  So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

 

(Matthew 23:29)  "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous,

 

(Matthew 23:30)  saying, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.'

 

(Matthew 23:31)  Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.

 

(Matthew 23:32)  Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers.

 

(Matthew 23:33)  You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?

 

(Matthew 23:34)  Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town,

 

(Matthew 23:35)  so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of innocent Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.

 

(Matthew 23:36)  Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

 

(Mat 23:37)  "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!

 

(Matthew 23:38)  See, your house is left to you desolate.

 

(Matthew 23:39)  For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

 

Matthew chapter 24 is Jesus’ powerful end times teaching using a few parables as well, warning of false teachers, speaking of the birth pangs and warning people to be ready for the rapture because there are benefits and punishments for being ready or not being ready for what is to come.

(Matthew 24:1)  Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple.

 

(Matthew 24:2)  But he answered them, "You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down."

 

(Matthew 24:3)  As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?"

 

(Matthew 24:4)  And Jesus answered them, "See that no one leads you astray.

 

(Matthew 24:5)  For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray.

 

(Matthew 24:6)  And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.

 

(Matthew 24:7)  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

 

(Matthew 24:8)  All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

 

(Matthew 24:9)  "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake.

 

(Matthew 24:10)  And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.

 

(Matthew 24:11)  And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.

 

(Matthew 24:12)  And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.

 

(Matthew 24:13)  But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

 

(Matthew 24:14)  And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

 

(Matthew 24:15)  "So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),

 

 (Matthew 24:16)  then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

 

(Matthew 24:17)  Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house,

 

(Matthew 24:18)  and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak.

 

(Matthew 24:19)  And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days!

 

(Matthew 24:20)  Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.

 

(Matthew 24:21)  For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.

 

(Matthew 24:22)  And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

 

(Matthew 24:23)  Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There he is!' do not believe it.

 

(Matthew 24:24)  For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

 

(Matthew 24:25)  See, I have told you beforehand.

 

(Matthew 24:26)  So, if they say to you, 'Look, he is in the wilderness,' do not go out. If they say, 'Look, he is in the inner rooms,' do not believe it.

 

(Matthew 24:27)  For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

 

(Matthew 24:28)  Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

 

(Matthew 24:29)  "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

 

(Matthew 24:30)  Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

 

(Matthew 24:31)  And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

 

(Matthew 24:32)  "From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.

 

(Matthew 24:33)  So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.

 

(Matthew 24:34)  Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.

 

(Matthew 24:35)  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

 

(Matthew 24:36)  "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

 

(Matthew 24:37)  For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

 

(Mat thew24:38)  For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark,

 

(Matthew 24:39)  and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

 

(Matthew24:40)  Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left.

 

(Matthew 24:41)  Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.

 

(Matthew 24:42)  Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

 

(Matthew 24:43)  But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.

 

(Matthew 24:44)  Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

 

(Matthew 24:45)  "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?

 

(Matthew 24:46)  Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.

 

(Matthew 24:47)  Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.

 

(Matthew 24:48)  But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed,'

 

(Matthew 24:49)  and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards,

 

(Matthew 24:50)  the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know

 

(Matthew 24:51)  and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

In Matthew chapter 25 Jesus has three very powerful parables all end times related, the parable of the ten virgins which is rapture, and even also the marriage supper of the lamb, related again warning people to be ready for them, unlike the foolish virgins, the parable of the talents which tells us we are accountable for what we are given, and the parable of the sheep and the goats which tells us we are accountable for all that we do or fail to do in our lives. It may also have to do with the judgment of the nations at the end of the world as some people suggest.

(Matthew 25:1)  "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.

 

(Matthew 25:2)  Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.

 

(Matthew 25:3)  For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,

 

(Matthew 25:4)  but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.

 

(Matthew 25:5)  As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.

 

(Mat 25:6)  But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'

 

(Matthew 25:7)  Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.

 

(Matthew 25:8)  And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'

 

(Matthew 25:9)  But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.'

 

(Matthew 25:10)  And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.

 

(Matthew 25:11)  Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.'

 

(Matthew 25:12)  But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.'

 

(Matthew 25:13)  Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

 

(Matthew 25:14)  "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.

 

(Matthew 25:15)  To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

 

(Matthew 25:16)  He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.

 

(Matthew25:17)  So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.

 

(Matthew 25:18)  But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.

 

(Matthew 25:19)  Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

 

(Matthew 25:20)  And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.'

 

(Matthew 25:21)  His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'

 

(Matthew 25:22)  And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.'

 

(Matthew 25:23)  His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'

 

(Matthew 25:24)  He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,

 

(Matthew 25:25)  so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'

 

(Matthew 25:26)  But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?

 

(Matthew 25:27)  Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.

 

(Matthew 25:28)  So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.

 

(Matthew 25:29)  For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

 

(Matthew 25:30)  And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

 

(Matthew 25:31)  "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.

 

(Matthew 25:32)  Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

 

(Matthew 25:33)  And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.

 

(Matthew 25:34)  Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

 

(Matthew 25:35)  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,

 

(Matthew 25:36)  I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'

 

(Matthew 25:37)  Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?

 

(Matthew 25:38)  And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?

 

(Matthew 25:39)  And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'

 

(Matthew 25:40)  And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'

 

(Matthew 25:41)  "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

 

(Matthew 25:42)  For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,

 

(Matthew 25:43)  I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'

 

(Matthew 25:44)  Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?'

 

(Matthew 25:45)  Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'

 

(Matthew 25:46)  And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

 

Matthew chapter 26 begins telling the story of the Passion of the Christ first with a woman anointing him with costly ointment, the last supper, Jesus arrest and then Peter denies Jesus three times, just as Jesus said Peter would

(Matthew 26:1)  When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples,

 

(Matthew 26:2)  "You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified."

 

(Matthew 26:3)  Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,

 

(Matthew 26:4)  and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him.

 

(Matthew 26:5)  But they said, "Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people."

 

(Matthew 26:6)  Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,

 

(Matthew 26:7)  a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table.

 

(Matthew 26:8)  And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, "Why this waste?

 

(Matthew 26:9)  For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor."

 

(Matthew 26:10)  But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me.

 

(Matthew 26:11)  For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.

 

(Matthew 26:12)  In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial.

 

(Matthew 26:13)  Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her."

 

(Matthew 26:14)  Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests

 

(Matthew 26:15)  and said, "What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?" And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.

 

(Matthew 26:16)  And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.

 

(Matthew 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?"

 

(Matthew 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.'"

 

(Matthew 26:19)  And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.

 

(Matthew 26:20)  When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve.

 

(Matthew 26:21)  And as they were eating, he said, "Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me."

 

(Matthew 26:22)  And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, "Is it I, Lord?"

 

(Matthew 26:23)  He answered, "He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me.

 

(Matthew 26:24)  The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born."

 

(Matthew 26:25)  Judas, who would betray him, answered, "Is it I, Rabbi?" He said to him, "You have said so."

 

(Matthew 26:26)  Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body."

 

(Matthew 26:27)  And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you,

 

(Matthew 26:28)  for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

 

(Matthew 26:29)  I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."

 

(Matthew 26:30)  And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

 

(Matthew 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.'

 

(Matthew 26:32)  But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee."

 

(Matthew 26:33)  Peter answered him, "Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away."

 

(Matthew 26:34)  Jesus said to him, "Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times."

 

(Matthew 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.

 

(Matthew 26:36)  Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go over there and pray."

 

(Matthew 26:37)  And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled.

 

(Matthew 26:38)  Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me."

 

(Matthew 26:39)  And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will."

 

(Matthew 26:40)  And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour?

 

(Matthew 26:41)  Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

 

(Matthew 26:42)  Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done."

 

(Matthew 26:43)  And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.

 

(Matthew 26:44)  So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.

 

(Matthew 26:45)  Then he came to the disciples and said to them, "Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

 

(Matthew 26:46)  Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand."

 

(Matthew 26:47)  While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people.

 

(Matthew 26:48)  Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I will kiss is the man; seize him."

 

(Matthew 26:49)  And he came up to Jesus at once and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" And he kissed him.

 

(Matthew 26:50)  Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you came to do." Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him.

 

(Matthew 26:51)  And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.

 

(Matthew 26:52)  Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.

 

(Matthew 26:53)  Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?

 

(Matthew 26:54)  But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?"

 

(Matthew 26:55)  At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me.

 

(Matthew 26:56)  But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples left him and fled.

 

(Matthew 26:57)  Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered.

 

(Matthew 26:58)  And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end.

 

 (Matthew 26:59)  Now the chief priests and the whole Council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death,

 

(Matthew 26:60)  but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward

 

(Matthew 26:61)  and said, "This man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.'"

 

(Matthew 26:62)  And the high priest stood up and said, "Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?"

 

(Matthew 26:63)  But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."

 

(Matthew 26:64)  Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven."

 

(Matthew 26:65)  Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy.

 

(Matthew 26:66)  What is your judgment?" They answered, "He deserves death."

 

(Matthew 26:67)  Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him,

 

(Matthew 26:68)  saying, "Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?"

 

(Matthew 26:69)  Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean."

 

(Matthew 26:70)  But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you mean."

 

(Matthew 26:71)  And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth."

 

(Matthew 26:72)  And again he denied it with an oath: "I do not know the man."

 

(Matthew 26:73)  After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you."

 

(Matthew 26:74)  Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know the man." And immediately the rooster crowed.

 

(Matthew 26:75)  And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.

 

In chapter 27 Jesus is tried before various parties, then He is flogged and then crucified, having to carry His cross there. He would then die of this crucifixion and then someone wealthy then would request the body and then bury Him in a tomb

(Matthew 27:1)  When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death.

 

(Matthew 27:2)  And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor.

 

(Matthew 27:3)  Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders,

 

(Matthew 27:4)  saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." They said, "What is that to us? See to it yourself."

 

(Matthew 27:5)  And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself.

 

(Matthew 27:6)  But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money."

 

(Matthew 27:7)  So they took counsel and bought with them the potter's field as a burial place for strangers.

 

(Matthew 27:8)  Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.

 

(Matthew 27:9)  Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel,

 

(Matthew 27:10)  and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me."

 

(Matthew 27:11)  Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You have said so."

 

(Matthew 27:12)  But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer.

 

(Matthew 27:13)  Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?"

 

(Matthew 27:14)  But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

 

(Matthew 27:15)  Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted.

 

(Matthew 27:16)  And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.

 

(Matthew 27:17)  So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?"

 

(Matthew 27:18)  For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up.

 

(Matthew 27:19)  Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream."

 

(Matthew 27:20)  Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.

 

(Matthew 27:21)  The governor again said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barabbas."

 

(Matthew 27:22)  Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said, "Let him be crucified!"

 

(Matthew 27:23)  And he said, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Let him be crucified!"

 

(Matthew 27:24)  So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves."

 

(Matthew 27:25)  And all the people answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!"

 

(Matthew 27:26)  Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.

 

(Matthew 27:27)  Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him.

 

(Matthew 27:28)  And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,

 

(Matthew 27:29)  and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"

 

(Matthew 27:30)  And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head.

 

(Matthew 27:31)  And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.

 

(Matthew 27:32)  As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross.

 

(Matthew 27:33)  And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull),

 

(Matthew 27:34)  they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it.

 

(Matthew 27:35)  And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots.

 

(Matthew 27:36)  Then they sat down and kept watch over him there.

 

(Matthew 27:37)  And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews."

 

(Matthew 27:38)  Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.

 

(Matthew 27:39)  And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads

 

(Matthew 27:40)  and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross."

 

(Matthew 27:41)  So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying,

 

(Matthew 27:42)  "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.

 

(Matthew 27:43)  He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, 'I am the Son of God.'"

 

(Matthew 27:44)  And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

 

(Matthew 27:45)  Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.

 

(Matthew 27:46)  And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

 

(Matthew 27:47)  And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, "This man is calling Elijah."

 

(Matthew 27:48)  And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink.

 

(Matthew 27:49)  But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him."

 

(Matthew 27:50)  And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.

 

(Matthew 27:51)  And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.

 

(Matthew 27:52)  The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised,

 

(Matthew 27:53)  and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

 

(Matthew 27:54)  When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

 

(Matthew 27:55)  There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him,

 

(Matthew 27:56)  among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

 

(Matthew 27:57)  When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus.

 

(Matthew 27:58)  He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him.

 

(Matthew 27:59)  And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud

 

(Matthew 27:60)  and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.

 

(Matthew 27:61)  Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

 

(Matthew 27:62)  The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate

 

(Matthew 27:63)  and said, "Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, 'After three days I will rise.'

 

(Matthew 27:64)  Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, 'He has risen from the dead,' and the last fraud will be worse than the first."

 

(Matthew 27:65)  Pilate said to them, "You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can."

 

(Matthew 27:66)  So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

 

Here in chapter 28 Jesus as promised does indeed rise up from the grave and makes some appearances and this gospel finishes up with the great commission given to the disciples and really all Christians through the bible:

(Matthew 28:1)  Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.

 

(Matthew 28:2)  And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.

 

(Matthew 28:3)  His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.

 

(Matthew 28:4)  And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.

 

(Matthew 28:5)  But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.

 

(Matthew 28:6)  He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.

 

(Matthew 28:7)  Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you."

 

(Matthew 28:8)  So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

 

(Matthew 28:9)  And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.

 

(Matthew 28:10)  Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me."

 

(Matthew 28:11)  While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place.

 

(Matthew 28:12)  And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers

 

(Matthew 28:13)  and said, "Tell people, 'His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.'

 

(Matthew 28:14)  And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble."

 

(Matthew 28:15)  So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

 

(Matthew 28:16)  Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.

 

(Matthew 28:17)  And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.

 

(Mat 28:18)  And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

 

(Matthew 28:19)  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

 

(Matthew 28:20)  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

 

Jesus loves us all so much that He went through all that He went through which is described in this gospel so well just so we could be restored in that love relationship with the Father and with Him, Jesus, who will judge all of us, both alive and dead. I am going to put a prayer in now that will facilitate you inviting Jesus in your heart because, really there is no relationship that can compare with a relationship with the Lord Jesus. He welcomes back any who stray and that are willing to repent. Please pray this prayer then with me to come to Jesus or to return to Him if you have strayed:

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.

Amen.

God bless you and yours