The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 26 Part 2 Jesus Is Anointed And Appointed For The Cross

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The opening paragraph of this chapter sets the stage for what is known as the week of Christ's passion, beginning with observing the Passover and ending at His death on a cross.

Matthew 26:1-5  And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples, 2  Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified. 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, 4  And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him. 5  But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people. 

We find a prophecy from Jesus stating what will happen to Him during the next seven days.

We are then introduced to perpetrators of a plot to kill Jesus.

A High Priest named Caiaphas prophesied but not of his own volition (See John 11:45-52).

The Holy Spirit of God overcame Caiaphas' evil design to state broadly what God would do through the death of His Son.

Jesus would die once for all the sins of all mankind for all time! (See Hebrews 7 through 10).

We saw that all of these redemptive events were set in motion by the Father in eternity past.

Murderous priests and other religious leaders sought to maintain a proper pretense of religion, by not taking Jesus on the day of Passover.

Their hypocrisy is stunning, for they are willing to transgress the commandment of God against murder in order to sustain their corrupt religious system (See Exodus 20:13).

What happened next? Jesus was anointed with expensive oil.

Matthew 26:6-7  Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, 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. 

Matthew tells us about this event that happened six days before the Passover.

This anointing was done right after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.

Although Matthew does not name the woman who anointed Christ, John's gospel tells us that it was Mary the sister of Lazarus (See John 12:1-11).

John's gospel records a joyous meal was served because Lazarus was dead and was raised to life by Jesus.

Thus, many of the Jews who came to comfort Mary and Martha, stayed for this joyous celebration.

John also tells us that Lazarus himself sat at the table to eat with the others.

The chief priests and religious leaders knew about Lazarus and they determined to kill him too, in order to snuff out the account of Jesus raising a dead man back to life.

Thus, these were men moved by the Devil to pursue committing a double murder.

Matthew 26:6-7  Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, 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. 

A container made from alabaster was used strictly for very expensive ointments or oils or perfumes.

Pouring anointing oil on Jesus' head symbolized Christ's standing as King, Messiah and Son of God.

The word translated "ointment" is closely related to the same word translated "myrrh."

Myrrh was traditionally used for anointing royalty, for healing and for preparation of a body for death.

1 Samuel 16:11-13  And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. 12  And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. 13  Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

Biblically, kings were anointed with oil by a priest to demonstrate that God chose this man to be king.

Thus, King David was anointed which matters much, because Jesus is a direct descendant of King David.

Both Mary and Joseph could trace their ancestry back to King David (See Matthew 1:1-17 for Joseph and Luke 3:23-28 for Mary).

Myrrh was one of the gifts given to the Christ child by the Persian wise men (See Luke 2:10-12).

And now, as the end of Jesus' earthly ministry drew to a close, He was again anointed with oil, most likely myrrh.

Exodus 30:25-30  And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil. 26  And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony, 27  And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense, 28  And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot. 29  And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy. 30  And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office.

God commanded that every single part of the Tabernacle and its various components be anointed with holy anointing oil, to set it apart for His service.

It helps to remember that the entire Tabernacle and all of its vessels, utensils, tables, altar, candlesticks are the most complete "type" or picture of Christ contained in the Old Testament. 

The fact that all of it was anointed with holy oil points to Christ as the anointed King of Israel, God's Messiah, the Son of God set apart and dedicated to perfectly accomplishing His Father's will.

Psalm 45:6  Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. 7  Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 8  All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad. 

Last, oil was used as a symbol of the presence of the Holy Spirit of God.

Psalm 45 contains references to Christ the Messiah.

In this text, He is call "God" and His throne is an eternal one.

When Christ comes, He will hate wickedness and love righteousness.

Thus, when Christ comes He will be anointed by His Father with the oil of gladness.

His garments will carry the sweet fragrance of myrrh mixed with aloes and cassia.

This text is applied to Jesus Christ in Hebrews 1:1-9). 

John 3:34-35  For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. 35  The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. 

Thus, John the apostle tells us that Jesus came from God, Jesus is God and the Father gave His Son His Spirit without measure, or without any limitations.

So, when Matthew tells us of how Jesus was anointed by Mary with very expensive oil, it is God's testimony that Christ is the anointed Messiah. 

His anointing showed that Christ is the perfect fulfillment of the law, and that He is Israel's King in the line of David.

It also showed that Jesus was anointed for burial, looking ahead to His death on the cross for our sins.

Matthew 26:8-13  But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? 9  For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. 10  When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. 11  For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. 12  For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. 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. 

John 12:4-6  Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, 5  Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6  This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. 

Let us notice the reaction of Jesus' disciples.

Matthew tells us they were filled with indignation that Mary poured all that oil out upon Jesus.

Yet, Mark's gospel tells us that only "some" of them complained. 

John's gospel makes it clear that Judas the betrayer led the complaining because he functioned as their treasurer (carrying the bag containing money) and he was a thief.

Thus, Judas complained about Mary anointing Jesus with expensive oil and a couple others may have had similar sentiments.

Jesus' reply was a resounding vindication of Mary's act of worship.

It was Judas who said the oil may have been sold to give money to the poor, but reality was that he wanted to steal the money for his own purposes.

Jesus emphasized that her anointing was a preparation for Christ's upcoming death on the cross, to prepare His body for burial.

He also declared that this account will be a permanent part of the gospel record which is why we are reading it today.

This is why all four gospels contain the narrative about Mary anointing Jesus with special, expensive oil.

These truths serve to give us hope.

Jesus will one day return as King of kings, and He has already been anointed for it.

Jesus' anointing reminds us how He is the Son of God, the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world.

Christ's anointing reminds us that He is the perfect fulfillment of the law, the Tabernacle and all other pictures or previews of Christ contained in the Old Testament.

Jesus will freely pour out His Spirit upon all who trust Him with repentant faith.

In this manner, each Christian is sealed with the earnest of God's Spirit, anointing us as His dear children and bring heaven's power to bear upon us that He might conform us to the image of Christ (See Romans 8; 12:1-2; Ephesians 5:1-18).

If you are born again by the regenerating work of God's Spirit, you rejoice with me in all these truths.

The week of Christ's passion is marked by His betrayal, by incredibly cruel sufferings leading to His death on the cross.

We have great hope because Jesus fulfilled the redemptive work necessary to save us from eternal condemnation, and He will give us a brand new life to live here, until He calls us home.

Only Jesus can save people from the curse of sin.

Jesus is the only name under heaven given among men to believe on for salvation.

Jesus has conquered death, Hell, the grave and the Devil.

One day Jesus will return for His church and great tribulation will start on the earth.

Even so, Lord, come quickly!

Bob