The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 26 Part 5 Jesus & His Disciples Sang Hallel Songs After Passover

Matthew 26:30  And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. 

Jesus gave final instructions to His disciples before His impending betrayal, arrest, sufferings and death on the cross.

He held the Passover with them and showed that He was the literal fulfillment of the Passover Lamb sacrifice and ceremonies.

Having concluded observing the Passover together,  Jesus and His disciples sang a hymn together.

This is a moment of tender reflection upon the goodness of God to provide a way for sinners to have sin covered and fellowship with God restored.

The hymns that they sung were from the book of Psalms, also known as the Hebrew hymnal.

It was a long established custom among faithful Jews after Passover, to sing Psalms 113 through 118, which are classified as the "Hallel" psalms.

The word "Hallel" or "Hallelujah" means praise to Jehovah.

Hallel # 1. Singing praises to Jehovah for His wonderful name and love for us.

Psalm 113:1-9  Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. 2  Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. 3  From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised. 4  The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. 5  Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, 6  Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth! 7  He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; 8  That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people. 9  He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD. 

The first Hallel extolls the goodness and glory of God.

Five times the people of God are commanded to Praise Jehovah for many excellent reasons.

First, to bless His glorious name from sunrise to sunset as our chief occupation in this life.

We praise God because He is the One, True God who created heaven, earth and all living things.

We praise God who holds the entire universe together and governs it by the word of His power (See Hebrews 1:3).

We praise God because He humbles Himself to take interest in our lives. He looks upon each of us through the eyes of a loving, caring Shepherd.

He lifts up the oppressed out of their misery and He causes a barren woman to have children and to be a joyful mother. 

Hallel # 2. Singing praises to Jehovah for His miraculous intervention and deliverance.

Psalm 114:1-8  When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language; 2  Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion. 3  The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back. 4  The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs. 5  What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back? 6  Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs? 7  Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob; 8  Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters. 

This Psalm looks back to God commissioning Moses to lead the Hebrews out of Egyptian slavery, and all of the mighty miracles God did to destroy the Egyptian nation.

Jehovah commanded the waters of the Red Sea to part so that His people could cross over on dry land, and the waters fled at His command.

Later, when Joshua led Israel into the promised land, Jehovah caused the waters of the flooding Jordan river to stop flowing so that they could cross over safely.

When God gave Moses the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, the mountain quaked at His presence.

We praise Jehovah for giving Israel water out of a rock to quench the thirst of all the people and livestock.

The end result of reflecting upon these things is that each believer should tremble in the presence of the God of Jacob, for He is a consuming fire.

Hallel # 3. Strong encouragement to trust in Jehovah because He is our mighty Helper.

Psalm 115:1  Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake. 2  Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? 3  But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. 4  Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. 5  They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: 6  They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: 7  They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. 8  They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them. 9  O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. 10  O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. 11  Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. 

This Psalm blesses God and urges Him to place all glory and honor upon His holy name, for His mercy and truth.

It reminds us of the surety and certainty of His Word. 

What God says He will do, is exactly what He will do. His promises are anchored in His unchanging nature.

The Psalmist reminds us that our God is the One, True God who created all things and who sustains all life

Heathen nations made idols from wood, stone, metal or marble. The workers made idols with human features like eyes, ears, noses, mouths, torso, arms and legs.

Then, they bow down and worship these inanimate objects that they made with their own hands.

Such is the dark foolishness of idolatry.

In contrast, God is eternal, having all life and light within Himself, displaying omnipotence and eternal wisdom.

He is everywhere present and He cares deeply for the sheep of His pasture.

All this being true, we are urged to fear and trust Jehovah because He will always be our help and shield. 

Hallel # 4. Spending our lives loving and serving the God who saved us.

Psa 116:1  I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. 2  Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. 3  The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. 4  Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. 5  Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. 6  The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me. 

One portion of this Psalm is rejoicing because God hears us when we cry out to Him and He takes note of our supplications.

He inclines His ear toward us such that we are motivated to call upon Him all day long.

When the Psalmist faced such trouble that he feared his life would be swept away, then he called upon Jehovah and He preserved him in the midst of his struggles.

Psalm 116:12-19  What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? 13  I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. 14  I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people. 15  Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. 16  O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds. 17  I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD. 18  I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people, 19  In the courts of the LORD'S house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD. 

The second part of this Hallel Psalm, focuses on our response to the God who saves us, to the God in whom we trust.

What should the believer's response be? Living a life of love and loyalty to God. A life marked by obedience and service to our LORD.

Thus, the Psalmist commits to living in accord with the salvation God provided. He will gladly pay his tithes and offerings.

He gave us a remarkable glimpse of the heart of God toward all who trust Him for salvation.

When one of Jehovah's saints (Believers) dies, it is something precious in His sight.

Thus, the Psalmist declared "Lord I am truly your servant and I will offer my gratitude and thanksgiving for who you are and all that you have done for me."

Thus, he concludes "Praise ye the LORD."

Hallel # 5 Praising Jehovah for His enduring faithfulness to those who trust Him.

Psalm 117:1  O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. 2  For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD. 

All nations are to praise God, for He is the one who made all things and sustains all life on earth.

Particularly the redeemed people of God are to praise His name because He is merciful when we repent of our sins and trust Him, to carry them away.

He is full of love, compassion and kindness to each believer and His truth lasts forever.

Hallel # 6. God's mercy endures and we do not trust men. Messiah will come and deliver us. 

Psalm 118:1-4  O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever. 2  Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. 3  Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. 4  Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever. 

Five times the Psalmist says "His mercy endureth forever" in this last Hallel.

Thus, believers and all who fear Him give thanks to God for His enduring mercy. 

Psalm 118:5-8  I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. 6  The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? 7  The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. 8  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. 9  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes. 

Next, the Psalmist describes a time of great trouble when the LORD heard his cries and answered his prayers.

Thus, the Psalmist could review his life and recall all those times when God was faithful to help him.

Therefore, believers in Christ should not fear what man can do to us. As the apostle Paul said "If God be for us, who can be against us?" (See Romans 8:31).

Knowing that when we arise each day that God is for us, we ought not to put any hope or confidence in man.

Only God is trustworthy. Only God will keep His promises. Only God has the power to do what He says He will do.

Psalm 118:14-17  The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation. 15  The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly. 16  The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly. 17  I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. 

Therefore, we learn with the Psalmist that Jehovah is our strength and that we can do nothing without Him.

He becomes the song of praise in our hearts and we worship Him for all of His mighty works and glorious grace.

We can rejoice in the God of our salvation and the righteousness by faith in Christ that He provided through the sacrifice of His Son.

As long as the LORD gives us life, we ought to be a living testimony, sharing the gospel with those who do not yet know Him, and living a life in accord with His commands.

Psalm 118:20-24  This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter. 21  I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. 22  The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. 23  This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. 24  This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. 

The Psalm begins drawing to a close by picturing salvation as a wonderful gate opened to all who repent and believe.

This section looks forward to Messiah and Jesus applied verses 22-23 to Himself. His apostles also made this same application. (See Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10-11; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Ephesians 2:20-22; 1 Peter 2:4-8).

Though Christ would be the chief cornerstone rejected by the Jewish people, the Father highly exalted His Son and made Him the chief cornerstone who would crush His opponents, but save all who repented and trusted Him.

Thus, the work of Messiah is the LORD's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes.

Thus, each day we can arise and say, the LORD made this day and we will rejoice throughout the day.

Thus, we can see how singing these hymns after observing the Passover, blessed Jesus and His disciples hearts.

We can take great enouragment and find renewed hope as we read the Hallel Psalms.

We can see the connections to the imminent sufferings and death of Jesus the Messiah that will happen.

The Passover Lamb has been selected and the moment of securing our salvation is close at hand.

May these beautiful truths cause us to seek first the kingdom of God.

May they help us set our affection on things above where Christ is now enthroned.

May they empower us to diligently live for the glory of God.

Bob