1. Crucifixion of Jesus (26:1-27:66)

Events in this section move rapidly toward the cross. In 26:1-5 Jesus once again predicts his imminent suffering and death.

Mt 26:6-16 presents the stories of two persons who relate to Jesus' death in entirely differently ways. The woman with the alabaster jar recognizes the ultimate significance of the death of Jesus, and in response she spends a large sum of money to anoint him for burial (vv.6-13). The death of Jesus calls for sacrificial response.

In contrast to the woman, Judas advances the plot to kill Jesus by betraying him for thirty pieces of silver (26:14-16). Love of money is thus linked to the awful falling away of Judas and to betrayal of Christ. Judas becomes a living example of the seed that fell among thorns in the parable of the soils (13:22).

The account of the Last Supper points to the meaning of Jesus' death (26:17-30). Jesus is the Passover lamb whose blood establishes a (new) covenant between God and persons; this covenant is characterized above all by forgiveness of sins. When Christians partake of the Lord’s Supper they affirm their participation in this covenant and anticipate the great banquet all believers will share with Christ when he returns (v.29; cf. 22:1-10; Lk 22:29-30).

Jesus has prepared his disciples for his death during the Last Supper; he now prepares himself in the Garden of Gethsemane (26:30-46). Jesus has taught his disciples that they must watch in the midst of their tribulations if they hope to remain faithful and obedient to the will of God (24:42; 25:13; cf. 24:3-28). Now Jesus acts on his own advice (26:38, 40-41). Jesus is able to remain obedient by being aware of the danger of yielding to temptation in the face of tribulation and by depending on God (in prayer) for strength. The fact that the disciples do not keep watch with him (vv.38-45), but depend on their own resources (vv.33-35), accounts for their failure later in the story (vv.56, 58, 69-75).

The arrest of Jesus (26:47-56) leads to his trial before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish council of supreme authority (vv.57-75). Here Jesus is condemned on the charge of blasphemy for claiming to be the Son of God (vv.63, 65). These religious leaders cry out that “he is worthy of death” (v.66). Yet the reader knows that Jesus is entirely righteous, whereas it is the religious authorities who are guilty and deserving of death (cf. 23:29-36). Their sin has blinded them to the truth regarding Jesus and to any sense of justice and righteousness.

During this trial (and the trial before Pilate; cf. 27:12) Jesus remains silent; he neither says nor does anything to defend himself. There are two reasons for Jesus' silence. First, Jesus shows utter disdain for the false charges that are being leveled against him. The Lord of truth will not dignify false testimony with an answer. Second, Jesus assumes the role of the poor, powerless one. Like the Suffering Servant of Isaiah, Jesus has cast aside all forms of power and violence (cf. 26:47-56) and every attempt to vindicate himself (cf. Isa 53:7). He places his trust entirely in God (27:43).

Because the Sanhedrin did not have authority to carry out the death sentence (Jn 18:31), it was necessary to deliver Jesus over to Pilate (27:1-26). The focus of the trial before Pilate is whether Jesus is the king of the Jews. Jesus affirms that he is (v.11) and is subsequently condemned to death (vv.15-26). Yet it is clear that Jesus is not the kind of King who usurps thrones and grabs power for himself. As King, Jesus submits to suffering and death in order to give his life for his people (20:28), thus saving them from their sins (1:21). The crown of Jesus is composed of thorns (27:29), and his throne is a cross (vv.36-37).

Jesus dies not only as King of the Jews, but also as Son of God (27:32-54; cf. 26:57-75). The mockeries of the passersby echo the temptations of Satan in 4:1-11: “Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God” (27:40, italics mine; cf. v.43). Here again Jesus is tempted to demonstrate his divine sonship by means of a sign. And once again Jesus refuses to yield to the temptation, choosing rather to fulfill his divine sonship by perfect obedience to the will of his Father. And so, trusting in God (27:43), Jesus dies.

The signs come not from Jesus but from God (27:51-53). And on the basis of these signs, the centurion and the others who were responsible for carrying out the execution confess that Jesus was the Son of God (27:54).