THE NEW TESTAMENT
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Matthew Chapter 26
The Jews conspire against Christ. He is anointed by Mary. The treason of Judas. The last supper. The prayer in the garden. The apprehension of our Lord. His treatment in the house of Caiphas.
26:1. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended all these words, he said to his disciples:
26:2. You know that after two days shall be the pasch: and the Son of man shall be delivered up to be crucified.
26:3. Then were gathered together the chief priests and ancients of the people, into the court of the high priest, who was called Caiphas:
26:4. And they consulted together that by subtilty they might apprehend Jesus and put him to death.
26:5. But they said: Not on the festival day, lest perhaps there should be a tumult among the people.
26:6. And when Jesus was in Bethania, in the house of Simon the leper,
26:7. There came to him a woman having an alabaster box of precious ointment and poured it on his head as he was at table.
26:8. And the disciples seeing it had indignation, saying: To what purpose is this waste?
26:9. For this might have been sold for much and given to the poor.
26:10. And Jesus knowing it, said to them: Why do you trouble this woman? For she hath wrought a good work upon me.
26:11. For the poor you have always with you: but me you have not always.
Me you have not always... Viz., in a visible manner, as when conversant here on earth; and as we have the poor, whom we may daily assist and relieve.
26:12. For she in pouring this ointment on my body hath done it for my burial.
26:13. Amen I say to you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, that also which she hath done shall be told for a memory of her.
26:14. Then went one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, to the chief priests.
26:15. And said to them: What will you give me, and I will deliver him unto you? But they appointed him thirty pieces of silver.
26:16. And from thenceforth he sought opportunity to betray him.
26:17. And on the first day of the Azymes, the disciples came to Jesus, saying: Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the pasch?
Azymes... Feast of the unleavened bread. Pasch... The paschal lamb.
26:18. But Jesus said: Go ye into the city to a certain man and say to him: The master saith, My time is near at hand. With thee I make the pasch with my disciples.
26:19. And the disciples did as Jesus appointed to them: and they prepared the pasch.
26:20. But when it was evening, he sat down with his twelve disciples.
26:21. And whilst they were eating, he said: Amen I say to you that one of you is about to betray me.
26:22. And they being very much troubled began every one to say: Is it I, Lord?
26:23. But he answering said: He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, he shall betray me.
26:24. The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him. But woe to that man by whom the Son of man shall be betrayed. It were better for him, if that man had not been born.
26:25. And Judas that betrayed him answering, said: Is it I, Rabbi? He saith to him: Thou hast said it.
26:26. And whilst they were at supper, Jesus took bread and blessed and broke and gave to his disciples and said: Take ye and eat. This is my body.
This is my body... He does not say, This is the figure of my body--but This is my body. (2 Council of Nice, Act. 6.) Neither does he say in this, or with this is my body; but absolutely, This is my body: which plainly implies transubstantiation.
26:27. And taking the chalice, he gave thanks and gave to them, saying: Drink ye all of this.
Drink ye all of this... This was spoken to the twelve apostles; who were the all then present; and they all drank of it, says St. Mark 14. 23. But it no ways follows from these words spoken to the apostles, that all the faithful are here commanded to drink of the chalice; any more than that all the faithful are commanded to consecrate, offer and administer this sacrament; because Christ upon this same occasion, and at the same time, bid the apostles do so; in these words, St. Luke 22. 19, Do this for a commemoration of me.
26:28. For this is my blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many unto remission of sins.
Blood of the new testament... As the old testament was dedicated with the blood of victims, by Moses, in these words: This is the blood of the testament, etc., Heb. 9. 20; so here is the dedication and institution of the new testament, in the blood of Christ, here mystically shed by these words: This is the blood of the new testament, etc.
26:29. And I say to you, I will not drink from henceforth of this fruit of the vine until that day when I shall drink it with you new in the kingdom of my Father.
Fruit of the vine... These words, by the account of St. Luke 26:22. 18, were not spoken of the sacramental cup, but of the wine that was drunk with the paschal lamb. Though the sacramental cup might also be called the fruit of the vine, because it was consecrated from wine, and retains the likeness, and all the accidents or qualities of wine.
26:30. And a hymn being said, they went out unto mount Olivet.
26:31. Then Jesus saith to them: All you shall be scandalized in me this night. For it is written: I will strike the shepherd: and the sheep of the flock shall be dispersed.
Scandalized in me, etc... Forasmuch as my being apprehended shall make you all run away and forsake me.