Matthew 23-26
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 23
Portrait of the Scribes and Pharisees.[a] 1 Then Jesus addressed the crowds and his disciples: 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore, be careful to do whatever they tell you, but do not follow their example, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy burdens that are difficult to bear and lay them on the shoulders of others, but they will not lift a finger to be of assistance.
5 “Everything they do is meant to attract the attention of others. They widen their phylacteries[b] and lengthen their tassels. 6 They love to have places of honor at banquets and the best seats in synagogues, 7 and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be addressed as ‘Rabbi.’
Do Not Be Called Teacher.[c] 8 “But do not allow yourselves to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master, and you are all brethren. 9 Call no one on earth your father, for you have but one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 You must not be called ‘teacher,’ for you have only one Teacher, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you must be your servant. 12 All those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all those who humble themselves will be exalted.
13 Woe to You, Teachers of the Law.[d]“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the entrance to the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor do you allow others to enter.
[14 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! For you devour the houses of widows, while for the sake of appearance you recite lengthy prayers. As a result, you will receive the severest possible condemnation.][e]
15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You journey over sea and land to make a single convert,[f] and then you make that convert twice as worthy of Gehenna as you are.
16 [g]“Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If someone swears by the temple, that is not binding, but if someone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ 17 You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?
18 “And you say, ‘If someone swears by the altar, that is not binding, but if someone swears by the offering that lies on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ 19 You blind fools! Which is of greater value—the offering, or the altar that makes the offering sacred?
20 “The one who swears by the altar swears both by it and by everything that lies upon it. 21 The one who swears by the temple swears both by it and by the one who dwells within it. 22 And the one who swears by heaven swears both by the throne of God and by the One who is seated upon it.
23 [h]“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint and dill and cumin, but you have neglected the more important aspects of the Law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced these without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat and then swallow a camel!
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You cleanse the outside of a cup and dish, but you leave the inside full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First cleanse the inside of the cup and dish so that the outside may also be clean.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs[i] that look beautiful on the outside, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of decay. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
29 The Judgment of God Has Already Come on This Generation.[j]“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build the tombs of the Prophets and adorn the graves of the righteous, 30 and you say, ‘If we had lived in the time of our ancestors, we never would have collaborated with them in shedding the blood of the Prophets.’ 31 Thus, you acknowledge that you are the descendants of those who murdered the Prophets. 32 Go and complete the work that your ancestors began.
33 “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How can you escape being condemned to Gehenna? 34 Behold, therefore, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. 35 As a result, upon you will fall the guilt of all the innocent blood that has been shed upon the earth, from the blood of the righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Amen, I say to you, the guilt for all this will fall upon this generation.
37 The Lament over Jerusalem.[k]“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you murder the Prophets and stone the messengers sent to you! How often have I longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not allow it! 38 Behold, your house has been abandoned and left desolate. 39 I tell you, you will not see me again until you say: ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”
Instructions for the Coming of the Kingdom[l]
Chapter 24
The Time of the End[m]
Jesus Announces the Destruction of the Temple.[n] 1 As Jesus left the temple and was walking away, his disciples came up to him to call his attention to the buildings of the temple. 2 He thereupon said to them, “Do you see all these? Amen, I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another; every one will be thrown down.”
The End Has Not Yet Come.[o] 3 As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached and spoke to him when they were alone. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
4 Jesus answered them, “Take care that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Do not be alarmed, for those things are bound to happen, but the end is still to come. 7 For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are only the beginning of the labor pains.
9 “Then you will be handed over to be tortured and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 At that time, many will fall away from the faith; they will betray and hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will appear and lead many astray, 12 and with the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But whoever endures to the end will be saved. 14 And the good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the entire world as a testimony offered to all the nations. And then the end will come.
15 The Great Trial.[p]“Therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation, about which the prophet Daniel spoke, standing in the Holy Place (let the reader understand), 16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, 17 the one who is standing on the roof must not come down to collect what is in his house, 18 and someone who is in the field must not turn back to retrieve his coat.
19 “Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that you will not have to take flight in the winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For at that time there will be great suffering that has not been equaled since the beginning of the world until now, and will never again be duplicated. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect they will be shortened.
23 False Messiahs and False Prophets.“Therefore, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There he is,’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise, and they will perform great signs and wonders that are impressive enough to deceive even the elect, if that were possible.
25 “Remember, I have forewarned you about this. 26 So if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out there. If they say, ‘Behold, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For just as lightning comes from the east and is visible even in the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.[q]
29 The Coming of the Son of Man.[r]“Immediately after the distress of those days,
‘the sun will be darkened
and the moon will not give forth its light;
the stars will fall from the sky
and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’
30 “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the peoples of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send forth his angels with a trumpet blast, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
Be Vigilant in Expectation of the End[s]
32 The Parable of the Fig Tree.[t]“Learn this lesson from the fig tree. As soon as its twigs become tender and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things take place, know that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
36 The Day and Hour Unknown.[u]“As for the exact day and hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 For as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 In the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark. 39 They knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and swept them all away.
“That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and the other will be left. 42 Therefore, keep watch, for you do not know the day when your Lord is coming.
43 The Parable of the Owner of the House.[v]“But keep this in mind: if the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore, you must also be prepared, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
45 The Parable of the Faithful Servant.[w]“Who, then, is the faithful and wise servant whom his master has put in charge of his household to give its members their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant if his master finds him doing so when he returns home. 47 Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property.
48 “But if that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is detained,’ 49 and he proceeds to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will return on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. 51 He will punish him and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Chapter 25
The Parable of the Ten Virgins.[x] 1 “Then[y] the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 When the foolish ones took their lamps, they neglected to take any oil with them, 4 whereas those who were wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 Since the bridegroom was delayed in coming, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 “At midnight, a shout was raised: ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7 Then all the virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 The wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for both us and you. You had better go to the merchants and buy some.’
10 “While they went off to purchase it, the bridegroom arrived, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. Then the door was locked. 11 Afterward, the other virgins returned, and they cried out, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ 12 But he replied,‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
14 The Parable of the Talents.[z]“Again, the kingdom of heaven will be like a man going on a journey who summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents,[aa] to another two talents, to a third one talent—to each according to his ability. Then he set forth on his journey.
16 “The servant who had received the five talents promptly went to invest them and gained five more. 17 In the same manner, the servant who had received the two talents gained two more. 18 But the servant who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “After a long period of time, the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing an additional five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you gave me five talents. Behold, I have gained five more.’ 21 His master said to him,‘Well done, good and faithful servant. Since you have been faithful in small matters, I will give you much greater responsibilities. Come and share your master’s joy.’
22 “Next, the one who had received the two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. Behold, I have gained two more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. Since you have been faithful in small matters, I will give you much greater responsibilities. Come and share your master’s joy.’
24 “Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew that you were a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed. 25 Therefore, out of fear I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Behold, I give it back to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant. So you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered! 27 Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have gotten back my money with interest.
28 “ ‘Therefore, take the talent from him and give it to the one with the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he does have will be taken away. 30 As for this worthless servant, cast him outside into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
31 The Solemn Judgment at the End of Time.[ab]“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
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. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you welcomed me; 36 I was naked and you clothed me; I was ill and you took care of me; I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will say to him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you something to eat, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 When did we see you ill or in prison and come to visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brethren of mine, you did for me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you did not give me anything to eat; I was thirsty and you did not give me anything to drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me; I was naked and you did not give me any clothing; I was ill and in prison and you did not visit me.’
44 “Then they will ask him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison and not minister to you?’ 45 He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you failed to do for one of the least of these brethren of mine, you failed to do for me.’ 46 And they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous will enter eternal life.”
The Passion and Resurrection[ac]
Chapter 26
The Plot against Jesus.[ad] 1 When Jesus had finished discoursing on all these subjects, he said to his disciples, 2 “In two days it will be Passover, at which time the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
3 Meanwhile, the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled together in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,[ae] 4 and they made plans to arrest Jesus by deceit and have him put to death. 5 However, they said, “It must not occur during the feast, or the people may begin to riot.”
A Woman of Bethany Anoints Jesus.[af] 6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came up to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment and poured it over his head as he reclined at table. 8 When the disciples saw this, they became indignant, and they remarked, “Why this waste? 9 This ointment could have been sold for a considerable sum, with the money given to the poor.”
10 Jesus was aware of their attitude, and he said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has performed a good deed for me. 11 The poor you will always have with you,[ag] but you will not always have me. 12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has prepared me for burial. 13 Amen, I say to you, wherever in the whole world this gospel is proclaimed, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.”
14 Judas Betrays Jesus.[ah] Then one of the Twelve, the man called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, 16 and from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.
17 The Preparations for the Passover Supper.[ai] On the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread,[aj] the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said: “Go to a certain man in the city and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My appointed time is near. I intend to celebrate the Passover at your house with my disciples.” ’ ” 19 The disciples thereupon followed Jesus’ instructions, and they prepared the Passover.
20 The Treachery of Judas Foretold.[ak] When evening came, he reclined at table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 Greatly distressed on hearing this, they began to ask him, one after another, “Is it I, Lord?”
23 He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me is the one who will betray me. 24 The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.”
25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said: “Is it I, Rabbi?” Jesus replied, “You have said so.”
26 The Last Supper.[al] While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after he had pronounced the blessing, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take this and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and after offering thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from this, all of you. 28 For this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 And I tell you, from now on I shall not drink this fruit of the vine until the day when I shall drink it anew with you in the kingdom of my Father.”
30 And after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
31 Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial.[am] Then Jesus said to them, “This very night you will all be scandalized because of me, for it is written:
‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
32 But after I have been raised up, I shall go ahead of you to Galilee.”
33 Peter said to him, “Even if all the others will be scandalized because of you, I will never be.” 34 Jesus replied, “Amen, I say to you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.”[an] 35 Peter said to him, “Even if I have to die with you, I will not deny you.” And all the other disciples said the same thing.
36 The Agony in the Garden.[ao] Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and he began to suffer grief and anguish.
38 Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful, even to the point of death. Remain here and keep watch with me.” 39 Moving on a little farther, he threw himself prostrate on the ground in prayer, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, allow this cup to be taken from me. Yet let your will, not mine, be done.”
40 Returning to the disciples, he found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Could you not keep watch with me for just one hour? 41 Stay awake and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 He went apart for a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 Then he came back again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.
44 He left them there and went away again, praying for the third time in the same words as before. 45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour has come for the Son of Man to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up! Let us be going! Look, my betrayer is approaching.”
47 Jesus Is Arrested.[ap][aq]While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him there was a large crowd of men, armed with swords and clubs, who had been sent by the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now his betrayer had agreed with them on a signal, saying, “The one I shall kiss is the man. Arrest him.” 49 Proceeding directly to Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came forward, seized Jesus, and placed him under arrest.
51 Suddenly, one of those who were accompanying Jesus reached for his sword, drew it, and struck a servant of the high priest, slicing off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put back your sword into its place. For all who take the sword shall die by the sword. 53 Do you suppose that I cannot appeal to my Father for help[ar] and he will not immediately send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But then how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
55 At that hour, Jesus said to the crowd, “Why are you coming forth with swords and clubs to arrest me, as though I were a bandit? Day after day I sat teaching in the temple, and you did not arrest me. 56 But all this has taken place so that the writings of the Prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
57 Jesus Is Condemned by the Sanhedrin.[as] Those who had arrested Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest where the scribes and the elders had gathered. 58 Meanwhile, Peter followed him at a distance up to the courtyard of the high priest. Then, going inside, he sat down with the attendants to see what the outcome would be.
59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin tried to elicit some false testimony against Jesus so they could put him to death, 60 but they failed in their efforts, even though many witnesses came forward with perjured testimony. Finally, two men came forward 61 who stated, “This man said, ‘I can destroy the temple of God and rebuild it within three days.’ ”
62 The high priest then rose and said to him, “Have you no reply to counter the testimony that these witnesses have given?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I command you to tell us before the living God whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus replied, “You have said it. But I tell you:
From now on you will see the Son of Man
seated at the right hand of the Power
and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
65 Then the high priest tore his robes and exclaimed, “He has blasphemed! What need do we have for any further witnesses? Behold, you have just heard the blasphemy. 66 What do you think?” They shouted in reply, “He deserves to die.” 67 Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists. Some taunted him as they beat him, 68 “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit you?”
69 Peter Denies Jesus.[at] Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. One of the servant girls came over to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before all of them, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” 71 When he walked out to the entrance gate, another servant girl caught sight of him and said to the people around her, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 And again he denied it, this time with an oath: “I do not know the man.”
73 Shortly afterward, some bystanders came up to Peter and said to him, “You unquestionably are one of them. Even your accent gives you away.” 74 Then Peter began to shout curses, and he swore an oath: “I do not know the man.” At that very moment, a cock crowed, 75 and Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and began to weep uncontrollably.
Footnotes
- Matthew 23:1 It was considered a fine thing to show off Jewish piety even in the way one dressed: men wore phylacteries (see note on v. 5, below), and made extra long the tassels with which, according to the Law, their prayer shawls should be adorned.
- Matthew 23:5 Phylacteries: little boxes containing tiny parchment scrolls that had texts of Scripture on them (Ex 13:1-10; 13:11-16; Deut 6:4-9; 11:13-21) and were placed in little tubes; the boxes were attached to the forehead and the left forearm, in keeping with a literal interpretation of Deut 6:8; 11:18. The tassels had a blue thread running through them as a symbol of heaven; they were to remind the wearer of the commandments of God (Num 15:38).
- Matthew 23:8 Here Jesus obviously does not abolish the words “Rabbi,” “father,” and “teacher.” He condemns ambition and despotism on the one hand and blind servility on the other. The true Father of Christians is God, and the true Master is Christ, the Son of God. In others, paternal and magistral authority is never absolute, but relative and subordinate to the divine authority.
- Matthew 23:13 At that period, Jews tried to win Gentiles over to their religion; those who came were called proselytes. There were also Gentiles who sympathized with Jewish ways and were called “God-fearers.” There must have been rivalries between Jews and Christians in this area.
- Matthew 23:14 This verse is identical with Mk 12:40 and seems to have been interpolated from that text.
- Matthew 23:15 Convert: a proselyte, that is, a Gentile who had accepted the faith of Israel. Worthy of Gehenna: worthy of damnation.
- Matthew 23:16 Jesus shows that the Pharisees were wrong in saying that swearing by the gold of the temple and by the offering that lies on the altar is more binding than swearing by the temple or by the altar.
- Matthew 23:23 The Law prescribed a tithe on the most important products. However, the Pharisees had extended it to even the most insignificant herbs, and yet they neglected the duties toward one’s neighbor, such as justice, compassion, and fidelity. Thus, they strained their liquids so as not to involuntarily swallow an insect and render themselves unclean yet gave no thought to observing the more grave commandments of the moral law.
- Matthew 23:27 You are like whitewashed tombs: an allusion to the custom of whitewashing tombs so that no one might inadvertently touch them and contract a legal uncleanness (see Num 19:16).
- Matthew 23:29 The final curse becomes a prophecy of judgment. It sketches the long history of the opposition between the Israel of human beings and the Israel of God, from the first murder of which the Bible speaks to the last (in the order in which the books of the Bible were placed at that period), that is, from Abel (Gen 4:8) to Zechariah (2 Chr 24:20-22).
- Matthew 23:37 Jesus offers a lament over Jerusalem, which by failing to accept him opened herself to catastrophe. However, at the end time the Israelites will be converted and acclaim Jesus in his Second Coming (Ps 118:26; see Rom 11:25-33).
- Matthew 24:1 Five discourses give the Gospel of Matthew its characteristic structure. Here is the last discourse, which brings together prophecies and parables that speak of the last times of humanity and distinguish its phases. At the center of the scenario is the return of Christ. This great passage is known as the “eschatological discourse,” because it deals with the end, the last times (Greek: eschaton).
- Matthew 24:1 The prophetic sayings about the last “days” abound in descriptions of panic, wars, earthquakes, and cosmic upheavals; these descriptions are called “apocalypses,” that is, “revelations.” They defy the imagination in order better to bring out the greatness of God’s manifestation in the history of humanity (see Isa 13:10-13; Jer 21:9; Ezek 5:12; Am 8:8-9; Joel 2:10; 3:3; 4:17-21). Jesus makes use of this entire scenario in order to warn believers about the trials and conflicts in which their fidelity will be tested, and in order to encourage the missionaries of the Gospel.
- Matthew 24:1 Jesus announces the destruction of the temple, which is the sign of God’s presence among his people. Hence, one must envisage a radical change in the religious life.
- Matthew 24:3 There are many indications of Christ’s coming at the end of the world. However, no one should be mistaken. Neither the explosion of religious movements, nor the confusion of human societies, nor the catastrophes that pervade human history are signs of the end. The believer must stand fast under trials, which may appear to be excessive at times.
- Matthew 24:15 The abomination of desolation: was a pagan idol placed in the midst of the Jerusalem temple (see Dan 9:27; 11:31; 12:11; 1 Mac 1:54). The destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 is described here in order to convey a lesson about the future.
- Matthew 24:28 A popular proverb cited also in Lk 17:37. In this context it signifies both the uncertain time of the Lord’s coming and his universal presence.
- Matthew 24:29 The coming of the Son of Man is described in the words of the Old Testament (see Isa 13:9-10; 34:4; Am 5:18; Zec 12:10) in order to express the glory and power of God and the confusion of humanity. Christ dead and risen: this is the sign that converts human beings.
- Matthew 24:32 The perspective of the end of the world must keep the community on its guard. But it also concerns each disciple, for it has an effect on the end of each individual too. Let everyone be vigilant and active so as not to find oneself barred from the kingdom.
- Matthew 24:32 This parable is intended to revive the hope of the first Christians, who are under persecution, with the perspective of the proximity of the glorious kingdom, in accord with the schema of the apocalyptic tradition. Indeed, every Christian lives in this expectation, for with Christ the last period of history has begun.
- Matthew 24:36 The early Church is exhorted not to fall into indifference because judgment comes less quickly than expected. The life of humans cannot be exhausted in the gloomy flow of hours and days; it has another horizon: the coming of God, which is unforeseeable but completely certain. It hovers like a threat over the uncaring who seclude themselves in their securities. But it is a power and a source of strength for believers.
- Matthew 24:43 This very brief parable of the owner of the house and the thief reinforces the theme of vigilance, for one does not know when the Son of Man will come.
- Matthew 24:45 Jesus addresses the religious leaders of his time to place them on guard: the time to render accounts has arrived. But the coming of God is still to take place, and the disciples will be tempted to no longer believe in it. The parable of the faithful servant remains a wake-up call for them. The religious leaders and Christians must not neglect to work for the kingdom as if the Master were always present—God is in their midst.
- Matthew 25:1 The parable of the ten virgins illustrates a fundamental thought: we must wait with watchful perseverance for the coming of Christ glorified, likened to the arrival of a bridegroom. In the dazzling nuptial ceremony of Palestine, the bride awaited the bridegroom while merrymaking with friends. Around midnight the bridegroom would come accompanied by lamps. After an initial explosion of joy, the cortège would return to the house of the bridegroom, where the banquet would be celebrated.
- Matthew 25:1 Then: at the time of the Second Coming.
- Matthew 25:14 The parable of the talents completes the preceding one. The Christian religion is not a simple passive expectation. It demands a complete commitment. One must make fruitful the gifts given by God while awaiting the Lord’s glorious return.
- Matthew 25:15 Talents: a talent was equivalent to 6000 denarii, that is, to the salary for 6000 days of work.
- Matthew 25:31 This passage constitutes the conclusion of the eschatological discourse with the description of the Last Judgment. In the second part of the great discourse (Mt 24:37), the individual judgment was repeatedly indicated. Now there comes before us the supreme Judge, Jesus Christ in glory, who at the end of time will judge all peoples, without distinction between Jew and Gentile, and will separate the good from the wicked in accord with everyone’s works.
- Matthew 26:1 One person dominates this account: Jesus. He submits to the death that hangs over sinful humanity, but he comes forth from the tomb as conqueror of death and evil. Matthew constantly cites Scripture in order to convince the intended readers of his work, Christians converted from Judaism, that the seeming failure of Jesus was in reality the fulfillment of God’s plan.
- Matthew 26:1 Matthew emphasizes Jesus’ awareness to carry out his Father’s saving plan. Probably the plot was hatched on Wednesday.
- Matthew 26:3 Joseph, surnamed Caiaphas, son-in-law of Annas, was high priest, that is, supreme head of the Jewish priesthood and president of the Sanhedrin, from A.D. 18 to 36.
- Matthew 26:6 The anointing at Bethany anticipates the burial rites for the Savior after his death. Providing for burial was in the eyes of the Jews a more important good work than almsgiving itself. In Jn 12:1-8, the woman is called Mary, and Judas is the apostle who becomes indignant. Luke (7:36-50) reports another anointing.
- Matthew 26:11 The poor you will always have with you: with these words Jesus does not intend to sanction poverty as if to condemn efforts to eradicate misery. He makes a simple observation: his disciples will have many occasions to aid the poor who, as Deut 15:11 states, will never be wanting in Israel.
- Matthew 26:14 For the early Christians, if there is a dark deed it is the ever incomprehensible deed of Judas, who comes to the fore here. Matthew is thinking of the prophecy of the righteous man sold for thirty pieces of silver (see Zec 11:12). That amount is also the compensation paid to one whose slave has been gored by an ox (see Ex 21:32).
- Matthew 26:17 In the history of Israel one event dominates all others, the Passover (Ex 12–13), and in the worship of Israel one feast summarizes the whole faith, the Passover. It celebrates the passage of God in the midst of his people and is the hour of liberation, salvation, and the covenant. Jesus’ Death and Resurrection constitute the true Passover, definitive for all humankind. The Last Supper of Jesus will be its inauguration.
- Matthew 26:17 The first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread: this date corresponds with Thursday, the 14th of Nisan. The feast really began on the 15th of Nisan and lasted until the 21st. However, since the leavened bread was eliminated from all the houses before midday on the 14th, the morning of this date was improperly regarded as the first day of the feast, which in reality began only with the setting of the sun, when according to Jewish custom the 15th began. Passover here refers to the paschal lamb, which was immolated around three o’clock on the 14th of Nisan.
- Matthew 26:20 The Passover supper began around six o’clock on Thursday. This passage focuses on the divine foreknowledge of Jesus, who is not overcome by the course of events and regards them as ordinary. He sees them as the putting in motion of the will of his Father.
- Matthew 26:26 This is the beginning of the new Covenant promised in Jer 31:31-33, the new sacrifice. For Jesus this meal is more than a final farewell; his entire work is summed up in this sign. He shares his life and love with sinners; he acts as the Servant of God whose sacrifice of himself ransoms his fellow human beings from sin and reconciles them with the Father (see Isa 42:6; 49:6; 53:11-12). Jesus anticipates his sacrifice; he anticipates his gift of himself. By offering his body and blood on the cross he saves humankind. A Covenant is established in which all the saved will share in the same love (see Jer 31:31-34). The Eucharist replaces Sinai (see Ex 24:6-8).
- Matthew 26:31 During the Passover meal, some psalms were sung, i.e., the so-called Hallel (113–118). Two followed the account of the origin of Passover. The others were recited after the meal. On the way to the Mount of Olives, Jesus predicts to the disciples their crisis of faith. They have indeed acknowledged him as Messiah and have a deep love for him, as shown by Peter’s words. However, they have not yet understood the scandal of the cross, and so their fidelity will be shaken, at least momentarily.
- Matthew 26:34 The cock would begin crowing at 3:00 A.M. (see Mk 13:35).
- Matthew 26:36 The first Christian community never succumbed to the temptation to make Jesus into a hero. Never did he appear more human and more pitiable than in this passage. His inner turmoil in the face of his approaching suffering and death could not be more profound than in this hour of the agony. Three times the prayer of the Our Father rises on the lips of Christ; it is a prayer of complete abandonment into God’s hand. And Jesus bears this “temptation,” this trial, alone as perhaps no other human could have done. He utters no word of resentment or pride at the moment when he accepts and confronts the ultimate and sorrowful stage of his mission.
- Matthew 26:47 Jesus practices what he had taught (Mt 5:39). He regards himself as the suffering Servant (see Isa 53) who accepts his sacrifice in silence so as to accomplish his mission. It is love that reestablishes order, for in the face of hypocritical force violence remains powerless.
- Matthew 26:47 Judas was well aware of the customs of his Master, and that he was wont to retire to the garden of Gethsemane. A kiss was the customary greeting of a disciple for his teacher.
- Matthew 26:53 Do you suppose that I cannot appeal to my Father for help . . . ?: by these words Jesus emphasizes the voluntary character of his Passion. Jesus freely accepts the will of God, expressed in Scripture. The same reason is repeated in v. 56. Twelve legions: a Roman legion consisted of 6000 men.
- Matthew 26:57 According to Matthew and Mark, immediately after his arrest Jesus was led before the Sanhedrin for a session that very night. Another session was held in the morning; then Jesus was consigned to Pilate. The religious trial has two phases: the first centers upon the false testimony of the witnesses, the second upon the question put to Jesus by the high priest. The Law (Deut 17:6) required that two witnesses agree in their testimony against an accused person. Jesus supposedly had said that he had power over the temple, which was the house of God. But had he not said that his body was the true dwelling of the Father (Jn 2:21)? Now that every political and nationalist interpretation of his words seems excluded, since he is alone, rejected, helpless, he dares to say that he is the Messiah and not only the son but the lord of David (Ps 110:1; Dan 7:13).
- Matthew 26:69 At the very moment when the Master openly proclaims himself to be the Messiah, no one acknowledges it. In the opinion of all, he is lost. Even Peter, the leader of Jesus’ followers, denies any link with him.
