The Passion of Christ - Matthew in Twelve Weeks
A Bible Study Covering Chapters 26-27 of the Gospel of Matthew - Leader Guide and Handout
In Matthew 26-27, we arrive at the culmination of Jesus' earthly ministry—His passion, trial, and crucifixion. These chapters represent the darkest and yet most luminous moments in human history, where divine love meets human hatred, where heavenly purpose encounters earthly rebellion, and where God's plan of salvation reaches its climax. As we study these passages, we witness how the themes developed throughout Matthew's Gospel—Jesus' identity as the Messiah, the nature of true discipleship, faith, grace, the fulfillment of Scripture, and the inauguration of God's Kingdom—converge in this ultimate demonstration of sacrificial love.
The Plot Against Jesus and the Anointing at Bethany (26:1-16)
Ask a study participant to read Matthew 26:1-16. With the group, discuss Matthew’s use of contrast in these and in the following paragraphs as he alternates between plots and worship.
The narrative opens with Jesus' fourth and final prediction of His death, demonstrating His complete awareness of the unfolding divine plan. This sovereignty over events, even as they turn tragic, reminds us of Jesus' earlier teachings about His purpose and mission. Showing polar opposite reactions to Jesus, Matthew contrasts the woman's extravagant act of worship with Judas's calculated betrayal. On the one hand, this unnamed woman has decided to dedicate all to Christ in her faith, while Judas has taken up the path of the devil by seeking to overcome Jesus by means of earthly power. The stark contrast becomes even more apparent in monetary terms: while the woman offers an alabaster flask of expensive ointment worth a year's wages in devoted worship, Judas agrees to betray the Son of God for merely thirty pieces of silver—the price of a slave in the Old Testament (Exodus 21:32). Through this juxtaposition, Matthew powerfully illustrates how a person’s response to Christ reveals the true state of his heart.
The Last Supper and Gethsemane (26:17-46)
Have participants read Matthew 26:17-30 and 26:36-46 in segments. Lead the group to reflect upon both the theological and practical significance of the Last Supper.
At the Passover meal, Jesus transforms the ancient celebration of Israel's deliverance from Egypt into a new covenant sealed with His own blood. In transforming the Passover meal, Jesus reveals Himself as the fulfillment of God's covenant promises. The bread and cup become signs of the new covenant, established through His broken body and shed blood. This moment connects back to Jesus' teaching about His fulfillment of the Law (5:17) while pointing forward to the ultimate purpose of His mission—the forgiveness of sins and restoration of communion between God and humanity.
In Gethsemane, we witness one of the most gut-wrenching scenes in the Bible: Jesus' humanity and divinity on full display as He wrestles with His impending death. Jesus overcomes this struggle through full submission to the Father, just as He taught His disciples to do; His prayer, "Not as I will, but as you will," echoes the Lord's Prayer He taught His disciples (6:10) and demonstrates its costly application. The disciples' failure to watch and pray, despite Jesus' clear warning, poignantly illustrates the weakness of fallen humanity to obey God merely by their own will.
Betrayal, Denial, and Trial (26:47-27:26)
Ask participants to read selections from these passages, particularly 26:69-75 and 27:11-26. Guide discussion toward understanding how these events fulfill Scripture while revealing profound truths about human nature and divine purpose.
The parallel stories of Judas's betrayal and Peter's denial reveal different paths to failure, each beginning with discipleship under Jesus. While both men fail Jesus, the nature of their failures differs drastically. Peter's restoration, though not recorded in Matthew's Gospel, is anticipated in Jesus' earlier words to him (16:18). These accounts remind us of Jesus' teachings about the necessity of genuine faith that leads to repentance and the reality of God's forgiveness.
Before the Sanhedrin and Pilate, the true nature of worldly power confronts divine authority. The religious leaders, who should have recognized their Messiah, instead seek false testimony against Him. The ruling council's frenzied condemnation contrasts sharply with Jesus' quiet dignity—a living demonstration of the meekness He praised in the Beatitudes. When brought before Pilate, the King of Kings stands silent before earthly authority, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy of the suffering servant. The crowd's choice of Barabbas over Jesus presents a bitter irony: the people release a violent revolutionary while condemning the Prince of Peace, revealing humanity's persistent preference for power over grace.
The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus (27:27-56)
Have participants read Matthew 27:45-54. Allow time for silent reflection before discussion, acknowledging the profound nature of these events.
The crucifixion narrative represents the apex of Matthew's Gospel, where Jesus' identity as the Son of God is both most hidden and most revealed. The soldiers' mockery of Jesus as "King of the Jews" ironically proclaims His true identity, even as they reject it, relegating the title to a mere means of mockery. The darkness that falls at noon illustrates for all to see the divine significance of this moment: the Son of God bearing the weight of human sin.
Jesus' cry of dereliction—"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"—plumbs the depths of His identification with sinful humanity; it is complete and profound. This moment of apparent abandonment reveals the cost of our salvation: the Son experiences separation from the Father so that we might be brought near, made whole, and welcomed into the household of God. The torn temple veil, earthquake, and resurrection of the saints testify to the world-altering significance of Jesus' death—the old order is passing away, and a new creation is being inaugurated.
Our words fail in this moment.
The Burial of Jesus (27:57-66)
Ask a participant to read Matthew 27:57-66.
The careful details in the narrative of Jesus' burial—the new tomb, the presence of witnesses, the posting of guards—serves multiple purposes. They highlight the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy about the Messiah's burial with the rich (Isaiah 53:9) while also establishing the reality of Jesus' death. The authorities' request for guards ironically provides additional witnesses to the coming resurrection, demonstrating how human attempts to thwart God's plans often serve to confirm them.
Conversation Starters
How does understanding Jesus' awareness of His coming death affect your view of His sacrifice? What does this reveal about the nature of divine love?
In what ways do you see yourself in the various responses to Jesus during His passion—in Mary's worship, the disciples' sleep, Peter's denial, or the crowd's rejection?
How does Jesus' suffering in Gethsemane help us understand His full humanity while showing us how to face our own struggles?
What does Jesus' cry of abandonment on the cross reveal about the depth of His sacrifice? How does this moment help us understand the cost of our salvation?
How might meditating on Christ's passion deepen our worship and strengthen our commitment to discipleship?
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