The King’s Betrayal (Matthew 26:47-75)

The King’s Betrayal

Matthew 26:47-75

Sunday, March 8, 2026 — Land O’ Lakes Bible Church

Introduction

According to Webster’s dictionary, irony is defined as follows:

a state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects and is often wryly amusing as a result.

This kind of thing as noted can be often humorous and is found in literature, shows, and movies. Just consider how it is prominent in two prominent movies in two different generations.

Irony is present in the well-known Wizard of Oz. For in The Wizard of Oz, you have four main characters each searching for something from the Great and Powerful Oz. Yet, the irony is that each of them in their searching already possessed the very things that they desired. The Tin Man who wanted a heart already had one as he cared for his friends. The Scarecrow who wanted brains was able to think of plans along the way. And even the cowardly lion had courage when he needed it most in facing the Wicked Witch.

Fast forward a bit through time and there is irony in a modern-day movie of this younger generation in the popular movie, Frozen. Irony particularly with one character, Olaf, the Snowman. For Olaf in hearing about the bringing back of summer, one would expect him to cringe at that idea since he would melt. But not Olaf, he begins to sing about Summer and wondering what it would be like.

Two movies, two generations, and both are on the comedy side of irony in something contrary to what we expect. Irony that makes us laugh.

Well similarly this morning in our passage here in Matthew 26:47-75, we have a passage full of irony. A passage of where one thing happens, but then we are told or witness a completely contrary thing. And unlike our two examples, it is not comedic irony, but irony that sets up our very hope as Christians.

Please then take out your Bibles and go ahead and turn with me to Matthew 26:47-75. If you do not have a copy of the Bible, we have some Red Bibles there in your seats and you can find Matthew 26:47-75beginning on page #...

Set-up: Honestly, when you stop to think about it, everything about the gospel is a bit ironic. Here are just a few examples:

· You want to be great in the kingdom of God, you must be last.

· That the kingdom will start small and become large.

· That to be rich in the kingdom, you must be poor.

· That to be satisfied, you will hunger and thirst.

· To be blessed is to be persecuted.

· That a king would be born and laid in a manger.

All of these are a bit ironic, at least from our worldly standards. And that irony continues this morning. Let us now then hear the word of the Lord from Matthew 26:47-75…

Main Idea: Jesus came to fulfill what was written of him, that in great irony, he would come to be betrayed and condemned to death as one guilty to rescue the guilty.

Sermon Outline:

1. Jesus, the peaceful shepherd, is seized with clubs and swords (Mt 26:47-56)

a. A Friendly Kiss marks a Woeful Betray

b. This is to fulfill Scripture; don’t worry or fight (Christian)

c. This is to fulfill Scripture; your plotting is in vain (non-Christian)

2. Jesus, the Son of God, is accused and condemned of blasphemy (Mt 26:57-68)

a. False Witnesses

b. Coming Glory

3. Jesus, the True Prophet, is denied by one of his own (Mt 26:69-75)

a. A Great Fall

b. A Great Repentance

1. Jesus, the peaceful shepherd, is seized with clubs and swords (Mt 26:47-56)

a. A Friendly Kiss marks a Woeful Betrayal

The first irony begins with this coming of Judas with a great crowd. Look again at verse 47…

Judas here is labeled as one of the twelve, emphasizing to us as readers of this gospel, who the wicked ones are. That one who had spent much time with Jesus, would betray him.

A betrayal of wickedness. For as Judas comes to betray Jesus, he comes with a great crowd. A great crowd with their clubs and swords who come out against Jesus as if he is some violent and wicked criminal.  

A great crowd that is not even made up of random people, but those who serve in the temple and in the courts of the High Priest. For we are told there in verse 47 that this great crowd is from the chief priests and the elders of the people. These are the religious leaders.

And while some bystanders may have joined them, there is a reason that they are going out in the middle of the night to arrest Jesus, they want to keep things quiet. For remember back up in verse 3 when they plotted this, they did not want to cause an uproar during the feast of the Passover. So now, they come out during the darkness of night to arrest Jesus secretly.

To account for this darkness of night, we read there in verse 48, that Judas, the betrayer, has given them a sign to ensure they grab Jesus alone. A sign of irony. The sign of a friendly kiss.

And so, Judas approaches Jesus, greets him with that same greeting as before back in verse 25 as Rabbi. And Judas kisses Jesus, giving the sign that he is the one the great crowd is to seize.

Now, culturally this kind of greeting is foreign to us, especially something between two men. On the other hand, it isn’t uncommon for us to on occasion see two ladies kiss one another on the cheek in a friendly greeting or even between certain men and women, depending on the type of enduring relationship between them. It is most likely this kind of kiss that Judas gives to Jesus.

Notice Jesus’s response in verse 50, though he is betrayed by a kiss, he does not resist. The great crowd comes with clubs, Jesus continues to show he is the gentle shepherd.

Friend ((ἑταῖρε)here is not meant to be mistaken as a loving friend, but that of a companion or acquaintance. It is more of that now distant friend. For Jesus used this back in Matthew 20:13 in the parable of the grumbling servants who worked the first hour but were paid the same as those who joined the last hour. He used it also in the parable of the wedding banquet with the guest without a wedding garment. Therefore, let us not think too much of this term of friend. For Judas here is acting in a manner not of a friend, showing the great irony of this betrayal. It wasn’t expected.

b. This is to fulfill Scripture; don’t worry or fight (Christian)

The irony though continues. For following Jesus now being betrayed by a kiss and seized by the crowds, the disciples panic. Verse 51…

While Matthew leaves us clueless on who this disciple is, the other gospels do not. They tell us that Peter is this one who drew the sword and cut off this servant’s ear. The very Peter who will soon deny our Lord, Jesus.

But Peter’s frantic move and swing of the sword was not what Jesus wanted from his disciples. Verses 52-54…

True disciples of Jesus are not to live by the sword. For in this moment, Jesus makes clear that he has a great army at his disposal. For these 12 legions could be by his side if he called. That is 72,000 warrior angels.

But these things are to take place under his allowance. For they are not by accident, but to fulfill what has been written! Jesus willingly allows himself to be betrayed and seized to accomplish his mission to rescue sinners from the curse of sin and death! A willingness that brings great hope for us!

Listen to how J.C. Ryle puts this:

The willing sufferer will surely be a willing Saviour. The almighty Son of God, who allowed men to bind Him and lead Him away captive, when He might have prevented them with a word, must surely be full of readiness to save the souls that flee to Him. Once more then let us learn to trust Him, and not be afraid.[1]

Jesus willingly suffered so that he could fulfill all that was written and become our willing Savior! Beloved, let us have great comfort and encouragement in that truth!

Jesus came to willingly suffer so that he could be ready to save your soul and mine from the bondage that it was in under the curse of sin and the power of Satan.

Therefore, let us then trust our beloved Savior in the redemption that he has won for us! These words of Jesus that this happens to fulfill the Scriptures then brings hope to us who are united to him by faith!

c. This is to fulfill Scripture; your plotting is in vain (non-Christian)

However, these words of fulfillment are a word of warning against those who reject him. Verses 55-56a…

Sure, we see that Judas and the great crowd come out against him in the darkness of the night to seize him. They come out with their might of their swords and their clubs. They come out in darkness to keep with their plotting to seize Jesus without causing an uproar.

But Jesus begins to expose the foolishness of their plot. Calling out how often he was before them, teaching there in the temple, and yet no one dared to seize him there. For they come not to seize him because of actual wrongdoing, but because of their own evilness and hatred of Jesus.

But Jesus says that all of this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.

The chief priests and the elders plotted against the Lord and his anointed (Ps 2:1-3), but the Lord laughs at their plotting. For none of this took place because they outsmarted Jesus. It took place because it was predicted that the Messiah King would be the suffering servant, fulfilling passages such as Psalm 22, Isaiah 53, and Zechariah 13 and 14.

The plotting of men against the Lord and his anointed is in vain. For even as the great crowd has their clubs and swords, they are not in control, Jesus is!

Oh, you who continue to resist Jesus, may this be a warning to you! For you in your plotting may think that you can somehow escape and justify your means in not keeping the law of God. You may labor to plot your way to escape God’s good means of living and seem to thrive in this world. But your plotting in the end will not prevail.

For while you plot, the Lord sits in the heavens and laughs at your foolishness in thinking you can outsmart him and overcome him (Ps 2:4-12).

A day will come where you will stand before our Holy God and will be condemned despite all your plotting to escape.

Yet even now, there is hope for you. Hear this warning this morning and repent! Turn from your plotting and come to Jesus by faith, confessing him to be Lord! Friend, make today the day of your salvation.

For though Jesus was betrayed by a kiss, he is delivered by the very hand of God to accomplish the plan of salvation.

And that is why we as Christians continue to reflect on the cross. That Jesus willingly went to lay down his life in order to rescue us. And it is as we reflect on these truths that is to cause us to sing, to give praise to our God for what we have in Jesus!

Whether trials and tribulations, sorrows and sufferings, or sickness and death should come, we are able to do so with joy because of what Christ has sacrificed for us so that we may have life in him!

 This is the first irony we consider this morning with point #1.

2. Jesus, the Son of God, is accused and condemned of blasphemy (Mt 26:57-68)

The irony continues though as we move into this second point. First, there is the setting in verses 57 and 58. For we learn here where they have taken Jesus to set the scene. They have taken him to the High Priest, Caiaphas where there is a crowd gathered. A crowd made up mostly of scribes and elders. And it is here where Jesus’s trial will take place.

However, before the trial comes into focus, the camera swerves to Peter there in verse 58, telling us that he is nearby, waiting to see the outcome of these events to set up what is to come in our third point. But as quickly as the camera swings to Peter, it swings back to the trial at hand where the irony thickens.

a. False Witnesses

Verse 59…

The case against Jesus is not a case looking for the truth. There is no, swearing an oath to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Rather, Caiphas and those with him are looking for false testimony and false witnesses that will help seal Jesus’s fate for them. For they need something worthy to put him to death.

However, even as they gather these false witnesses, they can’t even get the conviction they desire. For the accusations of the witnesses are first not even able to be found as seen there in verse 60. And then when they finally get two, their charges are trumped up. And as other accounts tell us, their stories didn’t line up, which was a problem. For in Jewish culture, more than one witness was necessary to bring a charge against someone.

And because of the silliness of the whole thing, Jesus doesn’t even need to try and answer or give a defense. That is not to say he would have spoken if charges had been more serious, for Jesus came to be silent before his shearers as foretold in Isaiah 53:7.

Jesus’s silence though infuriates Caiaphas. Verses 62-63…

Truly how innocent is the one who not even false witnesses and testimony can bring charges against! Truly Jesus is one innocent marked with the transgressors in this wicked and unrighteous seizure and trial.

The proceedings are getting to the High Priest as the opportunity seems to be slipping away as he asks a question, a question imploring Jesus by God himself to testify “tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God?”

This then draws a response from Jesus. Verse 64…

Notice how Jesus worded that, “you have said so.” And it is immediately followed with a but. He makes clear that, yes I am the Christ, the Son of God who has come to fulfill what was written of me from Daniel 7:13-14.

For if you recall we read this there:

Daniel 7:13–14 (ESV)

13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

Jesus declares himself as this one who is the God Man who has come to be the Son of Man who is the King of glory!

This of course is exactly what the high priest wanted. For now, Jesus can be accused of blasphemy for declaring himself to be equal to God. For the Jewish law declared that those guilty of blasphemy would be stoned to death.[2]

And so, his brings even the High Priest to tear his robes at such a claim. And the people begin to pronounce judgment on Jesus.

b. Coming Glory

The irony runs deep here. For Jesus will be put to death on the charge of blasphemy. However, Jesus was not telling a lie here, for he was telling the truth. He is the beloved Son of God, equal to the Father. For it is only in the Incarnate Son that the curse of sin could be undone!

Furthermore, here as the God-Man, Jesus is in this moment being mocked, spit upon and struck, people declaring him to prophesy; the day will come when this very one will come in complete glory and hold each one accountable for their actions in this moment.

Hear this quote from the Prince of Preachers, Charles Spurgeon himself:

Put together these two texts: Then did they spit in his face,—“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.” In the day of his humiliation, they struck him, and mocked him, saying, “Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?” Unless they repented of their wickedness, the day will come when the Divine Judge will point out each one of them who then abused him, and he will say, “Thou art the man!”[3]

The irony of these events continue to reveal to us the wickedness of men and the greatness of the Savior!

This is the second irony.

3. Jesus, the True Prophet, is denied by one of his own (Mt 26:69-75)

a. A Great Fall

Back in verses 30-34, we saw the over confidence of Peter and the others, that they would surely not fall away from Jesus. And yet, we have already seen all the disciples leave Jesus and flee upon his arrest. And now here we come back to Peter who was prophesied to deny Jesus 3times this very night before the rooster crowed.[4]

And here we are here in verses 69-75, and what do we see, Jesus’s words fulfilled. Peter here among the servants in the courtyard of the High Priest, trying to stay warm in the coldness of the night as the events unfold. And he is recognized. Not by a soldier, but by that of a servant girl.

Yet, even before this lowly servant girl, Peter could not affirm his knowing his Lord Jesus. Instead, he denied him. Not once, but three times. He denied him before this servant girl once, then again as she pointed it out to the crowds, and then a third to the bystanders who affirmed what the servant girl said.

Peter who had boasted that he would die for Jesus rather than deny him, has fallen a great fall as he could not even affirm Jesus in a courtyard of servants.

Yet even in this great fall of Peter, we see much of our glorious savior! For we see that Jesus’s words hold true this very night! But we also see the greatness of Jesus in that he did what all the kings’ horses and all the kings’ men couldn’t do when humpty dumpty had his great fall. For they could not put him back together again. But Jesus restores even the fallen!

b. A Great Repentance

Peter’s fall was great, yet there is the hope and assurance that in his confession and repentance following this denial, that Peter was certainly restored. For not only would he be re-gathered with his risen Lord following his resurrection. For Peter himself would preach about this very Christ to the masses following Pentecost, leading to the adding of 3,000 to the numbers of the saints, the believers!

Let us then see that no matter how great the fall of Peter, that because of his repentance, he was most certainly restored. For we see here in verse 75 of his great guilt and sorrow at his sin of denying Jesus. Sorrow that leads to repentance and restoration!

It is this great falling and great restoration of Peter then that brings confidence to us who are in Christ. No matter how great our sin, there is hope for those who repent.

One confessional statement puts it like this:

Although there is no sin so small but it deserves damnation, yet there is no sin so great that it shall bring damnation on them that repent, which makes the constant preaching of repentance necessary.[5]

Beloved, let us then see this example of Peter and imitate him in being quick to repentance. For repentance is not something we do only once when we first come to Christ. Repentance is to be the ordinary part of the Christian life. A constant turning from sin and a choosing of Christ and his ways as these things are becoming known to us.

The more we grow in Christ, the more we should repent. For it is in our growing in maturity, that we see the grievousness of sin that we have taken lightly.

Conclusion

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Pray…

[1] J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on Matthew (New York: Robert Carter & Brothers, 1860), 369.

[2]See Leviticus 24:10-23

[3]C. H. Spurgeon, The Gospel of the Kingdom: A Commentary on the Book of Matthew (London: Passmore and Alabaster, 1893), 242.

[4]See Matthew 26:35

[5]LBCF 15.5