Journey Through Matthew: Betrayed On All Sides
Journey Through Matthew • Sermon • Submitted
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· 7 viewsWe find Jesus betrayed on all sides, standing alone before those who were operating under the power and influence of none other than Satan himself. However, the Father was still with Jesus. In our darkest hour we can remember that Jesus knows what we are going through and that the Father will always be by our side.
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Introduction
Introduction
Good evening and welcome back!
If you would, turn back in your Bibles to
Tonight, we are going to be finishing up this chapter and we are going to be looking at the depth of the betrayal Jesus suffered not only at the hands of his accusers but also at the hand of his own disciples.
And we are not talking about Judas either.
His betrayal is done.
It has played out.
No, we are going to look at another disciple tonight.
Remember, the last thing we read this morning was after Jesus was arrested, Matthew wrote this . . .
56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
They had ran away.
Fled and hid in the woods.
Their concern quickly changed from caring about Jesus to protecting their own hides.
At this point, they were not one bit concerned about Jesus.
And all this stuff they had said about never leaving him and never abandoning him, was thrown out the window.
When the rubber met the road, it was all about them and all about protecting themselves.
The actual shallowness of their faith was out in the open now.
Apparent for everyone to see.
Which was exactly what the Jews wanted.
They knew from experience that if they made an example out of Jesus, his disciples would do what people have done before.
Their faith in him would soon diminish, and the problem would be solved.
And our disciples at this point, did not disappoint.
They were true to their nature.
But there was one disciple who lagged behind.
Make no bones about it, he ran off and hid, but he also watched from a distance.
And that disciple was Peter.
Matthew writes this about Peter.
Lurking in the Darkness (vs 57-58)
Lurking in the Darkness (vs 57-58)
57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. 58 But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.
Matthew 26:
So, they are hauling Jesus off to the High Priest to stand before the Sanhedrin and here Peter is lurking in the shadows.
He was afraid and he was staying out of sight.
But there was something about Peter that made him have to see what was going on, what was going to happen.
I don’t think it was just curiosity either.
I think it was genuine guilt for not being true to Jesus.
And I also think he was expecting Jesus to save himself with angels and all the powers of heaven.
Peter believed but Peter was afraid.
So . . .
58 But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.
So Peter just sort of blends in with the crowd.
Scripture Focus
Scripture Focus
Trying not to draw any sort of attention to himself.
Close enough so he could see and hear what was going on, but far enough away that those who actually arrested Jesus wouldn’t recognize him.
69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. 70 But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. 71 Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!” 73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away.” 74 Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a cock crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the cock crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Matthew 26:
Eves-dropping and hiding in plain sight.
And what he saw horrified him.
Peter Lagging Behind (vs 57-58)
Peter Lagging Behind (vs 57-58)
Before the Sanhedrin (vs 59-68)
Before the Sanhedrin (vs 59-68)
Before the Sanhedrin (vs 59-68)
Before the Sanhedrin (vs 59-68)
So, Jesus is brought in and Matthew tells us that . . . .
59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death.
Matthew 26:
And the thing is, they already knew that they didn’t have anything legitimate or real that they could accuse Jesus of, so they started to look for people willing to lie.
People willing to take a few dollars and make up some stories about Jesus.
People willing to stretch and twist reality in such a way that they could fashion a case against Jesus.
However . . .
60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward
60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward 61 and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’ ”
Matthew
matthew 26:60-
So, they were not having much luck, when finally two people came forward with a claim.
And I can imagine there must have been some sort of reward for “getting Jesus”
And their claim?
This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’
Which is not what Jesus even said.
In fact, John records the events they are talking about.
18 Then the Jews demanded of him, “What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” 20 The Jews replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.
In the moment, there was no question that Jesus was talking about himself and being raised from the dead.
He was not talking about the temple they were standing in, and they knew it.
But their minds were so clouded by sin, selfishness, greed, and hate that they would do anything to “take care of this Jesus.”
They could twist and justify anything at this point so long as the end result is what they wanted.
And it was 100% about what they wanted.
They could have cared less about what was right.
It was all about what they wanted.
And the High Priest pounced that the opportunity.
Threatening to destroy God’s temple!
That was a high offense to the Jews.
So he asks . . .
62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”
52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” 55 At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled. 57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. 58 But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome. 59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward 61 and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’ ” 62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”
Matthew 26:52
Matthew 26:62-
So, the High Priest at this point is furious that Jesus will not answer him.
So his next step is to ask him directly, I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.
And what was Jesus going to do, lie?
If he did, then he would not have been the Son of God because he would have broken a commandment.
He could have remained silent, but that would not have fit in God’s plan and that in itself would have been disobedience.
No, the time for Jesus’ true identity to be revealed once and for all had come.
So he looks up and answers boldly . . .
64 “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Matthew 26:
And that sent the High Priest over the edge.
Not only did Jesus claim to be the Son of God, but also the Messiah, the One to fulfill the redemption of all humanity.
And, the High Priest responded in kind, and I don’t know how sincere he was or how much of it was political grandstanding . . .
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66 What do you think?” “He is worthy of death,” they answered.
Matthew 26:
Death. Really? Just because Jesus spoke the truth?
Just because he claimed to be the Son of God.
Now blasphemy was a serious charge but that was not the reason they wanted him to die.
They wanted Jesus to die because they knew he was telling the truth and he was a threat to them.
They had had others before who claimed to be God, but they would scare them and they would all run away.
They had seen Jesus’ work and they knew in their hearts he was telling the truth.
But sin had gripped them so tightly that they had to do whatever they could to end this misery that they were in.
And the first thing they did was lash out in hate . . .
67 Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68 and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?”
67 Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him
Matthew 26:
Beat him and mocked him.
Peter’s True Faith Revealed (vs 69-75)
Peter’s True Faith Revealed (vs 69-75)
And remember Peter?
He was sitting there watching all of this.
Scared no doubt, but probably ashamed as well that he sat idly by and watched this go on.
Did absolutely nothing to come to Jesus’ aid.
Just sat and watched as sin played out all around him.
How often do we do that?
Someone we love and care about living a life of sin and we just sit and watch?
Horrified by what we see but too afraid to intervene.
Ashamed of ourselves, but sitting and doing nothing to change things.
This was Peter, but he wasn’t expecting what was going to happen next.
69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. 70 But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
Matthew 26:
Lie and denial #1.
This girl wasn’t anyone influential or important in society.
She was a slave girl who recognized him and he lied about it.
Then again . . .
71 Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”
Matthew 26:71-
Lie and denial #2.
This time with an oath. “I swear on my Bible, I don’t know him” type of thing. Then . ..
73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away.” 74 Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a cock crowed.
Matthew 26:73-
Lie and denial #3.
And not only did he lie and deny knowledge of who Jesus was, he went as far as to call down curses on himself. “May I die if I am lying,” type of language.
And then something happened, immediately a cock crowed.
So?
What does that have to do with anything?
We all know the answer . . .
75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the cock crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Matthew 26:
The full weight of his betrayal hit him like a ton of bricks.
All of those promises he had made to Jesus and have now broken came back to him.
Altar Call
Altar Call
And I wonder tonight, how many of us have been in that same boat.
Have made promise after promise to God but then failed to live up to those promises over and over.
Told Jesus over and over that we would love Him and serve him.
That we would change our ways and our lives.
That we would live up to His standards.
But have not done it.
Been like Peter and failed Jesus over and over.
Betrayed Jesus over and over.
And the weight of all of that is resting so heavily on us we can’t hardly stand it.
You can change that tonight if you are willing.
God is here and can change every bit of that if you will let him.
Maybe you have contemplated a relationship with Jesus but have never given in and allowed Jesus to come into your heart.
Thought about it but never gave in.
You can do that tonight, but only if you are willing.
Whatever the need is, God can meet it, if you are willing to come.
The question is are you willing?
Are you willing to give in and give everything over to God?
It is your choice, but our altars are here, if you are willing to use them.