The Plot Against Jesus - Matthew 26:1-5
Understand It
- To whom was Jesus talking? When? (26:1)
- How close was the Feast of the Passover? (26:2)
- What did Jesus say would happen at the Feast of the Passover? (26:2)
- Who presided over the gathering of chief priests and elders? (26:3)
- Where did the chief priests and elders assemble? Why? (26:3-4)
- What group got together in secret? Why? (26:3-4)
- What did the chief priests and elders gather to do? (26:4)
- What was the chief priests’ and elders’ ultimate desire concerning Jesus? (26:4)
- Whom did the religious leaders plan to arrest? Why? (26:4-5)
- When did the religious leaders not want to carry out their plan? (26:5)
- Why were the religious leaders reluctant to act during the feast? (26:5)
Apply It
- What uncertain situation will you entrust to God today?
- What can you do today to show your thankfulness for Christ’s voluntary sacrifice?
Jesus Anointed at Bethany - Matthew 26:6-13
Understand It
- In what kind of place was Jesus when this scene opened? (26:6)
- Where was Jesus staying? (26:6)
- The woman who came to see Christ had what with her? Why? (26:7)
- What did the woman do with her perfume? (26:7)
- How did the disciples react to the sacrifice they witnessed? (26:8)
- What did the disciples claim would have been a better use for the perfume? (26:9)
- How did Jesus respond to the disciples’ indignation and muttering? (26:10)
- What did Jesus call the woman’s act? Why? (26:10-11)
- Why did Jesus say the woman did the right thing? (26:11)
- How did Jesus describe this anointing? (26:12)
- What recognition did Jesus promise for the woman? (26:13)
- *What attitudes would make you more generous?
Apply It
- What act of costly service can you give to Christ this week?
- What attitudes that keep you from being more generous do you need to renounce and repent of today?
- How can you begin to view the good works of others in a positive light rather than in a critical fashion?
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus - Matthew 26:14-16
Understand It
- Who is the central character in this passage? (26:14)
- To what elite group did Judas belong? (26:14)
- How did the meeting between Judas and the priests get started? (26:14)
- With what group did Judas meet? Why? (26:14-15)
- What offer did Judas make to the chief priests? (26:15)
- How did Judas refer to Jesus? (26:15)
- How did the chief priests show they were interested in Judas’s offer? (26:15)
- What did Judas get for betraying Jesus? (26:15)
- What did Judas do once he struck a deal with the chief priests? (26:16)
- *How did Judas spend his last days with Jesus? (26:16)
Apply It
- To whom can you turn this week for accountability in your walk with God?
- In what area of life this week can you make your deeds more closely match your stated loyalty to Jesus?
The Lord's Supper - Matthew 26:17-30
Understand It
- What was going on during the time of the incidents described in this passage? (26:17)
- What question did the disciples ask Jesus? (26:17)
- What instructions did Jesus give His followers? (26:18)
- What was the response of the disciples to Jesus’ instructions? (26:19)
- What did Jesus and His disciples do that evening? (26:20)
- What shocking statement did Jesus utter during His meal with the disciples? (26:21)
- How did the disciples react to Jesus’ announcement? (26:22)
- How did Jesus identify the one who would betray Him? (26:23)
- What sobering statement did Jesus make about His betrayer? (26:24)
- How did Judas respond to the words of Christ? (26:25)
- What did Jesus say about the bread on the table? (26:26)
- What remarks did Jesus make about the wine they were drinking? (26:27-28)
- When did Jesus say He would eat with His disciples again? (26:29)
- What did the group do after they finished eating? (26:30)
Apply It
- What do you want to change about the way you participate in the Lord’s Supper the next time it is celebrated at church?
- What do you need to do today (or stop doing) to be a fully obedient servant of Jesus Christ?
- How can you encourage a friend this week with the message of this passage?
Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial - Matthew 26:31-35
Understand It
- What prediction about His followers did Jesus make on the Mount of Olives? (26:31)
- To what did Jesus compare Himself and His disciples? (26:31)
- What was significant about Jesus’ statement and His situation? (26:31)
- What did Christ predict about Himself? (26:32)
- Where did Jesus say He would go? When? (26:32)
- How did Peter respond to Jesus’ statement that all the disciples would abandon Him? (26:33)
- What prediction did Jesus make about Peter? (26:34)
- What did Peter have to say when Jesus said Peter would disown Him? (26:35)
- How did the rest of the disciples react to these depressing comments by Christ? (26:35)
Apply It
- In what particular situation(s) this week do you need to make it clear—for the first time—that you are a follower of Jesus Christ?
- How can you encourage a Christian brother or sister who has recently denied Christ and is feeling discouraged?
- What first step in fulfilling your vow to God do you need to take this week?
Gethsemane - Matthew 26:36-46
Understand It
- Who was Jesus with? When? (26:36)
- Where did Jesus and His companions go together? Why? (26:36)
- What did Jesus tell the disciples? (26:36)
- With which disciples did Jesus choose to pray? (26:37)
- What was Jesus’ state of mind at the time? (26:37)
- What kind of pain did Jesus confess to His friends? (26:38)
- When Jesus went on a bit further and fell to the ground, what did He do? (26:39)
- What scene greeted Jesus when He returned from praying? (26:40)
- What kind of warning did Jesus give Peter? (26:40-41)
- What did Jesus do after speaking with Peter? (26:42)
- What were the disciples doing while Jesus was praying the second time? (26:43)
- How did Jesus react when He found His disciples sleeping a second time? (26:44)
- When Jesus finished praying, what did He say to His disciples? (26:45)
- What event happened after Jesus prayed? (26:46)
Apply It
- What changes do you need to make in your schedule this week so that you become more regular in prayer?
- How can you be a better friend today to someone who is going through a difficult situation?
- In what area of your life do you need to say to God, "Your will be done"?
Jesus Arrested - Matthew 26:47-56
Understand It
- What happened just as Jesus finished praying in the garden of Gethsemane? (26:47)
- Who accompanied Judas? (26:47)
- What kind of crowd accompanied Judas? (26:47)
- How did Judas greet Jesus? (26:49)
- What was significant about the signal Judas used to point out Jesus? (26:48)
- What command did Jesus give Judas? (26:50)
- What did the men in the crowd do when Jesus spoke? (26:50)
- What did one of Jesus’ disciples do in an attempt to protect his master? (26:51)
- What did Jesus tell the disciple who attacked? (26:52)
- What truthful "boast" did Jesus make? (26:53)
- Why didn’t Jesus take advantage of His disciple’s brave attack? (26:54)
- What did Jesus say to the crowd? (26:55)
- What happened when it became obvious that Jesus would be arrested? (26:56)
Apply It
- What can you do today to ensure that you will stand strong the next time your faith is tested?
- In what specific situations this week do you need to trust God instead of resorting to human wisdom and tactics?
Before the Sanhedrin - Matthew 26:57-68
Understand It
- After being arrested, where was Jesus taken? (26:57)
- Who was assembled where Jesus was taken? Why? (26:57, 59)
- Who had followed Jesus at a distance? Where was he? (26:58)
- What did Peter do in an attempt to observe the proceedings against Jesus? (26:58)
- What were the chief priests and Sanhedrin hoping to find? (26:59)
- Who came forward to testify at this "trial"? (26:60)
- What did one witness claim to have heard Jesus say? (26:61)
- When the high priest first began questioning Jesus, how did Jesus respond? (26:62-63)
- What question did the high priest finally ask Jesus about His identity? (26:63)
- How did Jesus answer the high priest? (26:64)
- What prophetic statement did Jesus make in His defense? (26:64)
- How did Jesus’ claim affect the high priest? (26:65-66)
- What emotional and physical abuse did Christ endure at the hands of these spiritual leaders? (26:67-68)
Apply It
- In what group situations might you be able to act as a calming and peacemaking voice this week?
- In what situation this week do you need to tell the truth, even if it may cost you?
- To what friend(s) in trouble can you show support by your physical presence?
Peter Disowns Jesus - Matthew 26:69-75
Understand It
- Where was Peter? (26:69)
- Who approached Peter? Why? (26:69)
- What did the servant girl say to Peter? Why? (26:69)
- How did Peter respond to the servant girl’s question? (26:70)
- What did Peter do after his exchange with the servant girl? (26:71)
- When another girl approached Peter, what did she say? (26:71)
- How did Peter handle the second girl’s claim? (26:72)
- Why did a third group of folks insist that Peter had to be a follower of Christ? (26:73)
- What extreme reaction did Peter have to the allegation that he was a follower of Jesus? (26:74)
- What happened when Peter denied knowing Christ? (26:74-75)
- What memory did the cock’s crow trigger in Peter’s mind? (26:75)
- How did Peter react when he realized what he had done? (26:75)
Apply It
- To what person should you demonstrate your loyalty this week? How?
- Whom might you be able to engage in a conversation about Jesus Christ this week?
- In what settings do you need to acknowledge Christ more consistently by your actions (or nonactions)?
