Matthew 26:69 – 27:2 — Three Denials of Peter — Escalating in Intensity
DENYING ALLEGIANCE TO CHRIST BRINGS BITTER REMORSE
Matthew 26:57-68 — Jesus Taken Before Caiaphas the High Priest
THE UNJUST TRIAL BEFORE CAIAPHAS PROVIDES JESUS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLEARLY AFFIRM HIS MESSIANIC IDENTITY
Matthew 26:47-56 — Shocking Betrayal, Sword-Wielding Resistance and Shameful Arrest
OUR RESPONSE TO UNFAIR ATTACKS SHOULD NOT BE VIOLENT OPPOSITION BUT CALM TRUST IN GOD’S SOVEREIGN PLAN
Matthew 26:36-46 — Three Cycles of Agonizing Prayer in Gethsemane — “Your Will Be Done”
WATCH AND PRAY TO GUARD AGAINST TEMPTATION AND TO SUBMIT YOUR WILL TO GOD’S WILL IN TIMES OF CRISIS
Matthew 26:31-35 — Jesus Predicts the Failure and Restoration of His Disciples
THE PRIDE BUBBLE OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY COLLAPSES WHEN THE FEAR OF MAN LEADS TO DENIAL AND ABANDONMENT
Matthew 26:17-30 — Out with the Old and In with the New — Celebration of Passover and Institution of the Lord’s Supper
JESUS MARKS THE TRANSITION FROM THE OLD COVENANT TO THE NEW BY CELEBRATING THE LAST PASSOVER AND INSTITUTING A NEW MEMORIAL
Matthew 26:14-16 — Betrayal of Jesus Arranged by Judas
THE TREACHEROUS BETRAYAL OF JESUS EXPOSES THE DEPTHS OF DEPRAVITY
Matthew 26:6-13 — Waste or Worthy of Worship? Anointing of Jesus for Burial
EXTRAVAGANT WORSHIP LAVISHED ON THE MESSIAH AS HE IS ANOINTED FOR BURIAL
Matthew 26:1-5 — The Prediction of Jesus and the Plot to Kill Him
THE PASSOVER LAMB PREPARES HIS DISCIPLES FOR HIS CRUCIFIXION AS THE WICKED DESIGNS OF THE JEWISH CONSPIRATORS MESH WITH GOD’S SOVEREIGN CONTROL AND REDEMPTIVE PLAN
Matthew 25:31-46 — The Judgment of the Sheep and the Goats at the Return of Christ
SON OF MAN WILL RETURN IN GLORY TO SIT IN JUDGMENT ON THE GENTILES TO DETERMINE ENTRANCE INTO THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM
Matthew 25:14-30 — The Parable of the Talents (or Bags of Money) — The Tragedy of Wasted Opportunity
STEWARDSHIP OF GOD’S GIFTS DEMANDS ACCOUNTABILITY -- MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE CHRIST
Matthew 25:1-13 — Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids
ONLY GENUINE TRIBULATION SAINTS IN POSSESSION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL BE PREPARED FOR THE RETURN OF JESUS (DESPITE UNKNOWN DELAY)