NEW TESTAMENT CONTEXTUAL COMMENTARY

by Dr. Robert R. Seyda

GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Part XXIV

In this picture of Jerusalem: (1) is Mt. Olives; (2) the Temple Mount (Mt. Moriah); (3) Mt. Zion. At the very top is Mt. Calvary, and at the very bottom is the Valley of Gehenna.

By looking at the picture above of the locations of Mount Zion, where the Temple was; Mount Olives, where the Garden of Gethsemane was located; Mount Moriah where Abraham went to sacrifice Isaac and where Mount Calvary is located just to the north; and then to the south were the Valley of Gehenna lies, the place associated with the fiery end for all unbelievers, when you draw lines between Mt. Zion and Mt. Olives, and then between Mt. Calvary and the Valley of Gehenna, that runs parallel to the Kidron Valley, you will see the sign of the cross.

Most significant is that all sinners must come to the foot of the cross to be redeemed and saved. Redeemed from the bondage of sin, and saved from the fire of hell. So it’s there that a sinner decides to look up toward Calvary and accept Jesus the Christ as their Lord and Savior, or to reject Him and continue their walk toward eternal damnation. He made the choice to die as a payment for their sins, now they must make the decision to accept His sacrifice or die for their sins.

To sum up what we have learned from Matthew’s account until now, let’s look at this compilation of facts, courtesy of Dr. David Stern:¹

Prophecy:                                     Location:                            Fulfillment:

The Messiah                                 In the Old                           In the New

would be –                                      Testament –                          Testament –

Hated without a cause                   Isaiah 49: 7                           Jn 15: 24– 25

Rejected by the rulers                     Psalm 118: 22                      Mt 21: 42, Jn7: 48

Betrayed by a friend                        Psalm 41: 9,                        Mt 26: 21– 25, 47– 50;

                                                         15( 12– 14)                          Jn 13: 18– 19; 8 Ac 1: 16– 1

Sold for 30 pieces of silver              Zechariah 11: 12                Mt 26: 15

Subject to having his price               Zechariah 11: 13                Mt 27: 7

given for a potter’s field

Forsaken by his disciples                Zechariah 13: 7                     Mt 26: 31– 56

Struck on the cheek                        Micah 4: 14( 5: 1)                  Mt 27: 30

Spat on                                             Isaiah 50: 6                           Mt 26: 67, 27: 30

Mocked                                            Psalm 22: 8– 9 (7– 8)           Mt 26: 67– 68;

                                                                                                        27: 31, 39– 44

Beaten                                              Isaiah 50: 6                            Mt 26: 67; 27: 26, 30

Executed by crucifixion                    Psalm 22: 17( 16)                 Mt 27: 35;

(i.e., having hands and                                                                    Jn 19:18, 37; 20: 35

feet pierced

Executed without having                     Exodus 12: 46,                     Jn 19: 33– 36

a bone broken                                       Psalm 34: 21( 20)

Thirsty during his execution                Psalm 22: 16( 15)                  Jn 19: 28

Given vinegar to quench                      Psalm 69: 22( 21)                   Mt 27: 34

that thirst

Considered a transgressor                     Isaiah 53: 12                           Mt 27: 38

Buried with the rich when dead             Isaiah 53: 9                            Mt 27: 57— 60

The one whose death would                  Isaiah 53: 5– 7, 12                 Mk 10: 45; Jn 1: 29, 3: 16;

atone for sins of mankind                                                                      Ac 8: 30– 35

Raised from the dead                               Isaiah 53: 9– 10;                   Mt 28: 1– 20;

                                                                 Psalms 2: 7, 16: 10               Ac 13: 33; 1 Cor 11: 4– 6

Ascended to the right                               Psalms 16: 11,                       Lk 24: 51; Ac 1: 9– 11,

hand of God                                              68: 19( 18), 110: 1                 7: 55

“Cut off, but not for himself,”                  Daniel 9: 24– 26                     Rom 5: 6

69 x 7 years after rebuilding

of the wall of Jerusalem

The overarching message of this whole story of the passion of Christ is that He did it freely in obedience to His Father’s will. Not to save Himself, for He needed no salvation, but for those who needed salvation but could not save themselves. Because of this, He who was the Way, the Truth, and the Life could share with those who otherwise would have been hopelessly lost for eternity, the joy of eternal life.