ACC ~ Matthew 26 v3 - 5

THE PALACE OF THE HIGH PRIEST

CHRYSOSTOM: They are coming to the high priest with the desire to obtain their authority from him, by whom they ought to have been hindered.

How many high priests were there? For the law wills there should be one, but then there were many. From this it is beginning to be evident that the Jewish structure of governance had begun to collapse. For Moses, as I said, commanded there should be one and that when he was dead there should be another. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 79.3. [1]

[1] PG 58:720; NPNF 1 10:477.

THEY TOOK COUNSEL

ORIGEN: The words of the prophet, “And the rulers took counsel together against the Lord and his anointed,” [1] were fulfilled [2] when “the chief priests and elders of the people gathered in the court of the high priest” and took counsel together “against the Lord and his anointed.” They were not true priests but “of the people” and “elders.” They only seemed to be the people of God but were after all the people of Gomorrah. It was they who would say, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” and “Away from the earth with such a one!” [3] Furthermore, what Isaiah said, “Hear the word of the Lord, O leaders of Sodom; pay heed to God’s law, O people of Gomorrah,” [4] applies to the Jewish leaders who lived at the time of Christ. And what Ezekiel said to Jerusalem, “It will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom than for you,” [5] can be said more rightly of Jerusalem, over which the Lord wept, than of the time of the prophet. The chief priests sinned more greatly than Sodom. They did not recognize God’s high priest but plotted against him. The elders of the people, not knowing the “firstborn of every creature” [6] and the one who is older than all creatures, took counsel against him. Jerusalem was forsaken at that so-called court where “they took counsel together how they might seize Jesus by stealth.” Unfortunately this was the city that first killed the prophets and then the Lord of the prophets. That city took action against the founder of the whole world. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 76. [7]

[1] Ps 2:2.

[2] Already in Acts 2:25-26 the Passion of Christ is indicated as the realization of Psalm 2:12. The psalm was traditionally considered messianic.

[3] Lk 23:18.

[4] Is 1:10.

[5] Ezek 16:51-52.

[6] Col 1:15.

[7] GCS 38.2:177.

BY STEALTH

CHRYSOSTOM: What did they consult together? That they might seize him secretly, or that they might put him to death? Both, for they feared the people. Thus they waited for the feast to be past, for they said, “Not on the feast day,” lest he should make the Passion conspicuous. They were afraid of causing an uproar. Note that they never were afraid of the judgment of God but only the judgment of people. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 79.3. [1]

[1] PG 58:721; NPNF 1 10:477.

THEY FEARED A RIOT

ORIGEN: They took counsel “in order to arrest Jesus by stealth.” The prophet had aptly said about them, “May the Lord cut off all deceitful lips.” “By stealth” they wanted to seize him and to kill him. But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be a riot among the people,” for they had seen Jesus performing many signs and wonders. Many indeed were those who sided with Jesus. They proclaimed that “a great prophet has arisen in Israel.” [1] But others were against him, and they said, “It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” [2] Many had come to see the Lord. The people showed great eagerness for him. They either loved Christ or hated him. They either believed in him or did not believe in him. The priests’ counsel remained steadfast (while they themselves who took counsel would not remain steadfast) that he should be killed not on the feast but on another day. “Christ our Passover” [3] was soon to be sacrificed so that, leaving behind the unleavened bread of the Jews, we might feast on the spiritual and true unleavened bread. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 76. [4]

[1] Lk 7:16

[2] Mt 12:24.

[3] 1 Cor 5:7.

[4] GCS 38.2:177-78.

NOT DURING FEAST TIME

CHRYSOSTOM: Yet for all this, boiling with anger, they changed their purpose again. For though they had said, “Not at the feast time,” when they found the traitor, they did not wait but killed him at the feast. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 79.3. [1]

[1] PG 58:721; NPNF 1 10:477.