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Luke xxii. 4.

And he went his way,

Mark xiv. 10. unto the Chief Priests, to betray him unto them.

that several days elapsed between the anointing at Bethany, and Judas' betrayal. Bishop Marsh, on the contrary, supposes that the assembling of the Chief Priests, the anointing at Bethany, and the betrayal by Judas, were simultaneous, or, more properly, continuous actions.

"That the rebuke," he observes, "which Judas Iscariot received from Christ at the anointing in Bethany, determined him in his resolution to betray his Master; that Christ's rebuke, therefore, and Judas's revenge, were cause and effect, and that the account of the one is very properly joined by St. Matthew (and also by St. Mark) to the account of the other, I readily admit with Michaelis, in opposition to Dr. Priestley, who says, in his Observations on the Harmony of the Evangelists, p. 100, that the verses of Matt. xxvi. 6-13, which contains an account of the anointing, stand very aukwardly in their present situation.' But I cannot agree with him in the opinion, that several days elapsed between the anointing at Bethany, and Judas going to the assembly of the Chief Priests with an offer to betray Christ; and consequently that the account of the anointing at Bethany belongs to Matt. xxi. according to the order of time. For whoever reads in connexion Matt. xxvi. 1—11, must perceive that these three facts, 1st, Assembling the Chief Priests and Elders at the house of Caiaphas; 2dly, The anointing of Christ at Bethany; and 3dly, Judas's departure from Bethany, to go to the assembly of the Chief Priests, are represented by the Evangelists as facts immediately connected one with another; and not as facts which were separated from each other by the intervention of all those transactions, which had been recorded in several preceding chapters. St. Matthew having mentioned, in ver. 2, that after two days was the passover,' immediately adds, in ver. 8, τότε συνήχθησαν οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς, κ. τ. λ. And St. Mark says, ver. 1, ἦν δὲ τὸ πάσχα καὶ τὰ ἄζυμα μετὰ δύο ἡμέρας· καὶ ἐζήτεν οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς K. T. X. Both St. Matthew and St. Mark, therefore, represent the assembly of the Chief Priests as held on the third day before the passover; and though Michaelis will not allow any determinate meaning to róre in St. Matthew's account, we cannot explain away what is said by St. Mark. St. Matthew then proceeds, in ver. 6, τῶ δὲ Ἰησοῦ γενομένε ἐν Βηθανίᾳ ἐν οἰκίᾳ Σίμωνος τοῦ λεπρᾶ κ. τ. λ. And St. Mark, ver. 3, καὶ ὄντος αὐτῷ ἐν Βηθανίᾳ ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ Σίμωνος, τοῦ λεπροῦ κ. τ. λ. They then relate the anointing, with Christ's conversation on it, which being ended, St. Matthew continues, in ver. 14, Tóte πορευθεὶς εἷς τῶν δώδεκα ὁ λεγόμενος Ιέδας Ισκαριώτης πρὸς τὰς ἀρχιερεῖς, εἶπε κ. τ. λ. And in St. Mark, in ver. 10, καὶ ὁ Ιέδας ὁ Ισκαριώτης, εἷς τῶν δώδεκα ἀπῆλθε πρὸς τοὺς ἀρχιερεῖς κ. τ. λ. Then again it is evident that both St. Matthew and St. Mark represent Judas as going immediately from the anointing of Bethany (a village not more than two miles from Jerusalem,) to the assembly of the Chief Priests and Elders, which was held during the anointing, and which did not break up before the arrival of Judas."—Michaelis, vol. iii. part iv. p. 24.

In reply to this argument, I would suggest the total absence of proof from the words of St. Matthew, that the Evangelist intended, as the Bishop supposes, to represent these events as continuous. Three circumstances are recorded; the meeting of the priests, the anointing, and the betrayal; and the point in dispute

Jerusalem.

Jerusalem. and communed with the Chief Priests and captains, Luke xxii: 4. how he might betray him unto them.

must be decided by the meaning of the words which are thought to connect them as three several events which took place at the same time. The two first verses of Matt. xxvi. ought to have concluded the preceding chapter. The expression which ends ver. 2, is the sentence which completed our Saviour's predictions concerning Jerusalem, and the illustrative parables which followed them. From narrating the discourse of our Lord, the Evangelist proceeds to his actions, using the word rótɛ, a word of very indefinite signification, which may not improperly be translated," about that time." He relates the fact, that about the time when our Lord finished his predictions, the Chief Priests ouvxonσav “were assembled together." He then somewhat abruptly proceeds to give an account of the cause of our Saviour's betrayal by Judas to this assembly of the Priests, which he imputes to our Lord's reproof of his Apostle's disguised covetousness. In ver. 14, the Evangelist introduces the effect of this reproof by the same word TÓTE; and it seems intended to imply, not that Judas went that moment to the Priests, but that he went about that time, or as soon as possible, to the council of the Chief Priests; and by introducing the consequence of our Lord's reproof thus abruptly, St. Matthew seems to hint that the assembly of Priests, to whom Judas applied, was now sitting at the very time when our Lord had finished his predictions. Bishop Barrington, apud Bowyer, would insert Matt. xxvi. 6—13, as a parenthesis.

But Bishop Marsh observes, with reference to the argument from the word TÓTɛ, that even if this be insufficient to prove that Michaelis is mistaken, yet we cannot explain away what is said by St. Markἦν δὲ τὸ πάσχα, καὶ τὰ ἄζυμα μεтà dúo nμépas, &c. &c. who, as well as St. Matthew, represents the assembly of Priests as meeting three days before the Passover. In reply to which it may be answered, that it is acknowledged a meeting of the Priests was then held; but the question is, whether the anointing took place at that time: and here we are again brought to the word rórɛ, Matt. xxvi. 14, and to an expression in St. Mark xiv. 13, which does not even allude to the exact period at which the betrayal took place. Ιέδας—ἀπῆλθε πρὸς τοὺς ̓Αρχιερεῖς, &c. The Evangelist appears to relate the reproval at Bethany as the cause of the treason of Judas, without referring to the time that this offence should be committed.

Tórɛ-non proprie videtur adverbium esse, sed accusativus neutrius generis, elliptice positus, ut plene dicatur περὶ τότε τὸ μέρος χρόνου, id quod colligi potest ex loco Lysiæ, orat. vi. cap. 2. οὐ θαυματὸν, εἰ τότε τὰς μορίας ἐξέκοπτον, ἐν ᾧ ἐδὲ τὰ ἡμέτερα αὐτῶν φυλάττειν ἐδυνάμεθα. It is true it is generally used in the New Testament adverbially, but as frequently in its general, as it is in its more definite signification. The word occurs one hundred and fifty-six times in the New Testament; and if we refer to any passages taken in their consecutive order, we shall find that this preceding remark is correct. Thus we meet it in Matt. ii. 7. ii. 16. ii. 17. iii. 5. In the two first and last of these it is used in the more general sense, and many would interpret the third passage in the same way; and so it must be interpreted in the great majority of the passages in which it occurs. If we refer to the Septuagint, which is generally supposed to use the Greek words, in precisely the same sense as the

Matt. xxvi. 15.

Mark xiv. 11.

And said unto them, What will ye give me, and Jerusalem, I will deliver him unto you?

And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money.

Matt. xxvi.15. And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of

Matt. xxvi. 16.

silver.

And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

Mark xiv. 11. And he sought how he might conveniently betray

Luke xxii. 6.

him.

And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the * Or, without multitude.

MATT. XXVI. ver. 14.

14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the Chief Priests.

MARK xiv. 10.

10 And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went

LUKE Xxii. ver. 5.

5 And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.

tumult.

SECTION XXIX.

Thursday-The Day before the Crucifixion. Christ directs two of his Disciples to prepare the Passover.

MATT. XXVI. 17-20. MARK xiv. 12-17. LUKE Xxii. 7—14. And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the Passover, his disciples

Mark xiv. 12.

Matt. xxvi.17. came to Jesus,

Mark xiv. 13.

Mark xiv. 12. [and] said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go
and prepare that thou mayest eat the Passover?
And he sendeth forth two of his disciples,
Luke xxii. 8. Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the
Passover, that we may eat.

Luke xxii. 9.

Mark xiv. 13.

And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?

And [he] saith unto them, Go ye into the city, Luke xxii. 10. and behold, when ye are entered into the city,

there shall

Mark xiv. 13. meet you a man, bearing a pitcher of water: follow him,

Luke xxii. 10. into the house where he entereth in.

New Testament, we shall find that the remark of Michaelis is amply justified. Thus the Septuagint render the Hebrew nya, Isaiah xx. 2. by the word τότε.

+ Or, sacri. ficed.

Jerusalem.

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And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the Mark xiv. 14. good man of the house, The Master saith

unto thee,

Luke xxii. 11.

My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at Matt.xxvi.18.
thy house with my disciples,

Where is the guest-chamber, where I shall eat the Mark xiv. 14.
Passover with my disciples?

And he will shew you a large upper room, fur- Mark xiv. 15. nished and prepared: there make ready for us.

And his disciples went forth, and came into the Mark xiv. 16.

city,

and did as Jesus had appointed them,

Matt. xxvi. 19.

and found as he had said unto them: and they Mark xiv. 16. made ready the Passover.

MATT. xxvi. part of ver. 17, 18, 19.

17 Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples-saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the Passover? 18 And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith

19 the disciples-and they made ready the Passover.

LUKE xxii. ver. 7. part of ver. 8, 10, 11. and ver. 12, 13.

7 Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the Passover must be killed. 8 And he sent

10 And he said unto them-a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him

11 And ye shall say unto the good man of the house, The Master saithWhere is the guest-chamber, where I shall eat the Passover with my disciples? 12 And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. 13 And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the Passover.

d Mat. xxvi. 2.

SECTION XXX.

Christ partakes of his last Passover 24.

MATT. xxvi. 20.

d

MARK XIV. 17. LUKE XXII. 14—19.
JOHN Xiii. 1.

Now before the feast of the Passover, when John xiii. I.

24 ON THE QUESTION, WHETHER OUR LORD ATE THE PASSOVER IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE INSTITUTION OF THE EUCHARIST.

Before we enter upon the discussion of the difficult question, whether our Lord ate the last passover with his disciples, before the institution of the holy Eucharist, it will be useful to consider the manner in which the Jews were accustomed to commemorate their deliverance from Egypt, by the celebration of the passover. Lightfoot has collected a variety of passages from Maimonides and the Jewish writers, describing the manner in which this feast was observed. In reference to the reclining attitude in which the Evangelists represent our Lord

John xiii. 1. Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should Jerusalem. depart out of this world unto the Father, having

at the last supper, he has collected, among others, the following illustrative passages:-'y ban mb br¬wawy. Pisach, cap. x. hal. 1. And again, R. Levi saith, "It is the manner of slaves to eat standing; but now let them eat lying along, that it may be known that they are gone out of bondage to liberty."—"We are obliged," says Maimonides, "to lie down when we eat, that we may eat after the manner of kings and nobles."

Lightfoot then proceeds to give an account of the manner in which the paschal supper was conducted. It began, 1st, with presenting a cup of wine mingled with water to each assembled guest, over which the master of the family, or some one deputed for that purpose, pronounces a benediction: "Blessed be He that created the fruit of the vine;" and then he repeats the consecration of the day; that is, they give thanks, and drink up the wine. 2dly, They washed their hands, after which the table was crowned with two cakes of unleavened bread, bitter herbs, and the paschal lamb roasted whole; which three things were appointed by the law. To these were added the remains of the Chagigah, or peace offerings of the preceding day, and other meats, with the sour sauce, called non, or charoseth, which was thick, and intended to represent the bricks their ancestors made in Egypt. Then the person presiding takes a small piece of lettuce, which he eats, and those with him, blessing God for the fruits of the earth; and afterwards a piece of unleavened bread, dipped in the bitter herbs. 3dly, All the dishes were removed from the table, and the children were instructed in the nature and intention of the feast, the signification of the bitter herbs, unleavened bread, &c. generally from Exod. xii. 25, 26. and Deut. xxvi. 5-11; and this explanation was called the Hagannah, 1 Cor. xi. 36. 4thly, After this preparation the supper was again set before them, when each person lifted up in his hands, first the bitter herbs, and then the unleavened bread, and joined in declaring that they ate them in commemoration of the bondage, and great deliverance of their fathers in Egypt; and ended by calling on all to sing praises to God, in the 113th to the 114th Psalm, and having blessed the Lord, they drank off the second cup. 5thly, The hands are again washed, and the master of the house, or the officiating person, takes the two unleavened cakes, breaks one, and places that which is broken on the other. He then blesses it; and putting some bread and bitter herbs together, they dip them in the same sauce, and again bless God. After the same manner they first give thanks over the flesh of the Chagigah of the fourteenth day, and partake of it; and then over the lamb, and eat of it: after which they may lengthen out the supper, and partake of what they please, taking care only to conclude with a small piece of the paschal lamb; as much, at least, as an olive: after which they were not allowed to take any more food that night. 6thly, They again wash their hands, and the master of the family says the blessing of the meat, over the third cup of wine, which they then drank; and this cup was commonly called "the cup of blessing,"

Da, to which allusion is made 1 Cor. x. 16. A fourth cup of wine is mingled, over which they continue the Hallel, (or hymn of five Psalms,) beginning where they left off, at the 115th to the 118th Psalm; and finish with a prayer. After the destruction of Jerusalem, a small piece of unleavened bread was substituted as the Aphicomen, or last morsel, instead of the paschal lamb;

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