Mark 14

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The Plot to Kill Jesus

1 ¹It was now two days before ²the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes ³were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him,

2 for they said, "Not during the feast, ⁴lest there be an uproar from the people."

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

3 ⁵And while he was at ⁶Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,^[a] as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head.

4 There were some who said to themselves indignantly, "Why was the ointment wasted like that?

5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii^[b] and ⁷given to the poor." And they ⁸scolded her.

6 But Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.

7 For ⁹you always have the poor with you, and whenever ¹⁰you want, you can do good for them. But ¹¹you will not always have me.

8 ¹²She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand ¹³for burial.

9 And truly, I say to you, wherever ¹⁴the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told ¹⁵in memory of her."

Judas to Betray Jesus

10 ¹⁶Then ¹⁷Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, ¹⁸went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them.

11 And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to ¹⁹betray him.

The Passover with the Disciples

12 ²⁰And on ²¹the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they ²²sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, "Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?"

13 And he sent ²³two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him,

14 and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ²⁴'The Teacher says, Where is ²⁵my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?'

15 And he will show you ²⁶a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us."

16 And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

17 ²⁷And when it was evening, he came with the twelve.

18 And as they were reclining at table and eating, ²⁸Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, ²⁹one who is eating with me."

19 They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, "Is it I?"

20 He said to them, "It is ³⁰one of the twelve, ³¹one who is dipping bread into the dish with me.

21 For the Son of Man goes ³²as it is written of him, but ³³woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! ³⁴It would have been better for that man if he had not been born."

Institution of the Lord's Supper

22 ³⁵And as they were eating, he took bread, and after ³⁶blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, "Take; ³⁷this is my body."

23 And he took a cup, and when he had ³⁸given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it.

24 And he said to them, ³⁹"This is my ⁴⁰blood of the^[c] covenant, which is poured out for ⁴¹many.

25 Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."

Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial

26 ⁴²And when they had sung a hymn, ⁴³they went out to ⁴⁴the Mount of Olives.

27 And Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away, for it is written, 'I will ⁴⁵strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'

28 But after I am raised up, ⁴⁶I will go before you to Galilee."

29 ⁴⁷Peter said to him, "Even though they all fall away, I will not."

30 And ⁴⁸Jesus said to him, "Truly, I tell you, this very night, before ⁴⁹the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times."

31 But ⁵⁰he said emphatically, "If I must die with you, I will not deny you." And they all said the same.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

32 ⁵¹And they went ⁵²to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray."

33 And he took with him ⁵³Peter and James and John, and began ⁵⁴to be greatly distressed and troubled.

34 And he said to them, ⁵⁵"My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and ⁵⁶watch."^[d]

35 And going a little farther, he fell on the ground ⁵⁷and prayed that, if it were possible, ⁵⁸the hour might pass from him.

36 And he said, ⁵⁹"Abba, Father, ⁶⁰all things are possible for you. Remove ⁶¹this cup from me. ⁶²Yet not what I will, but what you will."

37 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour?

38 ⁶³Watch and ⁶⁴pray that you may not ⁶⁵enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

39 And again he went away and prayed, ⁶⁶saying the same words.

40 And again he came and found them sleeping, for ⁶⁷their eyes were very heavy, and ⁶⁸they did not know what to answer him.

41 And he came the third time and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? ⁶⁹It is enough; ⁷⁰the hour has come. ⁷¹The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

42 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand."

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

43 ⁷²And immediately, while he was still speaking, ⁷³Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.

44 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard."

45 And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, ⁷⁴"Rabbi!" And he ⁷⁵kissed him.

46 And they laid hands on him and seized him.

47 But one of those who stood by drew his ⁷⁶sword and struck the servant^[e] of the high priest and cut off his ear.

48 And Jesus said to them, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me?

49 ⁷⁷Day after day I was with you in the temple ⁷⁸teaching, and you did not seize me. But ⁷⁹let the Scriptures be fulfilled."

50 ⁸⁰And they all left him and fled.

A Young Man Flees

51 And a young man followed him, with nothing but ⁸¹a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him,

52 but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.

Jesus Before the Council

53 ⁸²And ⁸³they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together.

54 ⁸⁴And ⁸⁵Peter had followed him at a distance, ⁸⁶right into ⁸⁷the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with ⁸⁸the guards and ⁸⁹warming himself at the fire.

55 Now the chief priests and the whole Council^[f] were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none.

56 ⁹⁰For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony ⁹¹did not agree.

57 And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying,

58 ⁹²"We heard him say, ⁹³'I will destroy this temple ⁹⁴that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, ⁹⁵not made with hands.'"

59 Yet even about this their testimony did not agree.

60 And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, "Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?"^[g]

61 But ⁹⁶he remained silent and made no answer. ⁹⁷Again the high priest asked him, "Are you ⁹⁸the Christ, the Son of ⁹⁹the Blessed?"

62 And Jesus said, "I am, and ¹⁰⁰you will see the Son of Man ¹⁰¹seated at the right hand of Power, and ¹⁰²coming with the clouds of heaven."

63 And the high priest ¹⁰³tore his garments and said, "What further witnesses do we need?

64 You have heard ¹⁰⁴his blasphemy. What is your decision?" And they ¹⁰⁵all condemned him as ¹⁰⁶deserving death.

65 ¹⁰⁷And some began ¹⁰⁸to spit on him and ¹⁰⁹to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, "Prophesy!" And the guards received him ¹¹⁰with blows.

Peter Denies Jesus

66 ¹¹¹And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came,

67 and seeing Peter ¹¹²warming himself, she looked at him and said, "You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus."

68 But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you mean." And he went out into the gateway^[h] and ¹¹³the rooster crowed.^[i]

69 And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, "This man is one of them."

70 But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, "Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean."

71 But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know this man of whom you speak."

72 And immediately the rooster crowed ¹¹⁴a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, ¹¹⁵"Before the rooster crows twice, you will ¹¹⁶deny me three times." And he broke down and wept.^[j]

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Images for Mark 14

Mark 14 Commentary

Chapter 14

Christ anointed at Bethany. (1-11) The passover, Jesus declares that Judas would betray him. (12-21) The Lord's supper instituted. (22-31) Christ's agony in the garden. (32-42) He is betrayed and taken. (43-52) Christ before the high priest. (53-65) Peter denies Christ. (66-72)

Verses 1-11 Did Christ pour out his soul unto death for us, and shall we think any thing too precious for him? Do we give him the precious ointment of our best affections? Let us love him with all the heart, though it is common for zeal and affection to be misunderstood and blamed; and remember that charity to the poor will not excuse any from particular acts of piety to the Lord Jesus. Christ commended this woman's pious attention to the notice of believers in all ages. Those who honour Christ he will honour. Covetousness was Judas' master lust, and that betrayed him to the sin of betraying his Master; the devil suited his temptation to that, and so conquered him. And see what wicked contrivances many have in their sinful pursuits; but what appears to forward their plans, will prove curses in the end.

Verses 12-21 Nothing could be less the result of human foresight than the events here related. But our Lord knows all things about us before they come to pass. If we admit him, he will dwell in our hearts. The Son of man goes, as it is written of him, as a lamb to the slaughter; but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed! God's permitting the sins of men, and bringing glory to himself out of them, does not oblige them to sin; nor will this be any excuse for their guilt, or lessen their punishment.

Verses 22-31 The Lord's supper is food for the soul, therefore a very little of that which is for the body, as much as will serve for a sign, is enough. It was instituted by the example and the practice of our Master, to remain in force till his second coming. It was instituted with blessing and giving of thanks, to be a memorial of Christ's death. Frequent mention is made of his precious blood, as the price of our redemption. How comfortable is this to poor repenting sinners, that the blood of Christ is shed for many! If for many, why not for me? It was a sign of the conveyance of the benefits purchased for us by his death. Apply the doctrine of Christ crucified to yourselves; let it be meat and drink to your souls, strengthening and refreshing your spiritual life. It was to be an earnest and foretaste of the happiness of heaven, and thereby to put us out of taste for the pleasures and delights of sense. Every one that has tasted spiritual delights, straightway desires eternal ones. Though the great Shepherd passed through his sufferings without one false step, yet his followers often have been scattered by the small measure of sufferings allotted to them. How very apt we are to think well of ourselves, and to trust our own hearts! It was ill done of Peter thus to answer his Master, and not with fear and trembling. Lord, give me grace to keep me from denying thee.

Verses 32-42 Christ's sufferings began with the sorest of all, those in his soul. He began to be sorely amazed; words not used in St. Matthew, but very full of meaning. The terrors of God set themselves in array against him, and he allowed him to contemplate them. Never was sorrow like unto his at this time. Now he was made a curse for us; the curses of the law were laid upon him as our Surety. He now tasted death, in all the bitterness of it. This was that fear of which the apostle speaks, the natural fear of pain and death, at which human nature startles. Can we ever entertain favourable, or even slight thoughts of sin, when we see the painful sufferings which sin, though but reckoned to him, brought on the Lord Jesus? Shall that sit light upon our souls, which sat so heavy upon his? Was Christ in such agony for our sins, and shall we never be in agony about them? How should we look upon Him whom we have pierced, and mourn! It becomes us to be exceedingly sorrowful for sin, because He was so, and never to mock at it. Christ, as Man, pleaded, that, if it were possible, his sufferings might pass from him. As Mediator, he submitted to the will of God, saying, Nevertheless, not what I will, but what thou wilt; I bid it welcome. See how the sinful weakness of Christ's disciples returns, and overpowers them. What heavy clogs these bodies of ours are to our souls! But when we see trouble at the door, we should get ready for it. Alas, even believers often look at the Redeemer's sufferings in a drowsy manner, and instead of being ready to die with Christ, they are not even prepared to watch with him one hour.

Verses 43-52 Because Christ appeared not as a temporal prince, but preached repentance, reformation, and a holy life, and directed men's thoughts, and affections, and aims to another world, therefore the Jewish rulers sought to destroy him. Peter wounded one of the band. It is easier to fight for Christ than to die for him. But there is a great difference between faulty disciples and hypocrites. The latter rashly and without thought call Christ Master, and express great affection for him, yet betray him to his enemies. Thus they hasten their own destruction.

Verses 53-65 We have here Christ's condemnation before the great council of the Jews. Peter followed; but the high priest's fire-side was no proper place, nor his servants proper company, for Peter: it was an entrance into temptation. Great diligence was used to procure false witnesses against Jesus, yet their testimony was not equal to the charge of a capital crime, by the utmost stretch of their law. He was asked, Art thou the Son of the Blessed? that is, the Son of God. For the proof of his being the Son of God, he refers to his second coming. In these outrages we have proofs of man's enmity to God, and of God's free and unspeakable love to man.

Verses 66-72 Peter's denying Christ began by keeping at a distance from him. Those that are shy of godliness, are far in the way to deny Christ. Those who think it dangerous to be in company with Christ's disciples, because thence they may be drawn in to suffer for him, will find it much more dangerous to be in company with his enemies, because there they may be drawn in to sin against him. When Christ was admired and flocked after, Peter readily owned him; but will own no relation to him now he is deserted and despised. Yet observe, Peter's repentance was very speedy. Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall; and let him that has fallen think of these things, and of his own offences, and return to the Lord with weeping and supplication, seeking forgiveness, and to be raised up by the Holy Spirit.

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

Cross References 116

1. For ver. 1, 2, see Matthew 26:2-5; Luke 22:1, 2
2. See John 6:4
3. John 11:53; See Matthew 21:46
4. Matthew 27:24
5. For ver. 3-9, see Matthew 26:6-13; John 12:1-8; [Luke 7:37-39]
6. Matthew 21:17; John 11:18
7. [John 13:29]
8. John 11:33, 38(Gk.)
9. Deuteronomy 15:11
10. [2 Corinthians 9:7]
11. Mark 2:20; See John 7:33
12. [Mark 12:43; Luke 21:3; 2 Corinthians 8:12]
13. John 19:40
14. [Matthew 24:14]
15. Acts 10:4
16. For ver. 10, 11, see Matthew 26:14-16; Luke 22:3-6; [John 13:2, 27, 30]
17. Mark 3:19; Matthew 27:3; Acts 1:16; [John 6:71; John 12:4]
18. Mark 3:19; Matthew 27:3; Acts 1:16; [John 6:71; John 12:4]
19. See Matthew 20:18, 19
20. For ver. 12-16, see Matthew 26:17-19; Luke 22:7-13
21. Exodus 12:18
22. 1 Corinthians 5:7
23. [Mark 11:1]
24. See John 11:28
25. Luke 2:7(Gk.)
26. [Acts 1:13]
27. For ver. 17-21, see Matthew 26:20-24; [Luke 22:14, 21-23; John 13:21-26]
28. [John 6:70, 71]
29. [Psalms 41:9; John 13:18]
30. ver. 10
31. [See ver. 18 above]
32. ver. 49; Mark 9:12; Luke 18:31; Luke 24:25, 27, 46; Acts 17:2, 3; Acts 26:22, 23; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 Peter 1:10, 11
33. Matthew 18:7
34. [See John 17:12]
35. For ver. 22-25, see Matthew 26:26-29; Luke 22:18-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25
36. See Matthew 14:19
37. 1 Corinthians 10:16; [John 6:53]
38. See Matthew 15:36
39. [See ver. 22 above]
40. Exodus 24:8; [Zechariah 9:11; Hebrews 13:20]
41. See Matthew 20:28
42. For ver. 26-31, see Matthew 26:30-35
43. Luke 22:39; John 18:1
44. See Matthew 21:1
45. Cited from Zechariah 13:7; [John 16:32]
46. Mark 16:7; Matt. 28:7, 10, 16
47. [Luke 22:31, 33]
48. Luke 22:34; John 13:38
49. ver. 68, 72
50. John 13:37
51. For ver. 32-42, see Matthew 26:36-46; Luke 22:40-46
52. [See ver. 26 above]
53. Mark 5:37; Mark 9:2
54. [Matthew 17:23]
55. [Psalms 42:5, 6; John 12:27]
56. See Matthew 24:42
57. Hebrews 5:7
58. ver. 41; John 12:23, 27; John 13:1; John 17:1; [Luke 22:53; John 16:4]
59. Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6
60. See Matthew 19:26
61. See Mark 10:38
62. John 5:30; John 6:38; Philippians 2:8
63. [See ver. 34 above]
64. 1 Peter 4:7
65. Matthew 6:13
66. ver. 36
67. Luke 9:32
68. [Mark 9:6; Luke 9:33]
69. [Luke 22:38]
70. See ver. 35
71. Mark 9:31; Mark 10:33
72. For ver. 43-50, see Matthew 26:47-56; Luke 22:47-53; John 18:3-11
73. ver. 10; Acts 1:16
74. See John 1:38
75. Luke 7:38, 45; Luke 15:20; Acts 20:37(Gk.)
76. [Luke 22:38]
77. [John 8:2]; [Luke 2:46; John 18:20]
78. Matthew 21:23; [Matthew 4:23]
79. See ver. 21; Matthew 1:22
80. ver. 27; [Psalms 88:8, 18; John 16:32]
81. Mark 15:46; Judges 14:12; Proverbs 31:24
82. For ver. 53-65, see Matthew 26:57-68; [John 18:12, 13, 19-24]
83. Luke 22:54, 55
84. [See ver. 53 above]
85. [John 18:15]
86. [ver. 68]
87. See Matthew 26:3
88. John 7:32; John 18:3
89. ver. 67; John 18:18
90. Psalms 27:12; Psalms 35:11
91. [Deuteronomy 17:6; Deuteronomy 19:15]
92. [Acts 6:14]
93. Mark 15:29; See John 2:19
94. Acts 7:48; Acts 17:24; Hebrews 9:11, 24
95. 2 Corinthians 5:1
96. Mark 15:4, 5; Isaiah 53:7; John 19:9
97. For ver. 61-63, [Luke 22:67-71]
98. Mark 8:29; See Matthew 1:17
99. [Romans 1:25]
100. See Matthew 16:27; Matthew 24:30
101. Psalms 110:1; Hebrews 1:3; [Mark 16:19]
102. See Matthew 16:27; Matthew 24:30
103. Numbers 14:6; Acts 14:14
104. Matthew 9:3; John 10:36
105. [Luke 23:50, 51]
106. See Leviticus 24:16
107. Luke 22:63, 64
108. Mark 10:34; Mark 15:19; Isaiah 50:6
109. [Esther 7:8]
110. Matthew 5:39; [Acts 23:2]
111. For ver. 66-72, see Matthew 26:69-75; Luke 22:55-62; John 18:16-18, 25-27
112. ver. 54
113. ver. 30, 72
114. ver. 68
115. ver. 30
116. [Acts 3:13, 14]