10/27/02

FAITH BIBLE CHURCH - www.faithbiblechurch.net

RAY RUSS - PASTOR-TEACHER

MATTHEW: THE KING HAS COME, WEEK 173

TITLE: THE CONTRASTS OF COMPASSION AND COLLUSION

TEXT: MATTHEW 26:1-16

INTRODUCTION: (1) I'VE TITLED THE MESSAGE TODAY, "CONTRASTS OF COMPASSION AND COLLUSION".

* NOW THE REASON FOR THIS UNUSUAL TITLE IS IN MATTHEW 26:1-16 WE SEE TWO GREAT ACTS OF COMPASSION CONTRASTED BY TWO TERRIBLE ACTS OF COLLUSION.

** AND AS I WAS STUDYING THIS LAST WEEK IN PREPARATION FOR THIS MESSAGE, THESE TWO THEMES JUMPED OUT AT ME FROM THESE VERSES.

*** FOR IN V. 2 OF MATTHEW 16, WE SEE CHRIST PREPARING HIS DISCIPLES AGAIN FOR HIS DEPARTURE AND DEATH.

**** FOR HE COMMUNICATES THAT IN TWO DAYS HE IS GOING TO BE CRUCIFIED. AND THERE IS NO GREATER ACT OF COMPASSION AND LOVE IN HISTORY THAN THE SINLESS CHRIST DYING FOR SINNERS.

(2) THAT WAS THE ULTIMATE ACT OF COMPASSION AND LOVE, AS PAUL WRITES TO THE ROMAN BELIEVERS AND SAYS IN ROMANS 5:8 (READ IT).

* BUT AFTER THE DECLARATION OF THAT EVENT BEING TWO DAYS AWAY, WE HAVE THE CONTRAST OF THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND ELDERS GATHERING WITH CAIAPHAS PLOTTING TOGETHER TO MURDER JESUS.

** THEY IN COLLUSION MAKE A SECRET AGREEMENT AND COOPERATE FOR A DECEITFUL WICKED PURPOSE, TO KILL THE SON OF GOD WHICH SHOWS IN CONTRAST TO THE LOVE OF GOD, THE DEPRAVITY OF MAN, ILLUSTRATED FROM JEREMIAH 17:9 (READ IT).

*** NOW WE SEE ANOTHER CONTRAST, FROM THE DEPRAVITY AND WICKEDNESS OF THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN MATTHEW 26 TO THE CLEAR LOVE OF MARY FOR HER SAVIOR BY ANOINTING HIS BODY IN PREPARATION FOR BURIAL.

**** HER LOVE AND COMPASSION IS MANIFEST BY HIS ACTION OF SACRIFICE, I JOHN 3:18 (READ IT).

(3) AND MARY BY HER DEEDS LAVISHES HER LOVE FOR THE ONE WHO WAS ABOUT TO DIE FOR HER.

* WHICH LEADS TO A FINAL CONTRAST, MARY'S COMPASSION TO JUDAS ISCARIOT'S COLLUSION WITH THE CHIEF PRIESTS IN BETRAYING JESUS FOR 30 PIECES OF SILVER.

** AND IN THIS CONTRAST WE SEE MARY'S GIVING LOVE IN CONTRAST TO JUDAS ISCARIOT'S LOVE FOR GAIN, HIS LOVE FOR MONEY, AND I TIM. 6:10.

*** AND CERTAINLY JUDAS ISCARIOT IS THE POSTER-CHILD FOR I TIM. 6:10. HE BETRAYED THE SON OF GOD FOR GAIN, A VERY LITTLE GAIN AT THAT, WHICH RESULTED IN ETERNAL LOSS.

(4) SO OUR TEXT TODAY GIVES US CLEAR CONTRASTS OF COMPASSION AND COLLUSION AND WE'LL LOOK AT 4 POINTS TO HELP US UNDERSTAND THIS PASSAGE.

* NO. 1 THE PLAN, SPEAKING OF THE PLAN OF GOD FOR JESUS TO DIE, VV. 1&2; NO. 2 THE PLOT OF THE SANHEDRIN TO KILL JESUS, VV. 3-5; NO. 3 THE PERFUME OF MARY THAT SHE ANOINTED JESUS' BODY WITH, VV. 6-13; AND NO. 4 THE PAY-OFF OF JUDAS BY THE CHIEF PRIESTS, VV. 14-16.

** NOW WITH THAT OUTLINE, I NEED TO GET RIGHT INTO THE TEXT TODAY FOR WE HAVE A LOT OF GROUND TO COVER. AND TO BEGIN WITH LOOK AT V. 1 WHERE WE'LL START TO SEE OUR FIRST POINT TODAY, THE PLAN. LOOK AT MATTHEW 26:1 PLEASE.

I. THE PLAN, (READ V. 1)

A. NOW IN V. 1, THE PHRASE "WHEN JESUS HAD FINISHED ALL THESE WORDS," MARKS THE END OF A MAJOR DISCOURSE OR TEACHING BY CHRIST.

* AND THIS PHRASE IS USED IN MATTHEW'S GOSPEL 5 TIMES TO MARK THE END OF 5 MAJOR DISCOURSES IN MATTHEW.

** THE FIRST ONE BEING FOUND IN MATTHEW 7:28, MARKING THE END OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT, THE SECOND ONE IS FOUND IN MATTHEW 11:1, THE THIRD ONE IN MATTHEW 13:53 AND THE FOURTH ONE IN MATTHEW 19:1.

*** AND ALL OF THEM US THE PHRASE, "WHEN JESUS HAD FINISHED THESE WORDS" OR "WHEN JESUS HAD FINISHED THESE PARABLES".

**** AND AGAIN THEY MARK AN END TO A MAJOR DISCOURSE BY CHRIST. AND SPECIFICALLY IN MATTHEW 26:1 THIS PHRASE, "WHEN JESUS HAD FINISHED ALL THESE WORDS" MARKS THE END OF HIS TEACHING THAT STARTED IN MATTHEW 23:1 TO THE MULTITUDES AND THE DISCIPLES AND CONTINUED WITH THE OLIVET DISCOURSE IN MATTHEW 24&25.

1. NOW BEGINNING IN MATTHEW 26:1, HE STARTS TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO HIS DISCIPLES, AND WILL TELL THEM SOMETHING HE HAS TOLD THEM ON 3 OTHER OCCASIONS, THAT HE IS GOING TO DIE, LOOK AT V. 2 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 2. NOW AT THIS POINT OF TIME IN MATTHEW'S GOSPEL, WHEN JESUS DECLARES THAT HE IS GOING TO BE CRUCIFIED, IT IS TWO DAYS BEFORE THE PASSOVER.

* SO IT IS TUESDAY NIGHT OR WEDNESDAY DURING THE DAY, FOR THE JEWISH DAY STARTS AT SUNDOWN, NOT SUNRISE.

** AND WE BELIEVE JESUS DIED ON FRIDAY, WHICH WE CALL GOOD FRIDAY, FOR CERTAINLY WHAT JESUS WOULD ACCOMPLISH IN HIS DEATH WAS GOOD, IN FACT GREAT FOR THE PEOPLE HE WILL SAVE.

*** SO IT'S TWO DAYS BEFORE PASSOVER, AND JESUS FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN MATTHEW'S GOSPEL COMMUNICATES THAT HE IS GOING TO DIE.

**** THE OTHER 3 TIMES JESUS COMMUNICATED THIS IN MATTHEW 16:21, MATTHEW 17:22 AND MATTHEW 20:18.

1. NOW HERE IN MATTHEW 26:2 JESUS COMMUNICATES HIS DEATH FOR THE FOURTH TIME USING THE WORDS DELIVERED UP OR HANDED OVER WHICH IMPLIES BETRAYAL AS IT'S TRANSLATED IN THE KJV, AND THAT HE IS GOING TO BE CRUCIFIED.

* AND CRUCIFIXION WAS A FORM OF EXECUTION THAT WAS SO DEGRADING AND AGONIZING THAT ROMAN LAW PROHIBITED ANY ROMAN CITIZENS BEING CRUCIFIED.

** IT WAS SUCH A SLOW AND PAINFUL FORM OF DEATH THAT JUST THINKING ABOUT IT WOULD DRIVE FEAR INTO THE AVERAGE PERSON.

*** BUT IN THE SOVEREIGN PLAN OF GOD, THE DEATH THAT GOD THE SON WOULD EXPERIENCE FOR SINNERS WAS CRUCIFIXION AND THE DAY IT WOULD HAPPEN WOULD BE ON THE PASSOVER.

**** AND DURING CHRIST'S MINISTRY, THERE WERE MANY TIMES PEOPLE SOUGHT TO KILL JESUS BUT WERE UNABLE TO DO SO.

2. IN FACT, THE JEWISH RELIGIOUS LEADERS BEGAN PLOTTING JESUS' DEATH SOON AFTER HE BEGAN HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY IN JOHN 5:18.

* BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FULFILL THAT INTENTION UNTIL IT FIT INTO GOD'S TIMETABLE.

** AND THAT JESUS WOULD DIE ON THE PASSOVER WAS DEEPLY SIGNIFICANT WITH RESPECT TO JEWISH HISTORY.

*** FOR THE PASSOVER COMMEMORATED THE NIGHT THE ISRAELITES WERE FREED FROM EGYPT IN EXODUS 12, WHEN GOD "PASSED OVER" HOMES MARKED BY THE BLOOD OF A LAMB.

**** AND THIS WAS THE LAST GREAT PLAGUE ON EGYPT WHEN, IN UNMARKED HOMES, THE FIRSTBORN SONS DIED, WHICH WOULD LEAD TO THE RELEASE OF ISRAEL FROM EGYPT AND THEIR SLAVERY TO THEM.

3. WELL, ANNUALLY HEBREW FAMILIES WERE COMMANDED TO CELEBRATE THE PASSOVER MEAL AS A MEMORIAL, THE MAIN COURSE OF THAT SUPPER BEING LAMB.

* AND THE SACRIFICE OF A LAMB AND THE SPILLING OF IT'S BLOOD COMMEMORATED ISRAEL'S DELIVERANCE FROM SLAVERY WHEN THE BLOOD OF A LAMB PAINTED OVER THEIR DOORPOSTS HAD SAVED THEIR FIRSTBORN SONS FROM DEATH.

** AND THIS EVENT FORESHADOWED JESUS' WORK ON THE CROSS. SO THE APPROPRIATE TIME FOR JESUS TO DIE WAS AT PASSOVER, WHEN THE SACRIFICIAL LAMBS WERE SLAIN, BECAUSE THAT CELEBRATION POINTED TO THE LAMB OF GOD WHO TAKES AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD, JOHN 1:29, ALSO READ I PETER 1:18&19.

*** NOW JESUS WAS THE PERFECT LAMB, THE FINAL LAMB TO BE SACRIFICED. AND IN THE PLAN OF GOD THIS WOULD APPROPRIATELY TAKE PLACE ON THE PASSOVER.

**** WHICH LEADS US TO OUR 2'D POINT TODAY, THE PLOT OF THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS. LOOK AT V. 3 PLEASE.

II. THE PLOT, (READ V. 3)

A. NOW ACCORDING TO MATTHEW'S ARRANGEMENT OF HIS BOOK, 3 EVENTS LEAD UP TO THE ARREST AND CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST IN GOD'S PLAN.

* THE PLOT OF THE SANHEDRIN, THE ANOINTING OF JESUS' BODY FOR DEATH AND BURIAL AND THE OFFER OF JUDAS TO BETRAY JESUS, THE CONTRASTS OF COLLUSION AND COMPASSION, THE PLAN OF GOD FULFILLED BY THE WILL OF MAN.

** AND SPECIFICALLY IN V. 3 THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND ELDERS, AND MARK IN THIS PARALLEL COMPANION TEXT IN MARK 14:1 INCLUDES THE SCRIBES, WHICH WOULD BASICALLY MAKE UP THE SANHEDRIN, THE GREAT HIGH COUNCIL IN ISRAEL, THEIR SUPREME COURT.

*** AND THEY GATHER TOGETHER IN THE COURT AREA OF THE HIGH PRIEST OF THAT DAY WHO WAS CAIAPHAS.

**** AND ACCORDING TO THE FAMOUS JEWISH HISTORIAN JOSEPHUS, THE FULL NAME OF THE HIGH PRIEST WAS JOSEPH CAIAPHAS.

1. AND HE WAS A CONNIVING, TREACHEROUS AND DECEITFUL MAN DEPICTED IN SCRIPTURE IN THE ONE-DIMENSIONAL ROLE OF JESUS' ANTAGONIST.

* FOR IN EVERY PASSAGE WHEN HE IS MENTIONED, HE IS SEEN PURSUING THE DESTRUCTION OF JESUS. LIKE HEROD HIS HATRED AND FEAR OF JESUS WAS NOT THEOLOGICAL BUT POLITICAL.

** CAIAPHAS WANTED TO DESTROY JESUS BECAUSE HE FEARED THAT HE POSED A SERIOUS THREAT TO HIS POSITION AND POWER OVER THE JEWISH PEOPLE.

*** WELL, CAIAPHAS AND THE SANHEDRIN GET TOGETHER, AND THEIR PLAN IS REVEALED IN V. 4. LOOK AT V. 4 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 4. NOW THE SANHEDRIN ASSEMBLED IN CAIAPHAS' HOUSE FOR ONE PURPOSE: TO PLOT HOW THEY COULD SEIZE JESUS.

* AND THEY WANTED TO DO IT BY STEALTH, SUBTLETY, IN A SLY WAY BY TRICKERY TO KILL JESUS.

** AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS GIVEN IN V. 5. LOOK AT V. 5 PLEASE.

C. READ V. 5. NOW THE REASON THEY WANTED TO SEIZE JESUS BY STEALTH AND KILL HIM THAT WAY WAS THEY WERE AFRAID OF A RIOT DURING THE FESTIVAL, SPEAKING OF THE WEEK LONG FESTIVAL THAT FOLLOWED PASSOVER, CALLED THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD OR THE FEAST OF THE PASSOVER.

* AND AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME OF THE YEAR JERUSALEM WAS LOADED WITH JEWS FROM ALL OVER WHO HAD COME TO WORSHIP AT THE PASSOVER.

** SOME ESTIMATE UPWARDS TO TWO MILLION PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE BEEN THERE. AND AMONG SOME OF THE PEOPLE ATTENDING ESPECIALLY FROM GALILEE, JESUS WAS POPULAR, PLUS EMOTIONS WOULD BE RUNNING HIGH AS MESSIANIC EXPECTATIONS WERE ALWAYS HIGH DURING PASSOVER.

*** SO THE SANHEDRIN'S AND CAIAPHAS' CONCLUSION WAS WE'LL WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE PASSOVER FEAST TO TAKE AND KILL JESUS, WHEN EVERYBODY IS OUT OF HERE.

1. AND IT IS AN IRONY THAT JESUS HAD PROPHESIED HIS DEATH IN TWO DAYS WHILE THEY, WHO WANTED HIM DEAD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, WERE PLOTTING A DELAY OF AT LEAST 9 DAYS, TWO DAYS UNTIL PASSOVER AND 7 DAYS OF THE FEAST.

* WHICH REMINDS US THAT HUMAN BEINGS PLOT, BUT IT IS THE WILL OF GOD THAT IS DONE.

** FOR PROVERBS 19:21 IN THE NIV SAYS: "MANY ARE THE PLANS IN A MAN'S HEART, BUT IT IS THE LORD'S PURPOSE THAT PREVAILS."

*** AND IT WAS THE FATHER'S WILL THAT JESUS SHOULD DIE AT THE VERY MOMENT THE PASSOVER LAMBS WERE BEING SLAIN.

**** WHICH REMINDS US, "WHAT GOD SOVEREIGNLY DECREES IN ETERNITY, MAN WILL ALWAYS FREELY WANT IN TIME."

2. AND ALTHOUGH THEY WANTED JESUS DEAD AT THAT TIME, THEY WANTED TO WAIT AT LEAST 9 DAYS, BUT SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN TO CHANGE THEIR DESIRE, JUDAS ISCARIOT WILL COME TO THEM.

* BUT BEFORE HE DOES, WE SEE A WONDERFUL SACRIFICIAL ACT OF COMPASSION AND WORSHIP, WHICH IS OUR THIRD POINT TODAY, THE PERFUME, LOOK AT V. 6 PLEASE.

III. THE PERFUME, (READ V. 6)

A. NOW REMEMBER THAT MATTHEW IN HIS GOSPEL DOES NOT ALWAYS BRING FORTH THINGS CHRONOLOGICALLY, BUT THEMATICALLY, AND MARK DOES THIS IN MARK 14 WITH HIS GOSPEL WHEN IT COMES TO THE STORY OF MARY ANOINTING THE BODY OF JESUS FOR BURIAL.

* FOR JOHN GIVES US THE CHRONOLOGICAL TIME WHEN THIS TOOK PLACE, IN JOHN 12:1, SIX DAYS BEFORE THE PASSOVER.

** SO THERE IS NO CONTRADICTION. JOHN IS PRECISE ABOUT HIS CHRONOLOGY WHILE MATTHEW AND MARK INSERT THIS EVENT AS KIND OF A FLASHBACK TO MAKE A POINT.

*** JOHN IS ACTUALLY DATING THE STORY, AND A CAREFUL READING OF THIS ACCOUNT SHOWS THAT ONLY JOHN IS ACTUALLY DATING THE STORY.

**** WHEREAS THE TWO DAYS IN MATTHEW AND MARK MAKE REFERENCE TO JESUS' PROPHECY OF HIS DEATH, AND THE COLLUSION OF THE SANHEDRIN AND CAIAPHAS.

1. MATTHEW AND MARK ARE NOT SAYING THAT MARY'S ANOINTING TOOK PLACE TWO DAYS BEFORE. MATTHEW AND MARK ARE INSPIRED TO PUT THIS STORY IN AT THIS POINT TO CONTINUE A THEME AND I BELIEVE A RESPONSE THAT WILL FOLLOW FROM THE STORY BY JUDAS ISCARIOT.

* NOW WITH THAT IN MIND, THE COMPASSIONATE ACT OF MARY TAKES PLACE AT BETHANY JUST EAST OF JERUSALEM NEAR THE MOUNT OF OLIVES.

** AND IT TAKES PLACE AT THE HOME OF SIMON THE LEPER, WHO INVITES JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES, ALONG WITH LAZARUS WHO HAD BEEN RAISED FROM THE DEAD AND MARY AND MARTHA, HIS SISTERS, WHO ALSO LIVED IN BETHANY.

*** AND WE GET SOME MORE SPECIFICS AND DETAILS FROM THE PARALLEL COMPANION PASSAGES IN MARK 14:3-9 AND JOHN 12:2-8.

**** NOW SIMON MOST LIKELY HAD BEEN HEALED BY JESUS AND WAS HAVING THIS SUPPER FOR THEM IN GRATEFULNESS FOR HIS HEALING.

2. FOR IN REALITY JEWISH LAW DID NOT ALLOW PEOPLE TO DINE OR BE AROUND LEPERS AND LEPERS WERE FORCED TO LIVE SEPARATELY FROM THE GENERAL POPULATION BECAUSE OF THE EXTREME CONTAGIOUSNESS OF THE DISEASE AND FROM PEOPLE BEING CEREMONIALLY DEFILED FROM BEING AROUND THEM. THEY WERE UNCLEAN.

* SO MOST LIKELY SIMON HAD BEEN HEALED BY JESUS. NOW LOOK AT V. 7.

B. READ V. 7. NOW THIS WOMAN WHO IS NOT IDENTIFIED IN MATTHEW, IS IDENTIFIED IN JOHN'S ACCOUNT AS MARY THE SISTER OF LAZARUS.

* AND SHE BROUGHT A VIAL OF VERY COSTLY PERFUME WITH HER AND POURED IT UPON HIS HEAD AND ACCORDING TO JOHN 12:3, SHE ALSO POURED IT UPON THE FEET OF JESUS AND WIPED HIS FEET WITH HER HAIR.

** BUT ALSO WE LEARN FROM MARK 14:5 THAT THIS VERY COSTLY PERFUME WAS WORTH "OVER 300 DENARII", A YEAR'S WAGES FOR A COMMON LABORER OR SOLDIER.

*** AND BEYOND THAT, THE EXPENSIVE ALABASTER VIAL WAS BROKEN BY MARY, MAKING HER ACT OF SACRIFICE EVEN MORE COSTLY.

**** NOW MARY'S ACT OF LOVE AND FAITH BRINGS A REACTION FROM THE DISCIPLES. LOOK AT V. 8 PLEASE.

C. READ V. 8. NOW HERE IN V. 8 THE DISCIPLES ONLY SAW THE PERFUME'S MATERIAL VALUE AND NOT THE SPIRITUAL ACT OF WORSHIP. FOR THEY ARE INDIGNANT, VERY DISPLEASED ABOUT WHAT MARY DID.

* AND IN THEIR PIOUS QUOTE SUPER-SPIRITUAL ATTITUDE THEY CRY OUT, "WHY THIS WASTE".

** NOW UNDERSTAND THAT ACCORDING TO JOHN 12:4&5, JUDAS WAS THE ONE WHO GOT THE CRITICAL BALL ROLLING.

*** FOR IN JOHN 12:4&5, IT APPEARS THAT JUDAS WAS THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE DISCIPLES AND THE OTHER DISCIPLES FOLLOWED HIS LEAD.

**** HE SPEAKS AND THE OTHERS JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON FOR THE POOR. FOR NOTICE WHAT IS COMMUNICATED IN V. 9.

D. READ V. 9. NOW THIS SOUNDS PRETTY SPIRITUAL, RIGHT? I MEAN THIS PERFUME WAS WORTH A YEAR'S WAGES FOR A COMMON PERSON, WHY NOT SELL IT AND TAKE THE MONEY AND GIVE IT TO THE POOR.

* AND REMEMBER THIS IDEA ORIGINATED FROM JUDAS AND ACCORDING TO JOHN 12:6, IT SAYS AND JUDAS IS SPEAKING - "NOW HE SAID THIS, NOT BECAUSE HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POOR, BUT BECAUSE HE WAS A THIEF, AND AS HE HAD THE MONEY BOX, HE USED TO PILFER WHAT WAS PUT INTO IT."

** NOW JUDAS REALLY DIDN'T CARE ABOUT THE POOR, HE WAS A THIEF AND HE WAS THINKING I CAN LIFT SOME MONEY FROM THE TREASURY BOX FOR MYSELF.

*** AND HIS CRITICAL SPIRIT MOTIVATED BY GREED, WAS PICKED UP BY THE OTHER DISCIPLES, WHICH REMINDS US THAT CRITICAL SPIRITS ARE CONTAGIOUS.

**** I MEAN GET AROUND SOMEONE WHO IS CRITICAL AND GRIPS AND COMPLAINS ALL THE TIME AND IT'S EASY TO FIND YOURSELF DOING IT, ALLOWING THEM TO RUB OFF ON YOU.

- AND JESUS RESPONDS TO JUDAS AND THE DISCIPLES IN V. 10, LOOK AT V. 10 PLEASE.

E. READ V. 10. NOW JESUS REBUKES HIS DISCIPLES AT THIS POINT, FOR THEY REALLY DON'T GET IT.

* THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT MARY WAS DOING A GOOD THING. THEY ARE ONLY LOOKING AT THIS SITUATION WITH PHYSICAL EYES NOT SPIRITUAL EYES.

** THEY HAVE MISSED THE MOMENT TO WORSHIP JESUS BEFORE HIS DEATH, FOR HE WON'T BE WITH THEM MUCH LONGER, HE JUST TOLD THEM THAT, BUT THEY AGAIN DON'T GET IT. (LOOK AT V. 11 PLEASE.)

F. READ V. 11. NOW JOHN MACARTHUR AT THIS POINT IN HIS COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 24-28 SAYS AND I QUOTE:

* "THIS WAS THEREFORE NOT THE TIME FOR PHILANTHROPY BUT ADORATION, NOT THE TIME FOR CHARITY, BUT FOR WORSHIP."

** HE WENT ON TO SAY: "GENUINE WORSHIP IS THE SUPREME SERVICE A CHRISTIAN CAN OFFER TO CHRIST. THERE IS A TIME FOR MINISTERING TO THE POOR, THE SICK, THE NAKED AND THE IMPRISONED."

*** "THERE IS A TIME FOR WITNESSING TO THE LOST AND SEEKING TO LEAD THEM TO THE SAVIOR. THERE IS A TIME FOR DISCIPLING NEW BELIEVERS AND HELPING THEM GROW IN THEIR FAITH. THERE IS A TIME FOR CAREFUL STUDY AND TEACHING GOD'S WORD."

*** "BUT ABOVE ALL ELSE THAT THE LORD REQUIRES OF HIS PEOPLE IS THEIR TRUE WORSHIP, WITHOUT WHICH EVERYTHING ELSE THEY MAY DO IN HIS NAME IS EMPTY AND POWERLESS."

1. FINALLY HE SAID - "THE WORSHIPPER EMULATED BY MARY DOES NOT ASK, "HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COST?" OR "DO I HAVE TIME?" LIKE HER, THE TRUE WORSHIPPER GIVES JESUS WHATEVER HE HAS, KNOWING IT IS TRIFLING, COMPARED TO WHAT HAS BEEN RECEIVED FROM HIM." (END QUOTE)

* AND BELOVED, MARY'S ACT OF WORSHIP WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AT THAT TIME. THERE WERE GOING TO BE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO MINISTER TO THE POOR, BUT JESUS WAS ONLY GOING TO BE AROUND TWO MORE DAYS.

** AND MARY BY FAITH DID THIS ACT TO PREPARE JESUS' BODY FOR BURIAL, LOOK AT V. 12 PLEASE.

G. READ V. 12. NOW SOME SUGGEST THAT MARY DIDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE WAS DOING, BUT IN MY MIND MATTHEW MAKES IT CLEAR IN WHAT HER PURPOSE WAS, "SHE DID IT TO PREPARE ME FOR BURIAL."

* NOW IF THAT IS THE CORRECT INTERPRETATION THE QUESTIONS CAN BE ASKED, "HOW DID MARY COME TO UNDERSTAND THIS WHEN THE OTHERS, PARTICULARLY THE DISCIPLES, FAILED TO DO SO?"

** WELL EVERY TIME WE SEE MARY IN SCRIPTURE, ON 3 OCCASIONS, WE SEE HER AT THE FEET OF JESUS, WORSHIPPING HIM AND LEARNING FROM HIM.

*** IN LUKE 10:38-42 WHILE HER SISTER MARTHA IS WORRIED AND ANXIOUS AND SERVING, SHE IS SITTING AT THE FEET OF JESUS LISTENING TO HIS WORD.

**** IN JOHN 11:32 WHEN JESUS RETURNED TO BETHANY FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF HER BROTHER LAZARUS IT SAYS WHEN MARY CAME TO JESUS, "SHE FELL AT HIS FEET."

1. AND IN THE COMPANION PARALLEL TEXT TO MATTHEW 26 IN JOHN 12:3 IT SAYS THAT SHE WAS AT THE FEET OF JESUS ANOINTING HIS FEET WITH HER HAIR.

* AND MAY I SUGGEST TO YOU TODAY, THAT MARY HAD GREAT UNDERSTANDING OF SPIRITUAL THINGS BECAUSE SHE SPENT TIME AT JESUS' FEET!

** AND A HEBREW IDIOM OF SITTING AT THE FEET OF ANOTHER PERSON MEANS TO LEARN FROM THAT PERSON, AS A CHILD MIGHT LEARN FROM A PARENT OR A PUPIL FROM HIS RABBI.

*** AND THE WAY WE SIT AT JESUS' FEET TODAY IS BY STUDYING THE BIBLE, FOR IT IS THERE THAT JESUS SPEAKS TO US AND INSTRUCTS US. AND WE RESPOND IN OBEDIENCE WHICH IS WORSHIP.

**** AND IT MAY BE THAT YOU DO NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT SPIRITUAL THINGS TODAY BECAUSE YOU DON'T SIT AT THE FEET OF JESUS ENOUGH.

2. AND OBVIOUSLY THE DISCIPLES UP TO THIS POINT HAD NOT TRULY SPENT ENOUGH TIME SITTING AT THE FEET OF JESUS. THEY SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH HIM, BUT NOT ENOUGH AT HIS FEET, FOR TIME AND TIME AGAIN, THEY DIDN'T GET IT.

* BUT TO ME, MARY DID, AND BECAUSE OF THAT, AN ETERNAL MEMORIAL WAS SET UP FOR MARY IN THE WORD OF GOD. LOOK AT V. 13 PLEASE.

H. READ V. 13. NOW THROUGH THE ACCOUNTS OF THIS STORY IN 3 OF THE GOSPELS, THE HOLY SPIRIT SECURED FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS A MEMORIAL TO MARY'S LOVE AND WORSHIP.

* AND IN FULFILLMENT OF THE LORD'S PREDICTION, FOR NEARLY TWO THOUSAND YEARS NOW, WHAT THIS WOMAN DID HAS INDEED BEEN SPOKEN OF IN MEMORY OF HER.

** SHE IS PERPETUALLY AN EXAMPLE TO ALL CHRISTIANS OF FAITH, UNSELFISHNESS AND SACRIFICIAL ADORATION.

*** BUT IN CONTRAST TO HER, THE LAST PERSON WE WILL QUICKLY LOOK AT TODAY HAS A NEGATIVE MEMORIAL SET UP FOR HIM. LOOK AT V. 14 PLEASE WHERE WE'LL START TO SEE OUR LAST POINT TODAY, THE PAY-OFF.

IV. THE PAY-OFF, (READ V. 14)

A. NOW IN CONTRAST TO MARY WHO GAVE AN OPEN TESTIMONY OF LOVE AND WORSHIP, JUDAS GIVES TESTIMONY OF GREED AND SELFISHNESS.

* FOR HE GETS FED UP WITH JESUS AND HIS LACK OF BEING A RULING POLITICAL MESSIAH AND BAILS TO MAKE A BUCK.

** AND WHO DOES HE GO TO? THE CHIEF PRIESTS, POSSIBLY WHILE THEY WERE STILL MEETING AND PLOTTING. AND WHAT HE GOES TO THEM FOR IS REVEALED IN V. 15. LOOK AT V. 15 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 15. NOW JUDAS MET WITH THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND BARGAINED FOR MONEY. HE APPARENTLY REALIZED THAT JESUS WAS SERIOUS ABOUT HIS COMING DEATH AND THAT HIS SELFISH MOTIVES FOR FOLLOWING JESUS WERE NOT GOING TO BE FULFILLED.

* THEREFORE HE SOUGHT TO CUT HIS LOSSES, BY GETTING SOMETHING FOR HIS INVESTMENT IN JESUS.

** AND THE CHIEF PRIESTS MUST HAVE BEEN DELIGHTED IN THEIR MINDS, JUDAS WAS AN ANSWER TO THEIR PRAYERS.

*** NOW THEY HAD ONE OF CHRIST'S OWN IN THEIR BACK POCKET.

**** AND THEIR OFFER IS 30 PIECES OF SILVER AS THEY WEIGH IT OUT IN FRONT OF HIM. AND EACH PIECE HITTING THE CONTAINER THAT WOULD HOLD THEM HAD TO HAVE A HOLLOW SOBER SOUND.

1. BUT IN HIS SIGHT, JUDAS MADE THE DEAL. AND FOR THE PRICE OF A SLAVE ACCORDING TO EX. 21:32, JUDAS WOULD SELL HIS SOUL.

* AND 30 PIECES OF SILVER WAS THE PRICE PROPHESIED IN ZECHARIAH 11:13 FOR WHICH JESUS WAS VALUED.

** OH TO LOSE YOUR SOUL FOR SUCH A SMALL AMOUNT! BUT NOW JUDAS WAS MOTIVATED TO BETRAY CHRIST, FOR LOOK AT V. 16 PLEASE.

C. READ V. 16. NOW HAVING COMMITTED HIMSELF TO THIS BETRAYAL, THE TREACHERY OF SELLING OUT CHRIST, FROM THEN ON, JUDAS LOOKED FOR THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITY TO BETRAY THE SON OF GOD.

* AND HE WOULD DO THAT IN A SHORT TIME IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE AS JESUS WAS ALONE PRAYING, WITH PETER, JAMES AND JOHN OUTSIDE, AND WERE TOLD TO PRAY WITH HIM AND THEY DIDN'T.

** AND JUDAS WILL BETRAY CHRIST WITH A KISS. AS I QUICKLY WRAP UP THINGS TODAY: (1) TWO QUICK APPLICATION IN CONTRAST. BELIEVER, MARY IN HER LOVE AND WORSHIP OF JESUS GAVE THE MOST PRECIOUS POSSESSION SHE HAD TO HER SAVIOR AND LAVISHED IT UPON HIM.

* THAT WAS HER HEART. THAT WAS HER RESPONSE OF LOVE TO HER LORD THAT WAS GOING TO DIE FOR HER IN TWO DAYS.

** AND SHE DID NOT MERELY DIP INTO THE PERFUME A LITTLE BIT OR CAREFULLY POUR OUT A SMALL AMOUNT. ON THE CONTRARY, SHE GAVE IT ALL.

*** AND IT REMINDS ME, YOU CANNOT SEPARATE LOVE FOR JESUS AND GIVING TO HIM. THEY GO TOGETHER. STARTING WITH GIVING OF OURSELVES IN WORSHIP TO CHRIST LEADS US TO GIVE LAVISHLY OF OUR TIME, TALENTS AND TREASURE.

**** YET MANY PEOPLE GIVE THEMSELVES TO JESUS BY OFFERING HIM LITTLE BITS OF TIME HERE, LITTLE BITS OF MONEY THERE, OR LITTLE BITS OF DEVOTION AT AN APPROPRIATE SEASON OF THE YEAR.

(2) AND SOMETIMES WE DIP AND SPRINKLE AND ARE QUITE PLEASED WITH OURSELVES, BUT THAT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE NEVER LOOKED DEEP INTO JESUS' EYES AND GROWN TO KNOW HIM, AS MARY HAD.

* WE HAVE NOT SAT AT HIS FEET ENOUGH, SO OUR LOVE IS SMALL AND NOT LARGE LIKE MARY'S. BELIEVER, EVALUATE YOUR LOVE FOR JESUS TODAY AND DON'T BE SELF-DECEIVED.

** FOR YOU CAN EVALUATE YOUR LOVE TODAY BY HOW YOU GIVE TO HIM.

*** LAST OF ALL, IF YOU'RE HERE TODAY AND DO NOT KNOW JESUS, DON'T BE LIKE JUDAS AND SELL YOUR SOUL.

**** DON'T ALLOW MONEY AND MATERIAL THINGS KEEP YOU FROM JESUS. YET LIKE JUDAS, MANY SEEK THE WORLD AND IT'S PLEASURES AND FORFEIT THEIR SOULS.

(3) IN MATTHEW 16:24-26 JESUS SAID THIS TO HIS DISCIPLES, (READ IT AND PRAY)