Matthew 26:1-5
The Son of Man moves toward the cross while His enemies plot in secret, but His death unfolds according to His own foreknown mission.
1 When Jesus had finished all these words, he said to his disciples,
2 “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
3 Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas.
4 They took counsel together that they might take Jesus by deceit, and kill him.
5 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest a riot occur among the people.”
The Son of Man moves toward the cross while his enemies plot in secret, but his death unfolds according to his own foreknown mission.
Matthew marks the transition from Jesus' public eschatological teaching to the passion narrative by showing that Jesus knowingly moves toward crucifixion while Israel's leaders secretly plot his death.
Jesus speaks after finishing the major discourse of Matthew 24-25, as Passover is approaching in Jerusalem. Jesus addresses his disciples in verses 1-2, while verses 3-5 shift to the gathered chief priests and elders at the palace of Caiaphas the high priest. This passage opens the passion narrative, moving Matthew's Gospel toward the death and resurrection of Jesus as the climactic saving work of the Messiah.
The Betrayal, Passover, Gethsemane, Trial, and Denial of Jesus
Jesus willingly enters betrayal, abandonment, false judgment, and death as the obedient Son who fulfills Scripture, gives his body, pours out his covenant blood for the forgiveness of sins, and submits to the Father’s will while his disciples fail and his enemies condemn him.