New Testament · Gospel

Matthew 26:4

The Last Supper

and they conspired to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him. Matthew 26:4 · Berean Standard Bible
What It Means

Matthew 26:4, in plain English

They make a plan to arrest Jesus secretly and kill Him — they know they cannot do this out in the open.

Why it's here

The fact that they need secrecy tells you everything: they know the people love Jesus, and they know their own motives would not survive public scrutiny.

Who's speaking

The narrator reveals the dark conspiracy being hatched by the religious authorities.

Where it sits in the story

Plotting in the shadows, these leaders resort to deception to destroy the most honest person who ever lived.

A Closer Look

The scholarly reading

The conspiracy involves arresting Jesus by stealth (dolos) and killing Him, revealing the premeditated and covert nature of their plot.

Language and setting

The use of dolos (cunning, deceit) underscores the moral corruption of the conspiracy — those charged with upholding Torah resort to deception to eliminate the Torah's fulfillment.

Voice

The narrator summarizes the conspiratorial decision of the priestly council.

Significance

The religious authorities determine to use treachery rather than open proceedings, exposing the illegitimacy of their actions even by their own legal standards.

In context

Matthew 26:2–6

2“You know that the Passover is two days away, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”

3At that time the chief priests and elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,

4and they conspired to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him.

5“But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”

6While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper,

Read all of Matthew 26 — Bread broken. Wine poured. A betrayal predicted. The longest night in history begins around a table.

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