arrest the attention of Peter? Because, at that time, he had not brought guilt upon his conscience by denying Christ. When did his three denials take place? See ver. 69. What was that interval in point of time? Between a little before midnight, and the break of day. Why did the morning cock-crow awaken a painful remembrance in the mind of Peter? Because, at that moment, the Lord turned and looked upon him.* anger? No; a look of love. It smote Peter to the heart. Was it a look of What effect had it? How are his feelings and conduct described ? "And he went out, and wept bitterly." Whence did he go out? From the court of the palace—the scene of his temptations. Why did he go out? To seek some solitary place, where he might weep and pray. What made him weep bitterly? The thought of his Christ, and his base denials of him. pentance of a godly kind? Yes. ingratitude to Was his reHow does that Did he never more confessed Him often, of danger. Does No; a sea of tears If so, why must we Because sin is hateful to What is the best appear? His sorrow was deep, and his after-life eminently holy and useful. deny his Master? No; he and openly, and in the face repentance wash away guilt? could not atone for one sin. have godly sorrow for sin? God, and ruinous to the soul. evidence that we repent of any particular sin? Our forsaking it, and delighting in the contrary duty. *Luke xxii. 61. Will not such an endeavour produce partial obedience? No: the true penitent aims at universal holiness, while he is especially careful to avoid the repetition of past failures. CHAPTER XXVII. What does the twenty-seventh Chapter of this Gospel contain? 1. THE CLOSING EVENTS OF OUR LORD'S LIFE; 2. HIS BURIAL; AND 3. THE SEALING OF HIS Sepulchre. 1. What time is here mentioned ? "When the morning was come." What does that mean? When What it was light-probably about six o'clock. took place at that time? "All the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death." Was this a distinct meeting from that mentioned ver. 57 of the preceding chapter ? No; it was a further consultation among themselves, before the assembly broke up. Had they not already passed sentence upon their prisoner? Yes; they had pronounced him guilty of death.* Why then did they need to consult any further? Because it was not in their power to carry the sentence into execution. How so? had not the great council * See xxvi. 66. of the Jews the power of life and death? They had so formerly, but it had been taken from them by the Romans. When did the Romans take away from the Jewish council the power of punishing by death? When Judea became a province of the Roman Empire. How did Judea become a province of the Roman Empire? The Romans conquered the country, and made it a part of their empire. Had the Jews, after that, a king of their own? No. Who, then, reigned over them? Governors* appointed by the Roman Emperors. governor at this particular time? Pontius Pilate. Were criminals judged by be put to death? Yes. Who was the Roman him, before they could If the Jewish council could not put Jesus to death, what had they to consult about? They had to lay a plan for getting him condemned and put to death by the civil Ruler. 2. Having arranged their plan, how did they proceed? "And when they had bound him, they led him away and delivered him to Pontius Pilate, the governor." Did Jesus offer any resistance ? No; he was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb so he opened not his mouth.† How far was it from the hall of Caiaphas to that of Pilate? Nearly a mile. Was Pilate's hall in Jerusalem? Was that the constant residence of the Roman governor? No; he dwelt at Cesarea; and only came up to Jerusalem on particular occasions. Yes. *Called Procurators. Isaiah liii. 7. of our Lord's trial? 3. Who was it, that watched the progress and result Judas Iscariot. Why was he Because the guilt of so observant of the event? betraying Christ was on his conscience. What is said of Judas, when he saw that Jesus was condemned? He "repented himself." after a godly sort? No; he felt the but not the meltings of contrition. Did he repent pain of guilt, Describe the difference between his case and that of Peter? Peter repented, believed, and was pardoned; Judas repented, despaired, and was ruined. When remorse seized the mind of the traitor, what did he do? "He brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders." Why did he return the money? Because it was the reward of iniquity, and yielded him nothing but bitterness.* Does ill-gotten wealth always bring anguish to the possessor? Yes, sooner or later.t 4. When Judas brought back the thirty pieces of silver, what did he say to the chief priests and elders? "I have sinned, in that I have betrayed the innocent blood." What induced the traitor to make this confession? His overwhelming sense of our Lord's innocence, and of his own baseness. Had he any hope, that his confession might induce the priests and elders to release Jesus and let him go? Yes; he was now anxious to save the life, which his wickedness had betrayed. Did his confession move the hearts of our Lord's enemies? No; "they said, What is that to us? see thou to that." were these words spoken? With scorn. lesson do they teach us? How What That it is vain to look for sympathy, or help in trouble, from those who have been our companions in sin. 5. What was Judas' state of mind, when he saw that that there was no hope? He felt all the agony of despair. Did he go away from the priests and scribes? Yes; he went hurriedly away, for the purpose of destroying himself. As he went along, what building did he pass near ? "The temple.” Of what would he be reminded by the sight of that edifice? Of Him, who had often taught there, and whose life he had sold for thirty pieces of silver. Was the silver in his hand, at the time? Yes. What was the effect of the reflections that now goaded his mind? "He cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself." Might he not have obtained pardoning mercy, if he had sought it? There is reason to believe that he might. What Scriptural ground is there for thinking so? It is written, The Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.* Are not some sins too great to be forgiven? Not; sinners perish, not because there is no mercy for them, but because they will not believe and be saved. ‡ it not written, Whom he will and does not that show, that some men cannot be God never hardens a sinner otherwise than But is he hardeneth? §— saved? 2 Pet. iii. 9. + Isaiah i. 18. John v. 40, & Heb. iii. 18. Rom. ix. 18. |