Finished words

“Jesus had finished all these words” (Matthew 26:1).  Not only has Jesus finished the last of the five discourses; He has stopped speaking to Israel altogether.  Through the next several chapters, He barely speaks at all.

This is an announcement of judgment against Israel.  From the beginning of His ministry, Jesus has been talking – He’s laid out a way of righteousness and peace for Israel, commissions His disciples, disclosed the secrets of the king of heaven, told His disciples how to govern their communities and about the demand for forgiveness, the demand to avoid offense to children.  Israel never listens.  Instead, the Pharisees try to catch Him in His words; priests and elders plot against Him; they accuse Him of being in league with the devil.  So Jesus announces the judgment that waits for Israel, and then stops.

He has no more words for Israel.  He has only one word for the high priest, a warning that the Son of man will be enthroned at the right hand of power (26:64).  When He again turns to teaching, at the end of Matthew’s gospel, He’s sending His disciples to the nations, the Gentiles, to teach them all that He’s commanded.  He has said all He will say to Israel.  He turns from them, and provokes them to jealousy by directing His attention to the nations.