Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 26:30

"And when they had sung a hymn, they went out unto the mount of Olives." — Matthew 26:30 (ASV)

Was it not truly brave of our dear Lord to sing under such circumstances? He was going forth to His last dread conflict, to Gethsemane, and Gabbatha, and Golgotha, yet He went with a song on His lips.

He must have led the singing, for the disciples were too sad to start the hallel with which the paschal feast closed. And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. Then came that desperate struggle in which the great Captain of our salvation wrestled even to a bloody sweat and prevailed.

And when they had sung an hymn, they went out unto the mount of Olives.

Was it not truly brave of our dear Lord to sing under such circumstances? He was going forth to His last dread conflict, to Gethsemane, and Gabbatha, and Golgotha; yet He went with a song on His lips. The door opens, they go downstairs, they are in the open air, that night of the full moon, and they make their way to the Mount of Olives. Then came that desperate struggle in which the great Captain of our salvation wrestled even to a bloody sweat, and prevailed.

And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

Was it not truly brave of our dear Lord to sing under such circumstances? He was going forth to his last dread conflict, to Gethsemane, and Gabbatha and Golgotha; yet he went with a song on his lips. He must have led the singing, for the disciples were too sad to start the Hallel with which the Paschal feast closed: And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

Then came that desperate struggle in which the great Captain of our salvation wrestled even to a bloody sweat, and prevailed.

And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

To his last great battle the Champion goes singing, attended by feeble followers, who could not protect him, but who could sing with him. I think he must have led the tune; his disciples were too sorrowful to sing until his clear voice started the Hallelujah Psalms; but they joined him in the holy exercise, for they as well as their Lord sang the hymn.

When you are about to face a trial, offer a prayer; but, if you can, also sing a hymn. It will show great faith if, before you enter into the burning fiery furnace, you can sing psalms to the Lord who redeems his people.

Now let us read Paul's version of this same matter.

And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

Oh, how brave it was on the Master's part to sing a psalm just before He went out to be betrayed and to be crucified!

Our second reading is also concerning the Lord's Supper. Turn to 1 Corinthians 11:20. The Corinthian church, as I have often explained to you, was one that had no pastor.

They had what is called "open" worship, everybody speaking who pleased; and there being no kind of government or discipline, they fell into every sort of conceivable disorder, and even the ordinance of the Lord's Supper was utterly degraded among them. Here is what Paul wrote to them: