John Gill Commentary Matthew 26:2

"Ye know that after two days the passover cometh, and the Son of man is delivered up to be crucified." — Matthew 26:2 (ASV)

You know that after two days is [the feast of] the passover ,
&c.] Which was kept in commemoration of the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt; and was typical of Christ the passover, who was now to be sacrificed for his people. This was said on Tuesday, and on the Thursday following, the passover began. Christ speaks of this as a thing well known to the disciples, as it must be, since it always began on a certain day, the fourteenth of the month Nisan; which month answered to part of our March, and part of our April; and though there was very frequently an intercalation of a whole month in a year, made by the sanhedrim, to keep their festivals regularly in the proper season of the year; yet previous public notice was always given of this, either by fixing a paper upon the door of the sanhedrim ^F18 , signifying such an intercalation made, which served for the inhabitants of Jerusalem; or by sending messengers with letters into all distant places ^F19 , acquainting them with it. So that the times of these festivals were always well known, even to the common people:

and the son of man is betrayed to be crucified ;
it must not be thought that this was equally known by the disciples, as the former; for though they might know, or at least remember, that Christ has told them that he should suffer many things of the priests, Scribes, and elders, who would deliver him to the Gentiles, to be crucified; yet might not understand that this passover was to be the time, when this should be done: by "the son of man", Christ means himself, who was truly and really man, the seed of the woman, the son of Abraham and of David; a character by which the Messiah is described in the Old Testament, (Psalms 80:17) (Daniel 7:13) , and which expresses the truth of his human nature, and also the weaknesses and infirmities he bore in it; and is very properly used here, when he is speaking of his being to be betrayed and crucified.

What he says of himself is, that he is "betrayed"; that is, will be betrayed, meaning at the passover, which was to be in two days time. Christ speaks of his being betrayed, as if it was already done; not only because it was so near being done, as there were but two days before it would be done; but because it was a sure and certain thing, being determined in the purpose of God, and foretold in prophecy. And this respects not only the act of Judas in betraying him into the hands of the chief priests, but also the delivery, as the word here used signifies, of him by them, to the Roman governors; for they, as Stephen says, were also his betrayers and murderers; yea, it may include the delivery of him by Pilate, to the Jews and Roman soldiers; and the rather, because it follows, "to be crucified"; which was a Roman, and not a Jewish punishment. This was typified by the lifting up the brazen serpent on a pole, and foretold by the prophets of the Old Testament, (Psalms 22:16) (Zechariah 12:10) , and predicted by Christ self, sometimes more covertly, (John 12:32John 12:33) , and sometimes in express words, (Matthew 20:19) , and was a very painful and shameful death, and which showed him to be made a curse for his people.

It appears from this that the crucifixion and death of Christ were not casual and contingent events, but were determined by the counsel of God, with all circumstances attending. The betraying and delivery of him were by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God. Not only his death, but the manner of it by crucifixion, was pointed out in prophecy and was a certain thing. The very time of his death was also fixed, which shows the early concern of God for the salvation of his people, and his wonderful grace and mercy to them. And it is clear from this that Christ had perfect knowledge of all this. He knew not only that he should be betrayed, but he knew from the beginning who would betray him. He not only knew that he should die, but he knew what kind of death he should die, even the death of the cross. And he knew the exact time when he should die, that it would be at the following passover, which was just at hand. He had suggested this to his disciples, and therefore he speaks of it as a thing known to them; at least what they might have known and concluded from what he had said to them (Matthew 20:18Matthew 20:19). The whole is a considerable proof of his being God omniscient. And he thought fit to remind his disciples of it, because the time drew nigh; that their memories being refreshed with it, they might be prepared for it, and not be surprised, shocked, and offended at it, when it came to pass; which shows the tender concern our Lord had for them.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F18: Targum in Cant. vii. 4.
• F19: Maimon Hilch. Kiddush Hachodesh, c. 4. sect. 17.