Jesus Predicts His Crucifixion And The Chief Priests And Elders Plot His Death (26:1-5).
This last section of the Gospel opens by revealing the plot. On the one hand Jesus declares that He is to be ‘delivered up' by His Father to be crucified, and on the other we discover the gathering of the Chief Priests and Elders who, unaware of Jesus' prophecies, are determined to bring about His ‘delivering up' in one way or another. As so often, evil will be utilised by God in order to bring about good.
Analysis.
a And it came about that when Jesus had finished all these words, He said to His disciples (Matthew 26:1).
b “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of man is delivered up to be crucified” (Matthew 26:2).
c Then were gathered together the chief priests, and the elders of the people, to the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas (Matthew 26:3).
b And they took counsel together that they might take Jesus by subtlety, and kill him (Matthew 26:4).
a But they said, “Not during the feast, lest a tumult arise among people” (Matthew 26:5).
Note that in ‘a' Jesus finishes all His words, and in the parallel the chief priests and elders conclude their deliberations. In ‘b' Jesus announces His coming death, and in the parallel they plot to kill Him. Centrally in ‘c' are described the villains of the piece, and especially Caiaphas.