Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
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Disgust
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Fear
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Joy
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Sadness
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Language Tone
Analytical
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Confident
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Tentative
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Social Tone
Openness
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Conscientiousness
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Extraversion
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Agreeableness
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Emotional Range
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Tone of specific sentences
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Anger
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Context
In the book of Matthew Jesus has just finished an extended teaching on the end times
Matthew has grouped these teachings all together as the last teachings of Jesus’ earthly ministry
The remaining chapters 26-28 will focus primarily on the last days of Jesus life
Mathew is pretty detailed on how these events unfolded
He has already slowed down for Jesus last week of earthly ministry but we will see him slow down again for the last couple days of Jesus life
Its from this time that we get some of our most sacred traditions as a church; foot washing, the lord supper, baptism, the stations of the cross, passion week, Easter, ect...
As we encounter those we will dive deep into their meanings
Today we see physical preparations that have spiritual underpinnings leading up to what will be the final victory and salvation
We will look at a couple verses at a time
26 When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, 2 “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
Its easy to look back at this and see just how clear Jesus is being concerning his upcoming arrest and crucifixion
But the ones closest to him did not get it
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .
Maybe in their minds Jesus was speaking metaphorically when in reality he was speaking plainly
Remember they believed Jesus was the Messiah
But in their minds the Messiah was going to be a ruler; one that would physically free them of all oppression and restore the Hebrew people to their “rightful” place as the chosen people of God
There was no room in their minds for a meek and mild messiah
Looking back its easy to see just how plainly Jesus foretold of his death, burial, and resurrection
Also note that...
Jesus knows what he came to do
Though he is still troubled by the betrayal he is not ignorant of what awaits him
And notice how he moves forward anyway
This is still under Gods control
He will still carry out what God has for him
He is obedient; even in suffering
What a great reminder for us that even during the darkest of circumstances, God is still in control
That we are still called to obedience even when its hard or painful
There is comfort in this
Also know that when we are doing God’s Will it will be opposed
3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him.
5 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.”
Meetings are taking place considering this strange fellow from a poor country village
Why are people influenced by him?
What is his agenda?
What ever it is, it cannot be good...
Chief Priests had become more like political representatives than they were priests as tradition would picture them
They had the very difficult task of maintaining order amongst a very diverse group of Jews and assuring the oppressive Roman government that everything was under control
That they weren’t even thinking about overthrowing their rule
Caiaphas - Joseph son in-law to Annas the previous high priest, is the leader of the Sanhedrin, the governing body of the Jewish nation
Though he is not named by Luke in his retelling, he is named here
These leaders have little regard for what Jesus’ message is and are only concerned with the influence he is perceived to have
They were unsuccessful in publically challenging the ideas of Jesus, so now the only option (in their minds) is to change the rules of the game they invented in order to come out victorious
People haven’t changed much
True Christianity is open to discussion and debate
It welcomes thought and dialog
Its how the the Apostles first spread the faith; they reasoned in the synagogues
Exposing the evidences of the resurrected Christ
Showing how he fulfilled the Old Testament scriptures concerning the Messiah
But when the opposition fails at this level; that is the conversation level, the evidence level, the reason level
They don’t convert, they subvert
They undermine, attack and twist
We see this trajectory today
Take China for example
Take the abortion debate
You will accept this
When logic
You can worship Jesus as long as the picture of the emperor is present at the same time
You can worship Jesus, but
You will accept this life style
But some
You can have Bibles, as long as we add our infuse our traditions and heritage into them first
You can have church as long as it is state ran and you teach the superiority of China
If you don’t like it; you’ll be arrested
Or in the United Kingdom
You can preach God’s word as long as it doesn’t offend anyone
You can say what you want as long as it agrees with our convictions
Don’t like it; you’ll be arrested
Or, unfortunately and increasingly it seems, here in America
You will accept me the way I want to be
That is anyway I want to live
Not only will you accept me but you will celebrate with me
Don’t like it; you’ll be sued
Or lose tax exemption status
Church, people haven’t changed much
What changed for them and can change for you is who you ultimately submit to
6 Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table.
Anointing with oil goes back to Kings and Chronicles
At a time when the people opted to have human leadership as opposed to live in a theocracy (God governed through prophets and priests)
The selecting of a King was demonstrated by the pouring of oil over the kings head
Think of when David is anointed.
Even though David was anointed (chosen by God) he still faced hardship and struggle against the forces that oppose God and His will.
Many believe that this act serves a dual purpose
On one hand, given the kingdom language so prevalent in Matthew, we see the anointing of a king.
A king that will rule eternally and whose kingdom is ushered in at the cross
On the other hand, we see a human body that is prepared for burial; a common custom of the Jews.
We don’t have to pick a lane.
We can see both.
Just as David was anointed king before he faced an insane ruler bent on murdering him, Jesus is anointed king who will yet die for his subjects.
The Anointing of the King
The expensive oil was sealed inside to prevent evaporation.
When it came time to use the oil, the flasks were often broke at the neck and poured on the body for special ceremonies; often on the bodies of loved ones that passed.
Alabaster flasks were marble like containers with long necks.
The expensive oil was sealed inside to prevent evaporation.
When it came time to use the oil, the flasks were often broke at the neck and poured on the body for special ceremonies; often on the bodies of loved ones that passed.
The Anointing of the King
The Anointing of the King
A physical demonstration of what is a foregone conclusion
8 And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste?
9 For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.” 10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them,
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