Matthew begins his passion narrative in chapter 26 of his gospel, and we are faced with some comparisons. We see the comparison of Jesus willingly going to the cross while the Chief Priests and Elders secretly meet to plot his death. We see the comparison of a woman who spares no expense in her affection for Jesus with the disciples who see her gesture as a waste. One other comparison we see is not so noticeable but can be considered nonetheless. We see a man who has taken on the role of a High Priest when he possibly shouldn’t with the One who is the true High Priest and the fulfillment of everything that this role means.

Caiaphas, the High priest of the time, was High Priest from 18-36AD. Caiaphas was the son-in-law to Annas who was the previous High Priest but not yet dead. Were there two High Priests? In short answer, “kind of, yes.” In Luke 3:2 and Acts 4:6, Luke mentions both Caiaphas and Annas as the High Priests and in connection with the high priestly family. The problem with this is that the role of a High Priest was to be a role for life succeeded only be death. Annas was out of favor with the Romans, and so while many Jews would still consider him the High Priest, Caiaphas his son-in-law was the officially appointed High Priest accepted by Rome. As this was never meant to be the proper appointment for a High Priest, perhaps this was why Jesus was first taken to Annas before standing before Caiaphas when he was arrested (John 18).

In the first five verses of Matthew 26, Matthew describes two separate meetings. There is a meeting in a home in Bethany (just outside of Jerusalem) between Jesus and his disciples, and there is a meeting that takes place at Caiaphas’ palace in Jerusalem. In one meeting Jesus describes his death that will end the Old Covenant role of the High Priest forever. In the other meeting, the High Priest seems to be plotting the death of Jesus with the Jewish leadership. By killing Jesus, Caiaphas will unwittingly end a role that he should never have been in to start with. By killing Jesus in just a few days, Jesus will fulfill the role of the Old Covenant Priesthood by taking on himself the sin of humanity. Through his sacrifice he will bear the punishment for sin as the One True Mediator between God and man. Through Christ only and forever, God’s wrath upon sin will be appeased and forgiveness bestowed to all who trust in Jesus.

The comparison between the pre-ordained Great High Priest who truly deals with sin and the wrongly appointed High Priest who plots in his own sin is extraordinary. In one meeting the doubtful High Priest is more worried about the safety of his own position and not causing an uproar. In the other meeting the Great High Priest is selflessly describing his upcoming death for the salvation of his people.