Matthew 26
26
The Plot to Kill Jesus
1When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2“As you know, Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man#26:2 “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself. will be handed over to be crucified.”
3At that same time the leading priests and elders were meeting at the residence of Caiaphas, the high priest, 4plotting how to capture Jesus secretly and kill him. 5“But not during the Passover celebration,” they agreed, “or the people may riot.”
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
6Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. 7While he was eating,#26:7 Or reclining. a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head.
8The disciples were indignant when they saw this. “What a waste!” they said. 9“It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.”
10But Jesus, aware of this, replied, “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me? 11You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. 12She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. 13I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
14Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests 15and asked, “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. 16From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
The Last Supper
17On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?”
18 “As you go into the city,” he told them, “you will see a certain man. Tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.’” 19So the disciples did as Jesus told them and prepared the Passover meal there.
20When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table#26:20 Or Jesus reclined. with the Twelve. 21While they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.”
22Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, “Am I the one, Lord?”
23He replied, “One of you who has just eaten from this bowl with me will betray me. 24For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!”
25Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked, “Rabbi, am I the one?”
And Jesus told him, “You have said it.”
26As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.”
27And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, 28for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant#26:28 Some manuscripts read the new covenant. between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many. 29Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”
30Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
31On the way, Jesus told them, “Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say,
‘God will strike # 26:31 Greek I will strike. Zech 13:7. the Shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
32 But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.”
33Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.”
34Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.”
35“No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same.
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
36Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” 37He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. 38He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
39He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
40Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? 41Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”
42Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away#26:42 Greek If this cannot pass. unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open.
44So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. 45Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!”
Jesus Is Betrayed and Arrested
47And even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests and elders of the people. 48The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss.” 49So Judas came straight to Jesus. “Greetings, Rabbi!” he exclaimed and gave him the kiss.
50Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.”
Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him. 51But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, slashing off his ear.
52 “Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by the sword. 53Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands#26:53 Greek twelve legions. of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? 54But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?”
55Then Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there teaching every day. 56But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures.” At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled.
Jesus before the Council
57Then the people who had arrested Jesus led him to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of religious law and the elders had gathered. 58Meanwhile, Peter followed him at a distance and came to the high priest’s courtyard. He went in and sat with the guards and waited to see how it would all end.
59Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council#26:59 Greek the Sanhedrin. were trying to find witnesses who would lie about Jesus, so they could put him to death. 60But even though they found many who agreed to give false witness, they could not use anyone’s testimony. Finally, two men came forward 61who declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”
62Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?” 63But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I demand in the name of the living God—tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
64Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand#26:64a Greek seated at the right hand of the power. See Ps 110:1. and coming on the clouds of heaven.”#26:64b See Dan 7:13.
65Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy. 66What is your verdict?”
“Guilty!” they shouted. “He deserves to die!”
67Then they began to spit in Jesus’ face and beat him with their fists. And some slapped him, 68jeering, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you that time?”
Peter Denies Jesus
69Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came over and said to him, “You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean.”
70But Peter denied it in front of everyone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
71Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.#26:71 Or Jesus the Nazarene.”
72Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. “I don’t even know the man,” he said.
73A little later some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, “You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent.”
74Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed.
75Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly.
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Matthew 26: NLT
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Matthew 26
26
The Plot to Kill Jesus
Mk 14:1–2; Lk 22:1–2; Jn 11:45–53
1When Jesus had finished all these sayings, He said to His disciples, 2#Mk 14:1–2; Lk 22:1–2“You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to be crucified.”
3#Jn 18:24; Mt 26:57–58Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, 4and took counsel that they might take Jesus covertly and kill Him. 5#Mt 27:24But they said, “Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.”
The Anointing at Bethany
Mk 14:3–9; Jn 12:1–8
6#Mt 21:17When Jesus was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, 7a woman came to Him having an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment and poured it on His head as He sat at supper.
8When His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “For what purpose is this waste? 9This ointment might have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.”
10When Jesus perceived it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? She has done a good work for Me. 11#Dt 15:11; Mk 14:7For you have the poor always with you, but you do not always have Me. 12In pouring this ointment on My body, she did it for My burial. 13#Mt 24:14; Mk 14:9Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will be told in memory of her.”
Judas’ Agreement to Betray Jesus
Mk 14:10–11; Lk 22:3–6
14#Mt 10:4; Lk 22:3–6Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15#Ex 21:32and said to them, “What will you give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. 16From that moment he searched for an opportunity to betray Him.
The Passover With the Disciples
Mk 14:12–21; Lk 22:7–14, 21–23; Jn 13:21–30
17#Ex 12:18–20; 12:6On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will You have us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”
18#Jn 7:6; 7:30He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.’ ” 19The disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.
20#Mk 14:17–21; Jn 13:21When evening came, He sat down with the twelve. 21#Jn 13:21; 6:70–71And as they were eating, He said, “Truly I say to you, one of you will betray Me.”
22They were very sorrowful, and each of them began saying to Him, “Lord, is it I?”
23#Jn 13:18; Ps 41:9He answered and said, “He who has dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me. 24#Mk 9:12; Lk 24:46The Son of Man goes as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”
25#Mt 26:64; 27:11Then Judas, who betrayed Him, answered, “Master, is it I?”
He said to him, “You have said it.”
The Lord’s Supper
Mk 14:22–26; Lk 22:15–20; 1Co 11:23–25
26#Mt 14:19As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take and eat. This is My body.”
27Then He took the cup, and after He gave thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you. 28#Mt 20:28; Ex 24:7–8For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29#Mt 13:43; Mk 14:25I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
30#Mt 21:1; Lk 22:39And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Peter’s Denial Foretold
Mk 14:27–31; Lk 22:31–34; Jn 13:36–38
31#Zec 13:7; Jn 16:32Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will fall away on account of Me this night, for it is written:
‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered.’#Zec 13:7.
32#Mt 28:10; 28:16But after I have risen, I will go before you to Galilee.”
33#Lk 22:33Peter answered, “Though all men will fall away on account of You, yet I will never fall away.”
34#Jn 13:38; Mt 26:75Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”
35#Jn 13:37Peter said to Him, “Though I should die with You, yet I will not deny You.” And all the disciples spoke in this manner.
The Prayer in Gethsemane
Mk 14:32–42; Lk 22:39–46
36#Mt 26:39; 26:42Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray close by.” 37#Mt 4:21; 17:1He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38#Jn 12:27Then He said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Wait here, and keep watch with Me.”
39#Mt 20:22; 26:42He went a little farther, and falling on His face, He prayed, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
40Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “So, could you not keep watch with Me one hour? 41#Mt 6:13; Mk 14:38Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42#Mt 26:39He went away a second time and prayed, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
43#Lk 9:32Again, He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44#2Co 12:8So leaving them again, He went away and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
45#Jn 13:1; Lk 22:53Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Sleep on now, and take your rest. Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Rise, let us be going. Look, he who betrays Me is at hand.”
The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
Mk 14:43–50; Lk 22:47–53; Jn 18:3–12
47#Mt 26:55; Ac 1:16While He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came. And with him was a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48Now he who betrayed Him had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I shall kiss is the Man. Seize Him.” 49#Mt 26:25He immediately came to Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.
50#Mt 20:13; 22:12And Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?”
Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. 51#Mk 14:47Immediately, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
52#Ge 9:6; Rev 13:10Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back in its place. For all those who take up the sword will perish by the sword. 53#Mt 4:11; 2Ki 6:17; Da 7:10Do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will at once give Me more than twelve legions of angels? 54#Mt 26:24But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”
55#Mk 12:35; Jn 8:2At that same moment Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a thief to take Me with swords and clubs? Daily I sat with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me. 56#Mt 26:31; 26:54But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.
Jesus Before the Sanhedrin
Mk 14:53–65; Lk 22:54–55, 63–71; Jn 18:13–14, 19–24
57#Mt 26:3Those who had seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had assembled. 58#Jn 7:32But Peter followed Him from afar to the high priest’s courtyard and went in, and sat with the servants to see the end.
59The chief priests and the elders and the entire Sanhedrin searched for false witness against Jesus to put Him to death, 60#Dt 19:15; Ps 27:12but they found none. Yes, though many false witnesses came forward, they found none.
At last two false witnesses came forward 61#Mt 27:40; Isa 49:7and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’ ”
62Then the high priest stood up and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” 63#Lev 5:1; Mt 16:16But Jesus remained silent.
The high priest said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God, tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.”
64#Ps 110:1; Da 7:13Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
65#Mt 9:3; Jn 10:36Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further need do we have for witnesses? See, now you have heard His blasphemy. 66#Jn 19:7What do you think?”
They answered, “He is guilty unto death.”
67#Isa 50:6; Mt 27:30Then they spat in His face and struck Him. And others slapped Him with the palms of their hands, 68#Mk 14:65; Lk 22:63–65saying, “Prophesy to us, You Christ! Who is it that struck You?”
Peter’s Denial of Jesus
Mk 14:66–72; Lk 22:56–62; Jn 18:15–18, 25–27
69#Mt 26:71Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.”
70But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.”
71Then when he went out onto the porch, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was also with Jesus of Nazareth.”
72Again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man.”
73#Jdg 12:6After a while those who stood by came to Peter and said, “Surely you also are one of them, for your accent betrays you.”
74Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and he swore, “I do not know the Man.”
Then immediately a rooster crowed. 75#Mt 26:34; Jn 13:38Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Then he went out and wept bitterly.
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