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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Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.
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Matthew 26
26
The Plot to Kill Jesus
(Mark 14:1–2; Luke 22:1–6; John 11:45–57)
1When Jesus finished saying all these things, he told his disciples, 2“You know that the Passover will take place in two days. At that time the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
3Then the chief priests and the leaders of the people gathered in the palace of the chief priest Caiaphas. 4They made plans to arrest Jesus in an underhanded way and to kill him. 5But they said, “We shouldn’t arrest him during the festival, or else there may be a riot among the people.”
A Woman Prepares Jesus’ Body for the Tomb
(Mark 14:3–9; John 12:1–8)
6Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon, a man who had suffered from a skin disease. 7While Jesus was sitting there, a woman went to him with a bottle of very expensive perfume and poured it on his head.
8The disciples were irritated when they saw this. They asked, “Why did she waste it like this? 9It could have been sold for a high price, and the money could have been given to the poor.”
10Since Jesus knew what was going on, he said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing for me. 11You will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me with you. 12She poured this perfume on my body before it is placed in a tomb. 13I can guarantee this truth: Wherever this Good News is spoken in the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
Judas Plans to Betray Jesus
(Mark 14:10–11; Luke 22:3–6)
14Then one of the twelve apostles, the one named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests. 15He asked, “What will you pay me if I hand him over to you?”
They offered him 30 silver coins. 16From then on, he looked for a chance to betray Jesus.
Preparations for the Passover
(Mark 14:12–17; Luke 22:7–17)
17On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples went to Jesus. They asked, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?”
18He said, “Go to a certain man in the city, and tell him that the teacher says, ‘My time is near. I will celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’ ”
19The disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.
20When evening came, Jesus was at the table with the twelve apostles.
Jesus Knows Who Will Betray Him
(Mark 14:18–21; Luke 22:21–23; John 13:21–30)
21While they were eating, he said, “I can guarantee this truth: One of you is going to betray me.”
22Feeling deeply hurt, they asked him one by one, “You don’t mean me, do you, Lord?”
23Jesus answered, “Someone who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24The Son of Man is going to die as the Scriptures say he will. But how horrible it will be for that person who betrays the Son of Man. It would have been better for that person if he had never been born.”
25Then Judas, who betrayed him, asked, “You don’t mean me, do you, Rabbi?”
“Yes, I do,” Jesus replied.
The Lord’s Supper
(Mark 14:22–26; Luke 22:19–20)
26While they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it. He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take this, and eat it. This is my body.”
27Then he took a cup and spoke a prayer of thanksgiving. He gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you. 28This is my blood, the blood of the promise.#26:28 Or “testament,” or “covenant.” It is poured out for many people so that sins are forgiven.
29“I can guarantee that I won’t drink this wine again until that day when I drink new wine with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
30After they sang a hymn, they went to the Mount of Olives.
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
(Mark 14:27–31; Luke 22:31–34; John 13:36–38)
31Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will abandon me tonight. Scripture says,
‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep in the flock will be scattered.’
32“But after I am brought back to life, I will go to Galilee ahead of you.”
33Peter said to him, “Even if everyone else abandons you, I never will.”
34Jesus replied to Peter, “I can guarantee this truth: Before a rooster crows tonight, you will say three times that you don’t know me.”
35Peter told him, “Even if I have to die with you, I’ll never say that I don’t know you!” All the other disciples said the same thing.
Jesus Prays in the Garden of Gethsemane
(Mark 14:32–42; Luke 22:39–46)
36Then Jesus went with the disciples to a place called Gethsemane. He said to them, “Stay here while I go over there and pray.”
37He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons with him. He was beginning to feel deep anguish. 38Then he said to them, “My anguish is so great that I feel as if I’m dying. Wait here, and stay awake with me.”
39After walking a little farther, he quickly bowed with his face to the ground and prayed, “Father, if it’s possible, let this cup ⌞of suffering⌟ be taken away from me. But let your will be done rather than mine.”
40When he went back to the disciples, he found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you stay awake with me for one hour? 41Stay awake, and pray that you won’t be tempted. You want to do what’s right, but you’re weak.”
42Then he went away a second time and prayed, “Father, if this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, let your will be done.”
43He found them asleep again because they couldn’t keep their eyes open.
44After leaving them again, he went away and prayed the same prayer a third time. 45Then he came back to the disciples and said to them, “You might as well sleep now. The time is near for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners. 46Get up! Let’s go! The one who is betraying me is near.”
Jesus Is Arrested
(Mark 14:43–52; Luke 22:47–54a; John 18:1–14)
47Just then, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve apostles, arrived. A large crowd carrying swords and clubs was with him. They were from the chief priests and leaders of the people. 48Now, the traitor had given them a signal. He said, “The one I kiss is the man you want. Arrest him!”
49Then Judas quickly stepped up to Jesus and said, “Hello, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
50Jesus said to him, “Friend, why are you here?”
Then some men came forward, took hold of Jesus, and arrested him. 51Suddenly, one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and cut off the ear of the chief priest’s servant. 52Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword away! All who use a sword will be killed by a sword. 53Don’t you think that I could call on my Father to send more than twelve legions of angels to help me now? 54How, then, are the Scriptures to be fulfilled that say this must happen?”
55At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as if I were a criminal? I used to sit teaching in the temple courtyard every day. But you didn’t arrest me then. 56All of this has happened so that what the prophets have written would come true.”
Then all the disciples abandoned him and ran away.
The Trial in Front of the Jewish Council
(Mark 14:53–65; Luke 22:63–71)
57Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the chief priest, where the experts in Moses’ Teachings and the leaders had gathered together. 58Peter followed at a distance until he came to the chief priest’s courtyard. He went inside and sat with the guards to see how this would turn out.
59The chief priests and the whole council were searching for false testimony to use against Jesus in order to execute him. 60But they did not find any, although many came forward with false testimony. At last two men came forward. 61They stated, “This man said, ‘I can tear down God’s temple and rebuild it in three days.’ ”
62The chief priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Don’t you have any answer to what these men testify against you?”
63But Jesus was silent.
Then the chief priest said to him, “Swear an oath in front of the living God and tell us, are you the Messiah, the Son of God?”
64Jesus answered him, “Yes, I am. But I alone can guarantee that from now on you will see the Son of Man in the honored position—the one next to God the Father on the heavenly throne #26:64 Or “you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of God.”. He will be coming on the clouds of heaven.”
65Then the chief priest tore his robes in horror and said, “He has dishonored God! Why do we need any more witnesses? You’ve just heard him dishonor God! 66What’s your verdict?”
They answered, “He deserves the death penalty!”
67Then they spit in his face, hit him with their fists, and some of them slapped him. 68They said, “You Christ, if you’re a prophet, tell us who hit you.”
Peter Denies Jesus
(Mark 14:66–72; Luke 22:54b–62; John 18:15–18, 25–27)
69Peter was sitting in the courtyard. A female servant came to him and said, “You, too, were with Jesus the Galilean.”
70But Peter denied it in front of them all by saying, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
71As he went to the entrance, another female servant saw him. She told those who were there, “This man was with Jesus from Nazareth.”
72Again Peter denied it and swore with an oath, “I don’t know the man!”
73After a little while the men standing there approached Peter and said, “It’s obvious you’re also one of them. Your accent gives you away!”
74Then Peter began to curse and swear with an oath, “I don’t know the man!” Just then a rooster crowed. 75Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before a rooster crows, you will say three times that you don’t know me.” Then Peter went outside and cried bitterly.
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