Matthew 26
26
The Plot To Kill Jesus
(Mark 14.1,2; Luke 22.1,2; John 11.45-53)
1When Jesus had finished teaching, he told his disciples, 2#Ex 12.1-27. “You know two days from now will be Passover. This is when the Son of Man will be handed over to his enemies and nailed to a cross.”
3At that time the chief priests and the nation's leaders were meeting at the home of Caiaphas the high priest. 4They planned how they could sneak around and have Jesus arrested and put to death. 5But they said, “We must not do it during Passover, because the people will riot.”
At Bethany
(Mark 14.3-9; John 12.1-8)
6Jesus was in the town of Bethany, eating at the home of Simon, who had leprosy.#26.6 leprosy: See the note at 8.2. 7#Lk 7.37,38. A woman came in with a bottle of expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus' head. 8But when his disciples saw this, they became angry and complained, “Why such a waste? 9We could have sold this perfume for a lot of money and given it to the poor.”
10Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he said:
Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing for me. 11#Dt 15.11. You will always have the poor with you, but you won't always have me. 12She has poured perfume on my body to prepare it for burial.#26.12 poured perfume on my body to prepare it for burial: The Jewish people taught that giving someone a proper burial was even more important than helping the poor. 13You may be sure that wherever the good news is told all over the world, people will remember what she has done. And they will tell others.
Judas and the Chief Priests
(Mark 14.10,11; Luke 22.3-6)
14Judas Iscariot#26.14 Iscariot: See the note at 10.4. was one of the twelve disciples. He went to the chief priests 15#Zec 11.12. and asked, “How much will you give me if I help you arrest Jesus?” They paid Judas 30 silver coins, 16and from then on he started looking for a good chance to betray Jesus.
Jesus Eats the Passover Meal with His Disciples
(Mark 14.12-21; Luke 22.7-13; John 13.21-30)
17On the first day of the Festival of Thin Bread, Jesus' disciples came to him and asked, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal?”
18Jesus told them to go to a certain man in the city and tell him, “Our teacher says, ‘My time has come! I want to eat the Passover meal with my disciples in your home.’ ” 19They did as Jesus told them and prepared the meal.
20-21When Jesus was eating with his twelve disciples that evening, he said, “One of you will surely hand me over to my enemies.”
22The disciples were very sad, and each one said to Jesus, “Lord, you can't mean me!”
23 #
Ps 41.9. He answered, “One of you men who has eaten with me from this dish will betray me. 24The Son of Man will die, as the Scriptures say. But it's going to be terrible for the one who betrays me! That man would be better off if he had never been born.”
25Judas said, “Teacher, you surely don't mean me!”
“That's what you say!” Jesus replied. But later, Judas did betray him.
The Lord's Supper
(Mark 14.22-26; Luke 22.14-23; 1 Corinthians 11.23-25)
26During the meal Jesus took some bread in his hands. He blessed the bread and broke it. Then he gave it to his disciples and said, “Take this and eat it. This is my body.”
27Jesus picked up a cup of wine and gave thanks to God. He then gave it to his disciples and said, “Take this and drink it. 28#Ex 24.8; Jr 31.31-34. This is my blood, and with it God makes his agreement with you. It will be poured out, so that many people will have their sins forgiven. 29From now on I am not going to drink any wine, until I drink new wine with you in my Father's kingdom.” 30Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.
Peter's Promise
(Mark 14.27-31; Luke 22.31-34; John 13.36-38)
31 #
Zec 13.7. Jesus said to his disciples, “During this very night, all of you will reject me, as the Scriptures say,
‘I will strike down
the shepherd,
and the sheep
will be scattered.’
32 #
Mt 28.16. But after I am raised to life, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”
33Peter spoke up, “Even if all the others reject you, I never will!”
34Jesus replied, “I promise you before a rooster crows tonight, you will say three times that you don't know me.” 35But Peter said, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never say I don't know you.”
All the others said the same thing.
Jesus Prays
(Mark 14.32-42; Luke 22.39-46)
36Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. When they got there, he told them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”
37Jesus took along Peter and the two brothers, James and John.#26.37 the two brothers, James and John: The Greek text has “the two sons of Zebedee” (see 27.56). He was very sad and troubled, 38and he said to them, “I am so sad that I feel as if I am dying. Stay here and keep awake with me.”
39Jesus walked on a little way. Then he knelt with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, don't make me suffer by drinking from this cup.#26.39 by drinking from this cup: In the Scriptures “to drink from a cup” sometimes means to suffer (see the note at 20.22). But do what you want, and not what I want.”
40He came back and found his disciples sleeping. So he said to Peter, “Can't any of you stay awake with me for just one hour? 41Stay awake and pray that you won't be tested. You want to do what is right, but you are weak.”
42Again Jesus went to pray and said, “My Father, if there is no other way, and I must suffer, I will still do what you want.”
43Jesus came back and found them sleeping again. They simply could not keep their eyes open. 44He left them and prayed the same prayer once more.
45Finally, Jesus returned to his disciples and said, “Are you still sleeping and resting?#26.45 Are you still sleeping and resting: Or “You may as well keep on sleeping and resting.” The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners. 46Get up! Let's go. The one who will betray me is already here.”
Jesus Is Arrested
(Mark 14.43-50; Luke 22.47-53; John 18.3-12)
47Jesus was still speaking, when Judas the betrayer came up. He was one of the twelve disciples, and a large mob armed with swords and clubs was with him. They had been sent by the chief priests and the nation's leaders. 48Judas had told them ahead of time, “Arrest the man I greet with a kiss.”#26.48 the man I greet with a kiss: It was the custom for people to greet each other with a kiss on the cheek.
49Judas walked right up to Jesus and said, “Hello, teacher.” Then Judas kissed him.
50Jesus replied, “My friend, do what you came for.”#26.50 do what you came for: Or “why are you here?”
The men grabbed Jesus and arrested him. 51One of Jesus' followers pulled out a sword. He struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.
52But Jesus told him, “Put your sword away. Anyone who lives by fighting will die by fighting. 53Don't you know that I could ask my Father, and he would at once send me more than twelve armies of angels? 54But then, how could the words of the Scriptures come true, which say this must happen?”
55 #
Lk 19.47; 21.37. Jesus said to the mob, “Why do you come with swords and clubs to arrest me like a criminal? Day after day I sat and taught in the temple, and you didn't arrest me. 56But all this happened, so that what the prophets wrote would come true.”
All Jesus' disciples left him and ran away.
Jesus Is Questioned by the Council
(Mark 14.53-65; Luke 22.54,55,63-71; John 18.13,14,19-24)
57After Jesus had been arrested, he was led off to the house of Caiaphas the high priest. The nation's leaders and the teachers of the Law of Moses were meeting there. 58But Peter followed along at a distance and came to the courtyard of the high priest's palace. He went in and sat down with the guards to see what was going to happen.
59The chief priests and the whole council wanted to put Jesus to death. So they tried to find some people who would tell lies about him in court.#26.59 some people who would tell lies about him in court: The Law of Moses taught that two witnesses were necessary before a person could be put to death (see verse 60). 60But they could not find any, even though many did come and tell lies. At last, two men came forward 61#Jn 2.19. and said, “This man claimed he could tear down God's temple and build it again in three days.”
62The high priest stood up and asked Jesus, “Why don't you say something in your own defense? Don't you hear the charges they are making against you?” 63But Jesus did not answer. So the high priest said, “With the living God looking on, you must tell the truth. Are you the Messiah, the Son of God?”#26.63 Son of God: One of the titles used for the kings of Israel.
64 #
Dn 7.13. “That is what you say!” Jesus answered. “But I tell all of you,
‘Soon you will see
the Son of Man
sitting at the right side#26.64 right side: See the note at 22.44.
of God All-Powerful
and coming on the clouds
of heaven.’ ”
65 #
Lv 24.15,16. The high priest then tore his robe and said, “This man claims to be God! We don't need any more witnesses! You have heard what he said. 66What do you think?”
They answered, “He is guilty and deserves to die!” 67#Is 50.6. Then they spit in his face and hit him with their fists. Others slapped him 68and said, “You think you are the Messiah! So tell us who hit you!”
Peter Says He Doesn't Know Jesus
(Mark 14.66-72; Luke 22.56-62; John 18.15-18,25-27)
69While Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, a servant girl came up to him and said, “You were with Jesus from Galilee.”
70But in front of everyone Peter said, “That isn't so! I don't know what you are talking about!”
71When Peter had gone out to the gate, another servant girl saw him and said to some people there, “This man was with Jesus from Nazareth.”
72Again Peter denied it, and this time he swore, “I don't even know that man!”
73A little while later some people standing there walked over to Peter and said, “We know you are one of them. We can tell it because you talk like someone from Galilee.”
74Peter began to curse and swear, “I don't know that man!”
Right then a rooster crowed, 75and Peter remembered that Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will say three times you don't know me.” Then Peter went out and cried bitterly.
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Matthew 26: CEVDCI
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
Matthew 26
26
1After Jesus had said all this, he told his disciples, 2“You know that it's Passover in two days time, and the Son of man will be handed over to be crucified.”
3Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the courtyard of Caiaphas, the high priest. 4There they plotted to arrest Jesus on some deceitful pretext#26:4. Literally, “with guile.” and kill him. 5But they said, “Let's not do this during the festival so that the people don't riot.”
6While Jesus was staying at Simon the leper's house in Bethany, 7a woman came over to him carrying an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume. She poured it on Jesus' head while he was sitting eating.
8But when the disciples saw what she did, they were upset.“What a terrible waste!” they objected. 9“This perfume could've been sold for a lot of money and given to the poor!”
10Jesus was aware of what was going on and told them, “Why are you upset with this woman? She's done something wonderful for me! 11You'll always have the poor with you,#26:11. See Deuteronomy 15:11. but you won't always have me. 12By pouring this perfume on my body she's prepared me for burial. 13I tell you the truth: wherever in the world this good news is spread, the story of what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.”
14Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the chief priests 15and asked them, “How much will you pay me for betraying Jesus to you?” They paid him thirty silver coins. 16From then on he looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
17On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked him, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you to eat?”
18Jesus told them, “Go into the city and find this particular man, and tell him that the Teacher says, ‘My time is approaching. I'm coming to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” 19The disciples did as Jesus told them, and prepared the Passover meal there.
20When evening came he sat down to eat with the Twelve. 21While they were eating he told them, “I tell you the truth: one of you is going to betray me.”
22They were extremely upset. One after the other they asked him, “Lord, it's not me, is it?”
23“The one who's dipped his hand into the dish with me will betray me,” Jesus replied. 24“The Son of man will die just as it was prophesied about him, but what a disaster it will be for the man who betrays the Son of man! It would be better for that man if he'd never been born!”
25Judas, the one who would betray Jesus, asked, “It's not me, is it, Rabbi?”
“You said it,” Jesus replied.
26While they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave pieces to the disciples. “Take and eat this for it is my body,” said Jesus. 27Then he picked up the cup, blessed it, and gave it to them. “Drink from it, all of you,” he told them. 28“For this is my blood of the agreement,#26:28 Or “covenant.” poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29However, I tell you, I won't drink this fruit of the vine until the day I drink it new with you in the kingdom of my Father.” 30After they'd sung a song, they left for the Mount of Olives.
31“All of you will abandon me tonight,” Jesus told them. “As Scripture says, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the flock of sheep will be completely scattered.’#26:31. Quoting Zechariah 13:7. 32But after I have risen, I'll go ahead of you to Galilee.”
33But Peter objected, “Even if everyone else abandons you, I'll never abandon you.”
34“I'm telling you the truth,” Jesus told him, “This very night, before the cock crows, you'll deny me three times.”
35“Even if I have to die with you, I'll never deny you!” Peter insisted. And all the disciples said the same thing.
36Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. He told them, “Sit down here while I go over there and pray.” 37He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him, and he began to suffer agonizing sorrow and distress. 38Then he said to them, “I am so overwhelmed with sadness that it's killing me. Wait here and keep watch with me.” 39He went a little farther forward, fell facedown, and prayed.
“My Father, please, if it's possible, let this cup of suffering be taken from me,” Jesus asked. “Even so, may it not be what I want but what you want.”
40He went back to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “What, you couldn't stay awake with me for just one hour? 41Stay awake and pray, so that you don't fall into temptation. Yes, the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” 42He went away a second time and prayed.
“My Father, if this cup cannot be taken from me without me drinking from it, then your will be done,” he said. 43He went back and found them sleeping, for they just couldn't stay awake.#26:43. Literally, “their eyes were weighed down.” 44So he left them once more, and went off and prayed a third time, repeating the same things. 45Then he returned to the disciples, and told them, “How can you still be sleeping and resting? Look, the time has come. The Son of man is about to be betrayed into the hands of sinners! 46Get up, let's go! Look, the one who's betraying me has arrived.”
47As he said this, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived with a large mob armed with swords and clubs sent by the chief priests and elders of the people. 48The betrayer had arranged to give them a signal: “The one that I kiss, that's him—arrest him,” he'd told them.
49Judas came up to Jesus immediately, and said, “Hello, Rabbi,” and kissed him.
50“My friend, do what you came to do,”#26:50. Or, “What are you doing here?” Jesus said to Judas. So they came and grabbed hold of Jesus, and arrested him.
51One of those who was with Jesus reached for his sword and pulled it out. He struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his ear. 52But Jesus told him, “Put your sword away. Everyone who fights with the sword will die by the sword. 53Don't you think I could ask my Father, and he'd immediately send more than twelve legions of angels? 54But then how could the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must be like this?”
55Then Jesus told the mob, “Have you come with swords and clubs to arrest me as if I was some kind of dangerous criminal? Every day I sat in the Temple teaching and you didn't arrest me then. 56But all this is happening to fulfill what the prophets wrote.” Then all the disciples abandoned him and ran away.
57Those who'd arrested Jesus took him to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the religious teachers and elders had gathered. 58Peter followed him at a distance, and went into the high priest's courtyard. He sat there with the guards to see how things would end.
59The chief priests and the whole council were trying to find some false evidence against Jesus so they could put him to death. 60But they couldn't find anything, even though many false witnesses came forward. Eventually two came forward 61and reported, “This man said, ‘I can destroy God's Temple, and rebuild it in three days.’”
62The high priest stood up and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer? What do you have to say in your defense?” 63But Jesus remained silent.
The high priest said to Jesus, “In the name of the living God I place you under oath. Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
64“You said it,” Jesus replied. “And I also tell you that in the future you'll see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of the Almighty, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”#26:64. See Psalms 110:1 and Daniel 7:13.
65Then the high priest tore his clothes, and said, “He's speaking blasphemy! Why do we need any witnesses? Look, now you've heard for yourselves his blasphemy! 66What's your verdict?”
“Guilty! He deserves to die!” they answered. 67Then they spat in his face and beat him. Some of them slapped him with their hands, 68and said, “Prophesy to us, you ‘Messiah’! Who just hit you?”
69Meanwhile Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came up to him, and said, “You, you were with Jesus the Galilean!” 70But he denied it in front of everyone. “I don't know what you're talking about,” he said.
71When he went back to the courtyard entrance another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72Once again he denied it, saying with an oath, “I don't know him.” 73A little while later the people standing there came up to Peter and said, “You definitely are one of them. Your accent gives you away.” 74Then he started to swear: “Curses on me if I'm a liar!#26:74. Or “he called down curses on himself.” I don't know the man!” Immediately the cock crowed.
75Then Peter remembered what Jesus had told him: “Before the cock crows, three times you will deny knowing me.” He went outside and wept bitterly.
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com