Matthew 26
26
The Jewish Leaders Plan to Kill Jesus
(Mk. 14:1–2; Lk. 22:1–2; Jn. 11:45–53)
1After Jesus finished saying all these things, he said to his followers, 2“You know that the day after tomorrow is Passover. On that day the Son of Man will be handed over to his enemies to be killed on a cross.”
3Then the leading priests and the older Jewish leaders had a meeting at the palace where the high priest lived. The high priest’s name was Caiaphas. 4In the meeting they tried to find a way to arrest and kill Jesus without anyone knowing what they were doing. They planned to arrest Jesus and kill him. 5They said, “We cannot arrest Jesus during Passover. We don’t want the people to become angry and cause a riot.”
A Woman Does Something Special
(Mk. 14:3–9; Jn. 12:1–8)
6Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper. 7While he was there, a woman came to him. She had an alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. She poured the perfume on Jesus’ head while he was eating.
8The followers saw the woman do this and were upset at her. They said, “Why waste that perfume? 9It could be sold for a lot of money, and the money could be given to those who are poor.”
10But Jesus knew what happened. He said, “Why are you bothering this woman? She did a very good thing for me. 11You will always have the poor with you.#26:11 You will … with you See Deut. 15:11. But you will not always have me. 12This woman poured perfume on my body. She did this to prepare me for burial after I die. 13The Good News will be told to people all over the world. And I can assure you that everywhere the Good News is told, the story of what this woman did will also be told, and people will remember her.”
Judas Agrees to Help Jesus’ Enemies
(Mk. 14:10–11; Lk. 22:3–6)
14Then one of the twelve followers went to talk to the leading priests. This was the follower named Judas Iscariot. 15He said, “I will hand Jesus over to you. What will you pay me for doing this?” The priests gave him 30 silver coins. 16After that Judas waited for the best time to hand Jesus over to them.
The Passover Meal
(Mk. 14:12–21; Lk. 22:7–14, 21–23; Jn. 13:21–30)
17On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the followers came to Jesus. They said, “We will prepare everything for you to eat the Passover meal. Where do you want us to have the meal?”
18Jesus answered, “Go into the city. Go to a man I know. Tell him that the Teacher says, ‘The chosen time is near. I will have the Passover meal with my followers at your house.’” 19They obeyed and did what Jesus told them to do. They prepared the Passover meal.
20In the evening Jesus was at the table with the twelve followers. 21They were all eating. Then Jesus said, “Believe me when I say that one of you twelve here will hand me over to my enemies.”
22The followers were very sad to hear this. Each one said, “Lord, surely I am not the one!”
23Jesus answered, “One who has dipped his bread in the same bowl with me will be the one to hand me over. 24The Son of Man will suffer what the Scriptures say will happen to him. But it will be very bad for the one who hands over the Son of Man to be killed. It would be better for him if he had never been born.”
25Then Judas, the very one who would hand him over, said to Jesus, “Teacher, surely I am not the one you are talking about, am I?”
Jesus answered, “Yes, it is you.”
The Lord’s Supper
(Mk. 14:22–26; Lk. 22:15–20; 1 Cor. 11:23–25)
26While they were eating, Jesus took some bread and thanked God for it. He broke off some pieces, gave them to his followers and said, “Take this bread and eat it. It is my body.”
27Then he took a cup of wine, thanked God for it, and gave it to them. He said, “Each one of you drink some of it. 28This wine is my blood, which will be poured out to forgive the sins of many and begin the new agreement from God to his people. 29I want you to know, I will not drink this wine again until that day when we are together in my Father’s kingdom and the wine is new. Then I will drink it again with you.”
30They all sang a song and then went out to the Mount of Olives.
Jesus Says His Followers Will Leave Him
(Mk. 14:27–31; Lk. 22:31–34; Jn. 13:36–38)
31Jesus told the followers, “Tonight you will all lose your faith in me. The Scriptures say,
‘I will kill the shepherd,
and the sheep will run away.’ Zechariah 13:7
32But after I am killed, I will rise from death. Then I will go into Galilee. I will be there before you go there.”
33Peter answered, “All the other followers may lose their faith in you. But my faith will never be shaken.”
34Jesus answered, “The truth is, tonight you will say you don’t know me. You will deny me three times before the rooster crows.”
35But Peter answered, “I will never say I don’t know you! I will even die with you!” And all the other followers said the same thing.
Jesus Prays Alone
(Mk. 14:32–42; Lk. 22:39–46)
36Then Jesus went with his followers to a place called Gethsemane. He said to them, “Sit here while I go there and pray.” 37He told Peter and the two sons of Zebedee to come with him. Then he began to be very sad and troubled. 38Jesus said to Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, “My heart is so heavy with grief, I feel as if I am dying. Wait here and stay awake with me.”
39Then Jesus went on a little farther away from them. He fell to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, don’t make me drink from this cup.#26:39 cup A symbol of suffering. Jesus used the idea of drinking from a cup to mean accepting the suffering he would face in the terrible events that were soon to come. But do what you want, not what I want.” 40Then he went back to his followers and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Could you men not stay awake with me for one hour? 41Stay awake and pray for strength against temptation. Your spirit wants to do what is right, but your body is weak.”
42Then Jesus went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if I must do this#26:42 do this Literally, “drink this,” referring to the “cup,” the symbol of suffering in verse 39. and it is not possible for me to escape it, then I pray that what you want will be done.”
43Then he went back to the followers. Again he found them sleeping. They could not stay awake. 44So he left them and went away one more time and prayed. This third time he prayed, he said the same thing.
45Then Jesus went back to the followers and said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to the control of sinful men. 46Stand up! We must go. Here comes the one who will hand me over.”
Jesus Is Arrested
(Mk. 14:43–50; Lk. 22:47–53; Jn. 18:3–12)
47While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve apostles came there. He had a big crowd of people with him, all carrying swords and clubs. They had been sent from the leading priests and the older leaders of the people. 48Judas#26:48 Judas Literally, “the one who handed him over.” planned to do something to show them which one was Jesus. He said, “The one I kiss will be Jesus. Arrest him.” 49So he went to Jesus and said, “Hello, Teacher!” Then Judas kissed him.
50Jesus answered, “Friend, do the thing you came to do.”
Then the men came and grabbed Jesus and arrested him. 51When that happened, one of the followers with Jesus grabbed his sword and pulled it out. He swung it at the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.
52Jesus said to the man, “Put your sword back in its place. People who use swords will be killed with swords. 53Surely you know I could ask my Father and he would give me more than twelve armies of angels. 54But it must happen this way to show the truth of what the Scriptures said.”
55Then Jesus said to the crowd, “Why do you come to get me with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal. Every day I sat in the Temple area teaching. You did not arrest me there. 56But all these things have happened to show the full meaning of what the prophets wrote.” Then all of Jesus’ followers left him and ran away.
Jesus Before the Jewish Leaders
(Mk. 14:53–65; Lk. 22:54–55, 63–71; Jn. 18:13–14, 19–24)
57The men who arrested Jesus led him to the house of Caiaphas the high priest. The teachers of the law and the older Jewish leaders were gathered there. 58Peter followed Jesus but stayed back at a distance. He followed him to the yard of the high priest’s house. Peter went in and sat with the guards. He wanted to see what would happen to Jesus.
59The leading priests and the high council tried to find something against Jesus so that they could kill him. They tried to find people to lie and say that Jesus had done wrong. 60Many people came and told lies about him. But the council could find no real reason to kill him. Then two people came 61and said, “This man#26:61 This man That is, Jesus. His enemies avoided saying his name. said, ‘I can destroy the Temple of God and build it again in three days.’”
62Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Don’t you have anything to say about these charges against you? Are they telling the truth?” 63But Jesus said nothing.
Again the high priest said to Jesus, “You are now under oath. I command you by the power of the living God to tell us the truth. Tell us, are you the Messiah, the Son of God?”
64Jesus answered, “Yes, that’s right. But I tell you, in the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right side of God. And you will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven.”
65When the high priest heard this, he tore his clothes in anger. He said, “This man has said things that insult God! We don’t need any more witnesses. You all heard his insulting words. 66What do you think?”
The Jewish leaders answered, “He is guilty, and he must die.”
67Then some there spit in Jesus’ face, and they hit him with their fists. Others slapped him. 68They said, “Show us that you are a prophet,#26:68 prophet A prophet often knows things that are hidden to other people. Messiah! Tell us who hit you!”
Peter Is Afraid to Say He Knows Jesus
(Mk. 14:66–72; Lk. 22:56–62; Jn. 18:15–18, 25–27)
69While Peter was sitting outside in the yard, a servant girl came up to him. She said, “You were with Jesus, that man from Galilee.”
70But Peter told everyone there that this was not true. “I don’t know what you are talking about,” he said.
71Then he left the yard. At the gate another girl saw him and said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
72Again, Peter said he was never with Jesus. He said, “I swear to God I don’t know the man!”
73A short time later those standing there went to Peter and said, “We know you are one of them. It’s clear from the way you talk.”
74Then Peter began to curse. He said, “I swear to God, I don’t know the man!” As soon as he said this, a rooster crowed. 75Then he remembered what Jesus had told him: “Before the rooster crows, you will say three times that you don’t know me.” Then Peter went outside and cried bitterly.
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Matthew 26: ERV
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© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
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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