Matthew 26
26
The Plot to Kill Jesus
1When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, 2#For ver. 2-5, see Mark 14:1, 2; Luke 22:1, 2 “You know that after two days #See John 6:4 the Passover is coming, and #ver. 24 the Son of Man #See ch. 20:18, 19will be delivered up to be crucified.”
3 # [Ps. 2:2; John 11:47; Acts 4:27] Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in #ver. 58, 69; Luke 11:21; John 18:15; [Rev. 11:2] the palace of the high priest, whose name was #ver. 57; Luke 3:2; John 11:49; 18:13; Acts 4:6Caiaphas, 4#John 11:53; See ch. 21:46and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. 5But they said, “Not during the feast, #ch. 27:24lest there be an uproar among the people.”
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
6 # For ver. 6-13, see Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-8; [Luke 7:37-39] Now when Jesus was at #ch. 21:17; John 11:18Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,#26:6 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13 7a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. 8And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9For this could have been sold for a large sum and #[John 13:29]given to the poor.” 10But #ch. 16:8Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. 11For #Deut. 15:11 you always have the poor with you, but #ch. 9:15; See John 7:33you will not always have me. 12In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it #John 19:40to prepare me for burial. 13Truly, I say to you, wherever #[ch. 24:14] this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told #Acts 10:4in memory of her.”
Judas to Betray Jesus
14 # For ver. 14-16, see Mark 14:10, 11; Luke 22:3-6; [John 13:2, 27, 30] Then one of the twelve, whose name was #ch. 10:4; 27:3; Acts 1:16; [John 6:71; 12:4]Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they #Zech. 11:12; [Gen. 23:16; Jer. 32:9] paid him #ch. 27:3, 9; Ex. 21:32thirty pieces of silver. 16And from that moment he sought an opportunity #See ch. 20:18, 19to betray him.
The Passover with the Disciples
17 # For ver. 17-19, see Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22:7-13 Now on #Ex. 12:18the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, #See John 11:28 ‘The Teacher says, #[ver. 45; John 7:6, 8, 30; 8:20; 13:1; 17:1]My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” 19And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.
20 # For ver. 20-24, see Mark 14:17-21; [Luke 22:14, 21-23; John 13:21-26] When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve.#26:20 Some manuscripts add disciples 21And as they were eating, #[John 6:70, 71]he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” 23He answered, #[John 13:18]“He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 24The Son of Man goes #ver. 54, 56; Mark 9:12; Luke 18:31; 24:25-27, 46; Acts 17:2, 3; 26:22, 23; 1 Cor. 15:3; 1 Pet. 1:10, 11 as it is written of him, but #ch. 18:7 woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! #John 17:12It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 25Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, #ver. 49; See John 1:38 Rabbi?” He said to him, #ver. 64; See Luke 22:70“You have said so.”
Institution of the Lord’s Supper
26 # For ver. 26-29, see Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:18-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-25 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and #See ch. 14:19 after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; #1 Cor. 10:16; [John 6:53]this is my body.” 27And he took a cup, and when he #See ch. 15:36had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28for #[See ver. 26 above] this is my #Ex. 24:8; [Zech. 9:11; Heb. 13:20] blood of the#26:28 Some manuscripts insert new covenant, which is poured out for #See ch. 20:28 many #Mark 1:4; [Luke 1:77]for the forgiveness of sins. 29I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you #[ch. 13:43]in my Father’s kingdom.”
Jesus Foretells Peter’s Denial
30 # For ver. 30-35, see Mark 14:26-31 And when they had sung a hymn, #Luke 22:39; John 18:1 they went out to #See ch. 21:1the Mount of Olives. 31Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will #Cited from Zech. 13:7; [John 16:32]strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32But after I am raised up, #ch. 28:7, 10, 16; Mark 16:7I will go before you to Galilee.” 33#[Luke 22:31, 33]Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” 34#Luke 22:34; John 13:38 Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, #ver. 75before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35#Luke 22:33; John 13:37Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
36 # For ver. 36-46, see Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:40-46 Then Jesus went with them #[See ver. 30 above]to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37And taking with him #ch. 17:1 Peter and #ch. 4:21the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38Then he said to them, #[Ps. 42:5, 6; John 12:27] “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and #See ch. 24:42watch#26:38 Or keep awake; also verses 40, 41 with me.” 39And going a little farther he fell on his face #Heb. 5:7 and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let #See ch. 20:22 this cup pass from me; #ver. 42; John 5:30; 6:38; Phil. 2:8nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41#[See ver. 38 above] Watch and #1 Pet. 4:7 pray that you #ch. 6:13may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, #ver. 39; See ch. 6:10your will be done.” 43And again he came and found them sleeping, for #Luke 9:32their eyes were heavy. 44So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for #[2 Cor. 12:8]the third time, saying the same words again. 45Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on.#26:45 Or Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, #John 12:23, 27; 13:1; 17:1; [ver. 18; Luke 22:53] the hour is at hand, and #ch. 17:22; 20:18the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
47 # For ver. 47-56, see Mark 14:43-50; Luke 22:47-53; John 18:3-11 While he was still speaking, #ver. 14; Acts 1:16Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” 49And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, #ver. 25Rabbi!” And he kissed him. 50Jesus said to him, #ch. 20:13; 22:12 “Friend, #[John 13:27]do what you came to do.”#26:50 Or Friend, why are you here? Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. 51And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his #[Luke 22:38]sword and struck the servant#26:51 Or bondservant of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For #Rev. 13:10; [Gen. 9:6; Ezek. 35:6]all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53#[John 10:18] Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me #[ch. 4:11; 2 Kgs. 6:17; Dan. 7:10; Luke 22:43; John 18:36] more than twelve #Luke 8:30legions of angels? 54#See ver. 24; ch. 1:22But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” 55At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day #[John 8:2]; [Luke 2:46; John 18:20] I sat in the temple #ch. 21:23; [ch. 4:23]teaching, and you did not seize me. 56But #[See ver. 54] all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” #ver. 31; [Ps. 88:8, 18; John 16:32]Then all the disciples left him and fled.
Jesus Before Caiaphas and the Council
57 #
Luke 22:54 Then #For ver. 57-68, see Mark 14:53-65; [John 18:12, 13, 19-24] those who had seized Jesus led him to #ver. 3Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. 58And #[John 18:15] Peter was following him at a distance, as far as #[See ver. 57 above] the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with #John 7:32; 18:3the guards to see the end. 59Now the chief priests and the whole council#26:59 Greek Sanhedrin #See Acts 6:11were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, 60but they found none, #Ps. 27:12; 35:11 though many false witnesses came forward. At last #Deut. 19:15two came forward 61and said, “This man said, #[Acts 6:14]; See John 2:19 ‘I am able to #ch. 27:40destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’” 62And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?”#26:62 Or Have you no answer to what these men testify against you? 63#ch. 27:12, 14; Isa. 53:7; John 19:9 But Jesus remained silent. #For ver. 63-66, [Luke 22:67-71] And the high priest said to him, #[Lev. 5:1; 1 Sam. 14:24, 26; Mark 5:7] “I adjure you by #See ch. 16:16 the living God, #John 10:24 tell us if you are #[ch. 22:42-45]; See ch. 1:17 the Christ, #See ch. 14:33the Son of God.” 64Jesus said to him, #ver. 25 “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on #See ch. 16:27; 24:30 you will see the Son of Man #Ps. 110:1; Heb. 1:3; [Mark 16:19]seated at the right hand of Power and #See ch. 16:27; 24:30 coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65Then the high priest #Num. 14:6; Acts 14:14 tore his robes and said, #ch. 9:3; John 10:36“He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. 66What is your judgment?” They answered, #See Lev. 24:16“He deserves death.” 67Then #ch. 27:30; Isa. 50:6; Mark 10:34 they spit in his face #[Luke 22:63-65; John 18:22] and #ch. 5:39; Acts 23:2struck him. And some slapped him, 68saying, “Prophesy to us, you #ver. 63Christ! Who is it that struck you?”
Peter Denies Jesus
69 # For ver. 69-75, see Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:55-62; John 18:16-18, 25-27 Now Peter was sitting outside #ver. 3in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” 71And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus #ch. 2:23of Nazareth.” 72And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” 73After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for #[Judg. 12:6]your accent betrays you.” 74Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. 75And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, #ver. 34 “Before the rooster crows, you will #[Acts 3:13, 14]deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
Currently Selected:
Matthew 26: ESV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Sign up to receive news and updates about the ESV:
Matthew 26
26
1 WHEN JESUS had ended this discourse, He said to His disciples,
2 You know that the Passover is in two days–and the Son of Man will be delivered up treacherously to be crucified.
3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the [open] court of the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,
4 And consulted together in order to arrest Jesus by stratagem secretly and put Him to death.
5 But they said, It must not be during the Feast, for fear that there will be a riot among the people.
6 Now when Jesus came back to Bethany and was in the house of Simon the leper,
7 A woman came up to Him with an alabaster flask of very precious perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at table.
8 And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, For what purpose is all this waste?
9 For this perfume might have been sold for a large sum and the money given to the poor.
10 But Jesus, fully aware of this, said to them, Why do you bother the woman? She has done a noble (praiseworthy and beautiful) thing to Me.
11 For you always have the poor among you, but you will not always have Me. [Deut. 15:11.]
12 In pouring this perfume on My body she has done something to prepare Me for My burial.
13 Truly I tell you, wherever this good news (the Gospel) is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will be told also, in memory of her.
14 Then one of the Twelve [apostles], who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests
15 And said, What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you? And they weighed out for and paid to him thirty pieces of silver [about twenty-one dollars and sixty cents]. [Exod. 21:32; Zech. 11:12.]
16 And from that moment he sought a fitting opportunity to betray Him.
17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread [Passover week], the disciples came to Jesus and said to Him, Where do You wish us to prepare for You to eat the Passover supper?
18 He said, Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, The Master says: My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.
19 And accordingly the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they made ready the Passover supper. [Deut. 16:5-8.]
20 When it was evening, He was reclining at table with the twelve disciples.
21 And as they were eating, He said, Solemnly I say to you, one of you will betray Me!
22 They were exceedingly pained and distressed and deeply hurt and sorrowful and began to say to Him one after another, Surely it cannot be I, Lord, can it?
23 He replied, He who has [just] dipped his hand in the same dish with Me will betray Me!
24 The Son of Man is going just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better (more profitable and wholesome) for that man if he had never been born! [Ps. 41:9.]
25 Judas, the betrayer, said, Surely it is not I, is it, Master? He said to him, You have stated [the fact].
26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread and, praising God, gave thanks and asked Him to bless it to their use, and when He had broken it, He gave it to the disciples and said, Take, eat; this is My body.
27 And He took a cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, Drink of it, all of you;
28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which [ratifies the agreement and] is being poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. [Exod. 24:6-8.]
29 I say to you, I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it with you new and of superior quality in My Father's kingdom.
30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
31 Then Jesus said to them, You will all be offended and stumble and fall away because of Me this night [distrusting and deserting Me], for it is written, I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. [Zech. 13:7.]
32 But after I am raised up [to life again], I will go ahead of you to Galilee.
33 Peter declared to Him, Though they all are offended and stumble and fall away because of You [and distrust and desert You], I will never do so.
34 Jesus said to him, Solemnly I declare to you, this very night, before a single rooster crows, you will deny and disown Me three times.
35 Peter said to Him, Even if I must die with You, I will not deny or disown You! And all the disciples said the same thing.
36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and He told His disciples, Sit down here while I go over yonder and pray.
37 And taking with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He began to show grief and distress of mind and was deeply depressed.
38 Then He said to them, My soul is very sad and deeply grieved, so that I am almost dying of sorrow. Stay here and keep awake and keep watch with Me.
39 And going a little farther, He threw Himself upon the ground on His face and prayed saying, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will [not what I desire], but as You will and desire.
40 And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and He said to Peter, What! Are you so utterly unable to stay awake and keep watch with Me for one hour?
41 All of you must keep awake (give strict attention, be cautious and active) and watch and pray, that you may not come into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
42 Again a second time He went away and prayed, My Father, if this cannot pass by unless I drink it, Your will be done.
43 And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were weighed down with sleep.
44 So, leaving them again, He went away and prayed for the third time, using the same words.
45 Then He returned to the disciples and said to them, Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of especially wicked sinners [whose way or nature it is to act in opposition to God].
46 Get up, let us be going! See, My betrayer is at hand!
47 As He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve [apostles], came up, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, The One I shall kiss is the Man; seize Him.
49 And he came up to Jesus at once and said, Hail (greetings, good health to You, long life to You), Master! And he embraced Him and kissed Him with [pretended] warmth and devotion.
50 Jesus said to him, Friend, for what are you here? Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and arrested Him.
51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus reached out his hand and drew his sword and, striking the body servant of the high priest, cut off his ear.
52 Then Jesus said to him, Put your sword back into its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. [Gen. 9:6.]
53 Do you suppose that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will immediately provide Me with more than twelve legions [more than 80,000] of angels?
54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must come about this way?
55 At that moment Jesus said to the crowds, Have you come out with swords and clubs as [you would] against a robber to capture Me? Day after day I was accustomed to sit in the porches and courts of the temple teaching, and you did not arrest Me.
56 But all this has taken place in order that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples deserted Him and, fleeing, escaped.
57 But those who had seized Jesus took Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had assembled.
58 But Peter followed Him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest's home; he even went inside and sat with the guards to see the end.
59 Now the chief priests and the whole council (the Sanhedrin) sought to get false witnesses to testify against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death;
60 But they found none, though many witnesses came forward [to testify]. At last two men came forward
61 And testified, This Fellow said, I am able to tear down the sanctuary of the temple of God and to build it up again in three days.
62 And the high priest stood up and said, Have You no answer to make? What about this that these men testify against You?
63 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, I call upon you to swear by the living God, and tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.
64 Jesus said to him, You have stated [the fact]. More than that, I tell you: You will in the future see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty and coming on the clouds of the sky. [Ps. 110:1; Dan. 7:13.]
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and exclaimed, He has uttered blasphemy! What need have we of further evidence? You have now heard His blasphemy. [Lev. 24:16; Num. 14:6.]
66 What do you think now? They answered, He deserves to be put to death.
67 Then they spat in His face and struck Him with their fists; and some slapped Him in the face, [Isa. 50:6.]
68 Saying, Prophesy to us, You Christ (the Messiah)! Who was it that struck You?
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and one maid came up to him and said, You were also with Jesus the Galilean!
70 But he denied it falsely before them all, saying, I do not know what you mean.
71 And when he had gone out to the porch, another maid saw him, and she said to the bystanders, This fellow was with Jesus the Nazarene!
72 And again he denied it and disowned Him with an oath, saying, I do not know the Man!
73 After a little while, the bystanders came up and said to Peter, You certainly are one of them too, for even your accent betrays you.
74 Then Peter began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, I do not even know the Man! And at that moment a rooster crowed.
75 And Peter remembered Jesus' words, when He had said, Before a single rooster crows, you will deny and disown Me three times. And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation