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.
Currently Selected:
Matthew 26: GW
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
Matthew 26
26
The Plot against Jesus
(Mk 14.1–2; Lk 22.1–2; Jn 11.45–53)
1When Jesus had finished teaching all these things, he said to his disciples, 2#Ex 12.1–27“In two days, as you know, it will be the Passover Festival, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
3Then the chief priests and the elders met together in the palace of Caiaphas, the High Priest, 4and made plans to arrest Jesus secretly and put him to death. 5“We must not do it during the festival,” they said, “or the people will riot.”
Jesus is Anointed at Bethany
(Mk 14.3–9; Jn 12.1–8)
6Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon, a man who had suffered from a dreaded skin disease. 7#Lk 7.37–38While Jesus was eating, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar filled with an expensive perfume, which she poured on his head. 8The disciples saw this and became angry. “Why all this waste?” they asked. 9“This perfume could have been sold for a large amount and the money given to the poor!”
10Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? It is a fine and beautiful thing that she has done for me. 11#Deut 15.11You will always have poor people with you, but you will not always have me. 12What she did was to pour this perfume on my body to get me ready for burial. 13Now, I assure you that wherever this gospel is preached all over the world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
(Mk 14.10–11; Lk 22.3–6)
14Then one of the twelve disciples — the one named Judas Iscariot — went to the chief priests 15#Zech 11.12and asked, “What will you give me if I betray Jesus to you?” They counted out thirty silver coins and gave them to him. 16From then on Judas was looking for a good chance to hand Jesus over to them.
Jesus Eats the Passover Meal with his Disciples
(Mk 14.12–21; Lk 22.7–13, 21–23; Jn 13.21–30)
17On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked him, “Where do you want us to get the Passover meal ready for you?”
18 “Go to a certain man in the city,” he said to them, “and tell him: ‘The Teacher says, My hour has come; my disciples and I will celebrate the Passover at your house.’ ”
19The disciples did as Jesus had told them and prepared the Passover meal.
20When it was evening, Jesus and the twelve disciples sat down to eat. 21During the meal Jesus said, “I tell you, one of you will betray me.”
22The disciples were very upset and began to ask him, one after the other, “Surely, Lord, you don't mean me?”
23 #
Ps 41.9
Jesus answered, “One who dips his bread in the dish with me will betray me. 24The Son of Man will die as the Scriptures say he will, but how terrible for that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would have been better for that man if he had never been born!”
25Judas, the traitor, spoke up. “Surely, Teacher, you don't mean me?” he asked.
Jesus answered, “So you say.”
The Lord's Supper
(Mk 14.22–26; Lk 22.14–20; 1 Cor 11.23–25)
26While they were eating, Jesus took a piece of bread, gave a prayer of thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples. “Take and eat it,” he said; “this is my body.”
27Then he took a cup, gave thanks to God, and gave it to them. “Drink it, all of you,” he said; 28#Ex 24.8; Jer 31.31–34“this is my blood, which seals God's covenant, my blood poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29I tell you, I will never again drink this wine until the day I drink the new wine 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
(Mk 14.27–31; Lk 22.31–34; Jn 13.36–38)
31 #
Zech 13.7
Then Jesus said to them, “This very night all of you will run away and leave me, for the scripture says, ‘God will kill the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32#Mt 28.16But after I am raised to life, I will go to Galilee ahead of you.”
33Peter spoke up and said to Jesus, “I will never leave you, even though all the rest do!”
34Jesus said to Peter, “I tell you that before the cock crows tonight, you will say three times that you do not know me.”
35Peter answered, “I will never say that, even if I have to die with you!”
And all the other disciples said the same thing.
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
(Mk 14.32–42; Lk 22.39–46)
36Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee. Grief and anguish came over him, 38and he said to them, “The sorrow in my heart is so great that it almost crushes me. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
39He went a little farther on, threw himself face downwards on the ground, and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, take this cup of suffering from me! Yet not what I want, but what you want.”
40Then he returned to the three disciples and found them asleep; and he said to Peter, “How is it that you three were not able to keep watch with me even for one hour? 41Keep watch and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42Once more Jesus went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cup of suffering cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43He returned once more and found the disciples asleep; they could not keep their eyes open.
44Again Jesus left them, went away, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45Then he returned to the disciples and said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look! The hour has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to the power of sinners. 46Get up, let us go. Look, here is the man who is betraying me!”
The Arrest of Jesus
(Mk 14.43–50; Lk 22.47–53; Jn 18.3–12)
47Jesus was still speaking when Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs and sent by the chief priests and the elders. 48The traitor had given the crowd a signal: “The man I kiss is the one you want. Arrest him!”
49Judas went straight to Jesus and said, “Peace be with you, Teacher,” and kissed him.
50Jesus answered, “Be quick about it, friend!”#26.50 Be quick about it, friend!; or Why are you here, friend?
Then they came up, arrested Jesus, and held him tight. 51One of those who were with Jesus drew his sword and struck at the High Priest's slave, cutting off his ear. 52“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “All who take the sword will die by the sword. 53Don't you know that I could call on my Father for help, and at once he would send me more than twelve armies of angels? 54But in that case, how could the Scriptures come true which say that this is what must happen?”
55 #
Lk 19.47; 21.37 Then Jesus spoke to the crowd, “Did you have to come with swords and clubs to capture me, as though I were an outlaw? Every day I sat down and taught in the Temple, and you did not arrest me. 56But all this has happened in order to make what the prophets wrote in the Scriptures come true.”
Then all the disciples left him and ran away.
Jesus Before the Council
(Mk 14.53–65; Lk 22.54–55, 63–71; Jn 18.13–14, 19–24)
57Those who had arrested Jesus took him to the house of Caiaphas, the High Priest, where the teachers of the Law and the elders had gathered together. 58Peter followed from a distance, as far as the courtyard of the High Priest's house. He went into the courtyard and sat down with the guards to see how it would all come out. 59The chief priests and the whole Council tried to find some false evidence against Jesus to put him to death; 60but they could not find any, even though many people came forward and told lies about him. Finally two men stepped up 61#Jn 2.19and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to tear down God's Temple and three days later build it up again.’ ”
62The High Priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Have you no answer to give to this accusation against you?” 63But Jesus kept quiet. Again the High Priest spoke to him, “In the name of the living God I now put you on oath: tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
64 #
Dan 7.13
Jesus answered him, “So you say. But I tell all of you: from this time on you will see the Son of Man sitting on the right of the Almighty and coming on the clouds of heaven!”
65 #
Lev 24.16
At this the High Priest tore his clothes and said, “Blasphemy! We don't need any more witnesses! You have just heard his blasphemy! 66What do you think?”
They answered, “He is guilty and must die.”
67 #
Is 50.6
Then they spat in his face and beat him; and those who slapped him 68said, “Prophesy for us, Messiah! Guess who hit you!”
Peter Denies Jesus
(Mk 14.66–72; Lk 22.56–62; Jn 18.15–18, 25–27)
69Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard when one of the High Priest's servant women came to him and said, “You, too, were with Jesus of Galilee.”
70But he denied it in front of them all. “I don't know what you are talking about,” he answered, 71and went on out to the entrance of the courtyard. Another servant woman saw him and said to the men there, “He was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
72Again Peter denied it and answered, “I swear that I don't know that man!”
73After a little while the men standing there came to Peter. “Of course you are one of them,” they said. “After all, the way you speak gives you away!”
74Then Peter said, “I swear that I am telling the truth! May God punish me if I am not! I do not know that man!”
Just then a cock crowed, 75and Peter remembered what Jesus had told him: “Before the cock crows, you will say three times that you do not know me.” He went out and wept bitterly.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Good News Bible with Deuterocanonicals/Apocrypha. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.