Matthew 26
26
The Plan to Kill Jesus
1Jesus finished saying all these things. Then he said to his disciples, 2“As you know, the Passover Feast is two days away. The Son of Man will be handed over to be nailed to a cross.”
3Then the chief priests met with the elders of the people. They met in the palace of Caiaphas, the high priest. 4They made plans to arrest Jesus secretly. They wanted to kill him. 5“But not during the feast,” they said. “The people may stir up trouble.”
A Woman Pours Perfume on Jesus
6Jesus was in Bethany. He was in the home of Simon, who had a skin disease. 7A woman came to Jesus with a special sealed jar of very expensive perfume. She poured the perfume on his head while he was at the table.
8When the disciples saw this, they became angry. “Why this waste?” they asked. 9“The perfume could have been sold at a high price. The money could have been given to poor people.”
10Jesus was aware of this. So he said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11You will always have poor people with you. But you will not always have me. 12She poured the perfume on my body to prepare me to be buried. 13What I’m about to tell you is true. What she has done will be told anywhere this good news is preached all over the world. It will be told in memory of her.”
Judas Agrees to Hand Jesus Over
14One of the 12 disciples went to the chief priests. His name was Judas Iscariot. 15He asked, “What will you give me if I hand Jesus over to you?” So they counted out 30 silver coins for him. 16From then on, Judas watched for the right time to hand Jesus over to them.
The Lord’s Supper
17It was the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The disciples came to Jesus. They asked, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover meal?”
18He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man. Tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover at your house with my disciples.” ’ ” 19So the disciples did what Jesus had told them to do. They prepared the Passover meal.
20When evening came, Jesus was at the table with his 12 disciples. 21While they were eating, he said, “What I’m about to tell you is true. One of you will hand me over to my enemies.”
22The disciples became very sad. One after the other, they began to say to him, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord, do you?”
23Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will hand me over. 24The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But how terrible it will be for the one who hands over the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
25Judas was the one who was going to hand him over. He said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Teacher, do you?”
Jesus answered, “You have said so.”
26While they were eating, Jesus took bread. He gave thanks and broke it. He handed it to his disciples and said, “Take this and eat it. This is my body.”
27Then he took a cup. He gave thanks and handed it to them. He said, “All of you drink from it. 28This is my blood of the covenant. It is poured out to forgive the sins of many people. 29Here is what I tell you. From now on, I won’t drink wine with you again until the day I drink it with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
30Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.
Jesus Says That the Disciples Will Turn Away
31Jesus told them, “This very night you will all turn away because of me. It is written that the Lord said,
“ ‘I will strike the shepherd down.
Then the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ (Zechariah 13:7)
32But after I rise from the dead, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
33Peter replied, “All the others may turn away because of you. But I never will.”
34“What I’m about to tell you is true,” Jesus answered. “It will happen tonight. Before the rooster crows, you will say three times that you don’t know me.”
35But Peter said, “I may have to die with you. But I will never say I don’t know you.” And all the other disciples said the same thing.
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
36Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. He said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him. He began to be sad and troubled. 38Then he said to them, “My soul is very sad. I feel close to death. Stay here. Keep watch with me.”
39He went a little farther. Then he fell with his face to the ground. He prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, take this cup of suffering away from me. But let what you want be done, not what I want.”
40Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41“Watch and pray. Then you won’t fall into sin when you are tempted. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
42Jesus went away a second time. He prayed, “My Father, is it possible for this cup to be taken away? But if I must drink it, may what you want be done.”
43Then he came back. Again he found them sleeping. They couldn’t keep their eyes open. 44So he left them and went away once more. For the third time he prayed the same thing.
45Then he returned to the disciples. He said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look! The hour has come. The Son of Man is about to be handed over to sinners. 46Get up! Let us go! Here comes the one who is handing me over to them!”
Jesus Is Arrested
47While Jesus was still speaking, Judas arrived. He was one of the 12 disciples. A large crowd was with him. They were carrying swords and clubs. The chief priests and the elders of the people had sent them. 48Judas, who was going to hand Jesus over, had arranged a signal with them. “The one I kiss is the man,” he said. “Arrest him.” 49So Judas went to Jesus at once. He said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him.
50Jesus replied, “Friend, do what you came to do.”
Then the men stepped forward. They grabbed Jesus and arrested him. 51At that moment, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword. He pulled it out and struck the slave of the high priest with it. He cut off the slave’s ear.
52“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “All who use the sword will die by the sword. 53Do you think I can’t ask my Father for help? He would send an army of more than 70,000 angels right away. 54But then how would the Scriptures come true? They say it must happen in this way.”
55At that time Jesus spoke to the crowd. “Am I leading a band of armed men against you?” he asked. “Do you have to come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courtyard teaching. And you didn’t arrest me. 56But all this has happened so that the words of the prophets would come true.” Then all the disciples left him and ran away.
Jesus Is Taken to the Sanhedrin
57Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest. The teachers of the law and the elders had come together there. 58Not too far away, Peter followed Jesus. He went right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see what would happen.
59The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for something to use against Jesus. They wanted to put him to death. 60But they did not find any proof, even though many false witnesses came forward.
Finally, two other witnesses came forward. 61They said, “This fellow claimed, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God. I can build it again in three days.’ ”
62Then the high priest stood up. He asked Jesus, “Aren’t you going to answer? What are these charges that these men are bringing against you?” 63But Jesus remained silent.
The high priest said to him, “I am commanding you in the name of the living God. May he judge you if you don’t tell the truth. Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
64“You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But here is what I say to all of you. From now on, you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One. You will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven.”
65Then the high priest tore his clothes. He said, “He has spoken a very evil thing against God! Why do we need any more witnesses? You have heard him say this evil thing. 66What do you think?”
“He must die!” they answered.
67Then they spit in his face. They hit him with their fists. Others slapped him. 68They said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah! Who hit you?”
Peter Says He Does Not Know Jesus
69Peter was sitting out in the courtyard. A female servant came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.
70But in front of all of them, Peter said he was not. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
71Then he went out to the gate leading into the courtyard. There another servant saw him. She said to the people, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
72Again he said he was not. With a curse he said, “I don’t know the man!”
73After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter. “You must be one of them,” they said. “The way you talk gives you away.”
74Then Peter began to curse and said to them, “I don’t know the man!”
Right away a rooster crowed. 75Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said. “The rooster will crow,” Jesus had told him. “Before it does, you will say three times that you don’t know me.” Peter went outside. He broke down and cried.
Currently Selected:
Matthew 26: NIrV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV®
Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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:
:
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: