Matthew 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“You know that after two days is the Passover, # Mk 14:1–2; Lk 22:1–2 and the Son of Man will be betrayed to be crucified.”

3Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, # Mt 26:57–58; Jn 18:24 4and took counsel that they might take Jesus covertly and kill Him. 5But they said, “Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.” # Mt 27:24

The Anointing at Bethany

Mk 14:3–9; Jn 12:1–8

6When Jesus was in Bethany # Mt 21:17 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. 11For you have the poor always with you, but you do not always have Me. # Dt 15:11; Mk 14:7 12In pouring this ointment on My body, she did it for My burial. 13Truly 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.” # Mt 24:14; Mk 14:9

Judas’ Agreement to Betray Jesus

Mk 14:10–11; Lk 22:3–6

14Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests # Mt 10:4; Lk 22:3–6 15and said to them, “What will you give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. # Zec 11:12–13 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

17On 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?” # Ex 12:6, 18–20

18He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. # Jn 7:6, 30 I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.’ ” 19The disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.

20When evening came, He sat down with the twelve. # Mk 14:17–21 21And as they were eating, He said, “Truly I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” # Jn 6:70–71; 13:21

22They were very sorrowful, and each of them began saying to Him, “Lord, is it I?”

23He answered, “He who has dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me. # Ps 41:9; Jn 13:18 24The Son of Man goes as it is written of Him, # Isa 53; Mk 9:12; Lk 24:46 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.”

25Then Judas, who betrayed Him, answered, “Master, is it I?”

He said to him, “You have said it.” # Mt 26:64; 27:11

The Lord’s Supper

Mk 14:22–26; Lk 22:15–20; 1Co 11:23–25

26As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it and broke it, and gave it to the disciples # Mt 14:19 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. 28For this is My blood of the new covenant, # Ex 24:7–8 which is shed for many for the remission of sins. # Mt 20:28 29I 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.” # Mk 14:25

30And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. # Mt 21:1; Lk 22:39

Peter’s Denial Foretold

Mk 14:27–31; Lk 22:31–34; Jn 13:36–38

31Then 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; Jn 16:32 # 26:31 Zec 13:7.

32But after I have risen, I will go before you to Galilee.” # Mt 28:10, 16

33Peter answered, “Though all men will fall away on account of You, yet I will never fall away.” # Lk 22:33

34Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, this night, before the cock crows, you will deny Me three times.” # Mt 26:75; Jn 13:38

35Peter said to Him, “Though I should die with You, yet I will not deny You.” # Jn 13:37 And all the disciples spoke in this manner.

The Prayer in Gethsemane

Mk 14:32–42; Lk 22:39–46

36Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray close by.” # Mt 26:39, 42 37He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee # Mt 4:21; 17:1 and began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38Then He said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. # Jn 12:27 Wait here, and keep watch with Me.”

39He went a little farther, and falling on His face, He prayed, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. # Mt 20:22; 26:42 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? 41Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation. # Mt 6:13; Mk 14:38 The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

42He 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.” # Mt 26:39

43Again, He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. # Lk 9:32 44So leaving them again, He went away and prayed the third time, saying the same words. # 2Co 12:8

45Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Sleep on now, and take your rest. Look, the hour is near, # Lk 22:53; Jn 13:1 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

47While He was still speaking, Judas, # Ac 1:16 one of the twelve, came. And with him was a great crowd with swords and clubs, # Mt 26:55 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.” 49He immediately came to Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. # Mt 26:25

50And Jesus said to him, “Friend, # Mt 20:13; 22:12 why have you come?”

Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. 51Immediately, 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. # Mk 14:47

52Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back in its place. For all those who take up the sword will perish by the sword. # Ge 9:6; Rev 13:10 53Do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will at once give Me more than twelve legions of angels? # 2Ki 6:17; Da 7:10; Mt 4:11 54But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, # Mt 26:24 that it must be so?”

55At 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, # Mk 12:35; Jn 8:2 and you did not seize Me. 56But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” # Mt 26:54 Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled. # Mt 26:31

Jesus Before the Sanhedrin

Mk 14:53–65; Lk 22:54–55, 63–71; Jn 18:13–14, 19–24

57Those who had seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had assembled. # Mt 26:3 58But 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, 60but they found none. Yes, though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. # Dt 19:15; Ps 27:12

At last two false witnesses came forward 61and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’ ” # Mt 27:40

62Then the high priest stood up and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” 63But Jesus remained silent. # Lev 5:1

The high priest said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God, tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.” # Mt 16:16

64Jesus 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 # Ps 110:1 and coming on the clouds of heaven.” # Da 7:13

65Then 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. # Mt 9:3; Jn 10:36 66What do you think?”

They answered, “He is guilty unto death.” # Jn 19:7

67Then they spit in His face and struck Him. And others slapped Him with the palms of their hands, # Isa 50:6; Mt 27:30 68saying, “Prophesy to us, You Christ! Who is it that struck You?” # Mk 14:65; Lk 22:63–65

Peter’s Denial of Jesus

Mk 14:66–72; Lk 22:56–62; Jn 18:15–18, 25–27

69Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.” # Mt 26:71

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.”

73After a while those who stood by came to Peter and said, “Surely you also are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” # Jdg 12:6

74Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and he swore, “I do not know the Man.”

Then immediately a cock crowed. 75Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken, “Before a cock crows, you will deny Me three times.” # Mt 26:34; Jn 13:38 Then he went out and wept bitterly.

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Matthew 26: MEV

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Matthew 26

The Plot to Kill Jesus

1When Jesus had finished saying all these things,#Mk 14:1–2; Lk 22:1–2; Jn 11:47–53 he told his disciples, 2“You know#26:2 Or “Know (as a command) that the Passover takes place after two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”#Jn 11:55; 13:1

3Then the chief priests#26:3 Other mss add and the scribes and the elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, who was named Caiaphas,#Ps 2:2; Mt 26:57; Lk 3:2; Jn 11:47; 18:13,15; Ac 4:6 4and they conspired to arrest Jesus in a treacherous way and kill him.#Mt 21:46; Jn 11:53 5“Not during the festival,” they said, “so there won’t be rioting among the people.”

The Anointing at Bethany

6While Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon#Mk 14:3–9; Jn 12:1–8 the leper,#26:6 Gk lepros; a term for various skin diseases; see Lv 13–14 7a woman approached him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume. She poured it on his head as he was reclining at the table. 8When the disciples#Mt 10:1; 26:56; Mk 3:7; 16:20; Lk 6:13; Jn 12:16 saw it, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. 9“This might have been sold for a great deal and given to the poor.”

10Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a noble thing for me. 11You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.#Dt 15:11; Jn 12:8 12By pouring this perfume on my body, she has prepared me for burial. 13Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel#Mt 24:14; Mk 1:1; 13:10 is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

14Then#Mk 14:10–11; Lk 22:3–6 one of the Twelve, the man called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests#Mt 10:4; Jn 6:71; 12:4; 13:30; Ac 1:16 15and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” So they weighed out thirty pieces of silver for him.#Ex 21:32; Zch 11:12–13; Mt 27:3 16And from that time he started looking for a good opportunity to betray him.

Betrayal at the Passover

17On the first day of Unleavened Bread#Mk 14:12–16; Lk 22:7–13 the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

18 “Go into the city to a certain man,” he said, “and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My time is near; I am celebrating the Passover at your place#26:18 Lit Passover with you with my disciples.’”#Jn 7:6,8; 8:20; 13:1; 17:1 19So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. 20When evening came, he was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21While they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”#Mk 14:17–21; Lk 22:21–23; Jn 13:21–26

22Deeply distressed, each one began to say to him, “Surely not I, Lord?”

23He replied, “The one who dipped his hand with me in the bowl — he will betray me. 24The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him,#Dn 9:26; Mk 9:12; Lk 24:25–27; Ac 17:2–3; 26:22–23; 1Co 15:3; 1Pt 1:10 but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for him if he had not been born.”

25Judas, his betrayer, replied, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” #Lk 22:70; Jn 1:38

“You have said it,” he told him.

The First Lord’s Supper

26As they were eating,#Mk 14:22–25; Lk 22:17–20; 1Co 11:23–25 Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples,#Mt 10:1; 26:56; Mk 3:7; 16:20; Lk 6:13; Jn 12:16 and said, “Take and eat it; this is my body.”#Mt 14:19; 1Co 10:16 27Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you. 28For this is my blood of the covenant,#26:28 Other mss read new covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.#Ex 24:8; Mt 20:28; Mk 1:4; Heb 9:20 29But I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”#Mt 4:23; Mk 1:15; Ac 20:25 30After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.#Mt 21:1; Lk 22:39; Jn 18:1

Peter’s Denial Predicted

31Then Jesus said to them, “Tonight all of you will fall away because of me, for it is written:

I will strike the shepherd,

and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. # 26:31 Zch 13:7 # Zch 13:7; Mt 11:6; Jn 16:32

32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” # Mt 28:7,10,16; Mk 16:7

33Peter told him, “Even if everyone falls away because of you, I will never fall away.”

34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to him, “tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”#Mt 26:75; Lk 22:34; Jn 13:38

35“Even if I have to die with you,” Peter told him, “I will never deny you,” and all the disciples said the same thing.

The Prayer in the Garden

36Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane,#Mk 14:32–42; Lk 22:40–46 and he told the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled.#Mt 4:21; 17:1 38He said to them, “I am deeply grieved#26:38 Lit “My soul is swallowed up in sorrow to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.”#Ps 42:5–6; Mt 24:42; Jn 12:27 39Going a little farther,#26:39 Other mss read Drawing nearer he fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”#Mt 20:22; Jn 5:30; 6:38; Php 2:8; Heb 5:7

40Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He asked Peter, “So, couldn’t you stay awake with me one hour? 41Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

42Again, a second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this#26:42 Other mss add cup cannot pass#26:42 Other mss add from me unless I drink it, your will be done.”#Mt 26:39; Mk 14:36; Lk 22:42; Jn 6:38 43And he came again and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open.

44After leaving them, he went away again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. 45Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? See, the time is near. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.#Jn 12:27; 13:1 46Get up; let’s go. See, my betrayer is near.”

Judas’s Betrayal of Jesus

47While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived.#Mk 14:43–50; Lk 22:47–53; Jn 18:3–11 A large mob with swords and clubs was with him from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48His betrayer had given them a sign: “The one I kiss, he’s the one; arrest him.” 49So immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

50 “Friend,” # Mt 20:13; 22:12 Jesus asked him, “why have you come?” #26:50 Or Jesus told him, “do what you have come for.”

Then they came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested him. 51At that moment one of those with Jesus reached out his hand and drew his sword. He struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his ear.#Lk 22:38; Jn 18:10

52Then Jesus told him, “Put your sword back in its place because all who take up the sword will perish by the sword.#Gn 9:6; Rv 13:10 53Or do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and he will provide me here and now with more than twelve legions of angels?#2Kg 6:17; Dn 7:10; Mt 4:11; Lk 8:30 54How, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled#Mt 1:22; 26:24 that say it must happen this way?”

55At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a criminal,#26:55 Lit as against a criminal to capture me? Every day I used to sit, teaching in the temple, and you didn’t arrest me.#Mk 12:35; Lk 21:37; Jn 7:19; 8:2; 18:20 56But all this has happened so that the writings of the prophets#Mt 26:54; Rm 1:2; 2Pt 1:20 would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples#Mt 10:1; 26:56; Mk 3:7; 16:20; Lk 6:13; Jn 12:16 deserted him and ran away.

Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin

57Those#Mk 14:53–65; Jn 18:12–13,19–24 who had arrested Jesus led him away to Caiaphas#Mt 26:3; Jn 11:49 the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had convened. 58Peter was following him at a distance right to the high priest’s courtyard. He went in and was sitting with the servants to see the outcome.#Jn 7:32; 18:15

59The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death,#Mt 5:22; Ac 6:11 60but they could not find any, even though many false witnesses#Dt 19:15; Ps 27:12; 35:11; Ac 6:13 came forward.#26:60 Other mss add they found none Finally, two#26:60 Other mss add false witnesses who came forward 61stated, “This man said, ‘I can destroy the temple of God#Mt 27:40; Jn 2:19; Ac 6:14 and rebuild it in three days.’”

62The high priest stood up and said to him, “Don’t you have an answer to what these men are testifying against you?” 63But#Lk 22:67–71 Jesus kept silent.#Is 53:7; Mt 27:12,14; Jn 19:9 The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath#Lv 19:12; Nm 30:2; Dt 23:21; Mt 5:33; 14:7; 23:16 by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”#Lv 5:1; 1Sm 14:24,26; Mt 16:16

64 “You have said it,” Jesus told him. “But I tell you, in the future#26:64 Lit you, from now you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”#26:64Ps 110:1; Dn 7:13#Ps 110:1; Dn 7:13; Mt 16:27; 24:30; Rv 1:7

65Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed!#Mk 3:29; Jn 10:33 Why do we still need witnesses? See, now you’ve heard the blasphemy.#Nm 14:6; Mk 14:63; Ac 14:14 66What is your decision?”

They answered, “He deserves death!” #Lv 24:16; Jn 19:7 67Then they spat in his face#Mt 27:30; Mk 10:34; Lk 22:63–65; Jn 18:22 and beat him; others slapped him 68and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah! Who was it that hit you?” #Mk 14:65; Lk 22:64

Peter Denies His Lord

69Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard.#Mk 14:66–72; Lk 22:55–62; Jn 18:16–18,25–27 A servant girl approached him and said, “You were with Jesus the Galilean too.”

70But he denied it in front of everyone: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

71When he had gone out to the gateway, another woman saw him and told those who were there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene!” #Mk 14:67; Ac 6:14

72And again he denied it with an oath:#Lv 19:12; Nm 30:2; Dt 23:21; Mt 5:33; 14:7; 23:16 “I don’t know the man!”

73After a little while those standing there approached and said to Peter, “You really are one of them, since even your accent#26:73 Or speech gives you away.”

74Then he started to curse and to swear with an oath, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed, 75and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”#Mt 26:34; Jn 13:38; Ac 3:13–14 And he went outside and wept bitterly.

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