Matthew 26
26
The plot to kill Jesus
(Mark 14.1,2; Luke 22.1,2; John 11.45-53)
1When Jesus had finished teaching, he told his disciples, 2“You know that two days from now will be Passover. That is when the Son of Man will be handed over to his enemies and nailed to a cross.”#Ex 12.1-27.
3At that time the chief priests and the nation's leaders were meeting at the home of Caiaphas the high priest. 4They secretly planned to have Jesus arrested and put to death. 5But they said, “We must not do it during Passover, because the people will riot.”
At Bethany
(Mark 14.3-9; John 12.1-8)
6Jesus was in the town of Bethany, eating at the home of Simon, who had leprosy.#26.6 leprosy: See the note at 8.2. 7A woman came in with a bottle of expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus' head.#Lk 7.37,38. 8But when his disciples saw this, they became angry and complained, “Why such a waste? 9We could have sold this perfume for a lot of money and given it to the poor.”
10Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he said:
Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing for me. 11You will always have the poor with you, but you won't always have me.#Dt 15.11. 12She has poured perfume on my body to prepare it for burial.#26.12 poured perfume on my body to prepare it for burial: The Jewish people taught that giving someone a proper burial was even more important than helping the poor. 13You may be sure that wherever the good news is told all over the world, people will remember what she has done. And they will tell others.
Judas and the chief priests
(Mark 14.10,11; Luke 22.3-6)
14Judas Iscariot#26.14 Iscariot: See the note at 10.4. was one of the twelve disciples. He went to the chief priests 15and asked, “How much will you give me if I help you arrest Jesus?” They paid Judas thirty silver coins,#Zec 11.12. 16and from then on he started looking for a good chance to betray Jesus.
Jesus eats the Passover meal with his disciples
(Mark 14.12-21; Luke 22.7-13; John 13.21-30)
17On the first day of the Festival of Thin Bread, Jesus' disciples came to him and asked, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal?”
18Jesus told them to go to a certain man in the city and tell him, “Our teacher says, ‘My time has come! I want to eat the Passover meal with my disciples in your home.’ ” 19They did as Jesus told them and prepared the meal.
20-21When Jesus was eating with his twelve disciples that evening, he said, “One of you will hand me over to my enemies.”
22The disciples were very sad, and each one said to Jesus, “Lord, you can't mean me!”
23He answered, “One of you men who has eaten with me from this dish will betray me.#Ps 41.9. 24The Son of Man will die, as the Scriptures say. But it's going to be terrible for the one who betrays me! That man would be better off if he had never been born.”
25Judas said, “Teacher, surely you don't mean me!”
“That's what you say!” Jesus replied. But later, Judas did betray him.
The Lord's Supper
(Mark 14.22-26; Luke 22.14-23; 1 Corinthians 11.23-25)
26During the meal Jesus took some bread in his hands. He blessed the bread and broke it. Then he gave it to his disciples and said, “Take this and eat it. This is my body.”
27Jesus picked up a cup of wine and gave thanks to God. He then gave it to his disciples and said, “Take this and drink it. 28This is my blood, and with it God makes his agreement with you. It will be poured out, so that many people will have their sins forgiven.#Ex 24.8; Jr 31.31-34. 29From now on I am not going to drink any wine, until I drink new wine with you in my Father's kingdom.” 30Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.
Peter's promise
(Mark 14.27-31; Luke 22.31-34; John 13.36-38)
31Jesus said to his disciples, “During this very night, all of you will reject me, as the Scriptures say,#Zec 13.7.
‘I will strike down
the shepherd,
and the sheep
will be scattered.’
32But after I am raised to life, I will go to Galilee ahead of you.”#Mt 28.16.
33Peter spoke up, “Even if all the others reject you, I never will!”
34Jesus replied, “I promise you that before a cock crows tonight, you will say three times that you don't know me.” 35But Peter said, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never say I don't know you.”
All the others said the same thing.
Jesus prays
(Mark 14.32-42; Luke 22.39-46)
36Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. When they got there, he told them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”
37Jesus took along Peter and the two brothers, James and John.#26.37 the two brothers, James and John: The Greek text has “the two sons of Zebedee”. See 27.56. He was very sad and troubled, 38and he said to them, “I am so sad that I feel as if I am dying. Stay here and keep awake with me.”
39Jesus walked on a little way. Then he knelt with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, don't make me suffer by making me drink from this cup.#26.39 making me drink from this cup: In the Scriptures “to drink from a cup” sometimes means to suffer. See the note at 20.22. But do what you want, and not what I want.”
40He came back and found his disciples sleeping. So he said to Peter, “Can't any of you stay awake with me for just one hour? 41Stay awake and pray that you won't be tested. You want to do what is right, but you are weak.”
42Again Jesus went to pray and said, “My Father, if there is no other way, and I must suffer, I will still do what you want.”
43Jesus came back and found them sleeping again. They simply could not keep their eyes open. 44He left them and prayed the same prayer once more.
45Finally, Jesus returned to his disciples and said, “Are you still sleeping and resting?#26.45 Are you still sleeping and resting?: Or “You may as well keep on sleeping and resting.” The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners. 46Get up! Let's go. The one who will betray me is already here.”
Jesus is arrested
(Mark 14.43-50; Luke 22.47-53; John 18.3-12)
47Jesus was still speaking, when Judas the betrayer came up. He was one of the twelve disciples, and a large mob armed with swords and clubs was with him. They had been sent by the chief priests and the nation's leaders. 48Judas had told them beforehand, “Arrest the man I greet with a kiss.”#26.48 the man I greet with a kiss: It was the custom for people to greet each other with a kiss on the cheek.
49Judas walked right up to Jesus and said, “Hello, teacher.” Then Judas kissed him.
50Jesus replied, “My friend, why are you here?”#26.50 why are you here?: Or “do what you came for.”
The men grabbed Jesus and arrested him. 51One of Jesus' followers pulled out a sword. He struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.
52But Jesus told him, “Put your sword away. Anyone who lives by fighting will die by fighting. 53Don't you know that I could ask my Father, and straight away he would send me more than twelve armies of angels? 54But then, how could the words of the Scriptures come true, which say that this must happen?”
55Jesus said to the mob, “Why do you come with swords and clubs to arrest me like a criminal? Day after day I sat and taught in the temple, and you didn't arrest me.#Lk 19.47; 21.37. 56But all this happened, so that what the prophets wrote would come true.”
All Jesus' disciples left him and ran away.
Jesus is questioned by the council
(Mark 14.53-65; Luke 22.54,55,63-71; John 18.13,14,19-24)
57After Jesus had been arrested, he was led off to the house of Caiaphas the high priest. The nation's leaders and the teachers of the Law of Moses were meeting there. 58But Peter followed along at a distance and came to the courtyard of the high priest's palace. He went in and sat down with the guards to see what was going to happen.
59The chief priests and the whole council wanted to put Jesus to death. So they tried to find some people who would tell lies about him in court.#26.59 some people who would tell lies about him in court: The Law of Moses taught that two witnesses were necessary before a person could be put to death. See verse 60. 60But they could not find any, even though many did come and tell lies. At last, two men came forward 61and said, “This man claimed that he would tear down God's temple and build it again in three days.”#Jn 2.19.
62The high priest stood up and asked Jesus, “Why don't you say something in your own defence? Don't you hear the charges they are making against you?” 63But Jesus did not answer. So the high priest said, “With the living God looking on, you must tell the truth. Tell us, are you the Messiah, the Son of God?”#26.63 Son of God: One of the titles used for the kings of Israel.
64“That is what you say!” Jesus answered. “But I tell all of you,#Dn 7.13.
‘Soon you will see
the Son of Man
sitting at the right side#26.64 right side: See the note at 22.44.
of God All-Powerful
and coming on the clouds
of heaven.’ ”
65The high priest then tore his robe and said, “This man claims to be God! We don't need any more witnesses! You have heard what he said.#Lv 24.16. 66What do you think?”
They answered, “He is guilty and deserves to die!” 67Then they spat in his face and hit him with their fists. Others slapped him#Is 50.6. 68and said, “You think you are the Messiah! So tell us who hit you!”
Peter says he doesn't know Jesus
(Mark 14.66-72; Luke 22.56-62; John 18.15-18,25-27)
69While Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, a servant girl came up to him and said, “You were with Jesus from Galilee.”
70But in front of everyone Peter said, “That isn't so! I don't know what you are talking about!”
71When Peter had gone out to the gate, another servant girl saw him and said to some people there, “This man was with Jesus from Nazareth.”
72Again Peter denied it, and this time he swore, “I don't even know that man!”
73A little while later some people standing there walked over to Peter and said, “We know that you are one of them. We can tell it because you talk like someone from Galilee.”
74Peter began to curse and swear, “I don't know that man!”
At once a cock crowed, 75and Peter remembered that Jesus had said, “Before a cock crows, you will say three times that you don't know me.” Then Peter went out and cried hard.
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Matthew 26: CEVUK
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© British and Foreign Bible Society 2012
Matthew 26
26
The Plot to Kill Jesus
1When Jesus had finished saying all this, # Mk 14:1-2; Lk 22:1-2; Jn 11:47-53 He told His disciples, 2“You know # 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 # Other mss add and the scribes and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, who was called 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 a man who had a serious skin disease, 7a woman approached Him with an alabaster jar of very expensive fragrant oil. 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.”
10But Jesus, aware of this, 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 fragrant oil on My body, she has prepared Me for burial. 13I assure you: Wherever this gospel # Mt 24:14; Mk 1:1; 13:10 is proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman 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 30 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 prepare the Passover so You may eat it? ”
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 # 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, “I assure 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 that man if he had not been born.”
25Then Judas, 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 that establishes the covenant; # Other mss read new covenant it is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins. # Ex 24:8; Mt 20:28; Mk 1:4; Heb 9:20 29But I tell you, from this moment I will not drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it in a new way # Or drink new wine ; lit drink it new in My Father’s kingdom # Mt 4:23; Mk 1:15; Ac 20:25 with you.” 30After singing psalms, # Pss 113–118 were sung during and after the Passover meal. 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 run away # Or stumble because of Me, for it is written:
I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. # Zch 13:7; Mt 11:6; Jn 16:32 # Zch 13:7
32But after I have been resurrected, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” # Mt 28:7,10,16; Mk 16:7
33Peter told Him, “Even if everyone runs away because of You, I will never run away! ”
34“I assure 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, # A garden east of Jerusalem at the base of the Mount of Olives; Gethsemane = olive oil press # 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 deeply distressed. # Mt 4:21; 17:1 38Then He said to them, “My soul is swallowed up in sorrow # Or I am deeply grieved, or I am overwhelmed by sorrow ; Ps 42:6,11; 43:5 — to the point of death. # Lit unto death Remain here and stay awake with Me.” # Ps 42:5-6; Mt 24:42; Jn 12:27 39Going a little farther, # 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 # = all 3 disciples because the verb in Gk is pl 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 # Other mss add cup cannot pass # 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. # Lit because their eyes were weighed down
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? # Or Sleep on now and take your rest. Look, the time is near. The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. # Jn 12:27; 13:1 46Get up; let’s go! See, My betrayer is near.”
The Judas Kiss
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 he went right up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi! ” and kissed Him.
50“Friend,” # Mt 20:13; 22:12 Jesus asked him, “why have you come? ” # Or Jesus told him, “do what you have come for.” (as a statement)
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 slave 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 a sword will perish by a sword. # Gn 9:6; Rv 13:10 53Or do you think that I cannot call on My Father, and He will provide Me at once with more than 12 legions # A Roman legion contained up to 6,000 soldiers. 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, # Lit as against a criminal to capture Me? Every day I used to sit, teaching in the temple complex, 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 prophetic Scriptures # Or the Scriptures 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. 58Meanwhile, Peter was following Him at a distance right to the high priest’s courtyard. # Or high priest’s palace He went in and was sitting with the temple police # Or the officers, or the servants to see the outcome. # Lit end # Jn 7:32; 18:15
59The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus so 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. # Other mss add they found none Finally, two # Other mss add false witnesses who came forward 61stated, “This man said, ‘I can demolish God’s sanctuary # Mt 27:40; Jn 2:19; Ac 6:14 and rebuild it in three days.’ ”
62The high priest then 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 Then the high priest said to Him, “By the living God I place You under oath: # Lv 19:12; Nm 30:2; Dt 23:21; Mt 5:33; 14:7; 23:16 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,” # Or That is true, an affirmative oath; Mt 27:11; Mk 15:2 Jesus told him. “But I tell you, in the future # Lit you, from now you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” # Ps 110:1; Dn 7:13; Mt 16:27; 24:30; Rv 1:7 # Ps 110:1; Dn 7:13
65Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! # Mk 3:29; Jn 10:33 Why do we still need witnesses? Look, now you’ve heard the blasphemy! # Nm 14:6; Mk 14:63; Ac 14:14 66What is your decision? ” # Lit What does it seem to you?
They answered, “He deserves death! ” # Lv 24:16; Jn 19:7 67Then they spit 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 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 approached him and she 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 certainly are one of them, since even your accent # Or speech gives you away.”
74Then he started to curse # To call down curses on himself if what he said weren’t true and to swear with an oath, “I do not 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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