MAT 26

The Conspiracy to Kill Jesus

Mk. 14: 1-2; Lk.22:1-2; Jn. 11:45-53

1 When Jesus had completed delivering all these teachings and parables, He said to His disciples what was about to unfold.

2 "You know that after two days the Passover feast will arrive, and at that time the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified."

3 At that same time, the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled together in the palace courtyard of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas.

4 They conspired about how they might seize Jesus by stealth and cunning, without causing a public disturbance, so they could put Him to death.

5 However, they agreed among themselves, "We must not do this during the feast itself, or there may be uprising among the people," since many people honoured Jesus as a prophet.

Jesus Anointed in Bethany

Mk. 14: 3-9; Jn. 12:1-8

6 While Jesus was staying in Bethany, He was a guest in the house of Simon the leper.

7 A woman came to Him carrying an alabaster flask filled with highly valuable perfumed oil. While Jesus was reclining at the table for the meal, she poured the expensive perfume on His head as an act of devotion and worship.

8 When the disciples observed what she had done, they were greatly indignant, saying to one another, "For what purpose is this extravagant waste?

9 This perfume could have been sold for a great price, and the money could have been given to the poor to meet their needs."

10 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts and criticisms, said to them, "Why are you causing trouble for this woman and making her uncomfortable? She has performed a beautiful and noble act for Me that honours Me deeply.

11 You always have the poor with you, and you will have ongoing opportunities to help them. But you will not always have Me physically present with you—My time is short.

12 In pouring this perfumed oil on My body, this woman has acted with prophetic insight to prepare My body for burial. Whether she fully understood it or not, she has anointed Me for death.

13 Truly, I say to you with certainty, wherever this gospel is proclaimed throughout the entire world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in her memory."

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

Mk. 14: 10-11; Lk. 22:3-6

14 Then one of the twelve disciples, the one called Judas Iscariot, went privately to the chief priests with a proposal.

15 He said to them, "What are you willing to pay me if I deliver Him over to you?" They were delighted and agreed to give him thirty pieces of silver—the price of a slave—as payment for his treachery.

16 From that moment forward, Judas began actively seeking a favourable opportunity to betray Jesus when He was away from the crowds.

The Passover with the Disciples

Mk. 14:12-21; Lk. 22:7-14, 21-23; Jn. 13:21-30

17 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed, the disciples approached Jesus and asked, "Where do You want us to make preparations for You to eat the Passover meal?"

18 Jesus gave them specific instructions: "Go into the city to a certain man" whom Jesus knew, "and say to him, 'The Teacher says, My appointed time draws near. I will celebrate the Passover at your house with My disciples.'"

19 The disciples did exactly as Jesus had directed them, and they made all the necessary preparations for the Passover celebration.

20 When evening arrived and the meal began, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples.

21 While they were eating the meal together, Jesus made a shocking announcement: "Truly, I say to you that one of you sitting here will betray Me."

22 The disciples were deeply distressed and filled with sorrow. Each one began asking Him individually, "Surely it is not I, Lord?"

23 Jesus answered, "The one who dips his hand into the bowl with Me at the same time will betray Me. The betrayer is sharing this meal with Me even now."

24 Jesus continued, "The Son of Man will depart from this life just as it has been written about Him in the Scriptures—this is according to God's sovereign plan. But woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had never been born."

25 Then Judas, the very one who was in the process of betraying Him, asked with apparent innocence, "Surely it is not I, Rabbi?" Jesus responded to him directly, "You have said it yourself."

The Institution of the Lord's Supper

Mk. 14:22-26; Lk. 22:15-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-25

26 While they were eating the Passover meal, Jesus took bread, blessed it and gave thanks to God, then broke it into pieces. Giving it to the disciples, He said, "Take this and eat it. This is My body, which will be broken for you."

27 Then He took the cup of wine, gave thanks to God for it, and gave it to them, saying, "All of you drink from this cup.

28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is being poured out for many people for the forgiveness of sins. My death establishes the new covenant promised by the prophets."

29 Jesus then made a promise to His disciples: "But I say to you, from this moment forward, I will never drink of this fruit of the vine again until that day when I drink it new with you in the kingdom of My Father."

30 After singing a hymn of praise together, they left the upper room and went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus Speaks About Peter's Denial

Mk. 14:27-31: Lk. 22:31-34; Jn. 13:36-38

31 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "All of you will fall away and abandon Me because of what happens to Me during this night. For it is written in Scripture: 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered in all directions.'"

32 But Jesus gave them hope: "However, after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you into Galilee, and you will see Me there."

33 Peter responded boldly and confidently, "Even if all the others fall away because of You, I will never fall away! My loyalty is unshakeable."

34 Jesus looked at Peter and said with certainty, "Truly, I say to you that during this very night, before the rooster crows at dawn, you will deny knowing Me three times."

35 Peter insisted even more vehemently, "Even if I must die with You, I will absolutely never deny You!" And all the other disciples made similar declarations of loyalty.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

Mk. 10: 2-42; Lk. 22:39-46

36 Then Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, an olive grove on the Mount of Olives. He said to the larger group of disciples, "Sit here and wait while I go over there to pray."

37 Jesus took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee—James and John—for closer support. As they went, He began to experience overwhelming sorrow and deep distress.

38 Then He said to these three disciples, "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. The anguish is unbearable. Remain here and stay awake, keeping watch with Me during this hour."

39 Jesus went a little farther from them, fell on His face to the ground in agony, and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup of suffering and wrath pass from Me and not require Me to drink it. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will. I submit to Your plan."

40 Jesus returned to the three disciples and found them sleeping, unable to stay awake. He said specifically to Peter, "So, were you not able to stay awake and watch with Me for even one hour?

41 Stay awake and pray, so that you will not enter into temptation when it comes. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

42 Jesus went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if this cup of suffering cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it and experience it fully, then let Your will be done. I accept it."

43 When He came back to the disciples, He found them sleeping again, for their eyes were heavy with exhaustion and they could not stay awake.

44 Leaving them once more, Jesus went away and prayed for a third time, saying the same words again, continuing to submit Himself to the Father's will despite the agony.

45 Then Jesus returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest at a time like this? Look, the hour has arrived, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners even as we speak.

46 Get up, let us go from this place. Look, the one who is betraying Me has drawn near and is approaching right now."

Jesus Betrayed and Arrested

Mk. 14:43-50; Lk. 22:47-53; Jn. 18:3-12

47 While Jesus was still speaking these words, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, suddenly arrived. With him came a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and elders of the people.

48 Now Judas, the betrayer, had arranged a signal with them ahead of time, saying, "The man I kiss is the one you want. Seize Him immediately."

49 Judas came directly to Jesus without hesitation and said, "Greetings, Rabbi," and kissed Him warmly on the cheek, as was customary.

50 Jesus said to him, "Friend, proceed with the purpose for which you have come." Then the men in the crowd came forward, laid hands on Jesus, and seized Him forcibly.

51 Suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus—Peter—reached out his hand, drew his sword, and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his ear in an attempt to defend Jesus.

52 But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place where it belongs, for all who take up the sword in violence will perish by the sword.

53 Or do you not realise that I could call upon My Father right now, and He would immediately place at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels—over 72,000 angels—to deliver Me?

54 But if I did that, how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, which declare that it must happen in this way?"

55 At that moment, Jesus addressed the crowds who had come to arrest Him: "Have you come out to arrest Me as if I were a dangerous robber, with swords and clubs? Every day I was sitting in the temple courts teaching publicly, and you did not seize Me then.

56 But all this has taken place so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled." Then all the disciples abandoned Him and fled into the night to save themselves.

Jesus Before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin

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

57 Those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to the residence of Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and elders had already assembled for an emergency night trial.

58 Peter was following Jesus from a distance, far enough back to avoid detection. He followed as far as the courtyard of the high priest's residence. After entering, he sat down with the guards and officers to observe what the outcome would be.

59 Meanwhile, the chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin—the Jewish ruling council—were actively seeking false testimony against Jesus so they could justify putting Him to death.

60 But they found no credible testimony, even though many false witnesses came forward with fabricated charges. Their testimonies contradicted each other and could not stand. Finally, two witnesses came forward with similar testimony.

61 These men said, "This man has been claiming, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and reconstruct it within three days.'" They distorted Jesus' actual words about His body being raised.

62 The high priest stood up dramatically and said to Jesus, "Do You not respond to these charges? What is it that these men are testifying against You?" He expected Jesus to defend Himself.

63 But Jesus remained completely silent, refusing to answer the false charges. Then the high priest said to Him, "I place You under oath by the living God, that You tell us plainly if You are the Christ—the Messiah—the Son of God."

64 Jesus answered him directly, "You have said it correctly—I am. But I say to you, from this moment forward, you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power—at God's right hand—and coming on the clouds of heaven in judgment."

65 At this declaration, the high priest tore his robes dramatically as a sign of horror at what he considered blasphemy, saying, "He has blasphemed by claiming equality with God! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, you have just now heard the blasphemy with your own ears.

66 What is your verdict?" In response, they answered, "He is deserving of death!" They condemned Him for blasphemy.

67 Then they spat in His face in contempt and struck Him with their fists. Others slapped Him across the face.

68 They mocked Him, saying, "Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who hit You?" They blindfolded Him and beat Him, demanding He use supernatural knowledge to identify His attackers.

Peter's Denial of Jesus

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

69 Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, trying to remain inconspicuous. A female servant of the high priest came up to him and said, "You also were with Jesus of Galilee. I recognise you."

70 But Peter denied it before everyone present, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about."

71 When he went out to the entryway, hoping to avoid further questioning, another female servant saw him and said to those standing nearby, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth. I have seen him with Jesus."

72 Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath to make his denial more convincing: "I do not know the man!"

73 After a little while, some of the bystanders came up to Peter and said, "Certainly you are one of His disciples, for even your Galilean accent and manner of speech reveal you and give you away."

74 Then Peter began to call down curses on himself and to swear with the strongest oaths possible, "I do not know the man!" He vehemently denied any connection to Jesus. Immediately after he said this, a rooster crowed, announcing the dawn.

75 Suddenly Peter remembered the statement Jesus had made to him earlier: "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." He went outside away from the crowd, and wept bitterly in shame and repentance over his failure and betrayal.

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MAT 26: AFINT

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