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 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:
:
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.