Matthew 26

The Plot Against Jesus

1 Whent Jesus had finished saying all these things, he told his disciples,2 “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be handed overt to be crucified.”s3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people met together in the palace of the high priest, who was named Caiaphas.4 Theyt planned to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him.

5 But they said, “Not during the feast, so that there won’t be a riot among the people.”s

Jesus’ Anointing

6 Now while Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper,7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jars of expensive perfumed oil,ts and she poured it on his head as he was at the table.ts8 Whent the disciples saw this, they became indignant and said, “Why this waste?9 Itt could have been sold at a high price and the moneyt given to the poor!”10 Whent Jesus learned of this, he said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? Shet has done a good service for me.11 For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me!t12 Whent she poured this oil on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.

13 I tell you the truth,t wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

The Plan to Betray Jesus

14 Then one of the twelve, the one named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests15 and said, “What will you give me to betray him into your hands?”t So they set out thirty silver coins for him.

16 From that timet on, Judast began looking for an opportunity to betray him.

The Passover

17 Now on the first day of the feast oft Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and said,t “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?”s18 Het said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near. I will observe the Passover with my disciples at your house.”’”19 Sot the disciples did as Jesus had instructed them, and they prepared the Passover.20 Whent it was evening, he took his place at the tablet with the twelve.s21 And while they were eating he said, “I tell you the truth,t one of you will betray me.”t22 Theyt became greatly distressedt and each one began to say to him, “Surely not I, Lord?”23 Het answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with mes will betray me.24 The Son of Man will go as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for him if he had never been born.”

25 Thent Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesust replied, “You have said it yourself.”

The Lord’s Supper

26 Whilet they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it, gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat, this is my body.”27 And after taking the cup and giving thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you,28 for this is my blood, the bloodt of the covenant,ss that is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.29 It tell you, from now on I will not drink of this fruitt of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

30 Aftert singing a hymn,s they went out to the Mount of Olives.

The Prediction of Peter’s Denial

31 Then Jesus said to them, “This night you will all fall away because of me, for it is written:
‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’s
32 But after I am raised, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”33 Petert said to him, “If they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away!”34 Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth,t on this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”

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

Gethsemane

36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”37 He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and became anguished and distressed.38 Then he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.”39 Going a little farther, he threw himself down with his face to the ground and prayed,t “My Father, if possible,t let this cups pass from me! Yet not what I will, but what you will.”40 Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. Het said to Peter, “So, couldn’t you stay awake with me for one hour?41 Stay awake and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”42 He went away a second time and prayed,t “My Father, if this cupt cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will must be done.”43 He came again and found them sleeping; they could not keep their eyes open.t44 So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same thing once more.45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is approaching, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

46 Get up, let us go. Look! My betrayert is approaching!”

Betrayal and Arrest

47 While he was still speaking, Judas,t one of the twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and elders of the people.48 (Now the betrayert had given them a sign, saying, “The one I kiss is the man.t Arrest him!”)s49 Immediatelyt he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi,” and kissed him.s50 Jesust said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and took holdt of Jesus and arrested him.51 Butt one of those with Jesus grabbedt his sword, drew it out, and struck the high priest’s slave,t cutting off his ear.52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back in its place!t For all who take hold of the sword will die by the sword.53 Or do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and that he would send me more than twelve legionss of angels right now?54 How then would the scriptures that say it must happen this way be fulfilled?”55 At that moment Jesus said to the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me like you would an outlaw?t Day after day I sat teaching in the temple courts, yett you did not arrest me.

56 But this has happened so thatt the scriptures of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.

Condemned by the Sanhedrin

57 Now the ones who had arrested Jesus led him to Caiaphas, the high priest, in whose houset the experts in the lawt and the elders had gathered.58 But Peter was following him from a distance, all the way to the high priest’s courtyard. Aftert going in, he sat with the guardss to see the outcome.59 Thet chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were trying to find false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death.60 But they did not find anything, though many false witnesses came forward. Finallyt two came forward61 and declared, “This mant said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”62 Sot the high priest stood up and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that they are testifying against you?”63 But Jesus was silent. Thet high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ,ts the Son of God.”64 Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hands of the Powers and coming on the clouds of heaven.”s65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and declared,t “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? Nowt you have heard the blasphemy!66 What is your verdict?”t Theyt answered, “He is guilty and deservest death.”67 Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists. And some slapped him,

68 saying, “Prophesy for us, you Christ!ts Who hit you?”ts

Peter’s Denials

69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. At slave girlt came to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.”70 But he denied it in front of them all:t “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”71 Whent he went out to the gateway, another slave girlt saw him and said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.”72 He denied it again with an oath, “I do not know the man!”73 Aftert a little while, those standing there came up to Peter and said, “You really are one of them too – even your accentt gives you away!”74 At that he began to curse, and he swore with an oath, “I do not know the man!” At that moment a rooster crowed.t

75 Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.s

MATTHEW 26

The Plot To Kill Jesus

(Mark 14.1,2; Luke 22.1,2; John 11.45-53)

1 When Jesus had finished teaching, he told his disciples,

2 t “You know two days from now will be Passover. This is when the Son of Man will be handed over to his enemies and nailed to a cross.”
3 At that time the chief priests and the nation's leaders were meeting at the home of Caiaphas the high priest. 4 They planned how they could sneak around and have Jesus arrested and put to death.

5 But they said, “We must not do it during Passover, because the people will riot.”

At Bethany

(Mark 14.3-9; John 12.1-8)

9 We could have sold this perfume for a lot of money and given it to the poor.”

10 Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he said:
Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing for me. 11 t You will always have the poor with you, but you won't always have me. 12 She has poured perfume on my body to prepare it for burial.t

13 You 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)

16 and 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)

17 On 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?”
18 Jesus 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.’ ”

19 They did as Jesus told them and prepared the meal.

20-21 When Jesus was eating with his twelve disciples that evening, he said, “One of you will surely hand me over to my enemies.”

22 The disciples were very sad, and each one said to Jesus, “Lord, you can't mean me!”
23  t He answered, “One of you men who has eaten with me from this dish will betray me.

24 The 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.”

25 Judas said, “Teacher, you surely 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)

26 During 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.”
27 Jesus 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. 28 t This 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. 29 From now on I am not going to drink any wine, until I drink new wine with you in my Father's kingdom.”

30 Then 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)

31  t Jesus said to his disciples, “During this very night, all of you will reject me, as the Scriptures say,
‘I will strike down
the shepherd,
and the sheep
will be scattered.’

32  t But after I am raised to life, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”

33 Peter spoke up, “Even if all the others reject you, I never will!”
34 Jesus replied, “I promise you before a rooster crows tonight, you will say three times that you don't know me.”

35 But 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)

36 Jesus 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.”
37 Jesus took along Peter and the two brothers, James and John.t He was very sad and troubled,

38 and he said to them, “I am so sad that I feel as if I am dying. Stay here and keep awake with me.”

39 Jesus 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 drinking from this cup.t But do what you want, and not what I want.”
40 He 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?

41 Stay awake and pray that you won't be tested. You want to do what is right, but you are weak.”

42 Again 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.”
43 Jesus came back and found them sleeping again. They simply could not keep their eyes open.

44 He left them and prayed the same prayer once more.
45 Finally, Jesus returned to his disciples and said, “Are you still sleeping and resting?t The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners.

46 Get 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)

48 Judas had told them ahead of time, “Arrest the man I greet with a kiss.”t

49 Judas walked right up to Jesus and said, “Hello, teacher.” Then Judas kissed him.

50 Jesus replied, “My friend, do what you came for.”t
The men grabbed Jesus and arrested him.

51 One of Jesus' followers pulled out a sword. He struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.
52 But Jesus told him, “Put your sword away. Anyone who lives by fighting will die by fighting. 53 Don't you know that I could ask my Father, and he would at once send me more than twelve armies of angels?

54 But then, how could the words of the Scriptures come true, which say this must happen?”
55  t Jesus 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.

56 But 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)

58 But 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.
59 The 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.t 60 But they could not find any, even though many did come and tell lies. At last, two men came forward

61 t and said, “This man claimed he could tear down God's temple and build it again in three days.”
62 The high priest stood up and asked Jesus, “Why don't you say something in your own defense? Don't you hear the charges they are making against you?”

63 But Jesus did not answer. So the high priest said, “With the living God looking on, you must tell the truth. Are you the Messiah, the Son of God?”t

64  t “That is what you say!” Jesus answered. “But I tell all of you,
‘Soon you will see
the Son of Man
sitting at the right sidet
of God All-Powerful
and coming on the clouds
of heaven.’ ”
65  t The 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.

66 What do you think?”
They answered, “He is guilty and deserves to die!” 67 t Then they spit in his face and hit him with their fists. Others slapped him

68 and 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)

69 While Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, a servant girl came up to him and said, “You were with Jesus from Galilee.”

70 But in front of everyone Peter said, “That isn't so! I don't know what you are talking about!”

71 When 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.”

72 Again Peter denied it, and this time he swore, “I don't even know that man!”

73 A little while later some people standing there walked over to Peter and said, “We know you are one of them. We can tell it because you talk like someone from Galilee.”

74 Peter began to curse and swear, “I don't know that man!”
Right then a rooster crowed, 75 and Peter remembered that Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will say three times you don't know me.” Then Peter went out and cried bitterly.