Matthew Chapter 26
Fifth Prediction of His Death
1 When Jesus finished, he told his disciples, 2 “As you know, the Passover is two days from now. I’ll be handed over to be crucified.”
3 Meantime the chief priests and the elders of the people met in the courtyard of Caiaphas, the high priest, 4 and conspired to arrest Jesus by treachery and put him to death. 5 But they said, “Not during the festival; the people will riot.”
Mt 26:1-5
The Anointing by Mary
6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman approached him with an alabaster cruise of very expensive ointment and poured it on his head while he was reclining at table. 8 The disciples were indignant, “What’s the point of such waste? 9 She could’ve sold it for a lot and given the money to the poor.”
10 Jesus was aware of it, “Why are you fussing at her? She’s done me a good turn. 11 You always have poor people around, but you won’t always havefp me. 12 She put this ointment on my body to prepare me for burial. 13 I tell you, wherever you deliver the good news in the world, tell what she did in memory of her.
Mt 26:6-13
Judas’ Plot to Betray Jesus
14 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the high priests, 15 “What would you give me to deliver Jesus over to you?” They counted out 30 silver shekels for him. 16 From then on, he was looking for a chance to deliver him over to them.
Mt 26:14-16
Preparation for the Passover Meal
17 On the first day of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus, “Where do you want us to get things ready for the Passover?”
18 He said, “Go into the city to such and such a man and say, ‘The Rabbi says, “My time’s getting close. I’ll observep the Passover at your place with my disciples.”’”
19 The disciples did that and got things ready for observing the Passover meal.
Mt 26:17-19
The Passover Meal;
Judas Identified as Traitor
20 That evening, Jesus was reclining at table with the Twelve.
21 While they were eating, he said, “I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”
22 They were really distressed and started saying, “It’s not me, is it?”
23 He answered, “It’s the one that has dipped his hand with me in the bowl. 24 The Son of Man will go the way scripture says, but woe to the one that betrays him. It would’ve been better if he hadn’t been born.”
25 Judas, the one that did betray him, said, “It’s not me, is it?”
“Yes.”
Mt 26:20-25
The Lord’s Supper Instituted
26 During the meal, Jesus took a loaf, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, “Take and eat it; it’s my body.” 27 He took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, “All of you, drink out of it; 28 it’s my blood of the covenant that’s shed for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 This is the last time I’ll be drinking this fruit of the vine till I drink it with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
30 They sang a hymn and went out to The Mount of Olives.
Mt 26:26-30
The Disciples Warned
31 Jesus toldp them, “All of you will desert me tonight. Scripture says,
‘I’ll strike down the shepherd,
and his sheep will scatter’ [Zech 13:7].
32 After I’m resurrected, I’ll go ahead of you to Galilee.”
33 Peter responded, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I’ll never desert you.”
34 Jesus said, “I tell you, tonight before a rooster crows, you’ll deny three times that you know me.”
35 Peter saidp, “Even if I have to die with you, I won’t deny you.”
That’s what all the disciples said.
Mt 26:31-35
The Agony in the Garden
36 Jesus wentp with them to a place called Gethsemane. “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”
37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and became overwhelmed with dread. 38 He saidp, “I’m distressed to death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
39 He went on a little way and fell on his face, “My Father, if it’s possible, take this cup away from me; but not what I want, but what you want.”
40 He came backp and foundp them sleeping. He saidp to Peter, “Couldn’t youpl keep watch one hour? 41 Keep watch and pray so you won’t be tempted. The spirit’s willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 A second time he went and prayed, “My Father, if this can’t pass without me drinking it, your will be done.” 43 He came back and found them sleeping again; they couldn’t keep their eyes open. 44 He left them again and prayed the same thing a third time. 45 He camep back to his disciples, “You’re still sleeping and resting? It’s time; I’m about to be betrayedp to sinners. 46 Get up; let’s go. The one that’s betraying me is coming.”
Mt 26:36-46
The Arrest of Jesus
47 While he was still talking, Judas came with a large contingent armed with swords and clubs from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 The traitor had given them a signal, “The one I kiss is him; arrest him.”
49 At once he came to Jesus, “Hello, Rabbi,” and kissed him.
50 Jesus said, “Companion, do what you came to do.”
They came and grabbed him and arrested him. 51 One of the men with Jesus drew his sword and struck the high priest’s servant and cut his ear off.
52 Jesus toldp him, “Put your sword away. Everybody that picks up a sword dies by a sword. 53 Do you suppose I can’t ask my Father right now for over 70,000 angels? 54 How then would I fulfill the scriptures that this is the way things need to be?”
55 Jesus said to the crowd, “You’ve come out here with swords and clubs to arrest me like an insurrectionist? I sat teaching in the Temple every day, and you didn’t arrest me. 56 But this is all happening to fulfill what the prophets wrote.”
The disciples ran away.
Mt 26:47-56
The Trial Before Caiaphas; Peter’s Denials;
The Final Condemnation by the Sanhedrin
57 The ones that arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and elders had assembled. 58 A long way behind, Peter followed him to the high priest’s courtyard, went inside, and sat down with the officers to see the end.
59 The chief priests and the full Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus so they could execute him. 60 But they didn’t find it even though a number of false witnesses came forward. Finally, two came forward, 61 “He said, ‘I can tear down God’s sanctuary and rebuild it in three days.’”
62 The high priest got up and said, “You aren’t going to answer the claims these men are making against you?”
63 Jesus didn’t say anything.
The high priest said, “I’m putting you under oath: by the living God, tell us if you’re the Messiah, the Son of God.”
64 “Yes. Nevertheless, I’m telling you,
‘Later you’ll see the Son of Man
sitting on the right hand of Power and
coming on the clouds’” [Ps 110:1; Dan 7:13].
65 The high priest tore his clothes, “He blasphemed. What do we need witnesses for?” You heard the blasphemy. 66 What’s your verdict?”
“He deserves the death penalty.”
Mt 26:57-67
67 They spit in his face, punched him, and slapped him, 68 “Tell us, ‘Messiah,’ who slapped you.”
69 Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant girl came up, “You were with Jesus the Galilean too.”
70 He denied it in front of them all, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
71 When he went out to the gateway, another servant girl saw him and said to the ones there, “This fellow was with Jesus the Nazarene.”
72 He denied it again—with an oath: “I don’t know him.”
73 A little while later the ones standing around came up to Peter, “You are too one of them. Your accent gives you away.”
74 He started pronouncing curses and swearing: “I don’t know him.” Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Peter remembered, “Before a rooster crows, you’ll deny me three times.” He went out and broke down sobbing.