Matthew 26

Matthew 26

Plot to kill Jesus

1When Jesus finished speaking all these words, he said to his disciples,

2“You know that the Passover is two days from now. And the Human One will be handed over to be crucified. ”[#26.2 Or Son of Man]

3Then the chief priests and elders of the people gathered in the courtyard of Caiaphas the high priest.

4They were plotting to arrest Jesus by cunning tricks and to kill him.

5But they agreed that it shouldn’t happen during the feast so there wouldn’t be an uproar among the people.

A woman pouring perfume on Jesus

6When Jesus was at Bethany visiting the house of Simon, who had a skin disease,

7a woman came to him with a vase made of alabaster containing very expensive perfume. She poured it on Jesus’ head while he was sitting at dinner.

8Now when the disciples saw it they were angry and said, “Why this waste?

9This perfume could have been sold for a lot of money and given to the poor.”

10But Jesus knew what they were thinking. He said, “Why do you make trouble for the woman? She’s done a good thing for me.

11You always have the poor with you, but you won’t always have me.

12By pouring this perfume over my body she’s prepared me to be buried.

13I tell you the truth that wherever in the whole world this good news is announced, what she’s done will also be told in memory of her. ”

Judas betrays Jesus

14Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests

15and said, “What will you give me if I turn Jesus over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver.

16From that time on he was looking for an opportunity to turn him in.

Passover with the disciples

17On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover meal?”

18He replied, “Go into the city, to a certain man, and say, ‘The teacher says, “My time is near. I’m going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house. ”’ ”

19The disciples did just as Jesus instructed them. They prepared the Passover.

20That evening he took his place at the table with the twelve disciples.

21As they were eating he said, “I assure you that one of you will betray me. ”

22Deeply saddened, each one said to him, “I’m not the one, am I, Lord?”

23He replied, “The one who will betray me is the one who dips his hand with me into this bowl.

24The Human One goes to his death just as it is written about him. But how terrible it is for that person who betrays the Human One! It would have been better for him if he had never been born. ”[#26.24 Or Son of Man; #26.24 Or Son of Man]

25Now Judas, who would betray him, replied, “It’s not me, is it, Rabbi?”

Jesus answered, “You said it. ”

Last supper

26While they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take and eat. This is my body. ”

27He took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from this, all of you.

28This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many so that their sins may be forgiven.

29I tell you, I won’t drink wine again until that day when I drink it in a new way with you in my Father’s kingdom. ”

30Then, after singing songs of praise, they went to the Mount of Olives.

Predictions about disciples leaving Jesus

31Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Tonight you will all fall away because of me. This is because it is written, "I will hit the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will go off in all directions" .[#26.31 Zech 13:7]

32But after I’m raised up, I’ll go before you to Galilee. ”

33Peter replied, “If everyone else stumbles because of you, I’ll never stumble.”

34Jesus said to him, “I assure you that, before the rooster crows tonight, you will deny me three times. ”

35Peter said, “Even if I must die alongside you, I won’t deny you.” All the disciples said the same thing.

Jesus in prayer

36Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. He said to the disciples, “Stay here while I go and pray over there. ”

37When he took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, he began to feel sad and anxious.

38Then he said to them, “I’m very sad. It’s as if I’m dying. Stay here and keep alert with me. ”

39Then he went a short distance farther and fell on his face and prayed, “My Father, if it’s possible, take this cup of suffering away from me. However—not what I want but what you want. ”

40He came back to the disciples and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you stay alert one hour with me?

41Stay alert and pray so that you won’t give in to temptation. The spirit is eager, but the flesh is weak. ”

42A second time he went away and prayed, “My Father, if it’s not possible that this cup be taken away unless I drink it, then let it be what you want. ”

43Again he came and found them sleeping. Their eyes were heavy with sleep.

44But he left them and again went and prayed the same words for the third time.

45Then he came to his disciples and said to them, “Will you sleep and rest all night? Look, the time has come for the Human One to be betrayed into the hands of sinners.[#26.45 Or Son of Man]

46Get up. Let’s go. Look, here comes my betrayer. ”

Arrest

47While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, came. With him was a large crowd carrying swords and clubs. They had been sent by the chief priests and elders of the people.

48His betrayer had given them a sign: “Arrest the man I kiss.”

49Just then he came to Jesus and said, “Hello, Rabbi.” Then he kissed him.

50But Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do. ” Then they came and grabbed Jesus and arrested him.

51One of those with Jesus reached for his sword. Striking the high priest’s slave, he cut off his ear.

52Then Jesus said to him, “Put the sword back into its place. All those who use the sword will die by the sword.

53Or do you think that I’m not able to ask my Father and he will send to me more than twelve battle groups of angels right away?[#26.53 Or legions (of the Roman army, about five thousand soldiers each)]

54But if I did that, how would the scriptures be fulfilled that say this must happen? ”

55Then Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come with swords and clubs to arrest me, like a thief? Day after day, I sat in the temple teaching, but you didn’t arrest me.

56But all this has happened so that what the prophets said in the scriptures might be fulfilled. ” Then all the disciples left Jesus and ran away.

Jesus before the council

57Those who arrested Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest. The legal experts and the elders had gathered there.

58Peter followed him from a distance until he came to the high priest’s courtyard. He entered that area and sat outside with the officers to see how it would turn out.

59The chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death.

60They didn’t find anything they could use from the many false witnesses who were willing to come forward. But finally they found two

61who said, “This man said, ‘I can destroy God’s temple and rebuild it in three days.’”

62Then the high priest stood and said to Jesus, “Aren’t you going to respond to the testimony these people have brought against you?”

63But Jesus was silent.

The high priest said, “By the living God, I demand that you tell us whether you are the Christ, God’s Son.”

64“You said it, ” Jesus replied. “But I say to you that from now on you’ll see "the Human One" "sitting on the right side of the Almighty" "and coming on the heavenly clouds" . ”[#26.64 Or Son of Man; #26.64 Or the Power; #26.64 Dan 7:13]

65Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He’s insulting God! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, you’ve heard his insult against God.

66What do you think?”

And they answered, “He deserves to die!”

67Then they spit in his face and beat him. They hit him

68and said, “Prophesy for us, Christ! Who hit you?”

Peter’s denial

69Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant woman came and said to him, “You were also with Jesus the Galilean.”

70But he denied it in front of all of them, saying, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

71When he went over to the gate, another woman saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.”

72With a solemn pledge, he denied it again, saying, “I don’t know the man.”

73A short time later those standing there came and said to Peter, “You must be one of them. The way you talk gives you away.”

74Then he cursed and swore, “I don’t know the man!” At that very moment the rooster crowed.

75Peter remembered Jesus’ words, “Before the rooster crows you will deny me three times. ”And Peter went out and cried uncontrollably.

2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.
Published by: Common English Bible