26Matthew 26

The Plot To Kill Jesus

1When Jesus had finished teaching, he told his disciples,Select Matthew 26:1

2“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.”Select Matthew 26:2

3At that time the chief priests and the nation's leaders were meeting at the home of Caiaphas the high priest.Select Matthew 26:3

4They planned how they could sneak around and have Jesus arrested and put to death.Select Matthew 26:4

5But they said, “We must not do it during Passover, because the people will riot.”Select Matthew 26:5

At Bethany

6Jesus was in the town of Bethany, eating at the home of Simon, who had leprosy.Select Matthew 26:6

7A woman came in with a bottle of expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus' head.Select Matthew 26:7

8But when his disciples saw this, they became angry and complained, “Why such a waste?Select Matthew 26:8

9We could have sold this perfume for a lot of money and given it to the poor.”Select Matthew 26:9

10Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he said: Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing for me.Select Matthew 26:10

11You will always have the poor with you, but you won't always have me.Select Matthew 26:11

12She has poured perfume on my body to prepare it for burial.Select Matthew 26:12

13You 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.Select Matthew 26:13

Judas and the Chief Priests

14Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve disciples. He went to the chief priestsSelect Matthew 26:14

15and asked, “How much will you give me if I help you arrest Jesus?” They paid Judas 30 silver coins,Select Matthew 26:15

16and from then on he started looking for a good chance to betray Jesus.Select Matthew 26:16

Jesus Eats the Passover Meal with His Disciples

17On 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?”Select Matthew 26:17

18Jesus 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.’ ”Select Matthew 26:18

19They did as Jesus told them and prepared the meal.Select Matthew 26:19

21When Jesus was eating with his twelve disciples that evening, he said, “One of you will surely hand me over to my enemies.”Select Matthew 26:21

22The disciples were very sad, and each one said to Jesus, “Lord, you can't mean me!”Select Matthew 26:22

23He answered, “One of you men who has eaten with me from this dish will betray me.Select Matthew 26:23

24The 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.”Select Matthew 26:24

25Judas said, “Teacher, you surely don't mean me!” “That's what you say!” Jesus replied. But later, Judas did betray him.Select Matthew 26:25

The Lord's Supper

26During 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.”Select Matthew 26:26

27Jesus 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.Select Matthew 26:27

28This 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.Select Matthew 26:28

29From now on I am not going to drink any wine, until I drink new wine with you in my Father's kingdom.”Select Matthew 26:29

30Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.Select Matthew 26:30

Peter's Promise

31Jesus 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.’Select Matthew 26:31

32But after I am raised to life, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”Select Matthew 26:32

33Peter spoke up, “Even if all the others reject you, I never will!”Select Matthew 26:33

34Jesus replied, “I promise you before a rooster crows tonight, you will say three times that you don't know me.”Select Matthew 26:34

35But 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.Select Matthew 26:35

Jesus Prays

36Jesus 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.”Select Matthew 26:36

37Jesus took along Peter and the two brothers, James and John. He was very sad and troubled,Select Matthew 26:37

38and he said to them, “I am so sad that I feel as if I am dying. Stay here and keep awake with me.”Select Matthew 26:38

39Jesus 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. But do what you want, and not what I want.”Select Matthew 26:39

40He 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?Select Matthew 26:40

41Stay awake and pray that you won't be tested. You want to do what is right, but you are weak.”Select Matthew 26:41

42Again 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.”Select Matthew 26:42

43Jesus came back and found them sleeping again. They simply could not keep their eyes open.Select Matthew 26:43

44He left them and prayed the same prayer once more.Select Matthew 26:44

45Finally, Jesus returned to his disciples and said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners.Select Matthew 26:45

46Get up! Let's go. The one who will betray me is already here.”Select Matthew 26:46

Jesus Is Arrested

47Jesus was still speaking, when Judas the betrayer came up. He was one of the twelve disciples, and a large mob armed with swords and clubs was with him. They had been sent by the chief priests and the nation's leaders.Select Matthew 26:47

48Judas had told them ahead of time, “Arrest the man I greet with a kiss.”Select Matthew 26:48

49Judas walked right up to Jesus and said, “Hello, teacher.” Then Judas kissed him.Select Matthew 26:49

50Jesus replied, “My friend, do what you came for.” The men grabbed Jesus and arrested him.Select Matthew 26:50

51One of Jesus' followers pulled out a sword. He struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.Select Matthew 26:51

52But Jesus told him, “Put your sword away. Anyone who lives by fighting will die by fighting.Select Matthew 26:52

53Don't you know that I could ask my Father, and he would at once send me more than twelve armies of angels?Select Matthew 26:53

54But then, how could the words of the Scriptures come true, which say this must happen?”Select Matthew 26:54

55Jesus 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.Select Matthew 26:55

56But all this happened, so that what the prophets wrote would come true.” All Jesus' disciples left him and ran away.Select Matthew 26:56

Jesus Is Questioned by the Council

57After Jesus had been arrested, he was led off to the house of Caiaphas the high priest. The nation's leaders and the teachers of the Law of Moses were meeting there.Select Matthew 26:57

58But 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.Select Matthew 26:58

59The 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.Select Matthew 26:59

60But they could not find any, even though many did come and tell lies. At last, two men came forwardSelect Matthew 26:60

61and said, “This man claimed he could tear down God's temple and build it again in three days.”Select Matthew 26:61

62The 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?”Select Matthew 26:62

63But 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?”Select Matthew 26:63

64“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 side of God All-Powerful and coming on the clouds of heaven.’ ”Select Matthew 26:64

65The 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.Select Matthew 26:65

66What do you think?” They answered, “He is guilty and deserves to die!”Select Matthew 26:66

67Then they spit in his face and hit him with their fists. Others slapped himSelect Matthew 26:67

68and said, “You think you are the Messiah! So tell us who hit you!”Select Matthew 26:68

Peter Says He Doesn't Know Jesus

69While Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, a servant girl came up to him and said, “You were with Jesus from Galilee.”Select Matthew 26:69

70But in front of everyone Peter said, “That isn't so! I don't know what you are talking about!”Select Matthew 26:70

71When 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.”Select Matthew 26:71

72Again Peter denied it, and this time he swore, “I don't even know that man!”Select Matthew 26:72

73A 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.”Select Matthew 26:73

74Peter began to curse and swear, “I don't know that man!” Right then a rooster crowed,Select Matthew 26:74

75and 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.Select Matthew 26:75