Matthew 26

In Matthew 24–25, Jesus teaches on the Mount of Olives about the end of the age. Chapter 26 opens the Passion narrative that follows this teaching and leads directly into the crucifixion in chapter 27.

Outline

• Verses 1–5 Jesus says that after two days, at the Passover, the Son of man will be betrayed. The chief priests and elders assemble at the palace of Caiaphas and consult on how they might take Jesus.
• Verses 6–13 In the house of Simon the leper at Bethany, a woman pours ointment on Jesus' head. The disciples object that it is a waste, and Jesus says she has done it for his burial.
• Verses 14–16 Judas Iscariot agrees to hand Jesus over for thirty pieces of silver.
• Verses 17–25 The disciples prepare the Passover meal. At the table, Jesus foretells that one of the disciples will betray him.
• Verses 26–30 Jesus shares the bread and the cup, calling them his body and the blood of the covenant. After singing a hymn, they go out to the Mount of Olives.
• Verses 31–35 Jesus foretells that all the disciples will be scattered and that Peter will deny him three times.
• Verses 36–46 Jesus prays three times in Gethsemane, while the disciples fall asleep.
• Verses 47–56 Judas betrays Jesus, using a kiss as the signal. One of those with Jesus draws a sword and cuts off the ear of the high priest's servant, and all the disciples flee.
• Verses 57–68 The council examines Jesus. Asked whether he is the Christ, Jesus answers, and the council judges his reply to be blasphemy and declares him deserving of death.
• Verses 69–75 Peter denies Jesus three times; when the cock crows, he goes out and weeps bitterly.

Key Verses

• Matthew 26:26–28 "This is my body… this is my blood of the new testament": the words that form the basis for the institution of the Lord's Supper.
• Matthew 26:39 "Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt": the prayer in Gethsemane, which shows Jesus' obedience.
• Matthew 26:41 "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation": widely quoted as an exhortation to prayer.

People and Places

• Jesus Christ, Peter, Judas Iscariot, Caiaphas
• Simon the leper: a resident of Bethany who receives Jesus into his home in this chapter.
• The woman who poured the ointment: Matthew does not give her name.
• The two sons of Zebedee: James and John.
• Places: Bethany, the Mount of Olives, Gethsemane, and the courtyard of the high priest's house

Points for Reflection

• Traditions differ in how they understand "This is my body." The Catholic Church teaches transubstantiation, and Lutherans teach the real presence, holding that Christ is truly present. Reformed churches understand it as a spiritual presence, while the Zwinglian tradition holds a memorial view. These positions are discussed in more detail under Eucharistic controversy.
• John 12 identifies the woman who poured the ointment as Mary, the sister of Martha. The identification of this woman with Mary Magdalene is a later Western church tradition not found in the text.
• Verse 31 quotes Zechariah 13:7. The language of verse 64 recalls Daniel 7:13 and Psalm 110:1.
• The same events are also recorded in Mark 14 and Luke 22. The institution of the Lord's Supper also appears in 1 Corinthians 11:20–26.

In the Korean Church

The prayer in Gethsemane and Peter's denial are frequent themes of early morning prayer meetings and sermons during Holy Week. Verses 26–28 are read as the words of institution in the celebration of the Lord's Supper.