Matthew 26

Jesus Reaffirms That He Will be Handed Over and Crucified as the Plotting Commences (26:1–5)

₁ And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these words, he said to his disciples, ₂ “You know that after two days is the feast of the Passover, and the Son of Man is to be betrayed to be crucified.” ₃ Then the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together into the court of the high priest who was named Caiaphas, ₄ where they plotted to arrest Jesus by trickery and kill him. ₅ But they were saying, “Not during the feast day, so that a riot does not occur among the people.”

A Woman Anoints Jesus (26:6–13)

₆ When Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, ₇ a woman came to him with an alabaster box of very costly oil, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. ₈ When the disciples saw it, they were indignant and said, “To what purpose is this waste? ₉ For this oil might have been sold for a high price and that given to the poor.” ₁₀ When Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman, for she has done a good deed for me. ₁₁ You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me. ₁₂ When she poured this oil on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. ₁₃ Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.”

Judas Offers and Agrees to Help the Chief Priests Locate and Arrest Jesus (26:14–16)

₁₄ Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests ₁₅ and said, “What are you willing to give me, and I will deliver him to you?” And they covenanted with him for thirty shekels of silver. ₁₆ From then on, he sought a good opportunity to betray Jesus.

The Last Supper: Jesus Speaks of His Imminent Betrayal (26:17–25)

₁₇ Now on the first day of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” ₁₈ And he said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, my time is near; I will celebrate Passover for you with my disciples.’” ₁₉ The disciples did as Jesus directed them; and they prepared the Passover. ₂₀ Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples. ₂₁ As they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you that one of you will betray me.”

₂₂ Being deeply grieved, they began to say, one by one, “Surely, not I, Lord?” ₂₃ He answered and said, “He who dipped his hand with me in the bowl is the one who will betray me. ₂₄ The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” ₂₅ Then Judas, who was about to betray him, answered and said, “Surely, it is not I, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him, “You have said it.”

The Last Supper: Jesus Institutes the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper (26:26–29)

₂₆ And while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after blessing it, he broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” ₂₇ And when he had taken a cup and given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. ₂₈ This is my blood of the covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” ₂₉ But I say to you, “I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

On the Mount of Olives, Jesus Speaks of His Death and Resurrection; Peter Affirms His Loyalty (26:30–35)

₃₀ After singing a Passover hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives. ₃₁ Then Jesus said to them, “You will all be offended by me this night, for it has been written, ‘I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered’ [Zech. 13:7]. ₃₂ But after I have been resurrected, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” ₃₃ Peter answered and said to him, “Even though all be offended by you, I will never be offended.” ₃₄ Jesus said to him, “Truly, I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” ₃₅ Peter said to him, “Even if I have to die with you, I still will not deny you.” And all the disciples said the same.

Jesus Alone in Gethsemane Submits to the Father’s Will (26:36–46)

₃₆ Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” ₃₇ And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and he began to be grieved and in great anguish. ₃₈ Then he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and watch with me.” ₃₉ He went forward a little and fell on his face, and praying, he said, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. But not as I desire, but as you desire.” ₄₀ And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “You could not keep watch with me for one hour? ₄₁ Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” ₄₂ He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup cannot go away unless I drink it, let your will be done.” ₄₃ Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. ₄₄ And he left them again and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing. ₄₅ Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and rest: Behold, the time is approaching, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ₄₆ Arise, let us be going. Behold, the one who betrays me is approaching.”

Judas Betrays Jesus and Facilitates His Arrest (26:47–56)

₄₇ While he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, accompanied by a large crowd that came with swords and clubs from the chief priests and elders of the people. ₄₈ Now he who was betraying him gave them a sign, saying, “Whomever I myself kiss, he is the one; arrest him.” ₄₉ Immediately, Judas approached Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. ₅₀ Jesus said to him, “Friend, you are here for this?” Then they came and laid hands upon Jesus and arrested him. ₅₁ But behold, one of those who were with Jesus reached and drew out his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. ₅₂ Jesus said, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who pick up the sword will die by the sword. ₅₃ Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he would give me more than twelve legions of angels? ₅₄ But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, for it must be so.” ₅₅ At that moment, Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as you would against a bandit? Every day I used to sit in the temple, teaching, and you did not arrest me. ₅₆ But all this has happened so that the writings of the prophets may be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.

Jesus before Caiaphas and the Whole Sanhedrin (26:57–68)

₅₇ Those who had arrested Jesus led him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered. ₅₈ But Peter was following him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and entered in, and sat down with the servants to see the outcome. ₅₉ Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin sought false testimony against Jesus, so that they might execute him. ₆₀ They did not find any, although many false witnesses came forward. Finally, two came forward ₆₁ and said, “This man stated, I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.” ₆₂ The high priest stood up and said to him, “Do you not respond to what these men are testifying against you?” ₆₃ But Jesus kept silent. The high priest said to him, “I put you under oath by the living God that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.” ₆₄ Jesus said to him, “You have said it; nevertheless, I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” ₆₅ Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy. ₆₆ What do you think?” They answered and said, “He is worthy of death.” ₆₇ Then they spat into his face and slapped him, while others beat him ₆₈ and said, “Prophesy to us, you Christ. And who is the one who hit you?”

Peter Denies Having Been with Jesus or Knowing Him (26:69–75)

₆₉ Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” ₇₀ But Peter denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” ₇₁ Then, when he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” ₇₂ Again he denied it with an oath. “I do not know the man.” ₇₃ A little later some bystanders approached and said to Peter, “Truly, you too are one of them, for even your manner of speech gives you away.” ₇₄ Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the person.” Immediately, a rooster crowed, ₇₅ and Peter remembered the prophecy which Jesus had made: “Before a rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and bitterly wept.