Matthew 26:1-25

New American Standard Bible

The Plot to Kill Jesus

26 ^(A)When Jesus had finished all these words, He said to His disciples, ²“^(B)You know that after two days ^(C)the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man is to be ^(D)handed over for crucifixion.”

³^(E)At that time the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together in ^(F)the courtyard of the high priest named ^(G)Caiaphas; ⁴and they ^(H)plotted together to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him. ⁵But they were saying, “Not during the festival, ^(I)otherwise a riot might occur among the people.”

The Precious Ointment

⁶^(J)Now when Jesus was in ^(K)Bethany, at the home of Simon ^[a]the Leper, ⁷^(L)a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very expensive perfume, and she poured it on His head as He was reclining at the table. ⁸But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, “Why this waste? ⁹For this perfume could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” ¹⁰But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you bothering the woman? For she has done a good deed for Me. ¹¹For you always have ^(M)the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. ¹²For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it ^(N)to prepare Me for burial. ¹³Truly I say to you, ^(O)wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.”

Judas’ Bargain

¹⁴^(P)Then one of the twelve, named ^(Q)Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests ¹⁵and said, “What are you willing to give me ^[b]to ^[c]^(R)betray Him to you?” And ^(S)they set out for him thirty ^[d]pieces of silver. ¹⁶And from then on he looked for a good opportunity to ^[e]betray ^[f]Jesus.

¹⁷^(T)Now on the first day of ^[g]^(U)Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and ^[h]asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” ¹⁸And He said, “Go into the city to ^(V)a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “^(W)My time is near; I am keeping the Passover at your house with My disciples.”’” ¹⁹The disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.

The Last Passover

²⁰^(X)Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the ^[i]twelve. ²¹And as they were eating, He said, “^(Y)Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.” ²²Being deeply grieved, they began saying to Him, each one: “Surely it is not I, Lord?” ²³And He answered, “^(Z)He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. ²⁴The Son of Man is going away ^(AA)just as it is written about Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! ^(AB)It would have been good ^[j]for that man if he had not been born.” ²⁵And ^(AC)Judas, who was betraying Him, said, “Surely it is not I, ^(AD)Rabbi?” Jesus *said to him, “^(AE)You have said it yourself.”