Matthew 26
New Catholic Bible
The Passion and Resurrection[a]
Chapter 26
The Plot against Jesus.[b] 1 When Jesus had finished discoursing on all these subjects, he said to his disciples, 2 “In two days it will be Passover, at which time the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
3 Meanwhile, the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled together in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,[c] 4 and they made plans to arrest Jesus by deceit and have him put to death. 5 However, they said, “It must not occur during the feast, or the people may begin to riot.”
A Woman of Bethany Anoints Jesus.[d] 6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came up to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment and poured it over his head as he reclined at table. 8 When the disciples saw this, they became indignant, and they remarked, “Why this waste? 9 This ointment could have been sold for a considerable sum, with the money given to the poor.”
10 Jesus was aware of their attitude, and he said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has performed a good deed for me. 11 The poor you will always have with you,[e] but you will not always have me. 12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has prepared me for burial. 13 Amen, I say to you, wherever in the whole world this gospel is proclaimed, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.”
14 Judas Betrays Jesus.[f] Then one of the Twelve, the man called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, 16 and from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.
17 The Preparations for the Passover Supper.[g] On the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread,[h] the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said: “Go to a certain man in the city and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My appointed time is near. I intend to celebrate the Passover at your house with my disciples.” ’ ” 19 The disciples thereupon followed Jesus’ instructions, and they prepared the Passover.
20 The Treachery of Judas Foretold.[i] When evening came, he reclined at table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 Greatly distressed on hearing this, they began to ask him, one after another, “Is it I, Lord?”
23 He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me is the one who will betray me. 24 The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.”
25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said: “Is it I, Rabbi?” Jesus replied, “You have said so.”
26 The Last Supper.[j] While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after he had pronounced the blessing, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take this and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and after offering thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from this, all of you. 28 For this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 And I tell you, from now on I shall not drink this fruit of the vine until the day when I shall drink it anew with you in the kingdom of my Father.”
30 And after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
31 Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial.[k] Then Jesus said to them, “This very night you will all be scandalized because of me, for it is written:
‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
32 But after I have been raised up, I shall go ahead of you to Galilee.”
33 Peter said to him, “Even if all the others will be scandalized because of you, I will never be.” 34 Jesus replied, “Amen, I say to you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.”[l] 35 Peter said to him, “Even if I have to die with you, I will not deny you.” And all the other disciples said the same thing.
36 The Agony in the Garden.[m] Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and he began to suffer grief and anguish.
38 Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful, even to the point of death. Remain here and keep watch with me.” 39 Moving on a little farther, he threw himself prostrate on the ground in prayer, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, allow this cup to be taken from me. Yet let your will, not mine, be done.”
40 Returning to the disciples, he found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Could you not keep watch with me for just one hour? 41 Stay awake and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 He went apart for a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 Then he came back again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.
44 He left them there and went away again, praying for the third time in the same words as before. 45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour has come for the Son of Man to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up! Let us be going! Look, my betrayer is approaching.”
47 Jesus Is Arrested.[n][o]While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him there was a large crowd of men, armed with swords and clubs, who had been sent by the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now his betrayer had agreed with them on a signal, saying, “The one I shall kiss is the man. Arrest him.” 49 Proceeding directly to Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came forward, seized Jesus, and placed him under arrest.
51 Suddenly, one of those who were accompanying Jesus reached for his sword, drew it, and struck a servant of the high priest, slicing off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put back your sword into its place. For all who take the sword shall die by the sword. 53 Do you suppose that I cannot appeal to my Father for help[p] and he will not immediately send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But then how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
55 At that hour, Jesus said to the crowd, “Why are you coming forth with swords and clubs to arrest me, as though I were a bandit? Day after day I sat teaching in the temple, and you did not arrest me. 56 But all this has taken place so that the writings of the Prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
57 Jesus Is Condemned by the Sanhedrin.[q] Those who had arrested Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest where the scribes and the elders had gathered. 58 Meanwhile, Peter followed him at a distance up to the courtyard of the high priest. Then, going inside, he sat down with the attendants to see what the outcome would be.
59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin tried to elicit some false testimony against Jesus so they could put him to death, 60 but they failed in their efforts, even though many witnesses came forward with perjured testimony. Finally, two men came forward 61 who stated, “This man said, ‘I can destroy the temple of God and rebuild it within three days.’ ”
62 The high priest then rose and said to him, “Have you no reply to counter the testimony that these witnesses have given?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I command you to tell us before the living God whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus replied, “You have said it. But I tell you:
From now on you will see the Son of Man
seated at the right hand of the Power
and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
65 Then the high priest tore his robes and exclaimed, “He has blasphemed! What need do we have for any further witnesses? Behold, you have just heard the blasphemy. 66 What do you think?” They shouted in reply, “He deserves to die.” 67 Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists. Some taunted him as they beat him, 68 “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit you?”
69 Peter Denies Jesus.[r] Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. One of the servant girls came over to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before all of them, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” 71 When he walked out to the entrance gate, another servant girl caught sight of him and said to the people around her, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 And again he denied it, this time with an oath: “I do not know the man.”
73 Shortly afterward, some bystanders came up to Peter and said to him, “You unquestionably are one of them. Even your accent gives you away.” 74 Then Peter began to shout curses, and he swore an oath: “I do not know the man.” At that very moment, a cock crowed, 75 and Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and began to weep uncontrollably.
Footnotes
- Matthew 26:1 One person dominates this account: Jesus. He submits to the death that hangs over sinful humanity, but he comes forth from the tomb as conqueror of death and evil. Matthew constantly cites Scripture in order to convince the intended readers of his work, Christians converted from Judaism, that the seeming failure of Jesus was in reality the fulfillment of God’s plan.
- Matthew 26:1 Matthew emphasizes Jesus’ awareness to carry out his Father’s saving plan. Probably the plot was hatched on Wednesday.
- Matthew 26:3 Joseph, surnamed Caiaphas, son-in-law of Annas, was high priest, that is, supreme head of the Jewish priesthood and president of the Sanhedrin, from A.D. 18 to 36.
- Matthew 26:6 The anointing at Bethany anticipates the burial rites for the Savior after his death. Providing for burial was in the eyes of the Jews a more important good work than almsgiving itself. In Jn 12:1-8, the woman is called Mary, and Judas is the apostle who becomes indignant. Luke (7:36-50) reports another anointing.
- Matthew 26:11 The poor you will always have with you: with these words Jesus does not intend to sanction poverty as if to condemn efforts to eradicate misery. He makes a simple observation: his disciples will have many occasions to aid the poor who, as Deut 15:11 states, will never be wanting in Israel.
- Matthew 26:14 For the early Christians, if there is a dark deed it is the ever incomprehensible deed of Judas, who comes to the fore here. Matthew is thinking of the prophecy of the righteous man sold for thirty pieces of silver (see Zec 11:12). That amount is also the compensation paid to one whose slave has been gored by an ox (see Ex 21:32).
- Matthew 26:17 In the history of Israel one event dominates all others, the Passover (Ex 12–13), and in the worship of Israel one feast summarizes the whole faith, the Passover. It celebrates the passage of God in the midst of his people and is the hour of liberation, salvation, and the covenant. Jesus’ Death and Resurrection constitute the true Passover, definitive for all humankind. The Last Supper of Jesus will be its inauguration.
- Matthew 26:17 The first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread: this date corresponds with Thursday, the 14th of Nisan. The feast really began on the 15th of Nisan and lasted until the 21st. However, since the leavened bread was eliminated from all the houses before midday on the 14th, the morning of this date was improperly regarded as the first day of the feast, which in reality began only with the setting of the sun, when according to Jewish custom the 15th began. Passover here refers to the paschal lamb, which was immolated around three o’clock on the 14th of Nisan.
- Matthew 26:20 The Passover supper began around six o’clock on Thursday. This passage focuses on the divine foreknowledge of Jesus, who is not overcome by the course of events and regards them as ordinary. He sees them as the putting in motion of the will of his Father.
- Matthew 26:26 This is the beginning of the new Covenant promised in Jer 31:31-33, the new sacrifice. For Jesus this meal is more than a final farewell; his entire work is summed up in this sign. He shares his life and love with sinners; he acts as the Servant of God whose sacrifice of himself ransoms his fellow human beings from sin and reconciles them with the Father (see Isa 42:6; 49:6; 53:11-12). Jesus anticipates his sacrifice; he anticipates his gift of himself. By offering his body and blood on the cross he saves humankind. A Covenant is established in which all the saved will share in the same love (see Jer 31:31-34). The Eucharist replaces Sinai (see Ex 24:6-8).
- Matthew 26:31 During the Passover meal, some psalms were sung, i.e., the so-called Hallel (113–118). Two followed the account of the origin of Passover. The others were recited after the meal. On the way to the Mount of Olives, Jesus predicts to the disciples their crisis of faith. They have indeed acknowledged him as Messiah and have a deep love for him, as shown by Peter’s words. However, they have not yet understood the scandal of the cross, and so their fidelity will be shaken, at least momentarily.
- Matthew 26:34 The cock would begin crowing at 3:00 A.M. (see Mk 13:35).
- Matthew 26:36 The first Christian community never succumbed to the temptation to make Jesus into a hero. Never did he appear more human and more pitiable than in this passage. His inner turmoil in the face of his approaching suffering and death could not be more profound than in this hour of the agony. Three times the prayer of the Our Father rises on the lips of Christ; it is a prayer of complete abandonment into God’s hand. And Jesus bears this “temptation,” this trial, alone as perhaps no other human could have done. He utters no word of resentment or pride at the moment when he accepts and confronts the ultimate and sorrowful stage of his mission.
- Matthew 26:47 Jesus practices what he had taught (Mt 5:39). He regards himself as the suffering Servant (see Isa 53) who accepts his sacrifice in silence so as to accomplish his mission. It is love that reestablishes order, for in the face of hypocritical force violence remains powerless.
- Matthew 26:47 Judas was well aware of the customs of his Master, and that he was wont to retire to the garden of Gethsemane. A kiss was the customary greeting of a disciple for his teacher.
- Matthew 26:53 Do you suppose that I cannot appeal to my Father for help . . . ?: by these words Jesus emphasizes the voluntary character of his Passion. Jesus freely accepts the will of God, expressed in Scripture. The same reason is repeated in v. 56. Twelve legions: a Roman legion consisted of 6000 men.
- Matthew 26:57 According to Matthew and Mark, immediately after his arrest Jesus was led before the Sanhedrin for a session that very night. Another session was held in the morning; then Jesus was consigned to Pilate. The religious trial has two phases: the first centers upon the false testimony of the witnesses, the second upon the question put to Jesus by the high priest. The Law (Deut 17:6) required that two witnesses agree in their testimony against an accused person. Jesus supposedly had said that he had power over the temple, which was the house of God. But had he not said that his body was the true dwelling of the Father (Jn 2:21)? Now that every political and nationalist interpretation of his words seems excluded, since he is alone, rejected, helpless, he dares to say that he is the Messiah and not only the son but the lord of David (Ps 110:1; Dan 7:13).
- Matthew 26:69 At the very moment when the Master openly proclaims himself to be the Messiah, no one acknowledges it. In the opinion of all, he is lost. Even Peter, the leader of Jesus’ followers, denies any link with him.
Matthew 26
New International Reader's Version
The Plan to Kill Jesus
26 Jesus finished saying all these things. Then he said to his disciples, 2 “As you know, the Passover Feast is two days away. The Son of Man will be handed over to be nailed to a cross.”
3 Then the chief priests met with the elders of the people. They met in the palace of Caiaphas, the high priest. 4 They made plans to arrest Jesus secretly. They wanted to kill him. 5 “But not during the feast,” they said. “The people may stir up trouble.”
A Woman Pours Perfume on Jesus
6 Jesus was in Bethany. He was in the home of Simon, who had a skin disease. 7 A woman came to Jesus with a special sealed jar of very expensive perfume. She poured the perfume on his head while he was at the table.
8 When the disciples saw this, they became angry. “Why this waste?” they asked. 9 “The perfume could have been sold at a high price. The money could have been given to poor people.”
10 Jesus was aware of this. So he said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 You will always have poor people with you. But you will not always have me. 12 She poured the perfume on my body to prepare me to be buried. 13 What I’m about to tell you is true. What she has done will be told anywhere this good news is preached all over the world. It will be told in memory of her.”
Judas Agrees to Hand Jesus Over
14 One of the 12 disciples went to the chief priests. His name was Judas Iscariot. 15 He asked, “What will you give me if I hand Jesus over to you?” So they counted out 30 silver coins for him. 16 From then on, Judas watched for the right time to hand Jesus over to them.
The Lord’s Supper
17 It was the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The disciples came to Jesus. They asked, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover meal?”
18 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man. Tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover at your house with my disciples.” ’ ” 19 So the disciples did what Jesus had told them to do. They prepared the Passover meal.
20 When evening came, Jesus was at the table with his 12 disciples. 21 While they were eating, he said, “What I’m about to tell you is true. One of you will hand me over to my enemies.”
22 The disciples became very sad. One after the other, they began to say to him, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord, do you?”
23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will hand me over. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But how terrible it will be for the one who hands over the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
25 Judas was the one who was going to hand him over. He said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Teacher, do you?”
Jesus answered, “You have said so.”
26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread. He gave thanks and broke it. He handed it to his disciples and said, “Take this and eat it. This is my body.”
27 Then he took a cup. He gave thanks and handed it to them. He said, “All of you drink from it. 28 This is my blood of the covenant. It is poured out to forgive the sins of many people. 29 Here is what I tell you. From now on, I won’t drink wine with you again until the day I drink it with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
30 Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.
Jesus Says That the Disciples Will Turn Away
31 Jesus told them, “This very night you will all turn away because of me. It is written that the Lord said,
“ ‘I will strike the shepherd down.
Then the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ (Zechariah 13:7)
32 But after I rise from the dead, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
33 Peter replied, “All the others may turn away because of you. But I never will.”
34 “What I’m about to tell you is true,” Jesus answered. “It will happen tonight. Before the rooster crows, you will say three times that you don’t know me.”
35 But Peter said, “I may have to die with you. But I will never say I don’t know you.” And all the other disciples said the same thing.
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. He said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him. He began to be sad and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sad. I feel close to death. Stay here. Keep watch with me.”
39 He went a little farther. Then he fell with his face to the ground. He prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, take this cup of suffering away from me. But let what you want be done, not what I want.”
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray. Then you won’t fall into sin when you are tempted. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
42 Jesus went away a second time. He prayed, “My Father, is it possible for this cup to be taken away? But if I must drink it, may what you want be done.”
43 Then he came back. Again he found them sleeping. They couldn’t keep their eyes open. 44 So he left them and went away once more. For the third time he prayed the same thing.
45 Then he returned to the disciples. He said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look! The hour has come. The Son of Man is about to be handed over to sinners. 46 Get up! Let us go! Here comes the one who is handing me over to them!”
Jesus Is Arrested
47 While Jesus was still speaking, Judas arrived. He was one of the 12 disciples. A large crowd was with him. They were carrying swords and clubs. The chief priests and the elders of the people had sent them. 48 Judas, who was going to hand Jesus over, had arranged a signal with them. “The one I kiss is the man,” he said. “Arrest him.” 49 So Judas went to Jesus at once. He said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him.
50 Jesus replied, “Friend, do what you came to do.”
Then the men stepped forward. They grabbed Jesus and arrested him. 51 At that moment, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword. He pulled it out and struck the slave of the high priest with it. He cut off the slave’s ear.
52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “All who use the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I can’t ask my Father for help? He would send an army of more than 70,000 angels right away. 54 But then how would the Scriptures come true? They say it must happen in this way.”
55 At that time Jesus spoke to the crowd. “Am I leading a band of armed men against you?” he asked. “Do you have to come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courtyard teaching. And you didn’t arrest me. 56 But all this has happened so that the words of the prophets would come true.” Then all the disciples left him and ran away.
Jesus Is Taken to the Sanhedrin
57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest. The teachers of the law and the elders had come together there. 58 Not too far away, Peter followed Jesus. He went right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see what would happen.
59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for something to use against Jesus. They wanted to put him to death. 60 But they did not find any proof, even though many false witnesses came forward.
Finally, two other witnesses came forward. 61 They said, “This fellow claimed, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God. I can build it again in three days.’ ”
62 Then the high priest stood up. He asked Jesus, “Aren’t you going to answer? What are these charges that these men are bringing against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent.
The high priest said to him, “I am commanding you in the name of the living God. May he judge you if you don’t tell the truth. Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
64 “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But here is what I say to all of you. From now on, you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One. You will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven.”
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes. He said, “He has spoken a very evil thing against God! Why do we need any more witnesses? You have heard him say this evil thing. 66 What do you think?”
“He must die!” they answered.
67 Then they spit in his face. They hit him with their fists. Others slapped him. 68 They said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah! Who hit you?”
Peter Says He Does Not Know Jesus
69 Peter was sitting out in the courtyard. A female servant came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.
70 But in front of all of them, Peter said he was not. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
71 Then he went out to the gate leading into the courtyard. There another servant saw him. She said to the people, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
72 Again he said he was not. With a curse he said, “I don’t know the man!”
73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter. “You must be one of them,” they said. “The way you talk gives you away.”
74 Then Peter began to curse and said to them, “I don’t know the man!”
Right away a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said. “The rooster will crow,” Jesus had told him. “Before it does, you will say three times that you don’t know me.” Peter went outside. He broke down and cried.
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