Matthew 26
Living Bible
26 When Jesus had finished this talk with his disciples, he told them,
2 “As you know, the Passover celebration begins in two days, and I[a] shall be betrayed and crucified.”
3 At that very moment the chief priests and other Jewish officials were meeting at the residence of Caiaphas the high priest, 4 to discuss ways of capturing Jesus quietly and killing him. 5 “But not during the Passover celebration,” they agreed, “for there would be a riot.”
6 Jesus now proceeded to Bethany, to the home of Simon the leper. 7 While he was eating, a woman came in with a bottle of very expensive perfume and poured it over his head.
8-9 The disciples were indignant. “What a waste of good money,” they said. “Why, she could have sold it for a fortune and given it to the poor.”
10 Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why are you criticizing her? For she has done a good thing to me. 11 You will always have the poor among you, but you won’t always have me. 12 She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. 13 And she will always be remembered for this deed. The story of what she has done will be told throughout the whole world, wherever the Good News is preached.”
14 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve apostles, went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “How much will you pay me to get Jesus into your hands?” And they gave him thirty silver coins. 16 From that time on, Judas watched for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them.
17 On the first day of the Passover ceremonies, when bread made with yeast was purged from every Jewish home, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where shall we plan to eat the Passover?”
18 He replied, “Go into the city and see Mr. So-and-So, and tell him, ‘Our Master says, my time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.’” 19 So the disciples did as he told them and prepared the supper there.
20-21 That evening as he sat eating with the Twelve, he said, “One of you will betray me.”
22 Sorrow chilled their hearts, and each one asked, “Am I the one?”
23 He replied, “It is the one I served first.[b] 24 For I must die[c] just as was prophesied, but woe to the man by whom I am betrayed. Far better for that one if he had never been born.”
25 Judas, too, had asked him, “Rabbi, am I the one?” And Jesus had told him, “Yes.”
26 As they were eating, Jesus took a small loaf of bread and blessed it and broke it apart and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take it and eat it, for this is my body.”
27 And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks for it and gave it to them and said, “Each one drink from it, 28 for this is my blood, sealing the new covenant. It is poured out to forgive the sins of multitudes. 29 Mark my words—I will not drink this wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”
30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
31 Then Jesus said to them, “Tonight you will all desert me. For it is written in the Scriptures[d] that God will smite the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. 32 But after I have been brought back to life again, I will go to Galilee and meet you there.”
33 Peter declared, “If everyone else deserts you, I won’t.”
34 Jesus told him, “The truth is that this very night, before the cock crows at dawn, you will deny me three times!”
35 “I would die first!” Peter insisted. And all the other disciples said the same thing.
36 Then Jesus brought them to a garden grove, Gethsemane, and told them to sit down and wait while he went on ahead to pray. 37 He took Peter with him and Zebedee’s two sons James and John, and began to be filled with anguish and despair.
38 Then he told them, “My soul is crushed with horror and sadness to the point of death . . . stay here . . . stay awake with me.”
39 He went forward a little, and fell face downward on the ground, and prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup be taken away from me. But I want your will, not mine.”
40 Then he returned to the three disciples and found them asleep. “Peter,” he called, “couldn’t you even stay awake with me one hour? 41 Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For the spirit indeed is willing, but how weak the body is!”
42 Again he left them and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot go away until I drink it all, your will be done.”
43 He returned to them again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy, 44 so he went back to prayer the third time, saying the same things again.
45 Then he came to the disciples and said, “Sleep on now and take your rest . . . but no! The time has come! I am[e] betrayed into the hands of evil men! 46 Up! Let’s be going! Look! Here comes the man who is betraying me!”
47 At that very moment while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived with a great crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent by the Jewish leaders. 48 Judas had told them to arrest the man he greeted, for that would be the one they were after. 49 So now Judas came straight to Jesus and said, “Hello, Master!” and embraced[f] him in friendly fashion.
50 Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.” Then the others grabbed him.
51 One of the men with Jesus pulled out a sword and slashed off the ear of the high priest’s servant.
52 “Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those using swords will get killed. 53 Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? 54 But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what is happening now?” 55 Then Jesus spoke to the crowd. “Am I some dangerous criminal,” he asked, “that you had to arm yourselves with swords and clubs before you could arrest me? I was with you teaching daily in the Temple and you didn’t stop me then. 56 But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures.”
At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled.
57 Then the mob led him to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, where all the Jewish leaders were gathering. 58 Meanwhile, Peter was following far to the rear, and came to the courtyard of the high priest’s house and went in and sat with the soldiers, and waited to see what was going to be done to Jesus.
59 The chief priests and, in fact, the entire Jewish Supreme Court assembled there and looked for witnesses who would lie about Jesus, in order to build a case against him that would result in a death sentence. 60-61 But even though they found many who agreed to be false witnesses, these always contradicted each other.
Finally two men were found who declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”
62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Well, what about it? Did you say that, or didn’t you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent.
Then the high priest said to him, “I demand in the name of the living God that you tell us whether you claim to be the Messiah, the Son of God.”
64 “Yes,” Jesus said, “I am. And in the future you will see me, the Messiah,[g] sitting at the right hand of God and returning on the clouds of heaven.”
65-66 Then the high priest tore at his own clothing, shouting, “Blasphemy! What need have we for other witnesses? You have all heard him say it! What is your verdict?”
They shouted, “Death!—Death!—Death!”
67 Then they spat in his face and struck him and some slapped him, 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who struck you that time?”
69 Meanwhile, as Peter was sitting in the courtyard, a girl came over and said to him, “You were with Jesus, for both of you are from Galilee.”[h]
70 But Peter denied it loudly. “I don’t even know what you are talking about,” he angrily declared.
71 Later, out by the gate, another girl noticed him and said to those standing around, “This man was with Jesus—from Nazareth.”
72 Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. “I don’t even know the man,” he said.
73 But after a while the men who had been standing there came over to him and said, “We know you are one of his disciples, for we can tell by your Galilean[i] accent.”
74 Peter began to curse and swear. “I don’t even know the man,” he said.
And immediately the cock crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said, “Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went away, crying bitterly.
Footnotes
- Matthew 26:2 I, literally, “the Son of Man.”
- Matthew 26:23 the one I served first, literally, “he that dipped his hand with me in the dish.”
- Matthew 26:24 For I must die, literally, “The Son of Man goes.”
- Matthew 26:31 in the Scriptures, see Zechariah 13:7.
- Matthew 26:45 I am, literally, “The Son of Man is.”
- Matthew 26:49 embraced, literally, “kissed,” the greeting still used among men in Eastern lands.
- Matthew 26:64 the Messiah, literally, “the Son of Man.”
- Matthew 26:69 with Jesus, for both of you are from Galilee, literally, “with Jesus the Galilean.”
- Matthew 26:73 Galilean, implied.
Matthew 26
Tree of Life Version
The Conspiracy Grows
26 Now it happened that when Yeshua had finished all these words, He said to His disciples, 2 “You know that Passover comes in two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be executed.”
3 Then the ruling kohanim and elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the kohen gadol named Caiaphas. 4 They plotted together in order that they might seize Yeshua by stealth and kill Him. 5 “But not during the festival,” they were saying, “so there won’t be a riot among the people.”
A Woman Anoints Yeshua for Burial
6 Now while Yeshua was in Bethany at the house of Simon ha-Metzora, 7 a woman came up to Him with an alabaster jar of very expensive oil. And she poured it on His head as He was reclining at the table. 8 But when the disciples saw this, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 It could have been sold for a lot, and the money given to the poor!”
10 But Yeshua, knowing this, said to them, “Why do you cause trouble for this woman? She’s done Me a mitzvah. 11 You always have the poor with you,[a] but you won’t always have Me. 12 For when she poured this oil on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. 13 Amen, I tell you, wherever this Good News is proclaimed in all the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
Betrayed and Sold for Silver
14 Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judah of Kriot, went to the ruling kohanim 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they weighed out thirty shekels[b] of silver for him. 16 From then on, Judah began looking for a chance to hand Him over.
17 Now on the first day of matzah,[c] the disciples came to Yeshua, saying, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”
18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near; at your house I am to keep the Passover with My disciples.”’” 19 The disciples did as Yeshua had ordered them, and they prepared the Passover.[d]
20 Now when it was evening, Yeshua was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 As they were eating, He said, “Amen, I tell you, one of you will betray Me.”
22 And being very sorrowful, they began, each one, to say to Him, “I’m not the one, am I, Master?”
23 And He replied, “The one who dipped his hand in the bowl with Me, he’s the one who will betray Me. [e] 24 The Son of Man indeed goes, just as it is written about Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed![f] It would have been better for that man if he had not been born!”
25 And Judah, the one betraying Him, replied, “I’m not the one, am I, Rabbi?”
Yeshua said to him, “You’ve said it yourself.”
26 Now while they were eating, Yeshua took matzah;[g] and after He offered the bracha, He broke and gave to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 27 And He took a cup; and after giving thanks, He gave to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the removal of sins. [h] 29 But I say to you, I will never drink of this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day when I drink it anew with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
30 After singing the Hallel,[i] they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31 Then Yeshua said to them, “This night you will all fall away because of Me; for it is written,
‘I will strike the Shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’[j]
32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to the Galilee.”
33 But Peter replied to Him, “Though all fall away because of You, I’ll never fall away.”
34 Yeshua said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”
35 “Even if I must die with You,” Peter says to Him, “I’ll never deny You!” And so said all the disciples.
“Your Will Be Done”
36 Then Yeshua comes with them to a place called Gethsemane, and He tells the disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And He took along Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, and He began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then He tells them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.” 39 Going a little farther, He fell face down and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me! Yet not as I will, but as You will.”
40 Then He comes to the disciples and finds them sleeping; and He tells Peter, “So couldn’t you keep watch with Me for one hour? 41 Keep watching and praying, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again for a second time He went away and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, let Your will be done.” 43 And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So He left them again and prayed a third time, saying the same words once more. 45 Then He comes to the disciples and says to them, “Still sleeping? Taking your rest? Look, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up, let’s go! Look, My betrayer is near.”
Taken into Custody
47 While Yeshua was still speaking, here came Judah, one of the Twelve, and with him a big crowd with swords and clubs, from the ruling kohanim and elders of the people. 48 Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, ‘The One I kiss, He’s the One—seize Him!’ 49 And immediately Judah drew near[k] to Yeshua and said, “Shalom, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.
50 “Friend,” Yeshua said to him, “do what you’ve come to do.” Then they came up and threw their hands on Yeshua and seized Him. 51 And suddenly, one of those with Yeshua stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and he struck the kohen gadol’s servant and cut off his ear.
52 Then Yeshua said to him, “Put your sword back in its place! For all who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. [l] 53 Or do you suppose that I cannot call on My Father, and at once He will place at My side twelve legions[m] of angels? 54 How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”
55 At that hour Yeshua said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, to capture Me as you would a revolutionary?[n] Every day I sat teaching in the Temple, and you didn’t seize Me. 56 But all this has happened so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples fled, abandoning Him.
57 Now those who had seized Yeshua led Him away to Caiaphas, the kohen gadol, where the Torah scholars and elders had gathered. 58 Peter was following Him from a distance as far as the courtyard of the kohen gadol. And after going inside, he was sitting with the guards, to see the outcome.
Yeshua’s Trial Begins
59 Now the ruling kohanim and all the Sanhedrin kept trying to get false testimony against Yeshua so they could put Him to death. 60 But they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward 61 and said, “This fellow said, ‘I’m able to destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three days!’”
62 The kohen gadol stood up and said to Yeshua, “Have You no answer? What’s this they’re testifying against You?” 63 But Yeshua kept silent.
The kohen gadol said to Him, “I charge You under oath by the living God, tell us if You are Mashiach Ben-Elohim!”[o]
64 “As you have said,” replied Yeshua. “Besides that, I tell you, soon after you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”[p]
65 Then the kohen gadol tore his clothes and said, “Blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, you’ve heard the blasphemy. 66 What’s your verdict?”[q]
“Guilty,” they answered. “He deserves death!” 67 Then they spat in His face and pounded Him with their fists.[r] Others slapped Him and demanded, 68 “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Which one hit You?”
Peter Denies Yeshua
69 Meanwhile, Peter was sitting in the courtyard. A servant girl came over to him and said, “You also were with Yeshua of the Galilee.”
70 But he denied it before everyone, saying, “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
71 When he went onto the porch, another servant girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Yeshua ha-Natzrati.”
72 Again he denied it with an oath: “I don’t know the Man!”
73 A little while later, some of the bystanders approached Peter and said to him, “Surely you’re one of them, too—your accent gives you away.”
74 Then he began to curse[s] and to swear an oath: “I do not know the Man!” Right then, a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter reminded himself of the word Yeshua had said: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went away and wept bitterly.
Footnotes
- Matthew 26:11 cf. Deut. 15:11.
- Matthew 26:15 cf. Exod. 21:32; Zech. 11:12.
- Matthew 26:17 cf. Exod. 12:15.
- Matthew 26:19 cf. Deut. 16:5-8.
- Matthew 26:24 cf. Exod. 12:8; Ps. 41:10(9).
- Matthew 26:24 cf. Ps. 41:10(9).
- Matthew 26:26 Lit. bread (at Passover, unleavened bread).
- Matthew 26:29 cf. Exod. 24:8; Jer. 31:31; Heb. 9:22; 10:16-18. Some mss. say: new covenant.
- Matthew 26:30 Ps. 113-118; Ps. 115-118 was sung after the last cup.
- Matthew 26:31 Zech. 13:7.
- Matthew 26:49 cf. Gen. 44:18.
- Matthew 26:53 cf. Gen. 9:6.
- Matthew 26:53 1 legion = 6000 soldiers.
- Matthew 26:55 Or robber.
- Matthew 26:63 cf. Jn. 20:31.
- Matthew 26:64 cf. Dan. 7:13; Ps. 110:1; Isa. 9:6(7).
- Matthew 26:66 cf. Lev. 24:16.
- Matthew 26:67 cf. Isa. 50:6.
- Matthew 26:74 cf. Mk. 14:71.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.