Matthew 26

Jesus Foretells His Own Death

(1) And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples,

(2) "YOU know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man will be betrayed to be crucified."

Rulers Conspire Against Jesus

(3) Then the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, assembled together in the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,

(4) and plotted on how they might take Jesus by deceit, and kill him.

(5) But they said, "Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people."

Woman Anoints Jesus' Feet

6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,

(7) a woman came to him having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat to eat.

(8) But when his disciples saw it, they were indignat, saying, "To what is the purpose of this waste?

(9) For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor."

(10) When Jesus understood what was said, he said to them, "Why do YOU trouble the woman? For she has done a good work to me.

(11) For YOU will have the poor with you always; but YOU will not always have me.

(12) For in pouring this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.

(13) Truly I say to you, Wherever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, what this woman has done shall also be told for a memorial of her."

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

(14) Then one of the 12, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests,

(15) and said to them, "What will YOU give me, if I deliver him to you?" And they established with him to pay thirty pieces of silver.

(16) From that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

The Last Supper

(17) Now on the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, "Where do you desire that we prepare for you to eat the passover?"

(18) And he said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, 'The Master says, "My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at your house with my disciples." ' "

(19) So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the passover.

(20) When the evening came, he sat down with the 12.

(21) As they ate, he said, "Truly I say to you, that one of you shall betray me."

(22) And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and everyone of them began to say to him, "Lord, is it I?"

(23) He answered and said, "He who dips his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.

(24) The Son of man goes 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 betrayed him, answered and said, "Master, is it I?" He said to him, "You have said it."

Jesus Institutes His Holy Supper

(26) As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take this; eat it; this is my body."

(27) And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "All of YOU, drink from it;

28 For this is my blood of the new testament, 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, until that day when 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.

Jesus Foretells His Disciples Desertion and Peter’s Denial

(31) Then Jesus said to them, "All of YOU shall be offended because of me this night; for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.'

(32) But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee."

(33) Peter answered and said to him, "Though all men shall be offended because of you, I will never be offended."

(34) Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you, That this night, before the rooster crows, you shall deny me three times."

(35) Peter said to him, "Though I must die with you, I will not deny you." All the disciples also said the same.

Jesus Prays in the Garden at Gethsemane

(36) Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, "YOU sit here, while I go there and pray."

(37) And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very troubled.

(38) Then he said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. YOU stay here, and watch with me."

(39) He went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, "O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as you will."

(40) And he came to the disciples, and found them asleep, and said to Peter, "What, could YOU not watch with me one hour?

(41) Watch and pray, that YOU do not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

(42) He went away again a second time, and prayed, saying, "O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, your will be done."

(43) And he came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.

(44) He left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

(45) Then he came to his disciples, and said to them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest; behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

(46) Arise, let us go; behold, he that betrays me is at hand."

Jesus Betrayed By a Kiss and Arrested

(47) And while he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the 12, came with a great multitude with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and elders of the people.

(48) Now he who betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, "Whoever I shall kiss, he is the one; seize him."

(49) Immediately he went to Jesus, and said, "Greetings, master." and kissed him.

(50) And Jesus said to him, "Friend, what have you come for?" Then they came, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

(51) Behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

(52) Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for all those that take the sword shall perish by the sword.

(53) Do you not think that I could now pray to my Father, and he would provide me with more than 12 legions of angels?

(54) But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?"

(55) In that same hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have YOU come out with swords and clubs to take me as you would a thief? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and YOU did not lay hold of me.

(56) But all this was done, so that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

Jesus Carried to Caiaphas Before the Sanhedrin

(57) And those who had laid hold of Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

(58) But Peter followed him from a distance to the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see how it would end.

(59) Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false testimony against Jesus, to put him to death,

(60) but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. At last two false witnesses came forward,

(61) and said, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.' "

(62) The high priest arose, and said to him, "You answer nothing? What is it that these testify against you?"

(63) But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said to him, "I charge you swear to us by the living God, that you will tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God."

(64) Jesus said to him, "You have said it; nevertheless I say to you, Hereafter YOU shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven."

(65) Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, "He has spoken blasphemy; what further need do we have for witnesses? Behold, now YOU have heard his blasphemy.

(66) What do YOU think?" They answered and said, "He is guilty and deserves death."

(67) Then they spit in his face, and struck him with their fists; and others struck him with the palms of their hands,

(68) saying, "Prophesy to us, you Christ, Who is it that struck you?"

Peter Denies Jesus

(69) Now Peter sat outside in the palace, and a young girl came to him, saying, "You also were with Jesus of Galilee."

(70) But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are saying."

(71) And when he had gone out to the porch, another girl saw him, and said to them that were there, "This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth."

(72) Again he denied Jesus with an oath, "I do not know the man."

(73) After a while those that stood by came to him, and said to Peter, "Surely you also are one of them; for your speech betrays you."

(74) Then he began to curse and to swear, saying, "I do not know the man." And immediately the rooster crowed.

(75) And Peter remembered the words of Jesus, who said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you shall deny me three times." And he went out, and wept bitterly.

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