Shared Word Translation
Matthew 26
The Plot to Arrest Jesus
When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man is handed over to be crucified.”
Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the courtyard of the high priest, who was named Caiaphas, and they conspired together in order to seize Jesus by stealth and kill him. But they were saying, “Not during the festival, lest there be an uproar among the people.”
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
Now while Jesus was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table.
And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant and said, “Why this waste? For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.”
But Jesus, knowing this, said to them, “Why are you troubling the woman? For she has done a beautiful work to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. Truly I tell you: wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.”
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” And they weighed out for him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he was seeking an opportunity to hand him over.
Preparing the Passover
Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says: My time is near; I am keeping the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.
Jesus Foretells Betrayal
When evening came, he was reclining at table with the twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you: one of you will betray me.” And being deeply grieved, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?”
He answered, “The one who dipped his hand in the bowl with me—this one will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written concerning him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” Judas, who was betraying him, answered, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him, “You have said so.”
The Lord’s Supper
Now while they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it he broke it and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. But I tell you: I will not drink again from this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in the kingdom of my Father.”
And after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Jesus Foretells Peter’s Denial
Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will fall away because of me this night, for it is written:
‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
But after I am raised, I will go before you into Galilee.” But Peter answered and said to him, “Even if all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you: this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will never deny you.” And all the disciples said the same.
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be grieved and distressed. Then he said to them, “My soul is deeply sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me.”
And going on a little farther, he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “So, were you not able to keep watch with me for one hour? Keep watch and pray, that you may not enter into testing. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Again, for a second time, he went away and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were weighed down. So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for a third time, saying the same words again.
Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour has drawn near, and the Son of Man is handed over into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, the one who betrays me has drawn near.”
The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
And while he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now the one who was betraying him had given them a sign, saying, “The one whom I kiss is the man; seize him.” And immediately he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
But Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. And behold, one of those with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and striking the servant of the high priest he cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Return your sword to its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once place at my side more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen in this way?”
At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as against a robber to seize me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But all this has happened so that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.
Jesus Before the Council
Then those who had seized Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. But Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the attendants to see the outcome.
Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death, but they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. But later two came forward and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.’”
And the high priest stood up and said to him, “Do you answer nothing? What is it that these men testify against you?” But Jesus was silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God: tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you: from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Then the high priest tore his garments and said, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? See, now you have heard the blasphemy. What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” Then they spat in his face and struck him, and some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is it that struck you?”
Peter Denies Jesus
Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.”
And when he had gone out to the gateway, another servant girl saw him, and she said to those there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.”
After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you also are one of them, for your speech makes you clear.” Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.