Matthew 26 — Read & Listen Online | Father's Heart Bible™

Leaders Plot to Kill Jesus

Chapter 26.

When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, "You know that after two days the Passover takes place, and the Son of Man is handed over to be crucified."

Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and they plotted together to seize Jesus secretly and kill him. But they said, "Not during the festival, or there will be an uproar among the people."

She Anoints Jesus for Burial

Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. But when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, "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 bothering this woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. For when she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her."

Judas Betrays the Son for Silver

Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What are you willing to give me, and I will hand him over to you?" And they counted out thirty pieces of silver for him. And from then on he looked for an opportunity to betray him.

Preparing for 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 tell him, 'The Teacher says: My time is near. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.'" And the disciples did as Jesus directed them, and they prepared the Passover.

When evening came, he sat at the table with the Twelve. And as they were eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me."

They were deeply grieved, and one by one they began to say to him, "Surely not I, Lord?"

He replied, "The one who has dipped his hand in the bowl with me will betray me. 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 better for that man if he had not been born."

And Judas, who betrayed him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" He said to him, "You have said so."

Now as 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. I tell you, I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine from now until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial

Then Jesus said to them, "You will all 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 up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee."

Peter said to him, "Though they 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 not deny you." And all the disciples said the same.

The Son Surrenders to the Father

Then Jesus went 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 became deeply grieved and distressed. Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me."

And going a little farther, he fell on his face and prayed, "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, could you not keep watch with me one hour? Keep watch and pray that you may not fall into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Again, a second time, he went away and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done." And he came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So leaving them again, he went away and prayed a third time, saying the same words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let's go! Look, the one who betrays me is here!"

Jesus Betrayed and Arrested

And while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived with a great crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I kiss is the man; seize him." And immediately he came up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" And he kissed him.

Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you came to do." Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized him.

Just then, one of those with Jesus reached out his hand and drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.

Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen this way?"

At that moment Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But all this has taken place so that the Scriptures of the prophets would be fulfilled." Then all the disciples left him and fled.

Jesus Before His Accusers

Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. And Peter followed him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the outcome.

Now the chief priests and the whole Council were seeking false testimony against Jesus so they could put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, "This man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of our Father and to rebuild it in three days.'"

And the high priest stood up and said to him, "Don't you have anything to say? What is it these men are testifying against you?" But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living Father, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of our Father."

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? Now you have heard the blasphemy. What is your judgment?" They answered, "He deserves death."

Then they spit in his face and struck him; and some slapped him, saying, "Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit you?"

Peter Denies Knowing 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 don't know what you're talking about."

And when he went 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 too are one of them, for your accent gives you away."

Then he began to call down curses on himself and swear an oath: "I do not know the man." And immediately the rooster crowed.

And Peter remembered what Jesus had said: "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.

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