Matthew 26
1 When Jesus had finished [saying] all those things, he said to [us] disciples,
When Yeshua had finished all these words, he said to his disciples,
2 “You know that two days from now [we will celebrate] the Passover [festival]. [At that time] I, the one who came from heaven, will be handed over to {they will put me, the one who came from heaven, into the hands of} those who will nail me to a cross.”
“You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
3 At the same time the chief priests and the Jewish elders gathered in the home of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas.
Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas.
4 [There] they plotted how they could seize Jesus in some deceitful way so that they could have him executed.
They took counsel together that they might take Yeshua by deceit and kill him.
5 But they said, “[We must] not [do it] during the [Passover] festival, because [if we do it then], the people might riot.”
But they said, “Not during the feast, lest a riot occur amongst the people.”
6 While Jesus [and we] were in Bethany [village] in the home of Simon, whom [Jesus had healed of] leprosy,
Now when Yeshua was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
7 a woman came to him. She [was carrying] a stone jar [containing] very expensive perfume. [To show how much she appreciated] Jesus, she poured the perfume on his head as he was eating.
a woman came to him having an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table.
8 When [we] disciples saw that, [some of us] were angry. [One of us] said, “(It is terrible that this perfume was wasted!/Why was this perfume wasted?) [RHQ]
But when his disciples saw this, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste?
9 [We] could have sold it and gotten a lot of money for it! Then the money could have been given {[we] could have given the money} to poor people.”
For this ointment might have been sold for much and given to the poor.”
10 Jesus knew [what we were saying. So he] said to us, “(You should not be bothering this woman!/Why are you bothering this woman?) [RHQ] She has done a beautiful thing to me.
However, knowing this, Yeshua said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? She has done a good work for me.
11 [Keep in mind that] you will always have poor people among you, [so you can help them whenever you want to]. But I will not always be with you, [so it is good for her to show now that she appreciates me!]
For you always have the poor with you, but you don’t always have me.
12 When she poured this perfume on my body, [it was as if she knew that I am going to die soon. And it is as if she] has anointed my body for being buried.
For in pouring this ointment on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.
13 I will tell you this: Wherever this good message [about me] is preached {people preach this good message about me} throughout the world, those who preach it will tell what this woman has done, [and as a result] people will [always] remember her.”
Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of as a memorial of her.”
14 Then Judas Iscariot (OR, Judas, the man from Kerioth [Town]), [even though he was] one of [us] twelve [disciples], went to the chief priests.
Then one of the twelve, who was called Judah Iscariot, went to the chief priests
15 He asked them, “If I enable you to seize [Jesus], how much [money] are you willing to give me?” They [agreed to give him] 30 silver coins. So they counted out the coins and [gave them] to him.
and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him to you?” So they weighed out for him thirty pieces of silver.
16 From that time Judas watched for an opportunity to enable them to seize [Jesus].
From that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
17 On the first day [of the week-long festival] (when [we Jews ate] bread which had no yeast in it/of Unleavened Bread), [we] disciples went to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to prepare [the meal for] the Passover [celebration] so that [we can] eat [it with] you?”
Now on the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Yeshua, saying to him, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?”
18 [In reply], he [gave instructions to two disciples about where they should go. He] said [to them], “Go into [the city] to a man [with whom I have previously arranged this]. Tell him that the teacher says, ‘The time [MTY] [that I told you about] is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover [meal] with my disciples at your house, [and I have sent these two to prepare the meal].’”
He said, “Go into the city to a certain person, and tell him, ‘The Rabbi says, “My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.”’”
19 So the [two] disciples did as Jesus told them. They [went and] prepared the Passover [meal in that man’s house].
The disciples did as Yeshua commanded them, and they prepared the Passover.
20 When it was evening, Jesus was eating the meal with [us] twelve disciples.
Now when evening had come, he was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples.
21 While we were eating, he said [to us], “Listen carefully to this: One of you is going to enable [my enemies] to seize me.”
As they were eating, he said, “Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me.”
22 [We] were very sad. We began to say to him, one after the other, “Lord, (it is surely not I!/I’m not the one, am I?) [RHQ]”
They were exceedingly sorrowful, and each began to ask him, “It isn’t me, is it, Lord?”
23 He replied, “The one who will enable my enemies to seize me is one of you who is dipping bread [MTY] into [the sauce in] the dish along with me.
He answered, “He who dipped his hand with me in the dish will betray me.
24 [It is certain that] I, the one who came from heaven, will [die], because that is what has been written {[the prophets] have written} about me. But there will be terrible punishment for the man who enables [my enemies] to seize me! It would be better for that man if he had never been born!”
The Son of Man goes even as it is written of him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born.”
25 Then Judas, the one who was going to betray him, said, “Teacher, (surely it is not I!/I’m not the one, am I?) [RHQ]” Jesus replied, “Yes, you are the one.”
Judah, who betrayed him, answered, “It isn’t me, is it, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You said it.”
26 While we were eating, Jesus took [a small loaf of] bread and thanked God for it. He broke it [into pieces] and gave it to [us] disciples, and said, “Take this [bread and] eat [it]. [It represents] my body.”
As they were eating, Yeshua took bread, gave thanks for it, and broke it. He gave to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”
27 Later he took a cup [of wine] and thanked [God for it]. Then he gave it to us, saying, “Drink some [of the wine in this cup], all of you.
He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, “All of you drink it,
28 [The wine in] this cup [represents] my blood, which will soon flow [from my body. With] my blood I [will sign] the new agreement [that God is making] to forgive the sins of many [people].
for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins.
29 Note this carefully: I will not drink wine in this way any more until the time when I drink it with you with a new [meaning. That will happen] when my Father [enables me to begin] to rule as king.”
But I tell you that I will not 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 we sang a hymn, we started out towards Olive [Tree] Hill.
When they had sung the Hallel, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
31 [On the way], Jesus told us, “This night all of you will desert me because of [what will happen to] me! [This is certain to happen] because [these words that God said] are written [in the Scriptures: ] ‘I will [cause] the shepherd to be killed, and [all] the sheep will be scattered {scatter}.’
Then Yeshua said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
32 But after I have [died and] become alive again, I will go ahead of you to Galilee [district and meet you there].”
But after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.”
33 Peter replied, “Perhaps all [the other disciples] will desert you [when they see what happens to you], but I [certainly] will never [leave you]!”
But Peter answered him, “Even if all will be made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble.”
34 Jesus replied to him, “The truth is that this very night, before the rooster crows, you will say three times that you do not know me!”
Yeshua said to him, “Most certainly I tell you that tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”
35 Peter said to him, “Even if they kill me [while I am defending you], I will never say that I do not know you!” All [the rest of us] disciples also said the same [thing].
Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you.” All of the disciples also said likewise.
36 Then Jesus went with us to a place that is called {that people call} Gethsemane. There he said to [most of] us, “Stay here while I go over there and pray.”
Then Yeshua came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go there and pray.”
37 He took Peter, James, and John with him. He became extremely distressed.
He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and severely troubled.
38 Then he said to them, “I [SYN] am very sorrowful, so much so that I [feel as if I were] about to die! Remain here and stay awake with me!”
Then Yeshua said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with me.”
39 After going a little further, he threw himself face down [on the ground]. He prayed, “My Father, if it is possible [MTY], do not make me have to endure the suffering [that is coming] now. But do not do as I want. Instead, do as you want!”
He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire.”
40 Then he returned to the [three] disciples and saw that they were sleeping. He [woke] Peter and said to him, “(I am disappointed that you [men fell asleep and] were not able to stay awake with me for just a short time!/Why were you men not able to stay awake with me for just one hour?) [RHQ]
He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What, couldn’t you watch with me for one hour?
41 You must keep alert and pray so that you can resist when you are tempted {something tempts you}. You want [to do what I tell you], but you [SYN] are not strong enough [to actually do it].”
Watch and pray, that you don’t enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 He went away a second time. He prayed, “My Father, if it is necessary for me to suffer [LIT], may what you want happen!”
Again, a second time he went away and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup can’t pass away from me unless I drink it, your desire be done.”
43 When he returned to the [three disciples], he saw that they were asleep [again]. They could not keep their eyes open [IDM].
He came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.
44 So he left them and went away again. He prayed the third time, saying the same thing [that he had prayed before].
He left them again, went away, and prayed a third time, saying the same words.
45 Then he returned to us disciples. He [woke] us [up and] said to us, “(I am disappointed that you are still sleeping and resting!/Why are you still sleeping and resting?) [RHQ] [Look] Someone is about to enable sinful [men] to seize [me], the one who came from heaven!
Then he came to his disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46 Get up! Let’s go [to meet them] Here comes the one who is enabling them to seize me!”
Arise, let’s be going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand.”
47 While [Jesus] was still speaking, Judas [arrived. Even though he was] one of [us] twelve [disciples], he came [to enable Jesus’ enemies to seize him]. A large crowd carrying swords and clubs was with him. They had been sent by the chief priests and elders {the chief priests and [Jewish] elders had sent them}.
While he was still speaking, behold, Judah, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
48 Judas had [previously] arranged to give them a signal, saying, “The man whom I will kiss is the one [you want]. Seize him!”
Now he who betrayed him had given them a sign, saying, “Whoever I kiss, he is the one. Seize him.”
49 He immediately went to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Teacher!” Then he kissed Jesus [on the neck/cheek].
Immediately he came to Yeshua, and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
50 Jesus replied, “Friend, is it [to kiss me] that you are here?” (OR, “Do what you have come for!”) Then [the men who came with Judas] stepped forward and seized Jesus.
Yeshua said to him, “Friend, why are you here?” Then they came and laid hands on Yeshua, and took him.
51 Suddenly, one of the men who was with Jesus pulled his sword out [of its sheath]. He struck the servant of the high priest [to kill him], [but only] cut off his ear.
Behold, one of those who were with Yeshua stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
52 Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back in its sheath! All those who try to kill others with a sword will themselves be killed with a sword!
Then Yeshua said to him, “Put your sword back into its place, for all those who take the sword will die by the sword.
53 Do you think that [RHQ] if I asked my Father, he would not immediately send more than (twelve armies of/72,000) angels to help me?
Or do you think that I couldn’t ask my Father, and he would even now send me more than twelve legions of angels?
54 [But if I did that, what the prophets] have written in the Scriptures [about what will happen to the Messiah] would not be fulfilled {happen} [RHQ].”
How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?”
55 At that time Jesus said to the crowd [that was seizing him], “(It is ridiculous that you have come [here] to seize me with swords and clubs, as [if I were] a bandit!/Have you come here to seize me with swords and clubs, as if I were a bandit?) [RHQ] Day after day I sat in the Temple [courtyard], teaching [the people]. Why did you not arrest me [then]?
In that hour Yeshua said to the multitudes, “Have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to seize me? I sat daily in the temple teaching, and you didn’t arrest me.
56 But all this is happening to fulfill what the prophets [have written in] the Scriptures [about me].” Then all of us disciples deserted Jesus and ran away.
But all this has happened that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.
57 The men who had seized Jesus took him [to the house where] Caiaphas, the high priest, [lived]. The men who taught the [Jewish] laws and the [Jewish] elders had already gathered [there].
Those who had taken Yeshua led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.
58 Peter followed [Jesus] at a distance. He came to the high priest’s courtyard. He entered [the courtyard] and sat down with the guards to see what would happen.
But Peter followed him from a distance to the court of the high priest, and entered in and sat with the officers, to see the end.
59 The chief priests and the rest of the [Jewish] Council were trying to find people who would tell lies about Jesus so that they could [convince the Roman authorities to] execute him.
Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Yeshua, that they might put him to death,
60 But even though many people spoke lies about him, they did not find anyone [who said anything that was useful]. Finally two men came forward
and they found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward
61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy God’s Temple and to rebuild it within three days.’”
and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.’”
62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to reply? What [do you say about] these things that they are saying [to accuse] you?”
The high priest stood up and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that these testify against you?”
63 But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I command you to tell us [the truth], knowing that the all-powerful God [is listening to you]: Are you the Messiah, (the Son of God/the man who is also God)?”
But Yeshua stayed silent. The high priest answered him, “I adjure you by the living God that you tell us whether you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
64 Jesus replied, “Yes, [it is as] you say. But I will also say this to all of you: Some day you will see [me], the one who came from heaven, sitting beside [MTY] Almighty [God], and ruling. You will also see me coming on the clouds [from] heaven!”
Yeshua said to him, “You have said so. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of the sky.”
65 Then the high priest tore his outer garment. [That was the custom to show that he was shocked to hear Jesus say that he was equal to God]. Then he said, “This man has insulted God! He claims to be equal with God! (We certainly do not need anyone else to testify [against this man]!/Why should we seek any more people who will testify [against this man]?) [RHQ] You heard what he said!
Then the high priest tore his clothing, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Behold, now you have heard his blasphemy.
66 What have you decided?” [The Jewish leaders] replied, “[According to our laws], he [is guilty and] deserves to be executed!”
What do you think?” They answered, “He is worthy of death!”
67 Then [some of them] spat in his face. [Others] struck him with their fists. Others, [after they blindfolded him], slapped him
Then they spat in his face and beat him with their fists, and some slapped him,
68 and said, “[Since you claim that] [IRO] [you are] the Messiah, tell us who hit you!”
saying, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you?”
69 Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came up to him [and looked at him]. She said, “You also were with Jesus, [that man] from Galilee [district]!”
Now Peter was sitting outside in the court, and a maid came to him, saying, “You were also with Yeshua, the Galilean!”
70 But while everyone there was listening, he denied it. He said, “I do not know what you are talking about!”
But he denied it before them all, saying, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
71 Then he went out to the gateway of the courtyard. Another servant girl saw him and said to the people who were standing nearby, “This man was with Jesus, [the man] from Nazareth.”
When he had gone out onto the porch, someone else saw him and said to those who were there, “This man also was with Yeshua of Nazareth.”
72 But [Peter] again denied it. He said, “May God punish me [if I am lying]! I [tell you], I do not even know that man!”
Again he denied it with an oath, “I don’t know the man.”
73 After a little while, one of the people who were standing there approached Peter and said to him, “It is certain that you are one of those [who were with that man]. We can tell from your accent that you [are from Galilee.”]
After a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, “Surely you are also one of them, for your speech makes you known.”
74 Then Peter began to proclaim loudly that God should curse him [if he was lying]. He asked God in heaven to witness [that he was telling the truth] and said, “I do not know that man!” Immediately a rooster crowed.
Then he began to curse and to swear, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately the rooster crowed.
75 Then Peter remembered the words that Jesus had spoken [to him], “Before the rooster crows, you will say three times that you do not know me.” And Peter went [out of the courtyard], crying because he was very sad [about what he had done].
Peter remembered the word which Yeshua had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Then he went out and wept bitterly.
