Matthew 26
1 When Jesus had finished [saying] all those things, he said to [us] disciples,
After Jesus had said all this, he told 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 it's Passover in two days time, and the Son of man will be handed over 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 and the elders of the people gathered in the courtyard of Caiaphas, the high priest.
4 [There] they plotted how they could seize Jesus in some deceitful way so that they could have him executed.
There they plotted to arrest Jesus on some deceitful pretext 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, “Let's not do this during the festival so that the people don't riot.”
6 While Jesus [and we] were in Bethany [village] in the home of Simon, whom [Jesus had healed of] leprosy,
While Jesus was staying at Simon the leper's house in Bethany,
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 over to him carrying an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume. She poured it on Jesus' head while he was sitting eating.
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 the disciples saw what she did, they were upset.“What a terrible waste!” they objected.
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.”
“This perfume could've been sold for a lot of money 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.
Jesus was aware of what was going on and told them, “Why are you upset with this woman? She's done something wonderful 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!]
You'll always have the poor with you, but you won'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.
By pouring this perfume on my body she's prepared 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.”
I tell you the truth: wherever in the world this good news is spread, the story of what this woman has done will also be told in memory 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 Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, 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 asked them, “How much will you pay me for betraying Jesus to you?” They paid him thirty silver coins.
16 From that time Judas watched for an opportunity to enable them to seize [Jesus].
From then on he looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
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?”
On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked him, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you to eat?”
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].’”
Jesus told them, “Go into the city and find this particular man, and tell him that the Teacher says, ‘My time is approaching. I'm coming to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’”
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 Jesus told them, and prepared the Passover meal there.
20 When it was evening, Jesus was eating the meal with [us] twelve disciples.
When evening came he sat down to eat with the Twelve.
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.”
While they were eating he told them, “I tell you the truth: one of you is going to 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 extremely upset. One after the other they asked him, “Lord, it's not me, is it?”
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.
“The one who's dipped his hand into the dish with me will betray me,” Jesus replied.
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 will die just as it was prophesied about him, but what a disaster it will be for the man who betrays the Son of man! It would be better for that man if he'd never 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.”
Judas, the one who would betray Jesus, asked, “It's not me, is it, Rabbi?” “You said it,” Jesus replied.
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.”
While they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave pieces to the disciples. “Take and eat this for it is my body,” said Jesus.
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.
Then he picked up the cup, blessed it, and gave it to them. “Drink from it, all of you,” he told them.
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 agreement, poured out for many for the forgiveness 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.”
However, I tell you, I won't drink this fruit of the vine until the day I drink it new with you in the kingdom of my Father.”
30 After we sang a hymn, we started out towards Olive [Tree] Hill.
After they'd sung a song, they left for 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}.’
“All of you will abandon me tonight,” Jesus told them. “As Scripture says, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the flock of sheep will be completely 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 have risen, I'll go ahead of you to 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 objected, “Even if everyone else abandons you, I'll never abandon you.”
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!”
“I'm telling you the truth,” Jesus told him, “This very night, before the cock crows, you'll 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].
“Even if I have to die with you, I'll never deny you!” Peter insisted. And all the disciples said the same thing.
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 Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. He told them, “Sit down here while I go over there and pray.”
37 He took Peter, James, and John with him. He became extremely distressed.
He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him, and he began to suffer agonizing sorrow and distress.
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 he said to them, “I am so overwhelmed with sadness that it's killing me. Wait here and keep 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 a little farther forward, fell facedown, and prayed. “My Father, please, if it's possible, let this cup of suffering be taken from me,” Jesus asked. “Even so, may it not be what I want but what you want.”
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 went back to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “What, you couldn't stay awake with me for just 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].”
Stay awake and pray, so that you don't fall into temptation. Yes, the spirit is willing, but the body 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!”
He went away a second time and prayed. “My Father, if this cup cannot be taken from me without me drinking from it, then your will be done,” he said.
43 When he returned to the [three disciples], he saw that they were asleep [again]. They could not keep their eyes open [IDM].
He went back and found them sleeping, for they just couldn't stay awake.
44 So he left them and went away again. He prayed the third time, saying the same thing [that he had prayed before].
So he left them once more, and went off and prayed a third time, repeating the same things.
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 returned to the disciples, and told them, “How can you still be sleeping and resting? Look, the time has come. The Son of man is about to be 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!”
Get up, let's go! Look, the one who's betraying me has arrived.”
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}.
As he said this, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived with a large mob armed with swords and clubs sent by 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!”
The betrayer had arranged to give them a signal: “The one that I kiss, that's him—arrest him,” he'd told them.
49 He immediately went to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Teacher!” Then he kissed Jesus [on the neck/cheek].
Judas came up to Jesus immediately, and said, “Hello, 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.
“My friend, do what you came to do,” Jesus said to Judas. So they came and grabbed hold of Jesus, and arrested 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.
One of those who was with Jesus reached for his sword and pulled it out. He struck the high priest's servant, cutting 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!
But Jesus told him, “Put your sword away. Everyone who fights with 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?
Don't you think I could ask my Father, and he'd immediately send 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].”
But then how could the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must be like this?”
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]?
Then Jesus told the mob, “Have you come with swords and clubs to arrest me as if I was some kind of dangerous criminal? Every day I sat in the Temple teaching and you didn't arrest me then.
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 is happening to fulfill what the prophets wrote.” Then all the disciples abandoned him and ran away.
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'd arrested Jesus took him to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the religious teachers and elders had gathered.
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.
Peter followed him at a distance, and went into the high priest's courtyard. He sat there with the guards to see how things would 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.
The chief priests and the whole council were trying to find some false evidence against Jesus so they could 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
But they couldn't find anything, even though many false witnesses came forward. Eventually two came forward
61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy God’s Temple and to rebuild it within three days.’”
and reported, “This man said, ‘I can destroy God's Temple, and rebuild 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 asked Jesus, “Have you no answer? What do you have to say in your defense?”
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 Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to Jesus, “In the name of the living God I place you under oath. Tell us if 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!”
“You said it,” Jesus replied. “And I also tell you that in the future you'll see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of the Almighty, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
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 clothes, and said, “He's speaking blasphemy! Why do we need any witnesses? Look, now you've heard for yourselves his blasphemy!
66 What have you decided?” [The Jewish leaders] replied, “[According to our laws], he [is guilty and] deserves to be executed!”
What's your verdict?” “Guilty! He deserves to die!” they answered.
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. Some of them slapped him with their hands,
68 and said, “[Since you claim that] [IRO] [you are] the Messiah, tell us who hit you!”
and said, “Prophesy to us, you ‘Messiah’! Who just 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]!”
Meanwhile Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came up to him, and said, “You, you were with Jesus 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 in front of everyone. “I don't know what you're talking about,” he said.
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 went back to the courtyard entrance another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus 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!”
Once again he denied it, saying with an oath, “I don't know him.”
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.”]
A little while later the people standing there came up to Peter and said, “You definitely are one of them. Your accent gives you away.”
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 started to swear: “Curses on me if I'm a liar! I don't know the man!” Immediately the cock 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].
Then Peter remembered what Jesus had told him: “Before the cock crows, three times you will deny knowing me.” He went outside and wept bitterly.
