Mat 26 | Comm | STEP | When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples,

‏ Matthew 26

1 When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, 2 "You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified." 3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, 4 and they plotted to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. 5 But they said, "Not during the feast, lest there be a riot among the people."

6 Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive perfume, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. 8 But when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, "Why this waste? 9 For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and given to the poor." 10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 12 For in pouring this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her."

14 Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver him to you?" And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.

17 Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?" 18 He said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher 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 evening had come, he sat at the table with the twelve. 21 And as they were eating, he said, "Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me." 22 And they were very sorrowful, and began to say to him one after another, "Is it I, Lord?" 23 He answered, "He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes just 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." 25 Then Judas, who was betraying him, answered, "Rabbi, is it I?" He said to him, "You have said it."

26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." 27 Then he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on 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.

31 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.’ 32 But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee." 33 Peter declared to him, "Even if all fall away because of you, I will never fall away." 34 Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." 35 Peter said to him, "Even if I have to die with you, I will not deny you." And so said all the disciples.

36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with me." 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, "O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." 40 Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, so that you will not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." 42 Again, a second time, he went away and prayed, "O my Father, if this cup cannot pass away unless I drink it, your will be done." 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand."

47 While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I kiss is the man; seize him." 49 And at once he went up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him. 50 Jesus said to him, "Friend, why are you here?" Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. 51 And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 52 But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen in this way?" 55 At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. 56 But all this has taken place, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook him and fled.

57 And those who had seized Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had assembled. 58 But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the end. 59 Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, 60 but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two 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 And the high priest stood up and said, "Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?" 63 But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." 64 Jesus said to him, "It is as you said. But I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." 65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard his blasphemy. 66 What do you think?" They answered, "He is worthy of death." 67 Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists; and others slapped him, 68 saying, "Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck you?"

69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him and said, "You also were with Jesus of Galilee." 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about." 71 And when he went out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to the people there, "This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth." 72 But again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man!" 73 After a little while those who stood by came up and said to Peter, "Surely you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you." 74 Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know the man." And immediately the rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the word Jesus had said, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." So he went out and wept bitterly.