Matthew 26
1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these saying, he said to his disciples,
When Jesus had finished [saying] all those things, he said to [us] disciples,
2 Ye know that after two days the Passover comes, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.
“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.”
3 Then the chief priests, and the scholars, and the elders of the people, assembled together to the courtyard of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,
At the same time the chief priests and the Jewish elders gathered in the home of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas.
4 and they deliberated so that they might take Jesus by trickery, and kill him.
[There] they plotted how they could seize Jesus in some deceitful way so that they could have him executed.
5 But they said, Not during the feast, lest an uproar develop among people.
But they said, “[We must] not [do it] during the [Passover] festival, because [if we do it then], the people might riot.”
6 Now when Jesus happened to be in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
While Jesus [and we] were in Bethany [village] in the home of Simon, whom [Jesus had healed of] leprosy,
7 a woman came to him having an alabaster cruse of precious ointment, and she poured it upon his head as he sat relaxing.
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.
8 But when his disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, Why this waste?
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]
9 For this ointment could have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
[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.”
10 But Jesus knowing it, he said to them, Why do ye cause troubles to the woman? For she has wrought a good work upon me.
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.
11 For ye always have the poor with you, but ye do not always have me.
[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!]
12 For by pouring this ointment upon my body, she did it for my burial.
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.
13 Truly I say to you, wherever this good news may be proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman did will also be told for a memorial of her.
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.”
14 Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, having gone to the chief priests,
Then Judas Iscariot (OR, Judas, the man from Kerioth [Town]), [even though he was] one of [us] twelve [disciples], went to the chief priests.
15 he said, What are ye willing to give me, and I will deliver him to you? And they weighed out to him thirty silver pieces.
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.
16 And from that time he sought a favorable opportunity so that he might betray him.
From that time Judas watched for an opportunity to enable them to seize [Jesus].
17 Now on the first day of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Where do thou want that we should prepare for thee to eat the Passover?
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?”
18 And he said, Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, The teacher says, My time is near. I keep the Passover with my disciples with thee.
[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].’”
19 And the disciples did as Jesus arranged for them, and they prepared the Passover.
So the [two] disciples did as Jesus told them. They [went and] prepared the Passover [meal in that man’s house].
20 Now having become evening, he was sitting with the twelve.
When it was evening, Jesus was eating the meal with [us] twelve disciples.
21 And as they were eating, he said, Truly I say to you, that one of you will betray me.
While we were eating, he said [to us], “Listen carefully to this: One of you is going to enable [my enemies] to seize me.”
22 And being exceedingly sorrowful, they began, each of them, to say to him, Is it I, Lord?
[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]”
23 And having answered, he said, He who dipped his hand with me in the dish, this man will betray me.
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.
24 The Son of man indeed goes as it is written about him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! It were good for him if that man had not been born.
[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!”
25 And Judas (the man who betrayed him) having answered, he said, Is it I, Rabbi? He says to him, Thou have said.
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.”
26 And as they were eating, Jesus, having taken bread, having expressed thanks, broke in pieces, and he gave to the disciples, and said, Take, eat, this is my body.
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.”
27 And having taken the cup, having expressed thanks, he gave to them, saying, All ye drink of it,
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.
28 for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed on behalf of many for remission of sins.
[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].
29 But I say to you, that I will, no, not drink of this fruit of the grapevine henceforth until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
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.”
30 And having sung a hymn, they went out to the mount of Olives.
After we sang a hymn, we started out towards Olive [Tree] Hill.
31 Then Jesus says to them, All ye will be caused to stumble by me in this night, for it is written, I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.
[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}.’
32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.
But after I have [died and] become alive again, I will go ahead of you to Galilee [district and meet you there].”
33 But having answered, Peter said to him, If all men will be caused to stumble by thee, I will never be caused to stumble.
Peter replied, “Perhaps all [the other disciples] will desert you [when they see what happens to you], but I [certainly] will never [leave you]!”
34 Jesus said to him, Truly I say to thee, that in this night, before a cock sounds, thou will deny me thrice.
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!”
35 Peter says to him, Even if I must die with thee, I will, no, not deny thee. And likewise also, said all the disciples.
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].
36 Then Jesus comes with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he says to his disciples, Sit ye here until, after going, I may pray there.
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.”
37 And having taken Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and distressed.
He took Peter, James, and John with him. He became extremely distressed.
38 Then Jesus says to them, My soul is deeply grieved, as far as of death. Remain ye here and watch with me.
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!”
39 And having gone forward a little, he fell on his face praying, and saying, My Father, if it be possible, may this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I want, but as thou.
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!”
40 And he comes to the disciples, and finds them sleeping. And he says to Peter, So ye could not watch with me one hour.
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]
41 Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation. Truly, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
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].”
42 Having gone again a second time, he prayed, saying, My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to pass from me, except I drink it, may thy will happen.
He went away a second time. He prayed, “My Father, if it is necessary for me to suffer [LIT], may what you want happen!”
43 And having come again, he finds them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.
When he returned to the [three disciples], he saw that they were asleep [again]. They could not keep their eyes open [IDM].
44 And when he left them, having gone away again, he prayed a third time, saying again the same statement.
So he left them and went away again. He prayed the third time, saying the same thing [that he had prayed before].
45 Then he comes to his disciples, and says to them, Sleep what remains, and take rest. Behold, the hour has come near, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
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!
46 Awake, we go. Behold, he who betrays me has come near.
Get up! Let’s go [to meet them] Here comes the one who is enabling them to seize me!”
47 And while he was still speaking, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs from the chief priest and elders of the people.
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}.
48 Now the man who betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomever I may kiss is he. Seize him.
Judas had [previously] arranged to give them a signal, saying, “The man whom I will kiss is the one [you want]. Seize him!”
49 And straightaway having come to Jesus, he said, Hail, Rabbi, and kissed him much.
He immediately went to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Teacher!” Then he kissed Jesus [on the neck/cheek].
50 And Jesus said to him, Friend, why are thou here? Then having come, they threw their hands on Jesus, and seized him.
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.
51 And behold, one of those with Jesus, having stretched out a hand, drew his sword, and when he struck the bondman of the high priest, he cut off his ear.
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.
52 Then Jesus says to him, Return thy sword into its place, for all those who take a sword will die by a sword.
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!
53 Or do thou think that I cannot now call my Father, and he will provide to me more than twelve legions of agents?
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?
54 How then would the scriptures be fulfilled that it is necessary to happen this way?
[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].”
55 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, Did ye come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to seize me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye did not seize me.
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]?
56 But all this has come to pass, so that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples fled, having forsook him.
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.
57 And those who seized Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest where the scholars and the elders were assembled together.
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].
58 But Peter followed him from afar, as far as the courtyard of the high priest. And having entered inside, he sat with the subordinates to see the outcome.
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.
59 Now the chief priests and the elders and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put him to death,
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.
60 and they did not find it. And although many false witnesses came, they did not find it.
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
61 But finally two false witnesses having come, they said, This man said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it by three days.
and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy God’s Temple and to rebuild it within three days.’”
62 And the high priest having stood up, he said to him, Answer thou nothing? What do these testify against thee?
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?”
63 But Jesus was silent. And having responded, the high priest said to him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us if thou are the Christ, the Son of God.
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)?”
64 Jesus says to him, Thou have said. Nevertheless I say to you, Henceforth ye will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming in the clouds of the sky.
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!”
65 Then the high priest tore his garments, saying, He has blasphemed. What further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now ye heard his blasphemy.
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!
66 What does it seem to you? Having answered, they said, He is deserving of death.
What have you decided?” [The Jewish leaders] replied, “[According to our laws], he [is guilty and] deserves to be executed!”
67 Then they spat in his face and struck him with a fist. And some slapped him,
Then [some of them] spat in his face. [Others] struck him with their fists. Others, [after they blindfolded him], slapped him
68 saying, Prophesy to us, thou Christ. Who is he who struck thee?
and said, “[Since you claim that] [IRO] [you are] the Messiah, tell us who hit you!”
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and one servant girl came to him, saying, Thou also were with Jesus the Galilean.
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]!”
70 But he denied before them all, saying, I do not know what thou say.
But while everyone there was listening, he denied it. He said, “I do not know what you are talking about!”
71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another woman saw him, and says to them there, This man was also with Jesus the Nazarene.
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.”
72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.
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!”
73 And after a little while those who stood, having approached, said to Peter, Surely thou also are of them, for thy accent even makes thee apparent.
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.”]
74 Then he began to curse vehemently and to swear, I do not know the man. And straightaway a cock sounded.
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.
75 And Peter remembered the saying that Jesus said to him, Before a cock sounds, thou will deny me thrice. And having gone outside, he wept bitterly.
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].
