Matthew 26
1 When Jesus had finished [saying] all those things, he said to [us] disciples,
Now it happened, when Jesus had finished all these words, that 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 takes place, and the Son of the 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, the scribes and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, the one called Caiaphas,
4 [There] they plotted how they could seize Jesus in some deceitful way so that they could have him executed.
and they plotted to seize Jesus by trickery 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, in order not to have an uproar among the people.”
6 While Jesus [and we] were in Bethany [village] in the home of Simon, whom [Jesus had healed of] leprosy,
Now when Jesus was in Bethany at 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 approached Him, having an alabaster flask of very expensive perfume, and she began to pour it on His head as He reclined 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 upon seeing it His disciples 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 perfume could have been sold for a good deal 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.
But being aware Jesus said to them: “Why are you bothering the woman? She has done something beautiful to 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 will always have the poor with you, but you will not 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.
In putting this perfume on my body she did it with a view to my 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.”
Assuredly I say to you, wherever this gospel may be proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman did will also be told in her memory.”
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, the one called Judas 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 so that I deliver Him to you?” So they counted out to him thirty silver coins.
16 From that time Judas watched for an opportunity to enable them to seize [Jesus].
From then on he kept looking for an 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 Jesus 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].’”
So He said: “Go into the city to ‘you know who’ and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near, I will do the Passover with my disciples at your place.”’”
19 So the [two] disciples did as Jesus told them. They [went and] prepared the Passover [meal in that man’s house].
And the disciples did as Jesus directed them and prepared the Passover.
20 When it was evening, Jesus was eating the meal with [us] twelve disciples.
When it was evening He was reclining at the table 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.”
And as they were eating He said, “Assuredly I say to 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]”
This really upset them and they each began to say to 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.
In answer He said: “It is the one who dipped his hand in the bowl with me, he 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 the Man is really going just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of the Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man not to have 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.”
Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “It isn't me, is it, Rabbi?” He says 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.”
Now as they were eating, after taking the bread and blessing it, Jesus broke it, gave it 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.
And taking the cup and giving thanks He gave it to them saying: “Drink of it, all of you;
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, that of the new covenant, that which is being shed on behalf of many for 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.”
Furthermore, I tell you that 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 After we sang a hymn, we started out towards Olive [Tree] Hill.
And after hymn-singing 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 Jesus says to them: “All of you will be caused to stumble 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 [died and] become alive again, I will go ahead of you to Galilee [district and meet you there].”
But after I am raised I will go before 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]!”
Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if everyone else is caused to stumble because of you, I will never be caused 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!”
Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I say to you that this night, before any 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 says to Him, “Even if I have to die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the other disciples said the same.
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 comes with them to a place called Gethsemane, and He says to the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”
37 He took Peter, James, and John with him. He became extremely distressed.
And taking Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along He began to be troubled and distressed.
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 Jesus says to them: “My soul is in anguish, to the point of 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!”
And going a little farther He fell on His face and prayed saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass me by; nevertheless not as I wish, but as you do.”
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]
Then He comes to the disciples and finds them sleeping, and He says to Peter: “So, you (pl.) were not able to watch with me 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, so that you do not enter into temptation. The spirit on its part 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!”
And going away a second time He prayed saying, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass from me unless I drink it, let your will 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].
And coming He finds them sleeping again, because their eyes had been weighed down.
44 So he left them and went away again. He prayed the third time, saying the same thing [that he had prayed before].
So leaving them He went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing.
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 comes to His disciples and says to them: “Sleep some more and take your rest! Actually, the hour is here and the Son of the Man is being betrayed into sinners' hands.
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; see, the one who is betraying me has come!”
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}.
And while He was still speaking, there was Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a large crowd with swords and clubs, sent 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 His betrayer had given them a sign saying, “Whomever I kiss, it is He; take Him!”)
49 He immediately went to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Teacher!” Then he kissed Jesus [on the neck/cheek].
And he went right up to Jesus 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.
So Jesus said to him, “Friend, what brings you here?” Then approaching they laid hands on Jesus 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.
And then, one of those with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and striking the servant of the high priest he 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!
But Jesus says to him: “Put your sword back into its place, for all 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?
Do you actually suppose that I cannot call upon my Father right now and He will place beside 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].”
But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it has to happen this way?”
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]?
At that time Jesus said to the crowd: “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as against a bandit, to arrest me? I used to sit daily with you in the temple, teaching, and you did not seize 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 so that the Scriptures of the prophets should be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook 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].
So those who had seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
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.
Now Peter was following Him at a distance, up to the high priest's courtyard. And going inside he sat down with the attendants, 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.
The chief priests and the elders, in fact the whole Council, kept looking for false witnesses against Jesus so that 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 did not find any. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they did not find any. 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 fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to 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?”
And standing up the high priest said to Him: “Do you answer nothing? What is it that these men are testifying 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 Jesus kept silent. So reacting the high priest said to Him, “I put you under oath by the Living God so that you 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!”
Jesus says to him: “You said it. Furthermore, I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of the Man sitting at the Power's right, 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 saying: “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? See, 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?” So in answer they said, “He deserves 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 punched Him, while others slapped Him
68 and said, “[Since you claim that] [IRO] [you are] the Messiah, tell us who hit you!”
saying, “Messiah, prophesy to us! Who is the one 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 sat outside in the courtyard. And a certain servant girl approached him saying, “You too 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 before them all saying, “I don't know what you are saying.”
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.”
And having gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and says to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus the Natsorean.”
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!”
And he denied again, with an oath, “I do not 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.”]
But a little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Really, you too are one of them, because your very 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 began to curse and to swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a 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].
And Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before any rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And going out he cried bitterly.
