Matthew 26
1 When Jesus had finished [saying] all those things, he said to [us] disciples,
And it came to pass, when Jesus finished these discourses, 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 is the passover, and the Son of man is delivered 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 scribes, and elders of the people, were assembled in the hall of the high priest, called Caiaphas.
4 [There] they plotted how they could seize Jesus in some deceitful way so that they could have him executed.
And they immediately passed the verdict that they would take Jesus by stratagem, 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 at the feast, lest there be 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,
And Jesus being 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 having an alabaster box of myrrh, very valuable, came to Him and poured it on His head, while sitting 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]
And His disciples, seeing, were indignant, saying, For what was 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 was able to be 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.
And Jesus knowing, said to them, Why do you give the woman trouble? because she hath wrought a beautiful work in 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 have the poor with you always; but you have not me always.
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 she pouring this myrrh on my body, did it in order 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.”
Truly I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel may be preached in all the world, that which she did shall indeed be spoken of for 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, called Judas Iscariot, going 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.
said, What do you wish to give me, and I will deliver Him to you? And they offered him thirty pieces of silver.
16 From that time Judas watched for an opportunity to enable them to seize [Jesus].
And from that time he was seeking opportunity that he might 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?”
On the first day of the unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him; Where do you wish that we may 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].’”
And He said; Go into the city to a certain one, and say to him; The Teacher says; My time is nigh; I make the passover with you along 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].
And the disciples did as Jesus commanded them, and prepared the passover.
20 When it was evening, Jesus was eating the meal with [us] twelve disciples.
And it being evening, He sat down 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 they eating, He said; Truly, I say unto 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]”
And they being exceedingly sorrowful, began each one of them to say to Him, Lord, whether am I the one?
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.
And responding He said, The one dipping his hand in the dish with me, the same shall 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!”
Indeed the Son of man goeth, as has been written concerning Him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It was good for him if that man had 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.”
But Judas, the one betraying Him, responding said, Master, whether am I the one? He says to him, Thou hast 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.”
And they eating, Jesus taking the bread, and blessing it, broke, and 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.
Also taking the cup, and blessing it, He gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all, of 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 which belongs to the new covenant, which is shed for many unto the remission of sin.
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.”
And I say unto you, that I shall no more drink of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I may drink it new with you in the kingdom of my Father.
30 After we sang a hymn, we started out towards Olive [Tree] Hill.
Having sung a hymn, they went out into 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, You will all be offended in me this night: for it has been written, I will smite the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall 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].”
And after I am risen, 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 responding said to Him, If all shall be offended in thee, I will never be offended.
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, Truly I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock shall crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
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].
And Peter says to Him, If it may be necessary for me to die with thee, I will not deny thee. Likewise also all the disciples said.
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 into a place called Gethsemane, and He says to His disciples, Sit here, until I having gone may pray there.
37 He took Peter, James, and John with him. He became extremely distressed.
And taking Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He began to grieve and to be dejected.
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 says to them, My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death: abide here, and pray 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 having gone forward a little, He fell on His face, praying, and saying, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me: moreover not as I will, but as thou wilt.
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]
And He comes to the disciples, and finds them sleeping, and says to Peter, Were you 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, that you may not 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!”
And again the second time, having gone away, He prayed, saying, My Father, if it is possible that this cup pass from me, if I shall not drink it, let thy 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 having come He finds them again 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].
And leaving them, having gone away, He prayed again the third time, speaking the same word.
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 on, and take your rest, behold, the hour is nigh, 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 us go: behold, the one having betrayed me is nigh.
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 He still speaking, behold, Judas, 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!”
And the one having betrayed Him gave them a sign, saying, The one whom I shall kiss, is He: hold Him fast.
49 He immediately went to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Teacher!” Then he kissed Jesus [on the neck/cheek].
And immediately coming forward to Jesus, he said, Hail, Master; and kissed Him copiously.
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.
And Jesus said to him, Comrade, unto what do you come? Then having come forward they laid hands on Him, and bound 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 behold, one of those along with Jesus, reaching out his hand, drew his sword, and smiting the servant of the high priest, 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 Jesus says to him, Turn away thy sword into its place; for all taking the sword shall perish 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?
Whether do you think that I am not able now to call upon my Father, and He will 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, because it is necessary thus to be done?
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]?
And at that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, You have come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to take me: daily did I sit with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not 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 took place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then the disciples all leaving Him, fled 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].
Taking Jesus they led Him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the chief priests and elders were assembled 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.
And Peter followed Him a long way off, into the court of the high priest, and having come in, was sitting 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.
And the high priests and all the sanhedrim were seeking false testimony against Jesus, in order that they might kill Him.
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. And many false witnesses having come forward, they found none.
61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy God’s Temple and to rebuild it within three days.’”
And afterwards two false witnesses having come forward, said, He said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and 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?”
And the high priest rising, said to Him, Do you respond nothing? what are they witnessing 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)?”
And Jesus was silent; and the high priest responding said to Him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us if thou art the Christ, 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, Thou didst say it. Moreover I say unto you, that, Hereafter you shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in 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 robes, saying, He blasphemed: why have we yet need of witnesses? behold, now you 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 seems to you? They responding said, 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
They spat in His face, and buffeted Him: and they slapped Him,
68 and said, “[Since you claim that] [IRO] [you are] the Messiah, tell us who hit you!”
saying, Prophesy unto us, who is the one smiting thee?
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]!”
And Peter was sitting without in the court. And a certain maidservant came to him, saying, Truly, thou wast 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!”
And he denied before all, I know not what you say.
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 another maidservant saw him, having come to the gate, and says to them there, This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.
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 again he denied with an oath, I know not 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.”]
And after a little the bystanders coming to Peter, said, Truly, thou art also one of them, for indeed thy speech betrays thee.
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 anathematize and to swear, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
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 of Jesus having spoken to him, That before the cock shall crow, thou wilt deny me thrice. And having gone out, he wept bitterly.
