Matthew 26
1 When Jesus had finished [saying] all those things, he said to [us] disciples,
And it came to pass, when Yahushua had finished all these sayings, he said unto 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.”
Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed 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 assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,
4 [There] they plotted how they could seize Jesus in some deceitful way so that they could have him executed.
And consulted that they might take Yahushua by subtilty, 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 on the feast day, 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,
Now when Yahushua was 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.
There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.
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 his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is 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 ointment might have been 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.
When Yahushua understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon 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 ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not 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 in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for 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.”
Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told 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, went unto 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 unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
16 From that time Judas watched for an opportunity to enable them to seize [Jesus].
And from that time he sought 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 the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Yahushua, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee 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 such a man, and say unto him, The Rabbi saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house 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 Yahushua had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.
20 When it was evening, Jesus was eating the meal with [us] twelve disciples.
Now when the even was come, he sat down 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 did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall 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 were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, My master, is it I?
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 he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, 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!”
The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not 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, which betrayed him, answered and said, Rabbi, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.
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 as they were eating, Yahushua took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, 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.
And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and 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 of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission 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.”
But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, 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 when they had sung an 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 saith Yahushua unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
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 risen again, 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]!”
Kepha answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I 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!”
Yahushua said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock 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].
Kepha said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.
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 cometh Yahushua with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
37 He took Peter, James, and John with him. He became extremely distressed.
And he took with him Kepha and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
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 saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye 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 he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless 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 cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Kepha, What, could ye not 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 ye enter not 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!”
He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, 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 he came and found them asleep again: 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 he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
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 cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, 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!”
Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.
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 yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, 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 he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.
49 He immediately went to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Teacher!” Then he kissed Jesus [on the neck/cheek].
And forthwith he came to Yahushua, 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.
And Yahushua said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Yahushua, 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, behold, one of them which were with Yahushua stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote 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 said Yahushua unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with 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?
Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give 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 shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
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]?
In that same hour said Yahushua to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on 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 was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
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].
And they that had laid hold on Yahushua 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.
But Kepha followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, 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.
Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Yahushua, to 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 found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,
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 Elohim, and to 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 arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
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 Yahushua held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living Elohim, that thou tell us whether thou be the Messiah, the Son of the Almighty.
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!”
Yahushua saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye 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 rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye 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 think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.
67 Then [some of them] spat in his face. [Others] struck him with their fists. Others, [after they blindfolded him], slapped him
Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,
68 and said, “[Since you claim that] [IRO] [you are] the Messiah, tell us who hit you!”
Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Messiah, Who is he that smote 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]!”
Now Kepha sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Yahushua of Galilee.
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 know not what thou sayest.
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 when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Yahushua 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!”
And again he denied 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.”]
And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Kepha, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth 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 began he to curse and to swear, saying, 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 Kepha remembered the word of Yahushua, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
