Matthew 26 :: New English Translation (NET)

The Plot to Kill Jesus

(Mar 14:1, 2; Luk 22:1, 2; Jhn 11:45–53 )

Mat 26:1When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he told his disciples,

Mat 26:2"You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified."

Mat 26:3Then the chief priests and the elders of the people met together in the palace of the high priest, who was named Caiaphas.

Mat 26:4

Mat 26:4They planned to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him.

Mat 26:5

Mat 26:5But they said, "Not during the feast, so that there won't be a riot among the people."

The Precious Ointment

(Mar 14:3–9; Jhn 12:1–8 )

Mat 26:6

Mat 26:6Now while Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper,

Mat 26:7

Mat 26:7a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of expensive perfumed oil, and she poured it on his head as he was at the table.

Mat 26:8

Mat 26:8When the disciples saw this, they became indignant and said, "Why this waste?

Mat 26:9

Mat 26:9It could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor!"

Mat 26:10

Mat 26:10When Jesus learned of this, he said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a good service for me.

Mat 26:11

Mat 26:11For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me!

Mat 26:12

Mat 26:12When she poured this oil on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.

Mat 26:13

Mat 26:13I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her."

Judas's Bargain

(Mar 14:10, 11; Luk 22:3–6 )

Mat 26:14

Mat 26:14Then one of the twelve, the one named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests

Mat 26:15

Mat 26:15and said, "What will you give me to betray him into your hands?" So they set out thirty silver coins for him.

Mat 26:16

Mat 26:16From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray him.

(Mar 14:12–21; Luk 22:7–13 )

Mat 26:17

Mat 26:17Now on the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and said, "Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?"

Mat 26:18

Mat 26:18He said, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The Teacher says, "My time is near. I will observe the Passover with my disciples at your house."'"

Mat 26:19

Mat 26:19So the disciples did as Jesus had instructed them, and they prepared the Passover.

The Last Passover

Mat 26:20

Mat 26:20When it was evening, he took his place at the table with the twelve.

Mat 26:21

Mat 26:21And while they were eating he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me."

Mat 26:22

Mat 26:22They became greatly distressed and each one began to say to him, "Surely not I, Lord?"

Mat 26:23

Mat 26:23He answered, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.

Mat 26:24

Mat 26:24The Son of Man will go as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for him if he had never been born."

Mat 26:25

Mat 26:25Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" Jesus replied, "You have said it yourself."

The Lord's Supper Instituted

(Mar 14:22–26; Luk 22:14–23; 1Co 11:23–26 )

Mat 26:26

Mat 26:26While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it, gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take, eat, this is my body."

Mat 26:27

Mat 26:27And after taking the cup and giving thanks, he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you,

Mat 26:28

Mat 26:28for this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, that is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Mat 26:29

Mat 26:29I tell you, from now on I will not drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."

Mat 26:30

Mat 26:30After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

(Mar 14:27–31; Luk 22:31–34; Jhn 13:36–38 )

Mat 26:31

Mat 26:31Then Jesus said to them, "This night you will all fall away because of me, for it is written: 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'

Mat 26:32

Mat 26:32But after I am raised, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."

Mat 26:33

Mat 26:33Peter said to him, "If they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away!"

Mat 26:34

Mat 26:34Jesus said to him, "I tell you the truth, on this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times."

Mat 26:35

Mat 26:35Peter said to him, "Even if I must die with you, I will never deny you." And all the disciples said the same thing.

The Garden of Gethsemane

(Mar 14:32–42; Luk 22:39–46 )

Mat 26:36

Mat 26:36Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to the disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."

Mat 26:37

Mat 26:37He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and became anguished and distressed.

Mat 26:38

Mat 26:38Then he said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved, even to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me."

Mat 26:39

Mat 26:39Going a little farther, he threw himself down with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if possible, let this cup pass from me! Yet not what I will, but what you will."

Mat 26:40

Mat 26:40Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, "So, couldn't you stay awake with me for one hour?

Mat 26:41

Mat 26:41Stay awake and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Mat 26:42

Mat 26:42He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will must be done."

Mat 26:43

Mat 26:43He came again and found them sleeping; they could not keep their eyes open.

Mat 26:44

Mat 26:44So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same thing once more.

Mat 26:45

Mat 26:45Then he came to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is approaching, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Mat 26:46

Mat 26:46Get up, let us go. Look! My betrayer is approaching!"

Jesus' Betrayal and Arrest

(Mar 14:43–52; Luk 22:47–53; Jhn 18:1–11 )

Mat 26:47

Mat 26:47While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and elders of the people.

Mat 26:48

Mat 26:48(Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I kiss is the man. Arrest him!")

Mat 26:49

Mat 26:49Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi," and kissed him.

Mat 26:50

Mat 26:50Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you are here to do." Then they came and took hold of Jesus and arrested him.

Mat 26:51

Mat 26:51But one of those with Jesus grabbed his sword, drew it out, and struck the high priest's slave, cutting off his ear.

Mat 26:52

Mat 26:52Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back in its place! For all who take hold of the sword will die by the sword.

Mat 26:53

Mat 26:53Or do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and that he would send me more than twelve legions of angels right now?

Mat 26:54

Mat 26:54How then would the scriptures that say it must happen this way be fulfilled?"

Mat 26:55

Mat 26:55At that moment Jesus said to the crowd, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me like you would an outlaw? Day after day I sat teaching in the temple courts, yet you did not arrest me.

Mat 26:56

Mat 26:56But this has happened so that the scriptures of the prophets would be fulfilled." Then all the disciples left him and fled.

Jesus before Caiaphas

(Mar 14:53–65; Luk 22:66–71; Jhn 18:12–14, 19–24 )

Mat 26:57

Mat 26:57Now the ones who had arrested Jesus led him to Caiaphas, the high priest, in whose house the experts in the law and the elders had gathered.

Mat 26:58

Mat 26:58But Peter was following him from a distance, all the way to the high priest's courtyard. After going in, he sat with the guards to see the outcome.

Mat 26:59

Mat 26:59The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were trying to find false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death.

Mat 26:60

Mat 26:60But they did not find anything, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward

Mat 26:61

Mat 26:61and declared, "This man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.'"

Mat 26:62

Mat 26:62So the high priest stood up and said to him, "Have you no answer? What is this that they are testifying against you?"

Mat 26:63

Mat 26:63But Jesus was silent. 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."

Mat 26:64

Mat 26:64Jesus said to him, "You have said it yourself. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven."

Mat 26:65

Mat 26:65Then the high priest tore his clothes and declared, "He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? Now you have heard the blasphemy!

Mat 26:66

Mat 26:66What is your verdict?" They answered, "He is guilty and deserves death."

Mat 26:67

Mat 26:67Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists. And some slapped him,

Mat 26:68

Mat 26:68saying, "Prophesy for us, you Christ! Who hit you?"

Peter's Denials

(Mar 14:66–72; Luk 22:54–62; Jhn 18:15–18, 25–27 )

Mat 26:69

Mat 26:69Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A slave girl came to him and said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean."

Mat 26:70

Mat 26:70But he denied it in front of them all: "I don't know what you're talking about!"

Mat 26:71

Mat 26:71When he went out to the gateway, another slave girl saw him and said to the people there, "This man was with Jesus the Nazarene."

Mat 26:72

Mat 26:72He denied it again with an oath, "I do not know the man!"

Mat 26:73

Mat 26:73After a little while, those standing there came up to Peter and said, "You really are one of them too - even your accent gives you away!"

Mat 26:74

Mat 26:74At that he began to curse, and he swore with an oath, "I do not know the man!" At that moment a rooster crowed.

Mat 26:75

Mat 26:75Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.

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