Matthew 26 :: New King James Version (NKJV)

The Plot to Kill Jesus

The Beginning of the Lord’s Supper

(Mark 14:1, 2; Luke 22:1, 2; John 11:45–53 )

Mat 26:1Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, that He said to His disciples,

Mat 26:2“You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”

Mat 26:3Then the chief priests, the scribes,[fn] and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,

Mat 26:4

Mat 26:4and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him.

Mat 26:5

Mat 26:5But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.”

The Anointing at Bethany

(Mark 14:3–9; John 12:1–8 )

Mat 26:6

Mat 26:6And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper,

Mat 26:7

Mat 26:7a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table.

Mat 26:8

Mat 26:8But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste?

Mat 26:9

Mat 26:9“For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.”

Mat 26:10

Mat 26:10But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me.

Mat 26:11

Mat 26:11“For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always.

Mat 26:12

Mat 26:12“For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial.

Mat 26:13

Mat 26:13“Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

(Mark 14:10, 11; Luke 22:3–6 )

Mat 26:14

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

Mat 26:15

Mat 26:15and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver.

Mat 26:16

Mat 26:16So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.

Jesus Celebrates Passover with His Disciples

(Mark 14:12–21; Luke 22:7–13 )

Mat 26:17

Mat 26:17Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”

Mat 26:18

Mat 26:18And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.” ’ ”

Mat 26:19

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

Mat 26:20

Mat 26:20When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve.

Mat 26:21

Mat 26:21Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.”

Mat 26:22

Mat 26:22And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?”

Mat 26:23

Mat 26:23He answered and said, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me.

Mat 26:24

Mat 26:24“The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”

Mat 26:25

Mat 26:25Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “Rabbi, is it I?” He said to him, “You have said it.”

Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper

(Mark 14:22–26; Luke 22:14–23; 1 Cor. 11:23–26 )

Mat 26:26

Mat 26:26And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed[fn] and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”

Mat 26:27

Mat 26:27Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.

Mat 26:28

Mat 26:28“For this is My blood of the new[fn] covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Mat 26:29

Mat 26:29“But I say to you, 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.”

Mat 26:30

Mat 26:30And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

(Mark 14:27–31; Luke 22:31–34; John 13:36–38 )

Mat 26:31

Mat 26:31Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made 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.’[fn]

Mat 26:32

Mat 26:32“But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”

Mat 26:33

Mat 26:33Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.”

Mat 26:34

Mat 26:34Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”

Mat 26:35

Mat 26:35Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples.

The Prayer in the Garden

(Mark 14:32–42; Luke 22:39–46 )

Mat 26:36

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

Mat 26:37

Mat 26:37And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.

Mat 26:38

Mat 26:38Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”

Mat 26:39

Mat 26:39He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

Mat 26:40

Mat 26:40Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What? Could you not watch with Me one hour?

Mat 26:41

Mat 26:41“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Mat 26:42

Mat 26:42Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless[fn] I drink it, Your will be done.”

Mat 26:43

Mat 26:43And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.

Mat 26:44

Mat 26:44So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

Mat 26:45

Mat 26:45Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Mat 26:46

Mat 26:46“Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”

Betrayal and Arrest in Gethsemane

(Mark 14:43–52; Luke 22:47–53; John 18:1–11 )

Mat 26:47

Mat 26:47And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.

Mat 26:48

Mat 26:48Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.”

Mat 26:49

Mat 26:49Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.

Mat 26:50

Mat 26:50But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.

Mat 26:51

Mat 26:51And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

Mat 26:52

Mat 26:52But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish[fn] by the sword.

Mat 26:53

Mat 26:53“Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?

Mat 26:54

Mat 26:54“How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?”

Mat 26:55

Mat 26:55In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me.

Mat 26:56

Mat 26:56“But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.

Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin

(Mark 14:53–65; Luke 22:66–71; John 18:12–14, 19–24 )

Mat 26:57

Mat 26:57And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

Mat 26:58

Mat 26:58But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest’s courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end.

Mat 26:59

Mat 26:59Now the chief priests, the elders,[fn] and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death,

Mat 26:60

Mat 26:60but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none.[fn] But at last two false witnesses[fn] came forward

Mat 26:61

Mat 26:61and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’ ”

Mat 26:62

Mat 26:62And the high priest arose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?”

Mat 26:63

Mat 26:63But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put 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, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter 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, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy!

Mat 26:66

Mat 26:66“What do you think?” They answered and said, “He is deserving of death.”

Mat 26:67

Mat 26:67Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands,

Mat 26:68

Mat 26:68saying, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?”

Peter Denies Jesus, and Weeps Bitterly

(Mark 14:66–72; Luke 22:54–62; John 18:15–18, 25–27 )

Mat 26:69

Mat 26:69Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.”

Mat 26:70

Mat 26:70But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.”

Mat 26:71

Mat 26:71And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

Mat 26:72

Mat 26:72But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!”

Mat 26:73

Mat 26:73And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.”

Mat 26:74

Mat 26:74Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!” Immediately a rooster crowed.

Mat 26:75

Mat 26:75And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly.

See the NKJV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

NKJV Footnotes

(26:3)

NU-Text omits the scribes.

(26:26)

M-Text reads gave thanks for.

NU-Text omits new.

NU-Text reads if this may not pass away unless.

(26:52)

M-Text reads die.

(26:59)

NU-Text omits the elders.

(26:60)

NU-Text puts a comma after but found none, does not capitalize Even, and omits they found none.

(26:60)

NU-Text omits false witnesses.

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For more information on this translation, see the NKJV Preface.

Matthew Chapter 26 — Additional Translations:

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Matthew 26 :: New King James Version (NKJV)

NKJV Footnotes

Matthew Chapter 26 — Additional Translations:

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