Matthew 21; Matthew 22; Matthew 23; Matthew 24; Matthew 25; Matthew 26; Matthew 27

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Matthew 21

1 As they all approached Jerusalem, they came to Bethphage. It was on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent out two disciples.

2 He said to them, "Go to the village ahead of you. As soon as you get there, you will find a donkey tied up. Her colt will be with her. Untie them and bring them to me.

3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them. The owner will send them right away."

4 This took place so that what was spoken through the prophet would come true. It says,

5 "Say to the city of Zion, 'See, your king comes to you. He is gentle and riding on a donkey. He is riding on a donkey's colt.' " (Zechariah 9:9)

6 The disciples went and did what Jesus told them to do.

7 They brought the donkey and the colt. They placed their coats on them. Then Jesus sat on the coats.

8 A very large crowd spread their coats on the road. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

9 Some of the people went ahead of him, and some followed. They all shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!" (Psalm 118:26) "Hosanna in the highest heaven!"

10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up. The people asked, "Who is this?"

11 The crowds answered, "This is Jesus. He is the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."

12 Jesus entered the temple area. He began chasing out all those who were buying and selling there. He turned over the tables of the people who were exchanging money. He also turned over the benches of those who were selling doves.

13 He said to them, "It is written that the Lord said, 'My house will be called a house where people can pray.'(Isaiah 56:7) But you are making it a 'den for robbers.' "(Jeremiah 7:11)

14 Blind people and those who were disabled came to Jesus at the temple. There he healed them.

15 The chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did. They also saw the children in the temple area shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" But when they saw all of this, they became angry.

16 "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus. "Haven't you ever read about it in Scripture? It says, " 'You have made sure that children and infants praise you.' " (Psalm 8:2)

17 Then Jesus left the people and went out of the city to Bethany. He spent the night there.

18 Early in the morning, Jesus was on his way back to Jerusalem. He was hungry.

19 He saw a fig tree by the road. He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Right away the tree dried up.

20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. "How did the fig tree dry up so quickly?" they asked.

21 Jesus replied, "What I'm about to tell you is true. You must have faith and not doubt. Then you can do what was done to the fig tree. And you can say to this mountain, 'Go and throw yourself into the sea.' It will be done.

22 If you believe, you will receive what you ask for when you pray."

23 Jesus entered the temple courtyard. While he was teaching there, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. "By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "Who gave you this authority?"

24 Jesus replied, "I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

25 Where did John's baptism come from? Was it from heaven? Or did it come from men?" They talked to each other about it. They said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?'

26 But what if we say, 'From men'? We are afraid of the people. Everyone believes that John was a prophet."

27 So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Jesus said, "Then I won't tell you by what authority I am doing these things either.

28 "What do you think about this? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'

29 " 'I will not,' the son answered. But later he changed his mind and went.

30 "Then the father went to the other son. He said the same thing. The son answered, 'I will, sir.' But he did not go.

31 "Which of the two sons did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered. Jesus said to them, "What I'm about to tell you is true. Tax collectors and prostitutes will enter the kingdom of God ahead of you.

32 John came to show you the right way to live. And you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. You saw this. But even then you did not turn away from your sins and believe him.

33 "Listen to another story. A man who owned some land planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it. He dug a pit for a winepress in it. He also built a lookout tower. He rented the vineyard out to some farmers. Then he went away on a journey.

34 When harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the renters. He told the servants to collect his share of the fruit.

35 "But the renters grabbed his servants. They beat one of them. They killed another. They threw stones at the third to kill him.

36 Then the man sent other servants to the renters. He sent more than he did the first time. The renters treated them the same way.

37 "Last of all, he sent his son to them. 'They will respect my son,' he said.

38 "But the renters saw the son coming. They said to each other, 'This is the one who will receive all the owner's property someday. Come, let's kill him. Then everything will be ours.'

39 So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard. Then they killed him.

40 "When the owner of the vineyard comes back, what will he do to those renters?"

41 "He will destroy those evil people," they replied. "Then he will rent the vineyard out to other renters. They will give him his share of the crop at harvest time."

42 Jesus said to them, "Haven't you ever read what the Scriptures say, " 'The stone the builders didn't accept has become the most important stone of all. The Lord has done it. It is wonderful in our eyes'? (Psalm 118:22,23)

43 "So here is what I tell you. The kingdom of God will be taken away from you. It will be given to people who will produce its fruit.

44 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces. But the stone will crush anyone it falls on."

45 The chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus' stories. They knew he was talking about them.

46 So they looked for a way to arrest him. But they were afraid of the crowd. The people believed that Jesus was a prophet.

Matthew 22

1 Jesus told them more stories. He said,

2 "Here is what the kingdom of heaven is like. A king prepared a wedding dinner for his son.

3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the dinner. The servants told them to come. But they refused.

4 "Then he sent some more servants. He said, 'Tell those who were invited that I have prepared my dinner. I have killed my oxen and my fattest cattle. Everything is ready. Come to the wedding dinner.'

5 "But the people paid no attention. One went away to his field. Another went away to his business.

6 The rest grabbed his servants. They treated them badly and then killed them.

7 "The king became very angry. He sent his army to destroy them. They killed those murderers and burned their city.

8 "Then the king said to his servants, 'The wedding dinner is ready. But those I invited were not fit to come.

9 Go to the street corners. Invite to the dinner anyone you can find.'

10 So the servants went out into the streets. They gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad. Soon the wedding hall was filled with guests.

11 "The king came in to see the guests. He noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes.

12 'Friend,' he asked, 'how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man couldn't think of anything to say.

13 "Then the king told his servants, 'Tie up his hands and feet. Throw him outside into the darkness. Out there people will sob and grind their teeth.'

14 "Many are invited, but few are chosen."

15 The Pharisees went out. They made plans to trap Jesus with his own words.

16 They sent their followers to him. They sent the Herodians with them. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of honor. You teach the way of God truthfully. You don't let others tell you what to do or say. You don't care how important they are.

17 Tell us then, what do you think? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

18 But Jesus knew their evil plans. He said, "You pretenders! Why are you trying to trap me?

19 Show me the coin people use for paying the tax." They brought him a silver coin.

20 He asked them, "Whose picture is this? And whose words?"

21 "Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. And give to God what belongs to God."

22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

23 That same day the Sadducees came to Jesus with a question. They do not believe that people rise from the dead.

24 "Teacher," they said, "here is what Moses told us. If a man dies without having children, his brother must get married to the widow. He must have children to carry on his brother's name.

25 There were seven brothers among us. The first one got married and died. Since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother.

26 The same thing happened to the second and third brothers. It happened right on down to the seventh brother.

27 Finally, the woman died.

28 Now then, when the dead rise, whose wife will she be? All seven of them were married to her."

29 Jesus replied, "You are mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures. And you do not know the power of God.

30 When the dead rise, they won't get married. And their parents won't give them to be married. They will be like the angels in heaven.

31 "What about the dead rising? Haven't you read what God said to you?

32 He said, 'I am the God of Abraham. I am the God of Isaac. And I am the God of Jacob.'(Exodus 3:6) He is not the God of the dead. He is the God of the living."

33 When the crowds heard this, they were amazed by what he taught.

34 The Pharisees heard that the Sadducees weren't able to answer Jesus. So the Pharisees got together.

35 One of them was an authority on the law. So he tested Jesus with a question.

36 "Teacher," he asked, "which is the most important commandment in the Law?"

37 Jesus replied, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your mind.'(Deuteronomy 6:5)

38 This is the first and most important commandment.

39 And the second is like it. 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.'(Leviticus 19:18)

40 Everything that is written in the Law and the Prophets is based on these two commandments."

41 The Pharisees were gathered together. Jesus asked them,

42 "What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?" "The son of David," they replied.

43 He said to them, "Then why does David call him 'Lord'? The Holy Spirit spoke through David himself. David said,

44 " 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your control." ' (Psalm 110:1)

45 So if David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be David's son?"

46 No one could answer him with a single word. From that day on, no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Matthew 23

1 Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples.

2 "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat," he said.

3 "So you must obey them. Do everything they tell you. But don't do what they do. They don't practice what they preach.

4 They tie up heavy loads and put them on other people's shoulders. But they themselves aren't willing to lift a finger to move them

5 "Everything they do is done for others to see. On their foreheads and arms they wear little boxes that hold Scripture verses. They make the boxes very wide. And they make the tassels on their coats very long.

6 "They love to sit down in the place of honor at dinners. They also love to have the most important seats in the synagogues.

7 They love to be greeted in the market places. They love it when people call them 'Rabbi.'

8 "But you shouldn't be called 'Rabbi.' You have only one Master, and you are all brothers.

9 Do not call anyone on earth 'father.' You have one Father, and he is in heaven.

10 You shouldn't be called 'teacher.' You have one Teacher, and he is the Christ.

11 The most important person among you will be your servant.

12 Anyone who lifts himself up will be brought down. And anyone who is brought down will be lifted up.

13 "How terrible it will be for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. You yourselves do not enter. And you will not let those enter who are trying to.

15 "How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You travel everywhere to win one person to your faith. Then you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.

16 "How terrible for you, blind guides! You say, 'If anyone takes an oath in the name of the temple, it means nothing. But anyone who takes an oath in the name of the gold of the temple must keep the oath.'

17 You are blind and foolish! Which is more important? Is it the gold? Or is it the temple that makes the gold holy?

18 "You also say, 'If anyone takes an oath in the name of the altar, it means nothing. But anyone who takes an oath in the name of the gift on it must keep the oath.'

19 You blind men! Which is more important? Is it the gift? Or is it the altar that makes the gift holy

20 "So anyone who takes an oath in the name of the altar takes an oath in the name of it and of everything on it.

21 And anyone who takes an oath in the name of the temple takes an oath in the name of it and of the One who lives in it

22 And anyone who takes an oath in the name of heaven takes an oath in the name of God's throne and of the One who sits on it.

23 "How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You give God a tenth of your spices, like mint, dill and cummin. But you have not practiced the more important things of the law, like fairness, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the last things without failing to do the first.

24 You blind guides! You remove the smallest insect from your food. But you swallow a whole camel!

25 "How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You clean the outside of the cup and dish. But on the inside you are full of greed. You only want to satisfy yourselves.

26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish. Then the outside will also be clean.

27 "How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You are like tombs that are painted white. They look beautiful on the outside. But on the inside they are full of the bones of the dead. They are also full of other things that are not pure and clean.

28 It is the same with you. On the outside you seem to be doing what is right. But on the inside you are full of what is wrong. You pretend to be what you are not.

29 "How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You build tombs for the prophets. You decorate the graves of the godly.

30 And you say, 'If we had lived in the days of those who lived before us, we wouldn't have done what they did. We wouldn't have helped to kill the prophets.'

31 So you give witness against yourselves. You admit that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets.

32 So finish the sins that those who lived before you started!

33 "You nest of poisonous snakes! How will you escape from being sentenced to hell?

34 So I am sending you prophets, wise men, and teachers. You will kill some of them. You will nail some to a cross. Others you will whip in your synagogues. You will chase them from town to town.

35 "So you will pay for all the godly people's blood spilled on earth. I mean from the blood of godly Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berekiah. Zechariah was the one you murdered between the temple and the altar.

36 What I'm about to tell you is true. All this will happen to those who are now living

37 "Jerusalem! Jerusalem! You kill the prophets and throw stones in order to kill those who are sent to you. Many times I have wanted to gather your people together. I have wanted to be like a hen who gathers her chicks under her wings. But you would not let me!

38 Look, your house is left empty

39 I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.' "(Psalm 118:26)

Matthew 24

1 Jesus left the temple. He was walking away when his disciples came up to him. They wanted to call his attention to the temple buildings.

2 "Do you see all these things?" Jesus asked. "What I'm about to tell you is true. Not one stone here will be left on top of another. Every stone will be thrown down."

3 Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives. There the disciples came to him in private. "Tell us," they said. "When will this happen? And what will be the sign of your coming? What will be the sign of the end?"

4 Jesus answered, "Keep watch! Be careful that no one fools you.

5 Many will come in my name. They will claim, 'I am the Christ!' They will fool many people.

6 "You will hear about wars. You will also hear people talking about future wars. Don't be alarmed. Those things must happen. But the end still isn't here.

7 Nation will fight against nation. Kingdom will fight against kingdom. People will go hungry. There will be earthquakes in many places.

8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

9 "Then people will hand you over to be treated badly and killed. All nations will hate you because of me.

10 At that time, many will turn away from their faith. They will hate each other. They will hand each other over to their enemies.

11 Many false prophets will appear. They will fool many people.

12 Because evil will grow, most people's love will grow cold.

13 But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

14 This good news of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world. It will be a witness to all nations. Then the end will come.

15 "The prophet Daniel spoke about 'the hated thing that destroys.'(Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11) Someday you will see it standing in the holy place. The reader should understand this.

16 Then those who are in Judea should escape to the mountains.

17 No one on the roof should go down into his house to take anything out.

18 No one in the field should go back to get his coat.

19 How awful it will be in those days for pregnant women! How awful for nursing mothers!

20 Pray that you will not have to escape in winter or on the Sabbath day.

21 There will be terrible suffering in those days. It will be worse than any other from the beginning of the world until now. And there will never be anything like it again.

22 If the time had not been cut short, no one would live. But because of God's chosen people, it will be shortened.

23 "At that time someone may say to you, 'Look! Here is the Christ!' Or, 'There he is!' Do not believe it.

24 False Christs and false prophets will appear. They will do great signs and miracles. They will try to fool God's chosen people if possible.

25 See, I have told you ahead of time.

26 "So if anyone tells you, 'He is far out in the desert,' do not go out there. Or if anyone says, 'He is deep inside the house,' do not believe it.

27 Lightning that comes from the east can be seen in the west. It will be the same when the Son of Man comes.

28 The vultures will gather wherever there is a dead body.

29 "Right after the terrible suffering of those days, " 'The sun will be darkened. The moon will not shine. The stars will fall from the sky. The heavenly bodies will be shaken.' (Isaiah 13:10; 34:4)

30 "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. All the nations on earth will be sad. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky. He will come with power and great glory.

31 He will send his angels with a loud trumpet call. They will gather his chosen people from all four directions. They will bring them from one end of the heavens to the other.

32 "Learn a lesson from the fig tree. As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.

33 In the same way, when you see all those things happening, you know that the end is near. It is right at the door.

34 What I'm about to tell you is true. The people living at that time will certainly not pass away until all those things have happened.

35 Heaven and earth will pass away. But my words will never pass away.

36 "No one knows about that day or hour. Not even the angels in heaven know. The Son does not know. Only the Father knows.

37 "Remember how it was in the days of Noah. It will be the same when the Son of Man comes.

38 "In the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking. They were getting married. They were giving their daughters to be married. They did all those things right up to the day Noah entered the ark.

39 They knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be when the Son of Man comes.

40 "Two men will be in the field. One will be taken and the other left.

41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill. One will be taken and the other left.

42 "So keep watch. You do not know on what day your Lord will come.

43 You must understand something. Suppose the owner of the house knew what time of night the robber was coming. Then he would have kept watch. He would not have let his house be broken into.

44 So you also must be ready. The Son of Man will come at an hour when you don't expect him.

45 "Suppose a master puts one of his servants in charge of the other servants in his house. The servant's job is to give them their food at the right time. The master wants a faithful and wise servant for this.

46 It will be good for the servant if the master finds him doing his job when the master returns.

47 What I'm about to tell you is true. The master will put that servant in charge of everything he owns.

48 "But suppose that servant is evil. Suppose he says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time.'

49 Suppose he begins to beat the other servants. And suppose he eats and drinks with those who drink too much.

50 The master of that servant will come back on a day the servant doesn't expect him. He will return at an hour the servant does not know.

51 Then the master will cut him to pieces. He will send him to the place where pretenders go. There people will sob and grind their teeth.

Matthew 25

1 "Here is what the kingdom of heaven will be like at that time. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went out to meet the groom.

2 Five of them were foolish. Five were wise.

3 The foolish ones took their lamps but didn't take any olive oil with them.

4 The wise ones took oil in jars along with their lamps.

5 The groom did not come for a long time. So the bridesmaids all grew tired and fell asleep.

6 "At midnight someone cried out, 'Here's the groom! Come out to meet him!'

7 "Then all the bridesmaids woke up and got their lamps ready.

8 The foolish ones said to the wise ones, 'Give us some of your oil. Our lamps are going out.'

9 " 'No,' they replied. 'There may not be enough for all of us. Instead, go to those who sell oil. Buy some for yourselves.'

10 "So they went to buy the oil. But while they were on their way, the groom arrived. The bridesmaids who were ready went in with him to the wedding dinner. Then the door was shut.

11 "Later, the other bridesmaids also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!'

12 "But he replied, 'What I'm about to tell you is true. I don't know you.'

13 "So keep watch. You do not know the day or the hour that the groom will come.

14 "Again, here is what the kingdom of heaven will be like. A man was going on a journey. He sent for his servants and put them in charge of his property.

15 He gave $10,000 to one. He gave $4,000 to another. And he gave $2,000 to the third. The man gave each servant the amount of money he knew the servant could take care of. Then he went on his journey.

16 "The servant who had received the $10,000 went at once and put his money to work. He earned $10,000 more.

17 The one with the $4,000 earned $4,000 more.

18 But the man who had received $2,000 went and dug a hole in the ground. He hid his master's money in it.

19 "After a long time the master of those servants returned. He wanted to collect all the money they had earned.

20 The man who had received $10,000 brought the other $10,000. 'Master,' he said, 'you trusted me with $10,000. See, I have earned $10,000 more.'

21 "His master replied, 'You have done well, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

22 "The man with $4,000 also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you trusted me with $4,000. See, I have earned $4,000 more.'

23 "His master replied, 'You have done well, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

24 "Then the man who had received $2,000 came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man. You harvest where you have not planted. You gather crops where you have not scattered seed.

25 So I was afraid. I went out and hid your $2,000 in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'

26 "His master replied, 'You evil, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not planted? You knew that I gather crops where I have not scattered seed?

27 Well then, you should have put my money in the bank. When I returned, I would have received it back with interest.'

28 "Then his master commanded the other servants, 'Take the $2,000 from him. Give it to the one who has $20,000.

29 Everyone who has will be given more. He will have more than enough. And what about anyone who doesn't have? Even what he has will be taken away from him.

30 Throw that worthless servant outside. There in the darkness, people will sob and grind their teeth.'

31 "The Son of Man will come in all his glory. All the angels will come with him. Then he will sit on his throne in the glory of heaven.

32 All the nations will be gathered in front of him. He will separate the people into two groups. He will be like a shepherd who separates the sheep from the goats.

33 He will put the sheep to his right and the goats to his left.

34 "Then the King will speak to those on his right. He will say, 'My Father has blessed you. Come and take what is yours. It is the kingdom prepared for you since the world was created.

35 I was hungry. And you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty. And you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger. And you invited me in.

36 I needed clothes. And you gave them to me. I was sick. And you took care of me. I was in prison. And you came to visit me.'

37 "Then the people who have done what is right will answer him. 'Lord,' they will ask, 'when did we see you hungry and feed you? When did we see you thirsty and give you something to drink?

38 When did we see you as a stranger and invite you in? When did we see you needing clothes and give them to you?

39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40 "The King will reply, 'What I'm about to tell you is true. Anything you did for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'You are cursed! Go away from me into the fire that burns forever. It has been prepared for the devil and his angels.

42 I was hungry. But you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty. But you gave me nothing to drink.

43 I was a stranger. But you did not invite me in. I needed clothes. But you did not give me any. I was sick and in prison. But you did not take care of me.'

44 "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty and not help you? When did we see you as a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison and not help you?'

45 "He will reply, 'What I'm about to tell you is true. Anything you didn't do for one of the least important of these, you didn't do for me.'

46 "Then they will go away to be punished forever. But those who have done what is right will receive eternal life."

Matthew 26

1 Jesus finished saying all these things. Then he said to his disciples,

2 "As you know, the Passover Feast is two days away. The Son of Man will be handed over to be nailed to a cross."

3 Then the chief priests met with the elders of the people. They met in the palace of Caiaphas, the high priest.

4 They made plans to arrest Jesus in a clever way. They wanted to kill him.

5 "But not during the Feast," they said. "The people may stir up trouble."

6 Jesus was in Bethany. He was in the home of a man named Simon, who had a skin disease.

7 A woman came to Jesus with a special sealed jar of very expensive perfume. She poured the perfume on his head while he was at the table.

8 When the disciples saw this, they became angry. "Why this waste?" they asked.

9 "The perfume could have been sold at a high price. The money could have been given to poor people."

10 Jesus was aware of this. So he said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me.

11 You will always have poor people with you. But you will not always have me.

12 She poured the perfume on my body to prepare me to be buried.

13 What I'm about to tell you is true. What she has done will be told anywhere this good news is preached all over the world. It will be told in memory of her."

14 One of the Twelve went to the chief priests. His name was Judas Iscariot.

15 He asked, "What will you give me if I hand Jesus over to you?" So they counted out 30 silver coins for him.

16 From then on, Judas watched for the right time to hand Jesus over to them.

17 It was the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The disciples came to Jesus. They asked, "Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover meal?"

18 He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man. Tell him, 'The Teacher says, "My time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover at your house with my disciples." ' "

19 So the disciples did what Jesus had told them to do. They prepared the Passover meal.

20 When evening came, Jesus was at the table with the Twelve.

21 While they were eating, he said, "What I'm about to tell you is true. One of you will hand me over to my enemies."

22 The disciples became very sad. One after the other, they began to say to him, "It's not I, Lord, is it?"

23 Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will hand me over.

24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But how terrible it will be for the one who hands over the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."

25 Judas was the one who was going to hand him over. He said, "It's not I, Rabbi, is it?" Jesus answered, "Yes. It is you."

26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread. He gave thanks and broke it. He handed it to his disciples and said, "Take this and eat it. This is my body."

27 Then he took the cup. He gave thanks and handed it to them. He said, "All of you drink from it.

28 This is my blood of the new covenant. It is poured out to forgive the sins of many.

29 Here is what I tell you. From now on, I won't drink wine with you again until the day I drink it with you in my Father's kingdom."

30 Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

31 Jesus told them, "This very night you will all turn away because of me. It is written that the Lord said, " 'I will strike the shepherd down. Then the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' (Zechariah 13:7)

32 But after I rise from the dead, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."

33 Peter replied, "All the others may turn away because of you. But I never will."

34 "What I'm about to tell you is true," Jesus answered. "It will happen this very night. Before the rooster crows, you will say three times that you don't know me."

35 But Peter said, "I may have to die with you. But I will never say I don't know you." And all the other disciples said the same thing.

36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. He said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."

37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him. He began to be sad and troubled.

38 Then he said to them, "My soul is very sad. I feel close to death. Stay here. Keep watch with me."

39 He went a little farther. Then he fell with his face to the ground. He prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, take this cup of suffering away from me. But let what you want be done, not what I want."

40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Couldn't you men keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter.

41 "Watch and pray. Then you won't fall into sin when you are tempted. The spirit is willing. But the body is weak."

42 Jesus went away a second time. He prayed, "My Father, is it possible for this cup to be taken away? But if I must drink it, may what you want be done."

43 Then he came back. Again he found them sleeping. They couldn't keep their eyes open.

44 So he left them and went away once more. For the third time he prayed the same thing.

45 Then he returned to the disciples. He said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look! The hour is near. The Son of Man is about to be handed over to sinners.

46 Get up! Let us go! Here comes the one who is handing me over to them!"

47 While Jesus was still speaking, Judas arrived. He was one of the Twelve. A large crowd was with him. They were carrying swords and clubs. The chief priests and the elders of the people had sent them.

48 Judas, who was going to hand Jesus over, had arranged a signal with them. "The one I kiss is the man," he said. "Arrest him."

49 So Judas went to Jesus at once. He said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" And he kissed him.

50 Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came to do." Then the men stepped forward. They grabbed Jesus and arrested him.

51 At that moment, one of Jesus' companions reached for his sword. He pulled it out and struck the servant of the high priest with it. He cut off the servant's ear.

52 "Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him. "All who use the sword will die by the sword.

53 Do you think I can't ask my Father for help? He would send an army of more than 70,000 angels right away.

54 But then how would the Scriptures come true? They say it must happen in this way."

55 At that time Jesus spoke to the crowd. "Am I leading a band of armed men against you?" he asked. "Do you have to come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courtyard teaching. And you didn't arrest me.

56 But all this has happened so that the words of the prophets would come true." Then all the disciples left him and ran away.

57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest. The teachers of the law and the elders had come together there.

58 Not too far away, Peter followed Jesus. He went right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see what would happen.

59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for something to use against Jesus. They wanted to put him to death.

60 But they did not find any proof, even though many false witnesses came forward. Finally, two other witnesses came forward.

61 They said, "This fellow claimed, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God. I can build it again in three days.' "

62 Then the high priest stood up. He asked Jesus, "Aren't you going to answer? What are these charges that these men are bringing against you?"

63 But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, "I command you under oath by the living God. Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."

64 "Yes. It is just as you say," Jesus replied. "But here is what I say to all of you. In days to come, you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One. You will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven."

65 Then the high priest tore his clothes. He said, "He has spoken a very evil thing against God! Why do we need any more witnesses? You have heard him say this evil thing.

66 What do you think?" "He must die!" they answered.

67 Then they spit in his face. They hit him with their fists. Others slapped him.

68 They said, "Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit you?"

69 Peter was sitting out in the courtyard. A female servant came to him. "You also were with Jesus of Galilee," she said.

70 But in front of all of them, Peter said he was not. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said.

71 Then he went out to the gate leading into the courtyard. There another woman saw him. She said to the people, "This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth."

72 Again he said he was not. With an oath he said, "I don't know the man!"

73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter. "You must be one of them," they said. "The way you talk gives you away."

74 Then Peter began to call down curses on himself. He took an oath and said to them, "I don't know the man!" Right away a rooster crowed.

75 Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said. "The rooster will crow," Jesus had told him. "Before it does, you will say three times that you don't know me." Peter went outside. He broke down and sobbed.

Matthew 27

1 It was early in the morning. All the chief priests and the elders of the people decided to put Jesus to death.

2 They tied him up and led him away. Then they handed him over to Pilate, who was the governor.

3 Judas, who had handed him over, saw that Jesus had been sentenced to die. He felt deep shame and sadness for what he had done. So he returned the 30 silver coins to the chief priests and the elders.

4 "I have sinned," he said. "I handed over a man who is not guilty." "What do we care?" they replied. "That's your problem."

5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

6 The chief priests picked up the coins. They said, "It's against the law to put this money into the temple fund. It is blood money. It has paid for a man's death."

7 So they decided to use the money to buy a potter's field. People from other countries would be buried there.

8 That is why it has been called The Field of Blood to this very day.

9 Then the words spoken by Jeremiah the prophet came true. He had said, "They took the 30 silver coins. That price was set for him by the people of Israel.

10 They used the coins to buy a potter's field, just as the Lord commanded me."(Zechariah 11:12,13; Jeremiah 19:1-13; 32:6-9)

11 Jesus was standing in front of the governor. The governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "Yes. It is just as you say," Jesus replied.

12 But when the chief priests and the elders brought charges against him, he did not answer.

13 Then Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear the charges they are bringing against you?"

14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge. The governor was really amazed.

15 It was the governor's practice at the Passover Feast to let one prisoner go free. The people could choose the one they wanted.

16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner named Barabbas.

17 So when the crowd gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which one do you want me to set free? Barabbas? Or Jesus who is called Christ?"

18 Pilate knew that the leaders were jealous. He knew this was why they had handed Jesus over to him.

19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him a message. It said, "Don't have anything to do with that man. He is not guilty. I have suffered a great deal in a dream today because of him."

20 But the chief priests and the elders talked the crowd into asking for Barabbas and having Jesus put to death.

21 "Which of the two do you want me to set free?" asked the governor. "Barabbas," they answered.

22 "Then what should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked. They all answered, "Crucify him!"

23 "Why? What wrong has he done?" asked Pilate. But they shouted even louder, "Crucify him!"

24 Pilate saw that he wasn't getting anywhere. Instead, the crowd was starting to get angry. So he took water and washed his hands in front of them. "I am not guilty of this man's death," he said. "You are accountable for that!"

25 All the people answered, "We and our children will accept the guilt for his death!"

26 Pilate let Barabbas go free. But he had Jesus whipped. Then he handed him over to be nailed to a cross.

27 The governor's soldiers took Jesus into the palace, which was called the Praetorium. All the rest of the soldiers gathered around him.

28 They took off his clothes and put a purple robe on him.

29 Then they twisted thorns together to make a crown. They placed it on his head. They put a stick in his right hand. Then they fell on their knees in front of him and made fun of him. "We honor you, king of the Jews!" they said.

30 They spit on him. They hit him on the head with the stick again and again.

31 After they had made fun of him, they took off the robe. They put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him away to nail him to a cross.

32 On their way out of the city, they met a man from Cyrene. His name was Simon. They forced him to carry the cross.

33 They came to a place called Golgotha. The word Golgotha means The Place of the Skull.

34 There they mixed wine with bitter spices and gave it to Jesus to drink. After tasting it, he refused to drink it.

35 When they had nailed him to the cross, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

36 They sat down and kept watch over him there.

37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him. It read, THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

38 Two robbers were crucified with him. One was on his right and one was on his left.

39 Those who passed by shouted at Jesus and made fun of him. They shook their heads

40 and said, "So you are going to destroy the temple and build it again in three days? Then save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!"

41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders made fun of him.

42 "He saved others," they said. "But he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross! Then we will believe in him.

43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him. He's the one who said, 'I am the Son of God.' "

44 In the same way the robbers who were being crucified with Jesus also made fun of him.

45 From noon until three o'clock, the whole land was covered with darkness.

46 About three o'clock, Jesus cried out in a loud voice. He said, ""Eloi, Eloi, lama" "sabachthani?"" This means "My God, my God, why have you deserted me?"(Psalm 22:1)

47 Some of those standing there heard Jesus cry out. They said, "He's calling for Elijah."

48 Right away one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar and put it on a stick. He offered it to Jesus to drink.

49 The rest said, "Leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him."

50 After Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, he died.

51 At that moment the temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook. The rocks split.

52 Tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.

53 They came out of the tombs. After Jesus was raised to life, they went into the holy city. There they appeared to many people.

54 The Roman commander and those guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened. They were terrified. They exclaimed, "He was surely the Son of God!"

55 Not very far away, many women were watching. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to take care of his needs.

56 Mary Magdalene was among them. Mary, the mother of James and Joses, was also there. So was the mother of Zebedee's sons.

57 As evening approached, a rich man came from the town of Arimathea. His name was Joseph. He had become a follower of Jesus.

58 He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. Pilate ordered that it be given to him.

59 Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth.

60 He placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb. Then he went away.

61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there across from the tomb.

62 The next day was the day after Preparation Day. The chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate.

63 "Sir," they said, "we remember something that liar said while he was still alive. He claimed, 'After three days I will rise again.'

64 So give the order to make the tomb secure until the third day. If you don't, his disciples might come and steal the body. Then they will tell the people that Jesus has been raised from the dead. This last lie will be worse than the first."

65 "Take some guards with you," Pilate answered. "Go. Make the tomb as secure as you can."

66 So they went and made the tomb secure. They put a seal on the stone and placed some guards on duty.