Matthew 26

The Plot to Kill Jesus

1 When Jesus had finished saying all this, He told His disciples,

2 "You know ^[a] that the Passover takes place after two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified."

3 Then the chief priests^[b] and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,

4 and they conspired to arrest Jesus in a treacherous way and kill Him.

5 "Not during the festival," they said, "so there won't be rioting among the people."

The Anointing at Bethany

6 While Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon, a man who had a serious skin disease,

7 a woman approached Him with an alabaster jar of very expensive fragrant oil. She poured it on His head as He was reclining at the table.

8 When the disciples saw it, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked.

9 "This might have been sold for a great deal and given to the poor."

10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a noble thing for Me.

11 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.

12 By pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she has prepared Me for burial.

13 I assure you: Wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her."

14 Then one of the Twelve-the man called Judas Iscariot-went to the chief priests

15 and said, "What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?" So they weighed out 30 pieces of silver^[c] for him.

16 And from that time he started looking for a good opportunity to betray Him.

Betrayal at the Passover

17 On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do You want us to prepare the Passover so You may eat it?"

18 "Go into the city to a certain man," He said, "and tell him, 'The Teacher says: My time is near; I am celebrating the Passover at your place ^[d] with My disciples. ' "

19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

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

21 While they were eating, He said, "I assure you: One of you will betray Me."

22 Deeply distressed, each one began to say to Him, "Surely not I, Lord?"

23 He replied, "The one who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl-he will betray Me.

24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born."

25 Then Judas, His betrayer, replied, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" "You have said it," He told him.

The First Lord's Supper

26 As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take and eat it; this is My body."

27 Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks, He gave it to them and said, "Drink from it, all of you.

28 For this is My blood [that establishes] the covenant; ^[e] it is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins.

29 But I tell you, from this moment I will not drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it in a new way ^[f] in My Father's kingdom with you."

30 After singing psalms,^[g] they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Peter's Denial Predicted

31 Then Jesus said to them, "Tonight all of you will run away ^[h] because of Me, for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. ^[i]

32 But after I have been resurrected, I will go ahead of you to Galilee."

33 Peter told Him, "Even if everyone runs away because of You, I will never run away!"

34 "I assure you," Jesus said to him, "tonight-before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times!"

35 "Even if I have to die with You," Peter told Him, "I will never deny You!" And all the disciples said the same thing.

The Prayer in the Garden

36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane,^[j] and He told the disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."

37 Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.

38 Then He said to them, "My soul is swallowed up in sorrow ^[k] -to the point of death. ^[l] Remain here and stay awake with Me."

39 Going a little farther,^[m] He fell facedown and prayed, "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will."

40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He asked Peter, "So, couldn't you ^[n] stay awake with Me one hour?

41 Stay awake and pray, so that you won't enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, "My Father, if this ^[o] cannot pass ^[p] unless I drink it, Your will be done."

43 And He came again and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open.^[q]

44 After leaving them, He went away again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more.

45 Then He came to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? ^[r] Look, the time is near. The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.

46 Get up; let's go! See-My betrayer is near."

The Judas Kiss

47 While He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived. A large mob, with swords and clubs, was with him from the chief priests and elders of the people.

48 His betrayer had given them a sign: "The One I kiss, He's the One; arrest Him!"

49 So he went right up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!"-and kissed Him.

50 "Friend," Jesus asked him, "why have you come?" ^[s] Then they came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested Him.

51 At that moment one of those with Jesus reached out his hand and drew his sword. He struck the high priest's slave and cut off his ear.

52 Then Jesus told him, "Put your sword back in place because all who take up a sword will perish by a sword.

53 Or do you think that I cannot call on My Father, and He will provide Me at once with more than 12 legions ^[t] of angels?

54 How, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?"

55 At that time Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a criminal, ^[u] to capture Me? Every day I used to sit, teaching in the temple complex, and you didn't arrest Me.

56 But all this has happened so that the prophetic Scriptures ^[v] would be fulfilled." Then all the disciples deserted Him and ran away.

Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin

57 Those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had convened.

58 Meanwhile, Peter was following Him at a distance right to the high priest's courtyard.^[w] He went in and was sitting with the temple police^[x] to see the outcome.^[y]

59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus so they could put Him to death.

60 But they could not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward.^[z] Finally, two^[aa] who came forward

61 stated, "This man said, 'I can demolish God's sanctuary and rebuild it in three days.' "

62 The high priest then stood up and said to Him, "Don't You have an answer to what these men are testifying against You?"

63 But Jesus kept silent. Then the high priest said to Him, "By the living God I place You under oath: tell us if You are the Messiah, the Son of God!"

64 "You have said it," ^[ab] Jesus told him. "But I tell you, in the future ^[ac] you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven ." ^[ad]

65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? Look, now you've heard the blasphemy!

66 What is your decision?"^[ae] They answered, "He deserves death!"

67 Then they spit in His face and beat Him; others slapped Him

68 and said, "Prophesy to us, Messiah! Who hit You?"

Peter Denies His Lord

69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant approached him and she said, "You were with Jesus the Galilean too."

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

71 When he had gone out to the gateway, another woman saw him and told those who were there, "This man was with Jesus the Nazarene!"

72 And again he denied it with an oath, "I don't know the man!"

73 After a little while those standing there approached and said to Peter, "You certainly are one of them, since even your accent^[af] gives you away."

74 Then he started to curse^[ag] and to swear with an oath, "I do not know the man!" Immediately a rooster crowed,

75 and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Matthew 26 Commentary

Chapter 26

The rulers conspire against Christ. (1-5) Christ anointed at Bethany. (6-13) Judas bargains to betray Christ. (14-16) The Passover. (17-25) Christ institutes his holy supper. (26-30) He warns his disciples. (31-35) His agony in the garden. (36-46) He is betrayed. (47-56) Christ before Caiaphas. (57-68) Peter denies him. (69-75)

Verses 1-5 Our Lord had often told of his sufferings as at a distance, now he speaks of them as at hand. At the same time the Jewish council consulted how they might put him to death secretly. But it pleased God to defeat their intention. Jesus, the true paschal Lamb, was to be sacrificed for us at that very time, and his death and resurrection rendered public.

Verses 6-13 The pouring ointment upon the head of Christ was a token of the highest respect. Where there is true love in the heart to Jesus Christ, nothing will be thought too good to bestow upon him. The more Christ's servants and their services are cavilled at, the more he manifests his acceptance. This act of faith and love was so remarkable, that it would be reported, as a memorial of Mary's faith and love, to all future ages, and in all places where the gospel should be preached. This prophecy is fulfilled.

Verses 14-16 There were but twelve called apostles, and one of them was like a devil; surely we must never expect any society to be quite pure on this side heaven. The greater profession men make of religion, the greater opportunity they have of doing mischief, if their hearts be not right with God. Observe, that Christ's own disciple, who knew so well his doctrine and manner of his life, and was false to him, could not charge him with any thing criminal, though it would have served to justify his treachery. What did Judas want? Was not he welcome wherever his Master was? Did he not fare as Christ fared? It is not the lack, but the love of money, that is the root of all evil. After he had made that wicked bargain, Judas had time to repent, and to revoke it; but when lesser acts of dishonesty have hardened the conscience men do without hesitation that which is more shameful.

Verses 17-25 Observe, the place for their eating the passover was pointed out by Christ to the disciples. He knows those hidden ones who favour his cause, and will graciously visit all who are willing to receive him. The disciples did as Jesus had appointed. Those who would have Christ's presence in the gospel passover, must do what he says. It well becomes the disciples of Christ always to be jealous over themselves, especially in trying times. We know not how strongly we may be tempted, nor how far God may leave us to ourselves, therefore we have reason not to be high-minded, but to fear. Heart-searching examination and fervent prayer are especially proper before the Lord's supper, that, as Christ our Passover is now sacrificed for us, we may keep this feast, renewing our repentance, our faith in his blood, and surrendering ourselves to his service.

Verses 26-30 This ordinance of the Lord's supper is to us the passover supper, by which we commemorate a much greater deliverance than that of Israel out of Egypt. Take, eat; accept of Christ as he is offered to you; receive the atonement, approve of it, submit to his grace and his government. Meat looked upon, be the dish ever so well garnished, will not nourish; it must be fed upon: so must the doctrine of Christ. This is my body; that is, spiritually, it signifies and represents his body. We partake of the sun, not by having the sun put into our hands, but the beams of it darted down upon us; so we partake of Christ by partaking of his grace, and the blessed fruits of the breaking of his body. The blood of Christ is signified and represented by the wine. He gave thanks, to teach us to look to God in every part of the ordinance. This cup he gave to the disciples with a command, Drink ye all of it. The pardon of sin is that great blessing which is, in the Lord's supper, conferred on all true believers; it is the foundation of all other blessings. He takes leave of such communion; and assures them of a happy meeting again at last; "Until that day when I drink it new with you", may be understood of the joys and glories of the future state, which the saints shall partake with the Lord Jesus. That will be the kingdom of his Father; the wine of consolation will there be always new. While we look at the outward signs of Christ's body broken and his blood shed for the remission of our sins, let us recollect that the feast cost him as much as though he had literally given his flesh to be eaten and his blood for us to drink.

Verses 31-35 Improper self-confidence, like that of Peter, is the first step to a fall. There is a proneness in all of us to be over-confident. But those fall soonest and foulest, who are the most confident in themselves. Those are least safe, who think themselves most secure. Satan is active to lead such astray; they are most off their guard: God leaves them to themselves, to humble them.

Verses 36-46 He who made atonement for the sins of mankind, submitted himself in a garden of suffering, to the will of God, from which man had revolted in a garden of pleasure. Christ took with him into that part of the garden where he suffered his agony, only those who had witnessed his glory in his transfiguration. Those are best prepared to suffer with Christ, who have by faith beheld his glory. The words used denote the most entire dejection, amazement, anguish, and horror of mind; the state of one surrounded with sorrows, overwhelmed with miseries, and almost swallowed up with terror and dismay. He now began to be sorrowful, and never ceased to be so till he said, It is finished. He prayed that, if possible, the cup might pass from him. But he also showed his perfect readiness to bear the load of his sufferings; he was willing to submit to all for our redemption and salvation. According to this example of Christ, we must drink of the bitterest cup which God puts into our hands; though nature struggle, it must submit. It should be more our care to get troubles sanctified, and our hearts satisfied under them, than to get them taken away. It is well for us that our salvation is in the hand of One who neither slumbers nor sleeps. All are tempted, but we should be much afraid of entering into temptation. To be secured from this, we should watch and pray, and continually look unto the Lord to hold us up that we may be safe. Doubtless our Lord had a clear and full view of the sufferings he was to endure, yet he spoke with the greatest calmness till this time. Christ was a Surety, who undertook to be answerable for our sins. Accordingly he was made sin for us, and suffered for our sins, the Just for the unjust; and Scripture ascribes his heaviest sufferings to the hand of God. He had full knowledge of the infinite evil of sin, and of the immense extent of that guilt for which he was to atone; with awful views of the Divine justice and holiness, and the punishment deserved by the sins of men, such as no tongue can express, or mind conceive. At the same time, Christ suffered being tempted; probably horrible thoughts were suggested by Satan that tended to gloom and every dreadful conclusion: these would be the more hard to bear from his perfect holiness. And did the load of imputed guilt so weigh down the soul of Him of whom it is said, He upholdeth all things by the word of his power? into what misery then must those sink whose sins are left upon their own heads! How will those escape who neglect so great salvation?

Verses 47-56 No enemies are so much to be abhorred as those professed disciples that betray Christ with a kiss. God has no need of our services, much less of our sins, to bring about his purposes. Though Christ was crucified through weakness, it was voluntary weakness; he submitted to death. If he had not been willing to suffer, they could not conquer him. It was a great sin for those who had left all to follow Jesus; now to leave him for they knew not what. What folly, for fear of death to flee from Him, whom they knew and acknowledged to be the Fountain of life!

Verses 57-68 Jesus was hurried into Jerusalem. It looks ill, and bodes worse, when those who are willing to be Christ's disciples, are not willing to be known to be so. Here began Peter's denying him: for to follow Christ afar off, is to begin to go back from him. It is more our concern to prepare for the end, whatever it may be, than curiously to ask what the end will be. The event is God's, but the duty is ours. Now the Scriptures were fulfilled, which said, False witnesses are risen up against me. Christ was accused, that we might not be condemned; and if at any time we suffer thus, let us remember we cannot expect to fare better than our Master. When Christ was made sin for us, he was silent, and left it to his blood to speak. Hitherto Jesus had seldom professed expressly to be the Christ, the Son of God; the tenor of his doctrine spoke it, and his miracles proved it; but now he would not omit to make an open confession of it. It would have looked like declining his sufferings. He thus confessed, as an example and encouragement to his followers, to confess him before men, whatever hazard they ran. Disdain, cruel mocking, and abhorrence, are the sure portion of the disciple as they were of the Master, from such as would buffet and deride the Lord of glory. These things were exactly foretold in the fiftieth chapter of Isaiah. Let us confess Christ's name, and bear the reproach, and he will confess us before his Father's throne.

Verses 69-75 Peter's sin is truly related, for the Scriptures deal faithfully. Bad company leads to sin: those who needlessly thrust themselves into it, may expect to be tempted and insnared, as Peter. They scarcely can come out of such company without guilt or grief, or both. It is a great fault to be shy of Christ; and to dissemble our knowledge of him, when we are called to own him, is, in effect, to deny him. Peter's sin was aggravated; but he fell into the sin by surprise, not as Judas, with design. But conscience should be to us as the crowing of the cock, to put us in mind of the sins we had forgotten. Peter was thus left to fall, to abate his self-confidence, and render him more modest, humble, compassionate, and useful to others. The event has taught believers many things ever since, and if infidels, Pharisees, and hypocrites stumble at it or abuse it, it is at their peril. Little do we know how we should act in very difficult situations, if we were left to ourselves. Let him, therefore, that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall; let us all distrust our own hearts, and rely wholly on the Lord. Peter wept bitterly. Sorrow for sin must not be slight, but great and deep. Peter, who wept so bitterly for denying Christ, never denied him again, but confessed him often in the face of danger. True repentance for any sin will be shown by the contrary grace and duty; that is a sign of our sorrowing not only bitterly, but sincerely.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or Know (as a command)
• [b]. Other mss add and the scribes
• [c]. Zch 11:12-13
• [d]. Lit Passover with you
• [e]. Other mss read new covenant
• [f]. Or drink new wine; lit drink it new
• [g]. Pss 113-118 were sung during and after the Passover meal.
• [h]. Or stumble
• [i]. Zch 13:7
• [j]. A garden east of Jerusalem at the base of the Mount of Olives; Gethsemane olive oil press
• [k]. Or I am deeply grieved, or I am overwhelmed by sorrow; Ps 42:6,11; 43:5
• [l]. Lit unto death
• [m]. Other mss read Drawing nearer
• [n]. You all 3 disciples because the verb in Gk is pl
• [o]. Other mss add cup
• [p]. Other mss add from Me
• [q]. Lit because their eyes were weighed down
• [r]. Or Sleep on now and take your rest.
• [s]. Or Jesus told him, "do what you have come for." (as a statement)
• [t]. A Roman legion contained up to 6,000 soldiers.
• [u]. Lit as against a criminal
• [v]. Or the Scriptures of the prophets
• [w]. Or high priest's palace
• [x]. Or the officers, or the servants
• [y]. Lit end
• [z]. Other mss add they found none
• [aa]. Other mss add false witnesses
• [ab]. Or That is true, an affirmative oath; Mt 27:11; Mk 15:2
• [ac]. Lit you, from now
• [ad]. Ps 110:1; Dn 7:13
• [ae]. Lit What does it seem to you?
• [af]. Or speech
• [ag]. To call down curses on himself if what he said weren't true