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

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Matthew 21

1 When they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, Jesus then sent two disciples,

2 telling them, "Go into the village ahead of you. At once you will find a donkey tied there, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to Me.

3 If anyone says anything to you, you should say that the Lord needs them, and immediately he will send them."

4 This took place so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled:

5 Tell Daughter Zion, "See, your King is coming to you, gentle, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden."

6 The disciples went and did just as Jesus directed them.

7 They brought the donkey and the colt; then they laid their robes on them, and He sat on them.

8 A very large crowd spread their robes on the road; others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road.

9 Then the crowds who went ahead of Him and those who followed kept shouting: Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!

10 When He entered Jerusalem, the whole city was shaken, saying, "Who is this?"

11 And the crowds kept saying, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee!"

12 Jesus went into the temple complex and drove out all those buying and selling in the temple. He overturned the money changers' tables and the chairs of those selling doves.

13 And He said to them, "It is written, My house will be called a house of prayer. But you are making it a den of thieves !"

14 The blind and the lame came to Him in the temple complex, and He healed them.

15 When the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonders that He did and the children in the temple complex cheering, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant

16 and said to Him, "Do You hear what these [children] are saying?" "Yes," Jesus told them. "Have you never read: You have prepared praise from the mouths of children and nursing infants "?

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

18 Early in the morning, as He was returning to the city, He was hungry.

19 Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He went up to it and found nothing on it except leaves. And He said to it, "May no fruit ever come from you again!" At once the fig tree withered.

20 When the disciples saw it, they were amazed and said, "How did the fig tree wither so quickly?"

21 Jesus answered them, "I assure you: If you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you tell this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' it will be done.

22 And if you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

23 When He entered the temple complex, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to Him as He was teaching and said, "By what authority are You doing these things? Who gave You this authority?"

24 Jesus answered them, "I will also ask you one question, and if you answer it for Me, then I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

25 Where did John's baptism come from? From heaven or from men?" They began to argue among themselves, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say to us, 'Then why didn't you believe him?'

26 But if we say, 'From men,' we're afraid of the crowd, because everyone thought John was a prophet."

27 So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." And He said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

28 "But what do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'My son, go, work in the vineyard today.'

29 "He answered, 'I don't want to!' Yet later he changed his mind and went.

30 Then the man went to the other and said the same thing. " 'I will, sir,' he answered. But he didn't go.

31 "Which of the two did his father's will?" "The first," they said. Jesus said to them, "I assure you: Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you!

32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn't believe him. Tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him, but you, when you saw it, didn't even change your minds then and believe him.

33 "Listen to another parable: There was a man, a landowner, who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a watchtower. He leased it to tenant farmers and went away.

34 When the grape harvest drew near, he sent his slaves to the farmers to collect his fruit.

35 But the farmers took his slaves, beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.

36 Again, he sent other slaves, more than the first group, and they did the same to them.

37 Finally, he sent his son to them. 'They will respect my son,' he said.

38 "But when the tenant farmers saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him and take his inheritance!'

39 So they seized him and threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.

40 Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers?"

41 "He will completely destroy those terrible men," they told Him, "and lease his vineyard to other farmers who will give him his produce at the harvest."

42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This came from the Lord and is wonderful in our eyes ?

43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing its fruit. [

44 Whoever falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder!"]

45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they knew He was speaking about them.

46 Although they were looking for a way to arrest Him, they feared the crowds, because they regarded Him as a prophet.

Matthew 22

1 Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables:

2 "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.

3 He sent out his slaves to summon those invited to the banquet, but they didn't want to come.

4 Again, he sent out other slaves, and said, 'Tell those who are invited: Look, I've prepared my dinner; my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet. '

5 "But they paid no attention and went away, one to his own farm, another to his business.

6 And the others seized his slaves, treated them outrageously and killed them.

7 The king was enraged, so he sent out his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned down their city.

8 "Then he told his slaves, 'The banquet is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.

9 Therefore, go to where the roads exit the city and invite everyone you find to the banquet.'

10 So those slaves went out on the roads and gathered everyone they found, both evil and good. The wedding banquet was filled with guests.

11 But when the king came in to view the guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed for a wedding.

12 So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless.

13 "Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him up hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

14 "For many are invited, but few are chosen."

15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to trap Him by what He said.

16 They sent their disciples to Him, with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know that You are truthful and teach truthfully the way of God. You defer to no one, for You don't show partiality.

17 Tell us, therefore, what You think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

18 But perceiving their malice, Jesus said, "Why are you testing Me, hypocrites?

19 Show Me the coin used for the tax." So they brought Him a denarius.

20 "Whose image and inscription is this?" He asked them.

21 "Caesar's," they said to Him. Then He said to them, "Therefore, give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."

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

23 The same day some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came up to Him and questioned Him:

24 "Teacher, Moses said, if a man dies, having no children, his brother is to marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.

25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first got married and died. Having no offspring, he left his wife to his brother.

26 The same happened to the second also, and the third, and so to all seven.

27 Then last of all the woman died.

28 Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven? For they all had married her."

29 Jesus answered them, "You are deceived, because you don't know the Scriptures or the power of God.

30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels in heaven.

31 Now concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven't you read what was spoken to you by God:

32 I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob ? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living."

33 And when the crowds heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.

34 When the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they came together in the same place.

35 And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test Him:

36 "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?"

37 He said to him, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.

38 This is the greatest and most important commandment.

39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.

40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments."

41 While the Pharisees were together, Jesus questioned them,

42 "What do you think about the Messiah? Whose Son is He?" "David's," they told Him.

43 He asked them, "How is it then that David, inspired by the Spirit, calls Him 'Lord':

44 The Lord declared to my Lord, 'Sit at My right hand until I put Your enemies under Your feet' ?

45 "If David calls Him 'Lord,' how then can the Messiah be his Son?"

46 No one was able to answer Him at all, and from that day no one dared to question Him any more.

Matthew 23

1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples:

2 "The scribes and the Pharisees are seated in the chair of Moses.

3 Therefore do whatever they tell you and observe [it]. But don't do what they do, because they don't practice what they teach.

4 They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry and put them on people's shoulders, but they themselves aren't willing to lift a finger to move them.

5 They do everything to be observed by others: They enlarge their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.

6 They love the place of honor at banquets, the front seats in the synagogues,

7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called 'Rabbi' by people.

8 "But as for you, do not be called 'Rabbi,' because you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.

9 Do not call anyone on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is in heaven.

10 And do not be called masters either, because you have one Master, the Messiah.

11 The greatest among you will be your servant.

12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

13 "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You lock up the kingdom of heaven from people. For you don't go in, and you don't allow those entering to go in. [

14 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You devour widows' houses and make long prayers just for show. This is why you will receive a harsher punishment.]

15 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to make one proselyte, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as fit for hell as you are!

16 "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever takes an oath by the sanctuary, it means nothing. But whoever takes an oath by the gold of the sanctuary is bound by his oath.'

17 Blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the sanctuary that sanctified the gold?

18 Also, 'Whoever takes an oath by the altar, it means nothing. But whoever takes an oath by the gift that is on it is bound by his oath.'

19 Blind people! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift?

20 Therefore the one who takes an oath by the altar takes an oath by it and by everything on it.

21 The one who takes an oath by the sanctuary takes an oath by it and by Him who dwells in it.

22 And the one who takes an oath by heaven takes an oath by God's throne and by Him who sits on it.

23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law-justice, mercy, and faith. These things should have been done without neglecting the others.

24 Blind guides! You strain out a gnat, yet gulp down a camel!

25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence!

26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so the outside of it may also become clean.

27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men's bones and every impurity.

28 In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

29 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous,

30 and you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we wouldn't have taken part with them in shedding the prophets' blood.'

31 You therefore testify against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.

32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers' sins!

33 "Snakes! Brood of vipers! How can you escape being condemned to hell?

34 This is why I am sending you prophets, sages, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will flog in your synagogues and hound from town to town.

35 So all the righteous blood shed on the earth will be charged to you, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.

36 I assure you: All these things will come on this generation!

37 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem! The city who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, yet you were not willing!

38 See, your house is left to you desolate.

39 For I tell you, you will never see Me again until you say, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! "

Matthew 24

1 As Jesus left and was going out of the temple complex, His disciples came up and called His attention to the temple buildings.

2 Then He replied to them, "Don't you see all these things? I assure you: Not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down!"

3 While He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached Him privately and said, "Tell us, when will these things happen? And what is the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?"

4 Then Jesus replied to them: "Watch out that no one deceives you.

5 For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Messiah,' and they will deceive many.

6 You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet.

7 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

8 All these events are the beginning of birth pains.

9 "Then they will hand you over for persecution, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of My name.

10 Then many will take offense, betray one another and hate one another.

11 Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.

12 Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold.

13 But the one who endures to the end will be delivered.

14 This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations. And then the end will come.

15 "So when you see the abomination that causes desolation , spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place" (let the reader understand) ,

16 "then those in Judea must flee to the mountains!

17 A man on the housetop must not come down to get things out of his house.

18 And a man in the field must not go back to get his clothes.

19 Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days!

20 Pray that your escape may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.

21 For at that time there will be great tribulation, the kind that hasn't taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again!

22 Unless those days were limited, no one would survive. But those days will be limited because of the elect.

23 "If anyone tells you then, 'Look, here is the Messiah!' or, 'Over here!' do not believe it!

24 False messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

25 Take note: I have told you in advance.

26 So if they tell you, 'Look, he's in the wilderness!' don't go out; 'Look, he's in the inner rooms!' do not believe it.

27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

28 Wherever the carcass is, there the vultures will gather.

29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days: The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the celestial powers will be shaken.

30 "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the peoples of the earth will mourn; and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

31 He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

32 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.

33 In the same way, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near-at the door!

34 I assure you: This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place.

35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.

36 "Now concerning that day and hour no one knows-neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son -except the Father only.

37 As the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be.

38 For in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah boarded the ark.

39 They didn't know until the flood came and swept them all away. So this is the way the coming of the Son of Man will be:

40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one left.

41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and one left.

42 Therefore be alert, since you don't know what day your Lord is coming.

43 But know this: If the homeowner had known what time the thief was coming, he would have stayed alert and not let his house be broken into.

44 This is why you also must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

45 "Who then is a faithful and sensible slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give them food at the proper time?

46 That slave whose master finds him working when he comes will be rewarded.

47 I assure you: He will put him in charge of all his possessions.

48 But if that wicked slave says in his heart, 'My master is delayed,'

49 and starts to beat his fellow slaves, and eats and drinks with drunkards,

50 that slave's master will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know.

51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 25

1 "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like 10 virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom.

2 Five of them were foolish and five were sensible.

3 When the foolish took their lamps, they didn't take oil with them.

4 But the sensible ones took oil in their flasks with their lamps.

5 Since the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6 "In the middle of the night there was a shout: 'Here's the groom! Come out to meet him.'

7 "Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.

8 But the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, 'Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.'

9 "The sensible ones answered, 'No, there won't be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell, and buy oil for yourselves.'

10 "When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived. Then those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.

11 "Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, 'Master, master, open up for us!'

12 "But he replied, 'I assure you: I do not know you!'

13 "Therefore be alert, because you don't know either the day or the hour.

14 "For it is just like a man going on a journey. He called his own slaves and turned over his possessions to them.

15 To one he gave five talents; to another, two; and to another, one-to each according to his own ability. Then he went on a journey. Immediately

16 the man who had received five talents went, put them to work, and earned five more.

17 In the same way the man with two earned two more.

18 But the man who had received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money.

19 "After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.

20 The man who had received five talents approached, presented five more talents, and said, 'Master, you gave me five talents. Look, I've earned five more talents.'

21 "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master's joy!'

22 "Then the man with two talents also approached. He said, 'Master, you gave me two talents. Look, I've earned two more talents.'

23 "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master's joy!'

24 "Then the man who had received one talent also approached and said, 'Master, I know you. You're a difficult man, reaping where you haven't sown and gathering where you haven't scattered seed.

25 So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. Look, you have what is yours.'

26 "But his master replied to him, 'You evil, lazy slave! If you knew that I reap where I haven't sown and gather where I haven't scattered,

27 then you should have deposited my money with the bankers. And when I returned I would have received my money back with interest.

28 " 'So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has 10 talents.

29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

30 And throw this good-for-nothing slave into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

31 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.

32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

33 He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on the left.

34 Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

35 For 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 took Me in;

36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you took care of Me; I was in prison and you visited Me.'

37 "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink?

38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or without clothes and clothe You?

39 When did we see You sick, or in prison, and visit You?'

40 "And the King will answer them, 'I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.'

41 Then He will also say to those on the left, 'Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels!

42 For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink;

43 I was a stranger and you didn't take Me in; I was naked and you didn't clothe Me, sick and in prison and you didn't take care of Me.'

44 "Then they too will answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help You?'

45 "Then He will answer them, 'I assure you: Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me either.'

46 "And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Matthew 26

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

2 "You know 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 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."

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 for him.

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

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 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.

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; 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 in My Father's kingdom with you."

30 After singing psalms, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

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

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.

36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, 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 -to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with Me."

39 Going a little farther, 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 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 cannot pass 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.

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? 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."

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?" 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 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, 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 would be fulfilled." Then all the disciples deserted Him and ran away.

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. He went in and was sitting with the temple police to see the outcome.

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. Finally, two 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," Jesus told him. "But I tell you, in the future you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven ."

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?" 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?"

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 gives you away."

74 Then he started to curse 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 27

1 When daybreak came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death.

2 After tying Him up, they led Him away and handed Him over to Pilate, the governor.

3 Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was full of remorse and returned the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders.

4 "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood," he said. "What's that to us?" they said. "See to it yourself!"

5 So he threw the silver into the sanctuary and departed. Then he went and hanged himself.

6 The chief priests took the silver and said, "It's not lawful to put it into the temple treasury, since it is blood money."

7 So they conferred together and bought the potter's field with it as a burial place for foreigners.

8 Therefore that field has been called "Blood Field" to this day.

9 Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: They took the 30 pieces of silver, the price of Him whose price was set by the sons of Israel,

10 and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me.

11 Now Jesus stood before the governor. "Are You the King of the Jews?" the governor asked Him. Jesus answered, "You have said it."

12 And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He didn't answer.

13 Then Pilate said to Him, "Don't You hear how much they are testifying against You?"

14 But He didn't answer him on even one charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

15 At the festival the governor's custom was to release to the crowd a prisoner they wanted.

16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.

17 So when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Who is it you want me to release for you-Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Messiah?"

18 For he knew they had handed Him over because of envy.

19 While he was sitting on the judge's bench, his wife sent word to him, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I've suffered terribly in a dream because of Him!"

20 The chief priests and the elders, however, persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to execute Jesus.

21 The governor asked them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" "Barabbas!" they answered.

22 Pilate asked them, "What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Messiah?" They all answered, "Crucify Him!"

23 Then he said, "Why? What has He done wrong?" But they kept shouting, "Crucify Him!" all the more.

24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was starting instead, he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, "I am innocent of this man's blood. See to it yourselves!"

25 All the people answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!"

26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But after having Jesus flogged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

27 Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into headquarters and gathered the whole company around Him.

28 They stripped Him and dressed Him in a scarlet robe.

29 They twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on His head, and placed a reed in His right hand. And they knelt down before Him and mocked Him: "Hail, King of the Jews!"

30 Then they spit at Him, took the reed, and kept hitting Him on the head.

31 When they had mocked Him, they stripped Him of the robe, put His clothes on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.

32 As they were going out, they found a Cyrenian man named Simon. They forced this man to carry His cross.

33 When they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Skull Place),

34 they gave Him wine mixed with gall to drink. But when He tasted it, He would not drink it.

35 After crucifying Him they divided His clothes by casting lots.

36 Then they sat down and were guarding Him there.

37 Above His head they put up the charge against Him in writing: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS

38 Then two criminals were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left.

39 Those who passed by were yelling insults at Him, shaking their heads

40 and saying, "The One who would demolish the sanctuary and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!"

41 In the same way the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked Him and said,

42 "He saved others, but He cannot save Himself! He is the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him.

43 He has put His trust in God; let God rescue Him now-if He wants Him! For He said, 'I am God's Son.' "

44 In the same way even the criminals who were crucified with Him kept taunting Him.

45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over the whole land.

46 At about three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, " Elí, Elí, lemá sabachtháni ?" that is, " My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? "

47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling for Elijah!"

48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, fixed it on a reed, and offered Him a drink.

49 But the rest said, "Let's see if Elijah comes to save Him!"

50 Jesus shouted again with a loud voice and gave up His spirit.

51 Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary was split in two from top to bottom; the earth quaked and the rocks were split.

52 The tombs also were opened and many bodies of the saints who had gone to their rest were raised.

53 And they came out of the tombs after His resurrection, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.

54 When the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified and said, "This man really was God's Son!"

55 Many women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and ministered to Him were there, looking on from a distance.

56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.

57 When it was evening, a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph came, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus.

58 He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. Then Pilate ordered that it be released.

59 So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in clean, fine linen,

60 and placed it in his new tomb, which he had cut into the rock. He left after rolling a great stone against the entrance of the tomb.

61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were seated there, facing the tomb.

62 The next day, which followed the preparation day, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate

63 and said, "Sir, we remember that while this deceiver was still alive, He said, 'After three days I will rise again.'

64 Therefore give orders that the tomb be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples may come, steal Him, and tell the people, 'He has been raised from the dead.' Then the last deception will be worse than the first."

65 "You have a guard [of soldiers]," Pilate told them. "Go and make it as secure as you know how."

66 Then they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting the guard.