Matthew 26:26-50

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; ^[a] 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 ^[b] in My Father's kingdom with you."

30 After singing psalms,^[c] 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 ^[d] because of Me, for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. ^[e]

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,^[f] 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 ^[g] -to the point of death. ^[h] Remain here and stay awake with Me."

39 Going a little farther,^[i] 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 ^[j] 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 ^[k] cannot pass ^[l] 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.^[m]

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? ^[n] 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?" ^[o] Then they came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested Him.

Footnotes

• [a]. Other mss read new covenant
• [b]. Or drink new wine; lit drink it new
• [c]. Pss 113-118 were sung during and after the Passover meal.
• [d]. Or stumble
• [e]. Zch 13:7
• [f]. A garden east of Jerusalem at the base of the Mount of Olives; Gethsemane olive oil press
• [g]. Or I am deeply grieved, or I am overwhelmed by sorrow; Ps 42:6,11; 43:5
• [h]. Lit unto death
• [i]. Other mss read Drawing nearer
• [j]. You all 3 disciples because the verb in Gk is pl
• [k]. Other mss add cup
• [l]. Other mss add from Me
• [m]. Lit because their eyes were weighed down
• [n]. Or Sleep on now and take your rest.
• [o]. Or Jesus told him, "do what you have come for." (as a statement)