Thematic Bible




Matthew 26:1 (show verse)

When Jesus had finished all this teaching, he said to his disciples:
No Themes for this verse.

Matthew 26:2 (show verse)

"You know that in two days time the Festival of the Passover will be here; and that the Son of Man is to be given up to be crucified."

Matthew 26:3 (show verse)

Then the Chief Priests and the Councillors of the Nation met in the house of the High Priest, who was called Caiaphas,

Matthew 26:4 (show verse)

And plotted together to arrest Jesus by stealth and put him to death;

Matthew 26:5 (show verse)

But they said: "Not during the Festival, for fear of causing a riot."

Matthew 26:6 (show verse)

After Jesus had reached Bethany, and while he was in the house of Simon the leper,

Matthew 26:7 (show verse)

a woman came up to him with an alabaster jar of very costly perfume, and poured the perfume upon his head as he was at table.

Matthew 26:8 (show verse)

The disciples were indignant at seeing this. "What is this waste for?" they exclaimed.

Matthew 26:9 (show verse)

"It could have been sold for a large sum, and the money given to poor people."

Matthew 26:10 (show verse)

"Why are you troubling the woman?" Jesus said, when he noticed it. "For this is a beautiful deed that she has done to me.

Matthew 26:11 (show verse)

You always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.

Matthew 26:12 (show verse)

In pouring this perfume on my body, she has done it for my burying.

Matthew 26:13 (show verse)

I tell you, wherever, in the whole world, this Good News is proclaimed, what this woman has done will be told in memory of her."

Matthew 26:14 (show verse)

It was then that one of the Twelve, named Judas Iscariot, made his way to the Chief Priests,

Matthew 26:15 (show verse)

And said "What are you willing to give me, if I betray Jesus to you?" The Priests 'weighed him out thirty pieces of silver' as payment.

Matthew 26:16 (show verse)

So from that time Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

Matthew 26:17 (show verse)

On the first day of the Festival of the Unleavened Bread, the disciples came up to Jesus, and said: "Where do you wish us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"

Matthew 26:18 (show verse)

"Go into the city to a certain man," he answered, "and say to him 'The Teacher says--My time is near. I will keep the Passover with my disciples at your house.'"

Matthew 26:19 (show verse)

The disciples did as Jesus directed them, and prepared the Passover.

Matthew 26:20 (show verse)

In the evening Jesus took his place with the twelve disciples,

Matthew 26:21 (show verse)

And, while they were eating, he said: "I tell you that one of you will betray me."

Matthew 26:22 (show verse)

In great grief they began to say to him, one by one: "Can it be I, Master?"

Matthew 26:23 (show verse)

"The one who dipped his bread beside me in the dish," replied Jesus, "is the one who will betray me.

Matthew 26:24 (show verse)

True, the Son of Man must go, as Scripture says of him, yet alas for that man by whom the Son of Man is being betrayed! For that man 'it would be better never to have been born!'"

Matthew 26:25 (show verse)

And Judas, who was betraying him, turned to him and said: "Can it be I, Rabbi?" "It is," answered Jesus.

Matthew 26:26 (show verse)

While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and, after saying the blessing, broke it and, as he gave it to his disciples, said: "Take it and eat it; this is my body."

Matthew 26:27 (show verse)

Then he took a cup, and, after saying the thanksgiving, gave it to them, with the words: "Drink from it, all of you;

Matthew 26:28 (show verse)

For this is my Covenant blood, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Matthew 26:29 (show verse)

And I tell you that I shall never, after this, drink of this juice of the grape, until that day when I shall drink it new with you in the Kingdom of my Father."

Matthew 26:30 (show verse)

They then sang a hymn, and went out to the Mount of Olives.

Matthew 26:31 (show verse)

Then Jesus said to them: "Even you will all fall away from me to-night. Scripture says--'I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'

Matthew 26:32 (show verse)

But, after I have risen, I shall go before you into Galilee."

Matthew 26:33 (show verse)

"If every one else falls away from you," Peter answered, "I shall never fall away!"

Matthew 26:34 (show verse)

"I tell you," replied Jesus, "that this very night, before the cock crows, you will disown me three times!"

Matthew 26:35 (show verse)

"Even if I must die with you," Peter exclaimed, "I shall never disown you!" All the disciples spoke in the same way.

Matthew 26:36 (show verse)

Then Jesus came with them to a garden called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples: "Sit down here while I go and pray yonder."

Matthew 26:37 (show verse)

Taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebediah, he began to show signs of sadness and deep distress of mind.

Matthew 26:38 (show verse)

"I am sad at heart," he said, "sad even to death; wait here and watch with me."

Matthew 26:39 (show verse)

Going on a little further, he threw himself on his face in prayer. "My Father," he said, "if it is possible, let me be spared this cup; only, not as I will, but as thou willest."

Matthew 26:40 (show verse)

Then he came to his disciples, and found them asleep. "What!" he said to Peter, "could none of you watch with me for one hour?

Matthew 26:41 (show verse)

Watch and pray, that you may not fall into temptation. True, the spirit is eager, but human nature is weak."

Matthew 26:42 (show verse)

Again, a second time, he went away, and prayed. "My Father," he said, "if I cannot be spared this cup, but must drink it, thy will be done!"

Matthew 26:43 (show verse)

And coming back again he found them asleep, for their eyes were heavy.

Matthew 26:44 (show verse)

So he left them, and went away again, and prayed a third time, again saying the same words.

Matthew 26:45 (show verse)

Then he came to the disciples, and said: "Sleep on now, and rest yourselves. Hark! my time is close at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of wicked men.

Matthew 26:46 (show verse)

Up, and let us be going. Look! my betrayer is close at hand."

Matthew 26:47 (show verse)

And, while he was still speaking, Judas, who was one of the Twelve, came in sight; and with him was a great crowd of people, with swords and clubs, sent from the Chief Priests and Councillors of the Nation.

Matthew 26:48 (show verse)

Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them. "The man whom I kiss," he had said, "will be the one; arrest him."

Matthew 26:49 (show verse)

So he went up to Jesus at once, and exclaimed: "Welcome, Rabbi!" and kissed him;

Matthew 26:50 (show verse)

On which Jesus said to him: "Friend, do what you have come for." Thereupon the men went up, seized Jesus, and arrested him.

Matthew 26:51 (show verse)

Suddenly one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and striking the High Priest's servant, cut off his ear.

Matthew 26:52 (show verse)

"Sheathe your sword," Jesus said, "for all who draw the sword will be put to the sword.

Matthew 26:53 (show verse)

Do you think that I cannot ask my Father for help, when he would at once send to my aid more than twelve legions of angels?

Matthew 26:54 (show verse)

But in that case how would the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that this must be?"

Matthew 26:55 (show verse)

Jesus at the same time said to the crowds: "Have you come out, as if after a robber, with swords and clubs, to take me? I have sat teaching day after day in the Temple Courts, and yet you did not arrest me."

Matthew 26:56 (show verse)

The whole of this occurred in fulfillment of the Prophetic Scriptures. Then the disciples all forsook him and fled.

Matthew 26:57 (show verse)

Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the High Priest, where the Teachers of the Law and the Councillors had assembled.

Matthew 26:58 (show verse)

Peter followed him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the offices, to see the end.

Matthew 26:59 (show verse)

Meanwhile the Chief Priests and the whole of the High Council were trying to get such false evidence against Jesus, as would warrant putting him to death,

Matthew 26:60 (show verse)

But they did not find any, although many came forward with false evidence. Later on, however, two men came forward and said:

Matthew 26:61 (show verse)

"This man said 'I am able to destroy the Temple of God, and to build it in three days.'"

Matthew 26:62 (show verse)

Then the High Priest stood up, and said to Jesus: "Have you no answer? What is this evidence which these men are giving against you?"

Matthew 26:63 (show verse)

But Jesus remained silent. On this the High Priest said to him: "I adjure you, by the Living God, to tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God."

Matthew 26:64 (show verse)

"It is true," Jesus answered; "Moreover I tell you all that hereafter you shall 'see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the Almighty, and coming on the clouds of the heavens.'"

Matthew 26:65 (show verse)

Then the High Priest tore his robes. "This is blasphemy!" he exclaimed. "Why do we want any more witnesses? You have just heard his blasphemy!

Matthew 26:66 (show verse)

What is your decision?" They answered: "He deserves death."

Matthew 26:67 (show verse)

Then they spat in his face, and struck him, while others dealt blows at him, saying as they did so:

Matthew 26:68 (show verse)

"Now play the Prophet for us, you Christ! Who was it that struck you?"

Matthew 26:69 (show verse)

Peter, meanwhile, was sitting outside in the courtyard; and a maidservant came up to him, and exclaimed: "Why, you were with Jesus the Galilean!"

Matthew 26:70 (show verse)

But Peter denied it before them all. "I do not know what you mean," he replied.

Matthew 26:71 (show verse)

When he had gone out into the gateway, another maid saw him, and said to those who were there: "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth!"

Matthew 26:72 (show verse)

Again he denied it with an oath: "I do not know the man!"

Matthew 26:73 (show verse)

But soon afterwards those who were standing by came up and said to Peter: "You also are certainly one of them; why, your very way of speaking proves it!"

Matthew 26:74 (show verse)

Then Peter began to swear, with most solemn imprecations: "I do not know the man." At that moment a cock crowed;

Matthew 26:75 (show verse)

and Peter remembered the words which Jesus had said-- 'Before a cock has crowed, you will disown me three times'; and he went outside, and wept bitterly.