CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
Matthew 26
Chapter 26 of 28
Chapter Overview
What happens in Matthew 26
The final events of Jesus' earthly life begin to unfold: the plot against him, his anointing at Bethany, Judas' betrayal agreement, the Last Supper where he institutes the new covenant, his agonized prayer in Gethsemane, his arrest, trial before the Sanhedrin, and Peter's devastating denial.
Scripture
Matthew 26
The Plot and the Anointing
Study note
While the religious leaders conspire to arrest Jesus secretly, an unnamed woman at Bethany anoints him with expensive perfume -- an act Jesus interprets as preparation for his burial. The contrast between her extravagant devotion and Judas' agreement to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver is stark. Jesus promises that her act of worship will be told wherever the gospel is preached, elevating an anonymous woman's gift to eternal significance.
1 When Jesus had finished teaching all of these things, he turned to his followers and said, And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples,
2 "You know the Passover celebration is just two days away. That is when the Son of man will be turned over to be nailed to a cross." Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.
3 Meanwhile, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders held a meeting at the mansion of the high priest, a man named Caiaphas. Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,
4 They came up with a sneaky plan to have Jesus arrested and killed. And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.
5 But they agreed, "We can't do it during the festival. The people might riot." But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.
6 Jesus was staying in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper. Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
7 While he was eating dinner, a woman walked in carrying a beautiful alabaster jar filled with extremely expensive perfume. She poured it over his head. There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.
8 When the followers saw this, they were upset. They said, "What a waste! But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?
9 That perfume could have been sold for a fortune, and the money could have gone to help poor people." For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
10 Jesus knew what they were saying and told them, "Leave her alone. Why are you giving her a hard time? She has done something truly beautiful for me. When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.
11 There will always be poor people for you to help. But I will not always be here with you. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.
12 When she poured this perfume on me, she was preparing my body for burial. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.
13 "Truly I say to you: Wherever this good news is told anywhere on earth, what this woman did tonight will be told too. People will remember her for it." Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.
14 Then one of the twelve — Judas Iscariot — went behind everyone's back to the chief priests. Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
15 He asked, "How much will you pay me if I deliver Jesus to you?" They counted out thirty pieces of silver and handed them over. And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
16 From that moment, Judas watched for the right chance to hand Jesus over. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
The Last Supper
Study note
During the Passover meal, Jesus transforms the ancient celebration into the foundation of Christian worship. He identifies the bread as his body and the cup as his blood of the new covenant, poured out for the forgiveness of sins. His announcement that one of the twelve will betray him sends shock through the group. The institution of the Lord's Supper connects Jesus' approaching death to the entire history of God's saving acts, from the Exodus to the final messianic banquet.
17 It was the first day of the Feast of Bread Without Yeast. The followers asked Jesus, "Where should we set up the Passover dinner?" Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?
18 Jesus said, "Go into the city and find a certain man. Tell him, 'The Teacher says: My time has almost arrived. I plan to eat the Passover meal at your home with my followers.'" And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.
19 The followers did just what Jesus told them and got the Passover meal ready. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.
20 When evening came, Jesus sat down at the table with his twelve followers. Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.
21 While they ate, Jesus said something shocking. "One of you at this table will turn against me." And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
22 Deep sadness filled the room. One by one, each follower asked him, "Lord, it's not me, is it?" And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?
23 Jesus replied, "The one who dipped his bread in the bowl at the same time as me — he is the one who will betray me. And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.
24 The Son of man will die just as the scriptures foretold. But how awful it will be for the man who betrays him. That man would have been better off if he had never been born." The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
25 Then Judas, the betrayer, spoke up: "It can't be me, can it, Master?" Jesus looked at him and said, "Those are your words." Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.
26 During the meal, Jesus picked up a loaf of bread. He thanked God for it, tore it into pieces, and passed it to his followers. He said, "Take this and eat it. This stands for my body." And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
27 Then he picked up a cup of wine, gave thanks to God, and passed it around to them. He said, "Every one of you, drink from this cup. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
28 This stands for my blood -- the blood of the new covenant. It is being poured out for many people so their sins can be forgiven. For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
29 I am telling you now — I will not drink wine again until the day I share it new with you in my Father's kingdom." But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
30 After singing a hymn together, they headed out to the Mount of Olives. And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
Gethsemane: Prayer and Arrest
Study note
In Gethsemane, Jesus' humanity is fully revealed as he prays in agonizing distress, asking if the cup of suffering can pass while submitting completely to the Father's will. The disciples' inability to stay awake contrasts painfully with Jesus' intense spiritual battle. Judas' arrival with an armed crowd, his kiss of betrayal, and the disciples' flight fulfill Jesus' prediction that they would all fall away. Jesus' refusal to call twelve legions of angels demonstrates his voluntary submission to the Father's plan for humanity's redemption.
31 Jesus told them, "Before this night is over, every one of you will abandon me. The scripture says, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will scatter in every direction.' Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
32 But after I have been raised back to life, I will travel to Galilee ahead of you, and we will meet there." But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.
33 Peter spoke up forcefully: "Even if everyone else falls away from you, I never will!" Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.
34 Jesus said to him, "I am telling you the truth, Peter. This very night, before the rooster crows at dawn, you will say three times that you do not know me." Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
35 Peter insisted, "Even if it means dying alongside you, I will never deny you!" Every other follower said the exact same thing. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.
36 Jesus took them to a place called Gethsemane. He told the group, "Sit here and wait while I go up there to pray." Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
37 He brought Peter and Zebedee's two sons — James and John — along with him. A wave of grief and anguish swept over him. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
38 He said to the three of them, "My soul is drowning in sadness — it feels like it could kill me. Please stay here and stay awake with me." Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
39 He walked a short distance ahead, dropped to the ground face-first, and prayed: "My Father, if there is any other way, please take this cup of suffering away from me. But in the end, I want what you want, not what I want." And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
40 He walked back and found the three of them fast asleep. He said to Peter, "Could you not even manage to stay awake with me for one single hour? And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
41 Stay awake and pray for strength so you don't fall when temptation comes. Your spirit wants to do the right thing, but your body is just too weak." Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
42 He left again and prayed a second time: "My Father, if I must drink this cup of suffering, then let your will be done." He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
43 He came back and found them sleeping again — they could not keep their eyes open. And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.
44 So he left them once more and prayed a third time, saying the same words again. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
45 He came back one final time and said, "You are still sleeping? Still resting? The hour has arrived. The Son of man is being handed over to sinful men. Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46 Get up! Let's go! Look — the man who is betraying me is already here." Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.
47 The words were barely out of his mouth when Judas — one of the twelve — appeared. Right behind him was a mob armed with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and elders. And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
48 Judas had arranged a signal with them ahead of time. He told them, "The man I walk up to and kiss — that is the one you want. Grab him." Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.
49 Judas marched right up to Jesus and said, "Hello, Master!" Then he kissed him. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
50 Jesus said, "Friend, go ahead and do what you came to do." In that instant, the men rushed forward, seized Jesus, and placed him under arrest. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
51 One of Jesus's companions whipped out a sword and slashed at the high priest's servant, slicing off his ear. And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.
52 Jesus told him, "Put your sword away. Everyone who lives by violence will die by violence. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
53 Don't you know I could ask my Father right now, and he would send more than twelve legions of angels to rescue me? Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
54 But if I did that, how would the scriptures come true? They say all of this must happen." But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
55 In that same hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come out as against a thief with swords and clubs to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and you did not lay hold on me. In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.
56 But all of this is happening to make the words of the prophets come true." At that point, every last one of his followers ran away and abandoned him. But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
Trial Before the Sanhedrin and Peter's Denial
Study note
Jesus is brought before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin, where false witnesses contradict each other. When the high priest puts him under oath and asks directly if he is the Christ, Jesus' affirmative response and reference to the Son of man at God's right hand provoke the charge of blasphemy and a death sentence. Meanwhile, Peter -- who had sworn he would never deny Jesus -- does so three times, fulfilling Jesus' prediction exactly. Peter's bitter weeping reveals the devastating gap between confident self-assurance and actual faithfulness under pressure.
57 The men who arrested Jesus marched him to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest. The scribes and elders had already gathered there waiting. And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
58 Peter trailed behind at a safe distance, all the way to the courtyard of the high priest's house. He went inside and sat down with the guards to see how things would play out. But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.
59 The chief priests, the elders, and the whole ruling council were trying hard to find false evidence against Jesus. They wanted to use it as a reason to put him to death. Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
60 They kept coming up empty, even though plenty of people came forward and lied. Finally, two men stepped forward But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,
61 and claimed, "This man said, 'I can tear down God's temple and rebuild it in three days.'" And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
62 The high priest stood up and demanded, "Are you going to stand there and say nothing? What do you have to say about these accusations?" And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
63 Jesus stayed completely silent. Then the high priest said, "I am putting you under oath before the living God — tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God." But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.
64 Jesus answered, "You said it. But let me tell you this — from now on, you will see the Son of man seated in the place of power at God's right hand and coming back on the clouds of heaven." Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
65 The high priest ripped his own robes in outrage and shouted, "He insulted God! We don't need any more witnesses! You all heard the blasphemy with your own ears. Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
66 What is your verdict?" They all shouted back, "He deserves to die!" What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.
67 Then they spit right in his face and punched him. Others slapped him across the face Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,
68 and taunted, "Use your powers, Christ! Tell us which one of us hit you!" Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?
69 Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A young servant girl walked up and said to him, "You were with Jesus the Galilean, weren't you?" Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.
70 Peter denied it in front of everyone: "I have no idea what you are talking about." But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.
71 He headed toward the gate, where another servant girl noticed him. She said to the people nearby, "This man was with Jesus from Nazareth." And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.
72 Peter denied it again, this time swearing an oath: "I do not know that man!" And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.
73 A little while later, some bystanders walked over to Peter and said, "You are definitely one of his people. Your accent is a dead giveaway." And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.
74 Peter exploded, cursing and swearing, "I do not know the man!" That very second, a rooster crowed. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
75 It hit Peter like a lightning bolt — he remembered Jesus saying, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." He stumbled outside and broke down sobbing. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
Key Themes
Themes in Matthew 26
Sacrificial loveThe new covenantSubmission to God's willBetrayal and denialThe suffering MessiahHuman weakness and divine purpose
Prophetic Connections
How this chapter points to Christ
Matthew 26:15 Zechariah 11:12-13
Judas' betrayal price of thirty pieces of silver fulfills Zechariah's prophecy about the paltry sum paid for the shepherd, connecting the rejected payment to the potter's field.
Matthew 26:31 Zechariah 13:7
Jesus quotes Zechariah's prophecy that striking the shepherd will scatter the sheep, applying it to his arrest and the disciples' flight that very night.
Matthew 26:64 Daniel 7:13; Psalm 110:1
Before the high priest, Jesus combines Daniel's vision of the Son of man coming on clouds with David's psalm about sitting at God's right hand, claiming divine authority and eternal kingship.
Apply This Today
Living Matthew 26
Gethsemane teaches us the most honest prayer possible: telling God exactly what we want while surrendering completely to what he wants. Jesus was not ashamed to express his anguish, yet he did not let his feelings override his commitment to the Father's will. When you face your own dark moments, follow his example. Pour out your heart to God without pretense, but always end with 'not my will, but yours.' Peter's denial also reminds us that overconfidence in our own strength is a setup for failure; our security lies in depending on God's strength, not our own.
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