Matthew 26

1 Now it happened, when Joshua had finished all these words, that He said to His disciples, 2 “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”

3 Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people gathered together in the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, 4 and they plotted together to seize Joshua by deceit, and kill Him. 5 But they said, “Not during the feast, so there won’t be a riot among the people.”

6 Now when Joshua was in Bethany, at the house of Shimon the leper, 7 a woman came to him having an alabaster flask of very expensive perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at the table. 8 But when His disciples saw this, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 For this perfume might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.”

10 But knowing this, Joshua said to them,“Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. 11 For you always have the poor with you; but you don’t always have Me. 12 For in pouring this perfume on My body, she did it form My burial. 13 Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of as a memorial of her.”

14 Then one of the twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me, so that I deliver Him to you?” So they offered him thirty pieces of silver. 16 So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.

17 Now on the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Joshua, saying to Him, “Where do you want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”

18 And He said,“Go into the city to a certain man, and tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.”’”

19 So the disciples did as Joshua commanded them, and they prepared the Passover. 20 When evening had come, He was reclining at the table with the twelve. 21 And as they were eating, He said,“Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray Me.”

22 And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each began to ask Him, “It isn’t me, is it, Master?”

23 He answered and said,“He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish, the same will betray Me. 24 The Son of Man goes, even as it is written of Him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born.”

25 Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered, “It isn’t me, is it, Rabbi?”

He said to him,“You said it.”

26 And as they were eating, Joshua took bread, and gave thanks, broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said,“Take, eat; this is My body.” 27 And taking the cup and giving thanks, He gave it to them, saying,“All of you drink it, 28 for this is My blood of the new contract, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I tell you that I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.” 30 And after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

31 Then Joshua said to them,“All of you will be made to stumble because of Me tonight, for it is written, ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’Zechariah 13:7 32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.”

33 But Peter answered and said to him, “Even if all will be made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble.”

34 Joshua said to him,“Most certainly I tell you that tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”

35 Peter said to Him, “Even if I must die with You, I will not deny You.” And all of the disciples said likewise.

36 Then Joshua came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples,“Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zavdai, and began to be sorrowful and severely troubled. 38 Then He said to them,“My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and stay awake with Me.”

39 He went forward a little, fell on His face, and prayed, saying,“My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from Me; nevertheless, not what I want, but what You want.”

40 Then He came to the disciples, and found them sleeping, and said to Peter,“What, couldn’t you stay awake with Me for one hour? 41 Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

42 Again, a second time He went away, and prayed, saying,“My Father, if this cup can’t pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” 43 And He came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed a third time, saying the same words. 45 Then He came to His disciples, and said to them,“Sleep on now, and take your rest! Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up! Let’s go! Look, he who is betraying Me has come!”

47 And while He was still speaking, look, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now he who betrayed Him gave them a sign, saying, “Whoever I kiss, He is the one. Seize Him.” 49 Immediately he came to Joshua, and said, “Hello, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.

50 Joshua said to him,“Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Joshua, and took Him. 51 And look, one of those who were with Joshua stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and striking the servant of the high priest, cut off his ear. 52 But Joshua said to him,“Put your sword back into its place, for all those who take the sword will die by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I couldn’t ask my Father, and He would even now send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must happen this way?”

55 In that hour Joshua said to the crowds,“Have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to seize Me? I sat daily with you in the temple teaching, and you didn’t arrest me. 56 But all this has happened, that the Scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.”

Then all the disciples left Him, and ran away. 57 Those who had taken Joshua led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. 58 But Peter followed Him from a distance, to the court of the high priest, and entered in and sat with the attendants, to see the end. 59 Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Joshua, that they might put him to death; 60 and they found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward, 61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.’”

62 The high priest stood up, and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that these testify against you?” 63 But Joshua held his peace. The high priest answered him, “I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.”

64 Joshua said to him,“You have said it. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of the sky.”

65 Then the high priest tore his clothing, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard his blasphemy. 66 What do you think?”

They answered, “He is worthy of death!” 67 Then they spat in his face and beat him with their fists, and some slapped him, 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who hit you?”

69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the court, and a maid came to him, saying, “You were also with Joshua, the Galilean!”

70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

71 When he had gone out onto the porch, someone else saw him, and said to those who were there, “This man also was with Joshua the Natzerean.”

72 Again he denied it with an oath, “I don’t know the man.”

73 After a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, “Surely you are also one of them, for your speech makes you known.”

74 Then he began to curse and to swear, “I don’t know the man!”

Immediately the rooster crowed. 75 Peter remembered the word which Joshua had said to him,“Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” He went out and wept bitterly.