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After Jesus had finished all these teachings, he said to his disciples:
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“You know that in two days the Passover will be celebrated, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
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At that time the chief priests and the elders of the Jews gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,
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and they plotted together to seize Jesus by deceit and to kill Him.
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But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.”
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When Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
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a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of very costly perfume. She poured it on Jesus’ head as He was reclining at table.
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When the disciples saw it, they were indignant and said, “Why this waste?
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For this perfume could have been sold for a high price, and the money given to the poor.”
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But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you trouble this woman? For she has done a good work for Me.
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For the poor you always have with you, but you will not always have Me.
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For in pouring this perfume on My body, she has prepared Me for burial.
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Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what she has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.”
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Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests.
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He said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.
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And from that time he sought an opportunity to hand Jesus over.
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On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples of Jesus came to Him and said, “Where do You want us to prepare the Passover meal for You?”
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Jesus answered, “Go into the city to such and such a man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says: My time is near; at your house I will celebrate the Passover with My disciples.'”
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Then the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.
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When evening had come, Jesus was reclining at table with the twelve disciples.
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And while they were eating, He said, “Truly I say to you, one of you will hand Me over.”
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And with deep sorrow they began to say to Him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?”
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He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand with Me in the dish, he will betray Me.
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The Son of Man indeed goes as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had not been born.”
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Judas, who was about to betray Him, answered and said, “Is it I, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him, “You have said it.”
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And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
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Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.
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For this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
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But I say to you, 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.”
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And when they had sung a hymn, Jesus and His disciples went out to the Mount of Olives.
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Then Jesus said to them, “Tonight all of you will be shaken in your faith because of Me. For it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.
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But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”
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Peter answered Him, “Even if all are shaken in their faith because of You, I will never be.”
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Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”
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Peter said to Him, “Even if I must die with You, I will not deny You.” And all the other disciples said the same.
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Then Jesus came with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane. And He said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.”
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And He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with Him. Then He began to be sorrowful and troubled,
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and He said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”
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And He went a little farther, fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”
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Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And He said to Peter, “Could you not watch with Me one hour?”
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Be watchful and pray, so that you may not fall into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
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Then He went away a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done!”
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And when He came again, He found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.
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So He left them there and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same words.
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Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Sleep now and rest. See, the hour has come, that the Son of Man is being handed over into the hands of sinners.
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Rise, let us go. He who is betraying Me is near.”
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While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, came, and with him a large crowd carrying swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and the elders of the Jews.
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Now the one who was betraying Him had given them this sign: “The one I kiss is He; seize Him.”
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And immediately he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi,” and kissed Him.
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But Jesus said to him, “Friend, for this have you come?” Then they came forward and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.
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And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand, drew his sword, and struck the servant of the High Priest, cutting off his ear.
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Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its sheath, for all who take up the sword will perish by the sword.
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Or do you think that I cannot call on My Father, and He will at once send more than twelve legions of angels to help Me?
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If so, how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?”
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At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Do you think I am a robber, that you have come out with swords and clubs to seize Me? Day after day I sat teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me.
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But all this has happened so that what was written in the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left Him and fled.
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After they had seized Jesus, they brought Him before Caiaphas the High Priest. There the scribes and the elders had gathered.
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And Peter followed Him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the High Priest, and after going in, he sat among the guards to see how the matter would end.
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The chief priests, indeed the whole Council, were seeking false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death,
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but they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward,
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who said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”
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Then the high priest stood up and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing to what these witnesses testify against You?”
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But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to Him, “By the living God, tell us whether You are the Messiah, the Son of God, or not.”
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Jesus answered, “You have said it. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
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Then the high priest tore his garments and said, “He has blasphemed God. Why do we still need witnesses? Now you have heard His blasphemy.
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What is your judgment?” They answered and said, “He deserves to die!”
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Then they spat in His face and struck Him with their fists; others beat Him,
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and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah: who struck You?”
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Meanwhile Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.”
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But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.”
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When he went out to the gateway, another servant saw him and said to those there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
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And again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.”
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A little later those standing there came up to Peter and said, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech gives you away.”
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Then Peter began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man.” And at that moment the rooster crowed.
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Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said to him: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
📖 Matthew 26 – Preparation for Jesus’ Crucifixion
🧾 Summary of Matthew 26
This chapter records the important events leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion, including the anointing at Bethany, the Last Supper, prayer in Gethsemane, Judas’ betrayal, and Jesus’ arrest.
Main Points:
The Plot of the Chief Priests (verses 1–5):
Jesus told them that He would be crucified on the Passover day.
The chief priests and elders planned to seize Him and put Him to death.
Jesus Anointed at Bethany (verses 6–13):
A woman anointed Jesus’ head with costly ointment.
The disciples considered it a waste, but Jesus said it was preparation for His burial.
This woman’s act is remembered for all time.
Judas Betrays Jesus (verses 14–16):
Judas Iscariot offered to hand Jesus over for 30 pieces of silver.
The Last Supper (verses 17–30):
Jesus celebrated Passover with His disciples.
He instituted the Holy Supper, a symbol of His body and blood.
Jesus told them that one of them would betray Him.
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial (verses 31–35):
Jesus said all the disciples would leave Him.
Peter swore he would never deny Him, but Jesus foretold a threefold denial before the rooster crowed.
Jesus Prays in the Garden of Gethsemane (verses 36–46):
Jesus experienced deep inner anguish and prayed to the Father.
He said, “Not My will, but Your will be done.”
The Arrest of Jesus (verses 47–56):
Judas came with a crowd and kissed Jesus as the sign of betrayal.
Jesus was arrested, and His disciples fled.
Jesus before the Council (verses 57–68):
Jesus was judged unjustly, slandered, and accused of blaspheming God.
He finally declared that He was the Messiah.
Peter’s Denial (verses 69–75):
Peter denied Jesus three times.
After the rooster crowed, he remembered Jesus’ words and wept bitterly.
📘 Main Teachings of Matthew 26
- Jesus was fully aware of His suffering and went through it in obedience.
- True love is shown by sacrifice, as in the woman who anointed Jesus.
- Betrayal and denial can come from those closest to us — yet Jesus remained faithful.
- The Lord’s Supper is a reminder of Christ’s sacrificial love for us.
- Jesus’ obedience in Gethsemane is an example for facing suffering.
- Forgiveness is available even for those who fail — like Peter who repented.
✨ Spiritual Meaning of Matthew 26
- Jesus’ obedience unto death shows God’s perfect love.
- We are called to surrender our own will to God’s will.
- Small acts done with a sincere heart — like anointing Jesus — matter greatly to the Lord.
- Failure does not end a calling — Peter was restored even after denying Him.
- Redemption begins with obedience in suffering.
