Matthew 26:14–46

Judas Plans to Betray Jesus—Mark 14:10–11; Luke 22:3–6

¹⁴Then one of the twelve apostles, the one named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests. ¹⁵He asked, “What will you pay me if I hand him over to you?” 

They offered him 30 silver coins. ¹⁶From then on, he looked for a chance to betray Jesus. 

Preparations for the Passover—Mark 14:12–17; Luke 22:7–17

¹⁷On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples went to Jesus. They asked, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?” 

¹⁸He said, “Go to a certain man in the city, and tell him that the teacher says, ‘My time is near. I will celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’ ” 

¹⁹The disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. 

²⁰When evening came, Jesus was at the table with the twelve apostles. 

Jesus Knows Who Will Betray Him—Mark 14:18–21; Luke 22:21–23; John 13:21–30

²¹While they were eating, he said, “I can guarantee this truth: One of you is going to betray me.” 

²²Feeling deeply hurt, they asked him one by one, “You don’t mean me, do you, Lord?” 

²³Jesus answered, “Someone who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. ²⁴The Son of Man is going to die as the Scriptures say he will. But how horrible it will be for that person who betrays the Son of Man. It would have been better for that person if he had never been born.” 

²⁵Then Judas, who betrayed him, asked, “You don’t mean me, do you, Rabbi?” 

“Yes, I do,” Jesus replied. 

The Lord’s Supper—Mark 14:22–26; Luke 22:19–20

²⁶While they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it. He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take this, and eat it. This is my body.” 

²⁷Then he took a cup and spoke a prayer of thanksgiving. He gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸This is my blood, the blood of the promise.^aIt is poured out for many people so that sins are forgiven. 

²⁹“I can guarantee that I won’t drink this wine again until that day when I drink new wine with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 

³⁰After they sang a hymn, they went to the Mount of Olives. 

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial—Mark 14:27–31; Luke 22:31–34; John 13:36–38

³¹Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will abandon me tonight. Scripture says, 

‘I will strike the shepherd, 

and the sheep in the flock will be scattered.’ 

³²“But after I am brought back to life, I will go to Galilee ahead of you.” 

³³Peter said to him, “Even if everyone else abandons you, I never will.” 

³⁴Jesus replied to Peter, “I can guarantee this truth: Before a rooster crows tonight, you will say three times that you don’t know me.” 

³⁵Peter told him, “Even if I have to die with you, I’ll never say that I don’t know you!” All the other disciples said the same thing. 

Jesus Prays in the Garden of Gethsemane—Mark 14:32–42; Luke 22:39–46

³⁶Then Jesus went with the disciples to a place called Gethsemane. He said to them, “Stay here while I go over there and pray.” 

³⁷He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons with him. He was beginning to feel deep anguish. ³⁸Then he said to them, “My anguish is so great that I feel as if I’m dying. Wait here, and stay awake with me.” 

³⁹After walking a little farther, he quickly bowed with his face to the ground and prayed, “Father, if it’s possible, let this cup ⸤of suffering⸥ be taken away from me. But let your will be done rather than mine.” 

⁴⁰When he went back to the disciples, he found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you stay awake with me for one hour? ⁴¹Stay awake, and pray that you won’t be tempted. You want to do what’s right, but you’re weak.” 

⁴²Then he went away a second time and prayed, “Father, if this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, let your will be done.” 

⁴³He found them asleep again because they couldn’t keep their eyes open. 

⁴⁴After leaving them again, he went away and prayed the same prayer a third time. ⁴⁵Then he came back to the disciples and said to them, “You might as well sleep now. The time is near for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners. ⁴⁶Get up! Let’s go! The one who is betraying me is near.”