Matthew 26:17–56

The Lord’s Supper

¹⁷It was the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The disciples came to Jesus. They asked, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover meal?”

¹⁸He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man. Tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover at your house with my disciples.” ’ ”

¹⁹So the disciples did what Jesus had told them to do. They prepared the Passover meal.

²⁰When evening came, Jesus was at the table with the Twelve. ²¹While they were eating, he said, “What I’m about to tell you is true. One of you will hand me over to my enemies.”

²²The disciples became very sad. One after the other, they began to say to him, “It’s not I, Lord, is it?”

²³Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will hand me over. ²⁴The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But how terrible it will be for the one who hands over the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

²⁵Judas was the one who was going to hand him over. He said, “It’s not I, Rabbi, is it?”

Jesus answered, “Yes. It is you.”

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

²⁷Then he took the cup. He gave thanks and handed it to them. He said, “All of you drink from it. ²⁸This is my blood of the new covenant. It is poured out to forgive the sins of many. ²⁹Here is what I tell you. From now on, I won’t drink wine with you again until the day I drink it with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

³⁰Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus Says That Peter Will Fail

³¹Jesus told them, “This very night you will all turn away because of me. It is written that the Lord said,

“ ‘I will strike the shepherd down.

Then the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

³²But after I rise from the dead, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

³³Peter replied, “All the others may turn away because of you. But I never will.”

³⁴“What I’m about to tell you is true,” Jesus answered. “It will happen this very night. Before the rooster crows, you will say three times that you don’t know me.”

³⁵But Peter said, “I may have to die with you. But I will never say I don’t know you.” And all the other disciples said the same thing.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

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

³⁷He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him. He began to be sad and troubled. ³⁸Then he said to them, “My soul is very sad. I feel close to death. Stay here. Keep watch with me.”

³⁹He went a little farther. Then he fell with his face to the ground. He prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, take this cup of suffering away from me. But let what you want be done, not what I want.”

⁴⁰Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. ⁴¹“Watch and pray. Then you won’t fall into sin when you are tempted. The spirit is willing. But the body is weak.”

⁴²Jesus went away a second time. He prayed, “My Father, is it possible for this cup to be taken away? But if I must drink it, may what you want be done.”

⁴³Then he came back. Again he found them sleeping. They couldn’t keep their eyes open. ⁴⁴So he left them and went away once more. For the third time he prayed the same thing.

⁴⁵Then he returned to the disciples. He said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look! The hour is near. The Son of Man is about to be handed over to sinners. ⁴⁶Get up! Let us go! Here comes the one who is handing me over to them!”

Jesus Is Arrested

⁴⁷While Jesus was still speaking, Judas arrived. He was one of the Twelve. A large crowd was with him. They were carrying swords and clubs. The chief priests and the elders of the people had sent them.

⁴⁸Judas, who was going to hand Jesus over, had arranged a signal with them. “The one I kiss is the man,” he said. “Arrest him.”

⁴⁹So Judas went to Jesus at once. He said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him.

⁵⁰Jesus replied, “Friend, do what you came to do.”

Then the men stepped forward. They grabbed Jesus and arrested him. ⁵¹At that moment, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword. He pulled it out and struck the servant of the high priest with it. He cut off the servant’s ear.

⁵²“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “All who use the sword will die by the sword. ⁵³Do you think I can’t ask my Father for help? He would send an army of more than 70,000 angels right away. ⁵⁴But then how would the Scriptures come true? They say it must happen in this way.”

⁵⁵At that time Jesus spoke to the crowd. “Am I leading a band of armed men against you?” he asked. “Do you have to come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courtyard teaching. And you didn’t arrest me. ⁵⁶But all this has happened so that the words of the prophets would come true.”

Then all the disciples left him and ran away.