Matthew 26 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
~AD 30, during Passover week
Location
Jerusalem and surrounding areas (Bethany, Mount of Olives, Gethsemane)
Audience
Jewish Christians in the first century, emphasizing Jesus as the Messiah
Situation
Matthew 26 covers the final days of Jesus' ministry, including the plot against him, the Last Supper, prayer in Gethsemane, Judas's betrayal, and Jesus' arrest and initial trial.
Key Background
Under Roman occupation, the Jewish religious leaders (chief priests and elders) plotted to kill Jesus to eliminate his influence amid Passover crowds. This festival commemorated Israel's exodus from Egypt, drawing thousands to Jerusalem and heightening political tensions. Jesus' actions, like cleansing the temple and teaching with authority, directly challenged the Sanhedrin's power, fulfilling messianic prophecies while setting the stage for his sacrificial death.
When Jesus finished saying all of this, he told his
"You know that is two days away, and the of will be handed over to be on a
Then the and the of the people gathered in the courtyard of the high priest, whose name was
and they plotted together to arrest Jesus by some trick and kill him.
But they said, "Not during the festival, or there might be a riot among the people."
While Jesus was in at the home of Simon the
a woman came to him with an of very expensive perfumed oil and poured it over his head while he was at the
When the students saw this, they were outraged. "What a waste!" they said.
"This perfume could have been sold for a huge amount of money and given to the poor."
Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to them, "Why are you giving this woman a hard time? She's done something beautiful for me.
You'll always have the poor among you, but you won't always have me.
When she poured this perfume on my body, she was preparing me for burial.
I'm telling you the truth — wherever this is announced in the whole world, what she did will also be told as a tribute to her."
Then one of the twelve — Judas — went to the chief priests
and asked, "What will you give me if I hand him over to you?" They paid him
From that moment on, Judas watched for an opportunity to him.
On the first day of the of the students came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover meal?"
He said, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The Teacher says: My is near. I'm celebrating the Passover at your house with my students.'"
The students did as Jesus directed and prepared the Passover meal.
When evening came, Jesus reclined at the table with the
While they were eating, he said, "I'm telling you the truth — one of you is going to betray me."
They were devastated and began saying to him, one after another, "It's not me, is it,
He answered, "The one who dipped his hand into the bowl with me — that's who will betray me.
The Son of Man is going where it was written he would go, but how terrible it will be for the man who betrays the Son of Man. It would have been better for that man if he had never been born."
Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "It's not me, is it, Jesus said to him, "You've said it yourself."
While they were eating, Jesus took a over it, broke it, and gave it to the students. He said, "Take this and eat it. This is my
Then he took a and it to them, saying, "All of you, drink from this.
This is my of the poured out for many for the from
I'm telling you, I will not drink this fruit of the vine again until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's
After singing a they went out to the of
Then Jesus told them, "Tonight, all of you will because of me, because it's written: 'I will strike the and the sheep of the flock will scatter.'
But after I've been I'll go ahead of you to Galilee."
Peter spoke up and said, "Even if everyone else falls away because of you, I never will."
Jesus said to him, "I'm telling you the truth — tonight, before the rooster crows, you will me three times."
Peter said to him, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you." And all the other students said the same thing.
Then Jesus went with them to a place called and told the students, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him, and he began to be with and
He said to them, "My is being crushed by grief — it's almost killing me. Stay here and keep watch with me."
He walked a little farther, fell face-down on the ground, and prayed: "My Father, if there's any way, take this away from me. But not what I want — what you want."
He went back and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, "So you couldn't keep watch with me for even one hour?
Stay awake and pray that you won't be to the The is willing, but the body is weak."
He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if this cup can't be taken away unless I drink it, then let what you want be done."
He came back again and found them sleeping — their eyes were so heavy they couldn't keep them open.
So he left them, went away again, and prayed a third time, saying the same thing.
Then he came back to the students and said, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look — the has arrived, and the Son of Man is being handed over to those who have to be what them to be.
Get up, let's go. Look — here comes the one who is betraying me."
While he was still speaking, Judas — one of the twelve — arrived, and with him was a large crowd carrying swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and elders of the people.
The betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I — that's him. Grab him."
He went straight to Jesus and said, "Hello, Rabbi!" and kissed him.
Jesus said to him, do what you came to do." Then they came forward, grabbed Jesus, and arrested him.