Read Matthew 26
The Plot Against Jesus
26 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2 “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. 5 “But not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. 9 “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”
10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
14 Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
The Last Supper
17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
18 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.
20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”
22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”
23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?”
Jesus answered, “You have said so.”
26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:
“‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”
34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”
35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.
Gethsemane
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
40 Then 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 so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
Jesus Arrested
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
50 Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 51 With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
Jesus Before the Sanhedrin
57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. 58 But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.
59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.
Finally two came forward 61 and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”
62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent.
The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
64 “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66 What do you think?”
“He is worthy of death,” they answered.
67 Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68 and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”
Peter Disowns Jesus
69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.
70 But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
71 Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
72 He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”
73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”
74 Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”
Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Go Deeper
This chapter famously describes the Last Supper, and today let’s focus on what Jesus knew as He served that first communion. First, Jesus knew that He was talking to human minds who did not understand all that was happening in that moment. Even though He told them that He would be handed over to be crucified very soon, they did not fully comprehend what was about to happen.
For instance, Jesus had just shared the parables in Matthew 25 that taught about good stewardship and caring for the needy. Verse 8 shows us that these lessons were on the disciples’ minds when they were angered over the woman using the expensive oil on Jesus’s head. Surely, they thought, based on the lessons they just learned, the oil should have been sold and the money given to the poor. Yet, Jesus had to explain that the woman’s actions were “beautiful,” because she understood and was preparing Him for burial.
Second, Jesus also knew that He was serving one who would betray him and another who would deny him, despite their assurances otherwise. He knew that the disciples would not even stay awake when He needed them most. He knew everything in their hearts, everything they would think and do and speak. He knew what He would face in the next few hours, and He knew they were complicit in the horror that was to come.
And yet, with all of that on His heart and mind; He still chose to serve them. He chose to include them in the divine and symbolic act of forgiveness through Him. And in that choice, He provided them and all of us with a beautiful picture of the covenant that gives us all hope for the future; a covenant that embraces the confused, the betrayers, and the deniers.
Jesus knew that Judas was handing Him over to His murderers. He knew that Peter would fail Him miserably. But He didn’t ask them to leave. He loved them. He let them sit at His table, and He served them in the midst of their weakest moments. And the preservation of that holy lesson provides us with a beautiful picture of what Jesus offers each of us through His death and resurrection.
Questions
- If you were sitting at the table at the Last Supper, what would Jesus have known about you?
- Now flip the script. Is there anyone “sitting at your table” that you need to show the same mercy and forgiveness by serving them?
- After acknowledging what God knows about you, spend time reflecting on His choice to serve you through His mercy, grace, and forgiveness.
Keep Digging
Meals play a significant role throughout scripture. To read more about the significance of a shared meal (including the Last Supper), check out this blog post from The Bible Project.
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3 thoughts on “Matthew 26”
So many things stir my heart as I read of Christ’s impending death. As I’ve noted the actions of each character in this narrative, I’ve paused and wondered how I would have participated in these last moments of Christ’s earthly life:
Caiaphas & religious leaders-secretly plotting Christ’s death
Mary-anointing Christ’s body while he was still living
Judas-betraying Jesus for money and status
Peter-denying knowing Christ 3 times
Peter, James & John-sleeping instead of being alert in prayer
Disciples-scattering when tested
Jesus was about to face an excruciating death to pay for the sins of humanity, including those who despised and rejected him. This was the grand plan from the beginning, and Jesus obediently participated. This one event that marked time and history (A.D.) is our ultimate hope and victory. We, who were one far away, have been brought near. Romans 5:10 declares “For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life.”
Jesus had and felt all the same emotions that we do today. I am always amazed at his being able to be calm, sane, gentle, loving, kind, compassionate, understanding, with his emotional state BUT GOD. That truly is the answer to his calm obedient spirt, is his LOVE for HIS Father, our Father. We have the same ability’s to be in that state Romans 8:11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.(ESV) Romans 8:5-6 – “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.” Jesus was able to accomplish this but we can try. We can do a better job than we are doing. We have tools and resources that help us but we have to WANT TO. That is what I see, Jesus wanted to because he LOVED His Father. We still have to exert ourselves, we have to be diligent in our responsibilities to do right things make right choices.
Each of us is responsible for our own spiritual condition. We may not borrow or buy from someone else but must continually cultivate our own heart for the day when Christ returns.
God I am so thankful for Jesus and what He accomplished for me. Thank You for Holy Spirit in dwelling in my heart, life and mind. Thank You for me having listening ears to hear and obey Your voice. Thank You for being diligent and exerting myself to follow You all the days of my life. Lead me, guide me, and help me to be more compassionate, loving, kind, gentle, tenderhearted, with Your Love goggles on in Jesus name amen
WOOHOO!!!!! by the way means HOLY HOLY HOLY!!!!!!!!!!
Gathering around tables and in homes was a significant theme in the Bible. I have been intrigued lately with reading scripture and finding that a lot was centered around food. The lost art of opening our homes to feed and fellowship is trying to make its way back “to the table”. There are quite a few bible studies for women reflecting on the importance of serving and home.
Our women in our church have started meeting back in homes to eat and fellowship to connect and draw ladies back into our church post-Covid. So far, it has been successful and women have enjoyed re-connecting again around the table. I can’t recommend high enough ‘Keeping Place’ by Jen Michel on RighTNow as a follow-up study after ‘Find your People’. Jen takes what Jennie teaches to a deeper level of the meaning of home. It’s been a God-send for our ladies. Genesis begins with God creating a home for us. And Revelation ends with our eternal home. And In between all that are miracles, betrayal, redemption, forgiveness around the table. Just start looking ….