Matthew 26: What the Passage Says

The Chapter in a Sentence

Two days before Passover, the chief priests and elders plan to arrest Jesus quietly, a woman anoints him with costly perfume in Bethany, and Judas agrees to hand him over for thirty pieces of silver. Jesus eats the Passover meal with the Twelve, names his betrayer, gives them bread and the cup, and tells Peter he will deny him three times that night. In Gethsemane he prays three times while the disciples sleep, then Judas arrives with an armed crowd and Jesus is arrested and abandoned. The council condemns him for blasphemy after he answers the high priest, and outside in the courtyard Peter denies knowing him three times and weeps.

Claim by Claim

1. 26:1
   • Jesus finished all these sayings.
   • When he had finished, Jesus spoke to his disciples.
2. 26:2
   • Jesus said the disciples know that after two days the Passover comes.
   • Jesus said the Son of man is handed over to be crucified.
3. 26:3
   • The chief priests assembled.
   • The King James text says the scribes also assembled.
   • The elders of the people assembled.
   • They assembled in the courtyard of the high priest.
   • The high priest was called Caiaphas.
4. 26:4
   • They took counsel together to seize Jesus by deceit.
   • They took counsel to kill Jesus.
5. 26:5
   • They said the seizing should not happen during the feast.
   • They said their reason was to avoid a riot among the people.
6. 26:6
   • Jesus was in Bethany.
   • Jesus was in the house of Simon the leper.
7. 26:7
   • A woman came to Jesus.
   • The woman had an alabaster jar of very costly perfumed ointment.
   • The woman poured the ointment on Jesus' head.
   • Jesus was reclining at table.
8. 26:8
   • The disciples saw this.
   • The disciples were indignant.
   • The disciples asked what this waste was for.
9. 26:9
   • The disciples said the ointment could have been sold for much.
   • The disciples said the proceeds could have been given to the poor.
10. 26:10
    • Jesus knew what they said.
    • Jesus asked them why they were troubling the woman.
    • Jesus said the woman had done a good work toward him.
11. 26:11
    • Jesus said they always have the poor with them.
    • Jesus said they do not always have him.
12. 26:12
    • Jesus said the woman poured this ointment on his body.
    • Jesus said she did it to prepare him for burial.
13. 26:13
    • Jesus said truly to them.
    • Jesus said this gospel will be preached in the whole world.
    • Jesus said that wherever it is preached, what this woman did will also be told.
    • Jesus said it will be told in memory of her.
14. 26:14
    • One of the twelve went to the chief priests.
    • That one was called Judas Iscariot.
15. 26:15
    • Judas asked what they were willing to give him.
    • Judas offered to hand Jesus over to them.
    • They set out for him thirty pieces of silver.
16. 26:16
    • From that time Judas sought an opportunity to hand Jesus over.
17. 26:17
    • It was the first day of Unleavened Bread.
    • The disciples came to Jesus.
    • The disciples asked where he wanted them to prepare for him to eat the Passover.
18. 26:18
    • Jesus told them to go into the city to a certain man.
    • Jesus told them to say to that man that the Teacher says his time is near.
    • Jesus said he keeps the Passover at that man's house with his disciples.
19. 26:19
    • The disciples did as Jesus directed them.
    • The disciples prepared the Passover.
20. 26:20
    • Evening came.
    • Jesus reclined at table with the twelve disciples.
21. 26:21
    • While they were eating, Jesus spoke.
    • Jesus said truly to them that one of them will hand him over.
22. 26:22
    • They were exceedingly grieved.
    • Each one of them began to say to him, 'Surely not I, Lord?'
23. 26:23
    • Jesus answered.
    • Jesus said the one who dipped his hand with him in the dish will hand him over.
24. 26:24
    • Jesus said the Son of man goes as it is written about him.
    • Jesus pronounced woe on the man by whom the Son of man is handed over.
    • Jesus said it would have been good for that man if he had not been born.
25. 26:25
    • Judas answered.
    • Judas was the one handing Jesus over.
    • Judas asked, 'Surely not I, Rabbi?'
    • Jesus said to him, 'You have said it.'
26. 26:26
    • While they were eating, Jesus took bread.
    • Jesus blessed.
    • Jesus broke the bread.
    • Jesus gave it to the disciples.
    • Jesus said to take and eat.
    • Jesus said this is his body.
27. 26:27
    • Jesus took a cup.
    • Jesus gave thanks.
    • Jesus gave the cup to them.
    • Jesus told them all to drink from it.
28. 26:28
    • Jesus said this is his blood of the covenant.
    • The King James text says it is the blood of the new testament.
    • Jesus said the blood is poured out for many.
    • Jesus said it is poured out for the forgiveness of sins.
29. 26:29
    • Jesus said he will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on.
    • Jesus said he will not drink it until the day he drinks it new with them in his Father's kingdom.
30. 26:30
    • They sang a hymn.
    • They went out to the Mount of Olives.
31. 26:31
    • Jesus said to them that they will all be made to stumble because of him this night.
    • Jesus said it is written.
    • The writing says God will strike the shepherd.
    • The writing says the sheep of the flock will be scattered.
32. 26:32
    • Jesus said that after he is raised he will go before them into Galilee.
33. 26:33
    • Peter answered Jesus.
    • Peter said that even if all are made to stumble because of Jesus, he himself never will be.
34. 26:34
    • Jesus said truly to Peter.
    • Jesus said that this night, before a cock crows, Peter will deny him three times.
35. 26:35
    • Peter said that even if he must die with Jesus, he will not deny him.
    • All the disciples said the same.
36. 26:36
    • Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane.
    • Jesus told the disciples to sit there.
    • Jesus said he would go over there and pray.
37. 26:37
    • Jesus took Peter with him.
    • Jesus took the two sons of Zebedee with him.
    • Jesus began to be sorrowful and distressed.
38. 26:38
    • Jesus said his soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death.
    • Jesus told them to remain there.
    • Jesus told them to keep watch with him.
39. 26:39
    • Jesus went a little farther.
    • Jesus fell on his face.
    • Jesus prayed.
    • Jesus addressed God as his Father.
    • Jesus asked that, if it is possible, this cup pass from him.
    • Jesus said it should be not as he wills but as the Father wills.
40. 26:40
    • Jesus came to the disciples.
    • Jesus found them sleeping.
    • Jesus asked Peter whether they were so unable to watch with him one hour.
41. 26:41
    • Jesus told them to watch and pray.
    • Jesus said the purpose was that they not enter into temptation.
    • Jesus said the spirit is willing.
    • Jesus said the flesh is weak.
42. 26:42
    • Jesus went away a second time.
    • Jesus prayed.
    • Jesus addressed God as his Father.
    • Jesus said that if this cup cannot pass unless he drinks it, the Father's will be done.
43. 26:43
    • Jesus came again.
    • Jesus found them sleeping again.
    • Their eyes were heavy.
44. 26:44
    • Jesus left them.
    • Jesus went away again.
    • Jesus prayed a third time.
    • Jesus said the same words again.
45. 26:45
    • Jesus came to the disciples.
    • Jesus said to them to sleep on now and take their rest, or asked whether they were still sleeping and resting.
    • Jesus said the hour has drawn near.
    • Jesus said the Son of man is handed over into the hands of sinners.
46. 26:46
    • Jesus told them to rise.
    • Jesus said, 'Let us go.'
    • Jesus said the one handing him over has drawn near.
47. 26:47
    • While Jesus was still speaking, Judas came.
    • Judas was one of the twelve.
    • A large crowd came with Judas.
    • The crowd carried swords and clubs.
    • The crowd came from the chief priests and elders of the people.
48. 26:48
    • The one handing Jesus over gave the crowd a sign.
    • He said the one he would kiss is the man.
    • He told them to seize him.
49. 26:49
    • Judas came immediately to Jesus.
    • Judas said, 'Hail, Rabbi.'
    • Judas kissed Jesus.
50. 26:50
    • Jesus called him friend.
    • Jesus said either 'do what you came for' or asked why he had come.
    • They came forward.
    • They laid hands on Jesus.
    • They seized Jesus.
51. 26:51
    • One of those with Jesus stretched out his hand.
    • He drew his sword.
    • He struck the servant of the high priest.
    • He cut off the servant's ear.
52. 26:52
    • Jesus told him to put his sword back in its place.
    • Jesus said all who take the sword will perish by the sword.
53. 26:53
    • Jesus asked whether he thinks Jesus cannot call on his Father.
    • Jesus said the Father would at once provide him more than twelve legions of angels.
54. 26:54
    • Jesus asked how then the scriptures would be fulfilled.
    • Jesus said the scriptures say it must happen this way.
55. 26:55
    • In that hour Jesus spoke to the crowds.
    • Jesus asked whether they came out with swords and clubs to arrest him as against a robber.
    • Jesus said he sat daily teaching in the temple.
    • Jesus said they did not seize him.
56. 26:56
    • All this happened so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled.
    • All the disciples left Jesus.
    • All the disciples fled.
57. 26:57
    • Those who had seized Jesus led him away.
    • They led him to Caiaphas the high priest.
    • The scribes and the elders were assembled there.
58. 26:58
    • Peter followed Jesus at a distance.
    • Peter followed as far as the courtyard of the high priest.
    • Peter went inside.
    • Peter sat with the attendants.
    • Peter sat there to see the outcome.
59. 26:59
    • The chief priests sought false testimony against Jesus.
    • The King James text says the elders also sought it.
    • The whole council sought false testimony against Jesus.
    • Their purpose was to put him to death.
60. 26:60
    • They did not find any false testimony.
    • Many false witnesses came forward.
    • Afterward two came forward.
    • The King James text calls the two false witnesses.
61. 26:61
    • The two said that this man had said something.
    • They reported him saying he is able to destroy the temple of God.
    • They reported him saying he can build it in three days.
62. 26:62
    • The high priest stood up.
    • The high priest asked Jesus whether he answers nothing.
    • The high priest asked what these men testify against him.
63. 26:63
    • Jesus was silent.
    • The high priest put Jesus under oath by the living God.
    • The high priest demanded that Jesus tell them whether he is the Christ, the Son of God.
64. 26:64
    • Jesus said to him, 'You have said it.'
    • Jesus said to them that from now on they will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power.
    • Jesus said they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven.
65. 26:65
    • The high priest tore his garments.
    • The high priest said Jesus had blasphemed.
    • The high priest asked what further need they have of witnesses.
    • The high priest said they had now heard the blasphemy.
66. 26:66
    • The high priest asked what they think.
    • They answered that he is deserving of death.
67. 26:67
    • They spat in Jesus' face.
    • They struck him with fists.
    • Others slapped him.
68. 26:68
    • They told him to prophesy to them.
    • They called him Christ.
    • They asked who it was that struck him.
69. 26:69
    • Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard.
    • A servant girl came to him.
    • The servant girl said Peter also was with Jesus the Galilean.
70. 26:70
    • Peter denied it before them all.
    • Peter said he does not know what she is saying.
71. 26:71
    • Peter went out to the gateway.
    • Another servant girl saw him.
    • She said to those there that this man was with Jesus the Nazarene.
72. 26:72
    • Peter denied it again.
    • Peter denied it with an oath.
    • Peter said he does not know the man.
73. 26:73
    • After a little while those standing there came to Peter.
    • They said that truly he also is one of them.
    • They said his speech makes him evident.
74. 26:74
    • Peter began to curse.
    • Peter began to swear.
    • Peter said he does not know the man.
    • Immediately a cock crowed.
75. 26:75
    • Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken.
    • Jesus had said that before a cock crows Peter would deny him three times.
    • Peter went outside.
    • Peter wept bitterly.

Words Worth Explaining

Every language note in this chapter, gathered. These explain what a word meant, never what it means for the reader.

26:1

Disciples were the friends who traveled with Jesus and learned from him.

26:2

The Passover was the spring festival that recalled Israel's escape from slavery in Egypt, when a lamb was killed and eaten by each household. Jerusalem filled with pilgrims for it. "The Son of man" is the phrase Jesus regularly uses of himself; in Daniel 7 a figure "like the Son of man" is brought before God and given lasting authority. The Greek behind "is betrayed" means handed over or delivered up, a wider word than betrayal.

26:3

The chief priests were the senior temple officials, drawn mostly from a few powerful families. The "scribes" were professional experts in the law of Moses, hence "teachers of the law." The "elders" were the leading laymen of prominent Jerusalem families. The high priest headed the temple and presided over the ruling council; Caiaphas held the office roughly from AD 18 to 36. "Palace" in the King James here means a large private residence and its enclosed courtyard, not a royal palace.

26:4

"Subtilty" in 1611 English means cunning or stealth. It does not carry the modern sense of subtlety as delicacy or fine distinction.

26:5

Passover swelled the city's population many times over with pilgrims. A riot during the festival would have brought Roman troops in, which is what the authorities wanted to avoid.

26:6

Bethany was a village on the far side of the Mount of Olives, about two miles east of Jerusalem. "Leprosy" in the Bible covers a range of skin conditions that made a person ritually unclean and required them to live apart. Since this Simon is hosting a meal in his own house, the name was evidently one he was still known by rather than a description of his present state.

26:7

Alabaster is a soft, creamy white stone carved into small sealed flasks for costly perfume; the narrow neck was snapped off to open it. The "ointment" is perfumed oil, not medicine. "As he sat at meat" means at table: guests at a formal meal did not sit on chairs but lay on their sides on low couches around a low table, propped on the left elbow.

26:9

The value is not given here, but Mark's account of a similar jar prices it at three hundred denarii, roughly a year's wages for a day laborer.

26:10

"A good work" translates a Greek phrase meaning a fine or beautiful deed. In Jewish usage of the time, a kindness done to a person directly was distinguished from giving money to the poor, which is what the disciples had in mind.

26:11

The wording echoes Deuteronomy 15:11, "For the poor shall never cease out of the land."

26:12

Bodies were washed and rubbed with perfumed oil and spices before burial. Jesus is saying her act has already done for him what mourners would normally do afterward.

26:13

"Gospel" translates a Greek word meaning good news, or the public announcement of it. In 1611 it was an ordinary English word for the same thing, not yet chiefly the name of a kind of book. "Verily" means truly.

26:14

"The twelve" is the inner group of followers Jesus chose. "Iscariot" most likely means "man of Kerioth," a town in Judea, which would make Judas the only one of the twelve not from Galilee, though other explanations of the name have been proposed.

26:15

The coins are not identified. Thirty silver shekels is the sum set in Exodus 21:32 as compensation for a slave killed by someone's ox, and in Zechariah 11:12 thirty pieces of silver are weighed out as a contemptuous wage. If shekels, the amount would be about four months' wages for a laborer. "Covenanted with him" means they settled on the sum and weighed it out.

26:17

The Feast of Unleavened Bread was the seven days following Passover, during which no yeast was kept in the house and the bread was made without it, recalling the haste of the escape from Egypt. In ordinary speech the whole stretch was called by either name, which is why "the first day" here means the day the lambs were killed and the meal prepared.

26:18

"Such a man" renders a Greek expression meaning "so and so," standing in for a name the narrator does not give. "The Master" in the King James means the teacher, the one whose pupils they are. "My time is at hand" means my time is near.

26:19

Preparing the Passover meant a good deal of work: taking a lamb to the temple to be killed, roasting it, borrowing or booking a room, and setting out the bitter herbs, wine and unleavened bread that the meal required.

26:20

"When the even was come" matters because the Passover meal had to be eaten after nightfall, and by Jewish reckoning the day ran from sunset to sunset, so nightfall began a new day. "He sat down" again means he reclined on a couch at the table.

26:23

Everyone at the meal dipped bread or bitter herbs into a shared bowl of sauce, so the description fits any of the men present. It marks the betrayer as someone eating at close quarters with him rather than naming him.

26:24

"Woe unto" is not a curse but an exclamation of grief or dread: how terrible for that man. "As it is written of him" refers to the Jewish scriptures.

26:25

"Master" here translates "Rabbi," the respectful address of a pupil to his teacher. "Thou hast said" is an indirect form of answer that throws the words back on the speaker: it concedes the point without stating it outright, and readers have long differed over how full an admission it is.

26:26

A Jewish blessing at a meal is spoken to God in thanks, not pronounced over the object, so "blessed it" means he said the blessing. Passover bread was flat and made without yeast, and it was torn by hand rather than cut.

26:27

"Drink ye all of it" can mislead: the "all" refers to the people, not the quantity. It means all of you drink from it. A single cup was passed from hand to hand.

26:28

"Testament" in 1611 English means covenant, a binding agreement between parties, and has nothing to do with a will here. The Greek is the same word used of God's covenant with Israel at Sinai, which was sealed when blood was thrown against the altar (Exodus 24:8). "Remission" means release or cancellation, as of a debt. The collection of books called the New Testament took its name from this kind of language later.

26:29

"The fruit of the vine" is wine. The phrase comes from the Jewish blessing spoken over the cup at a meal.

26:30

The hymn sung at the close of a Passover meal was the last part of the Hallel, Psalms 113 to 118. The Mount of Olives is the ridge immediately east of Jerusalem, across the Kidron valley from the temple, about half an hour's walk.

26:31

"Offended" in the King James does not mean insulted or affronted. The Greek word means tripped up or made to stumble, and here means to desert him or fall away. The quotation is from Zechariah 13:7.

26:32

"Risen again" in the King James means raised back to life; "again" goes with the rising, and does not mean a second time. "Go before you" means go ahead of you, lead the way, as a shepherd walks ahead of the flock.

26:34

"The cock crow" also served as a name for a time of night, the hours before dawn; Roman usage attached it to the watch ending around three in the morning. "Deny me" means to disown, to state publicly that you have no connection with someone. "Thrice" means three times.

26:36

Gethsemane means "oil press." It was an enclosed grove of olive trees on the slope of the Mount of Olives, with a press for the olives.

26:37

The two sons of Zebedee are James and John.

26:38

"My soul" in Hebrew and Greek usage means the whole self, the person, not a separate inner part. "Exceeding sorrowful, even unto death" means grief heavy enough to kill.

26:39

"This cup" is an image from the Hebrew scriptures: a cup handed to someone to drink stands for the portion assigned to them, very often suffering or judgment (Isaiah 51:17, Jeremiah 25:15).

26:41

"Watch" means stay awake and keep guard. "The flesh" is the ordinary biblical way of speaking of human beings as physical creatures who tire and fail; it carries no suggestion of sexual sin here.

26:45

The Greek can be read three ways and translators divide: as a plain command (sleep on and take your rest now), as a question (are you still sleeping?), or as irony. "The hour is at hand" means the time has come.

26:47

"Staves" are wooden clubs. The crowd is an armed party sent by the authorities, most likely temple guards and household servants, not a spontaneous mob.

26:48

A kiss on the cheek or hand was the ordinary respectful greeting of a pupil to his teacher, which is why it would draw no attention as a signal.

26:49

"Hail" is the standard everyday greeting, like "good day." "Master" again translates "Rabbi," teacher.

26:50

The Greek is compressed and has been read two ways since antiquity: as a question, "Friend, why have you come?", or as a command, "Friend, do what you are here for."

26:51

"A servant of the high priest's" translates a word for a slave belonging to the high priest's household. Matthew names neither the man who struck nor, at this point, the man struck.

26:52

"Put up again thy sword into his place" means put it back in its sheath.

26:53

A legion was the largest unit of the Roman army, about six thousand men, so twelve legions is more than seventy thousand. "Presently" in the King James means at once, immediately, not after a short delay.

26:55

"A thief" renders a Greek word meaning a bandit or armed robber, also used of insurgents; the complaint is that they have come out armed as if against a violent outlaw. Teachers taught sitting down, in the open courts of the temple where crowds passed through, so he had been in public reach every day.

26:56

A prophet was someone who told people what God said.

26:57

The KJV "palace" again means the courtyard and rooms of a large private house. The council is meeting at the high priest's residence, at night, which was itself irregular for a capital case.

26:58

"Palace" here means the courtyard, the open square enclosed by the walls and rooms of a large house. The "servants" are the officers or guards attached to the high priest. "To see the end" means to see how it would turn out.

26:59

"All the council" is the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish court in Jerusalem, made up of chief priests, elders and scribes with the high priest presiding, about seventy men in all.

26:60

Jewish law required at least two witnesses whose testimony agreed before anyone could be convicted of a capital charge (Deuteronomy 17:6 and 19:15). A single accuser, however convincing, was legally useless, which is why the search goes on until two men can be produced.

26:61

"This fellow" is dismissive in the King James, roughly "this man here." The temple then standing was Herod's rebuilding, which had been under construction for decades (John 2:20 speaks of forty six years), so a claim to pull it down and put it up again in three days was a serious charge as well as an extravagant one.

26:63

"Held his peace" means stayed silent. "I adjure thee by the living God" places him under a formal oath, a legal move that obliged a person to answer. "The Christ" is a title, not a name: the Greek christos translates the Hebrew mashiach, "anointed one," the king God was expected to send. In the Jewish scriptures the king of Israel is also called God's son (Psalm 2), which is why the two titles stand together in the question.

26:64

"Thou hast said" is again the indirect form of answer, conceding the question in the questioner's own words. "Power" here stands in for the name of God, a reverent way of speaking of him without saying the name. The wording draws on Psalm 110:1 and Daniel 7:13. "Hereafter" translates a phrase meaning from now on.

26:65

Tearing one's own garment was a formal, public gesture of grief or horror, and Jewish practice required judges to do it on hearing blasphemy. Blasphemy is speech that insults God or claims what belongs to God alone.

26:66

"He is guilty of death" is older English for liable to the death penalty: he deserves to die.

26:67

"Buffeted" means struck with the fist. "Smote him with the palms of their hands" renders a word that may mean slapped with the open hand or struck with a rod; translators differ.

26:68

The taunt asks him to name his attacker without seeing him; other accounts say his face had been covered. "Prophesy" here means simply to tell what he could not know by sight, not to foretell the future.

26:69

"Damsel" means a young female servant. "Palace" again means the courtyard of the high priest's house, and "sat without" means sat outside, in the open, rather than in the room where the hearing was held.

26:71

The "porch" is the covered passage through the gateway of the courtyard, between the street and the open yard.

26:72

"Denied with an oath" means he swore by God that what he said was true. Swearing falsely by God's name was a serious offense.

26:73

"Bewrayeth" is an old word meaning gives away or exposes; it is a different word from "betray," though close in sense. Galileans were known for a distinct accent, notably in the throat sounds, so a Galilean was recognized as soon as he spoke.

26:74

"To curse and to swear" does not mean foul language. He called down curses on himself if he were lying and swore oaths that he was telling the truth.