Mateus 26

1 After Jesus had said all this, he told his disciples, 2 "You know that it’s Passover in two days time, and the Son of man will be handed over to be crucified."

3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the courtyard of Caiaphas, the high priest. 4 There they plotted to arrest Jesus on some deceitful pretext*26:4. Literally, "with guile." and kill him. 5 But they said, "Let’s not do this during the festival so that the people don’t riot."

6 While Jesus was staying at Simon the leper’s house in Bethany, 7 a woman came over to him carrying an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume. She poured it on Jesus' head while he was sitting eating.

8 But when the disciples saw what she did, they were upset."What a terrible waste!" they objected. 9 "This perfume could’ve been sold for a lot of money and given to the poor!"

10 Jesus was aware of what was going on and told them, "Why are you upset with this woman? She’s done something wonderful for me! 11 You’ll always have the poor with you,*26:11. See Deuteronomy 15:11. but you won’t always have me. 12 By pouring this perfume on my body she’s prepared me for burial. 13 I tell you the truth: wherever in the world this good news is spread, the story of what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her."

14 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the chief priests 15 and asked them, "How much will you pay me for betraying Jesus to you?" They paid him thirty silver coins. 16 From then on he looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked him, "Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you to eat?"

18 Jesus told them, "Go into the city and find this particular man, and tell him that the Teacher says, ‘My time is approaching. I’m coming to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’" 19 The disciples did as Jesus told them, and prepared the Passover meal there.

20 When evening came he sat down to eat with the Twelve. 21 While they were eating he told them, "I tell you the truth: one of you is going to betray me."

22 They were extremely upset. One after the other they asked him, "Lord, it’s not me, is it?"

23 "The one who’s dipped his hand into the dish with me will betray me," Jesus replied. 24 "The Son of man will die just as it was prophesied about him, but what a disaster it will be for the man who betrays the Son of man! It would be better for that man if he’d never been born!"

25 Judas, the one who would betray Jesus, asked, "It’s not me, is it, Rabbi?"

"You said it," Jesus replied.

26 While they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave pieces to the disciples. "Take and eat this for it is my body," said Jesus. 27 Then he picked up the cup, blessed it, and gave it to them. "Drink from it, all of you," he told them. 28 "For this is my blood of the agreement,*26:28 Or "covenant." poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.