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Matthew 26: Betrayed in the Night

Jesus shares the Passover, prays in agony, and is betrayed and arrested as his disciples scatter.

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Matthew 26 (WEB)

1 When Jesus had finished all these words, he said to his disciples,

2 “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”

3 Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas.

4 They took counsel together that they might take Jesus by deceit, and kill him.

5 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest a riot occur among the people.”

6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,

7 a woman came to him having an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table.

8 But when his disciples saw this, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste?

9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.”

10 However, knowing this, Jesus said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? Because she has done a good work for me.

11 For you always have the poor with you; but you don’t always have me.

12 For in pouring this ointment on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.

13 Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of as a memorial of her.”

14 Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests,

15 and said, “What are you willing to give me, that I should deliver him to you?” They weighed out for him thirty pieces of silver.

16 From that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

17 Now on the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?”

18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain person, and tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.”’”

19 The disciples did as Jesus commanded them, and they prepared the Passover.

20 Now when evening had come, he was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples.

21 As they were eating, he said, “Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me.”

22 They were exceedingly sorrowful, and each began to ask him, “It isn’t me, is it, Lord?”

23 He answered, “He who dipped his hand with me in the dish, the same will betray me.

24 The Son of Man goes, even as it is written of him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born.”

25 Judas, who betrayed him, answered, “It isn’t me, is it, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You said it.”

26 As they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks for it, and broke it. He gave to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”

27 He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, “All of you drink it,

28 for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins.

29 But I tell you that I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”

30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

31 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.”

33 But Peter answered him, “Even if all will be made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble.”

34 Jesus said to him, “Most certainly I tell you that tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”

35 Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you.” All of the disciples also said likewise.

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

37 He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and severely troubled.

38 Then he said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch with me.”

39 He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire.”

40 He came to the disciples, and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What, couldn’t you watch with me for one hour?

41 Watch and pray, that you don’t enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

42 Again, a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup can’t pass away from me unless I drink it, your desire be done.”

43 He came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.

44 He left them again, went away, and prayed a third time, saying the same words.

45 Then he came to his disciples, and said to them, “Sleep on now, and take your rest. Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

46 Arise, let’s be going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand.”

47 While he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priest and elders of the people.

48 Now he who betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, “Whoever I kiss, he is the one. Seize him.”

49 Immediately he came to Jesus, and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, why are you here?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

51 Behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear.

52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place, for all those who take the sword will die by the sword.

53 Or do you think that I couldn’t ask my Father, and he would even now send me more than twelve legions of angels?

54 How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?”

55 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to seize me? I sat daily in the temple teaching, and you didn’t arrest me.

56 But all this has happened, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him, and fled.

57 Those who had taken Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.

58 But Peter followed him from a distance, to the court of the high priest, and entered in and sat with the officers, to see the end.

59 Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might put him to death;

60 and they found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward,

61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.’”

62 The high priest stood up, and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that these testify against you?”

63 But Jesus held his peace. The high priest answered him, “I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.”

64 Jesus said to him, “You have said it. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of the sky.”

65 Then the high priest tore his clothing, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Behold, now you have heard his blasphemy.

66 What do you think?” They answered, “He is worthy of death!”

67 Then they spit in his face and beat him with their fists, and some slapped him,

68 saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who hit you?”

69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the court, and a maid came to him, saying, “You were also with Jesus, the Galilean!”

70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

71 When he had gone out onto the porch, someone else saw him, and said to those who were there, “This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

72 Again he denied it with an oath, “I don’t know the man.”

73 After a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, “Surely you are also one of them, for your speech makes you known.”

74 Then he began to curse and to swear, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately the rooster crowed.

75 Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” He went out and wept bitterly.

Summary

As Passover nears, Jesus tells his disciples he will be crucified, while the chief priests plot his death. A woman anoints him with costly ointment, which Jesus receives as preparation for his burial. Judas agrees to betray him for thirty pieces of silver. At the Passover meal Jesus institutes the Lord's Supper, naming the bread his body and the cup his blood of the new covenant poured out for the remission of sins. He foretells the disciples' falling away and Peter's threefold denial. In Gethsemane he prays in deep sorrow, surrendering to his Father's will. Judas arrives with an armed crowd and betrays him with a kiss; Jesus is seized, and the disciples flee. Before Caiaphas, false witnesses fail, but Jesus confesses he is the Christ and is condemned for blasphemy. Outside, Peter denies him three times and weeps bitterly.

Main Characters

  • Jesus — The Son of Man who gives his body and blood, surrenders to his Father in prayer, and is arrested without resistance.
  • Judas Iscariot — One of the twelve who bargains for thirty pieces of silver and betrays Jesus with a kiss.
  • Peter — The disciple who vows to die with Jesus yet denies him three times before the rooster crows.
  • Caiaphas the high priest — The leader of the council who condemns Jesus for blasphemy after he confesses to being the Christ.
  • The anointing woman — The woman at Bethany whose costly act of devotion prepares Jesus for burial and is remembered as a memorial.

Key Verse

Matthew 26:28 (WEB)

for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins.

Lessons Learned

  • Jesus walks knowingly toward the cross, in full command even as he is handed over.
  • The Lord's Supper proclaims that Jesus' blood is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
  • Watchfulness and prayer guard us in temptation, for the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
  • Even sincere confidence in ourselves can fail, but Jesus' faithfulness never does.
  • Jesus' death is a deliberate, saving gift. He gives the cup as his blood of the new covenant, poured out for many for the remission of sins (Matthew 26:28, WEB).
  • Prayer is the place where surrender is forged. Jesus prays that not his own desire but his Father's will be done (Matthew 26:39, WEB).
  • Watch and pray against temptation. Jesus warns that the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41, WEB).
  • Jesus could have escaped but chose obedience. He says he could ask the Father for more than twelve legions of angels, yet the Scriptures must be fulfilled (Matthew 26:53-54, WEB).
  • Jesus openly confesses who he is. Before the high priest he affirms he is the Christ and will be seen at the right hand of Power (Matthew 26:64, WEB).
  • Failure need not be the final word. Peter denies Jesus and weeps bitterly, a grief that opens the door to repentance (Matthew 26:75, WEB).
  1. What does Jesus mean when he calls the cup his blood of the new covenant poured out for many?
  2. How does Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane show both his real anguish and his trust in the Father?
  3. What leads Peter from bold promises to denying he ever knew Jesus?
  4. When have you, like the sleeping disciples, struggled to watch and pray under pressure?
  5. Jesus surrendered to the Father's will rather than his own; where is God asking you to pray 'your will be done'?
  1. Jesus interprets his own coming death as a covenant sacrifice; his shed blood secures the forgiveness of sins for many, the very heart of the gospel he is about to accomplish (Matthew 26:28).
  2. He is sorrowful even to death and asks for the cup to pass, showing genuine human anguish, yet he submits fully to the Father's will, modeling trust in the midst of suffering (Matthew 26:38-39).
  3. Peter trusts his own strength rather than Jesus' warning, fails to watch and pray, and is overtaken by fear when questioned; self-confidence apart from prayer leaves us vulnerable (Matthew 26:33-35, 69-74).
  4. This is a personal-application question. Encourage honest sharing about weariness and fear; remind the group that Jesus calls us to watch and pray, not to rely on our own resolve (Matthew 26:40-41).
  5. This is a personal-application question. Invite members to name a specific area of surrender; consider praying Jesus' Gethsemane words aloud together as a group to make it concrete (Matthew 26:39).

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB), the King James Version (KJV), and the American Standard Version (ASV), all of which are in the public domain.