The Ministry Of Jesus. Matthew’s Gospel

The Plot to Kill Jesus.

And it came to pass when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto His disciples, You know that after two days is the feast of the Passover, and the Son of Man will be betrayed and be crucified. Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled together, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill Him. But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people. Matthew 26 vs 1-5

Jesus Anointed at Bethany.

Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, There came unto Him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on His head, as He sat at meat. But when His disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. When Jesus understood it, He said unto them, Why do you trouble this woman? for she has wrought a good work upon Me. For you have the poor always with you, but you will not always have Me with you. For in that she has poured this ointment on My body, she has done it for my burial. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman has done, be told for a memorial of her. Matthew 26 vs 6-13.

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus.

Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will you give me, and I will deliver Jesus unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray Jesus. Matthew 26 vs 14-16.

The Last Supper Instituted.

Now on the first day of the feast of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Where would You have us to prepare for You to eat the Passover? And Jesus said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master says, My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them, and they made ready the Passover.

Now when the even was come, Jesus sat down with the twelve. And as they did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray Me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto Jesus, Lord, is it I? And Jesus answered and said, He that dips his hand with Me in the dish, the same shall betray Me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, which betrayed Him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, you have said.

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is My body. And Jesus took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink you all of it; For this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom. And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives. Matthew 26 vs 17-30.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial.

Then Jesus said unto them, All of you shall be offended because of Me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I rise again, I will go before you into Galilee. Peter answered and said unto Jesus, Though all men shall be offended because of You yet I will never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto you, That this night, before the cock crow, you shall deny Me three times. Peter said unto Jesus, Though I should die with You yet I will not deny You. Likewise also said all the disciples. Matthew 26 vs 31-35.

Jesus Prays at Gethsemane.

Then Jesus went with the disciples unto a place called Gethsemane, and said unto the disciples, Sit here, while I go and pray yonder. And Jesus took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then Jesus said unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry here and watch with Me. And Jesus went a little further, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as You will. And Jesus came unto the disciples, and found them asleep, and said unto Peter, What could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Jesus went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if this cup may not pass away from Me, except I drink it, Your will be done. And Jesus came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. And Jesus left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then Jesus came to His disciples, and said unto 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. Rise, let us be going: behold, He is at hand that does betray Me. Matthew 26 vs 36-46

Jesus’ Betrayal and Arrest.

And while Jesus yet spoke, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed Jesus gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is He: hold Him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, Master; and kissed Him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, for what reason have you come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took Him.

And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again your sword into its place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Do you not know that I can now pray to My Father, and He shall presently give Me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

In that same hour, Jesus said to the multitudes, Are you come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take Me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and you laid no hold on Me. But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook Jesus and fled. Matthew 26 vs 47-56.

Jesus Before the Sanhedrin.

And they that had laid hold on Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. But Peter followed Jesus afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.

Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put Him to death; But found none: even, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. And the high priest arose, and said unto Jesus, Answer You nothing? what is it which these witness against You? But Jesus held His peace. And the high priest answered and said unto Him, I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus said unto him, you have said: nevertheless, I say unto you, Hereafter you shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He has spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now you have heard His blasphemy. What do you think? They answered and said, He is guilty of death. Then they spat in Jesus’sface, and buffeted Him; and others smote Him with the palms of their hands, Saying, Prophecy unto us, You Christ, Who is he that smote You? Matthew 26 vs 57-68.

Peter Denies Jesus.

Now Peter sat outside in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, you also were with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what you are saying. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely you also are one of them; for your speech betrays you. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, Who said unto him, Before the cock crow, you shall deny Me three times. And he went out, and wept bitterly. Matthew 26 vs 69-75.