Matthew 16:21-27:66

Christian Standard Bible Anglicised

His Death and Resurrection Predicted

²¹ From^(A) then on Jesus began to point out to his disciples that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day.^{(B) 22} Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, ‘Oh no,^[a] Lord! This will never happen to you! ’

²³ Jesus turned and told Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me because you’re not thinking about God’s concerns^[b] but human concerns.’^(C)

Take Up Your Cross

²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.^{(D) 25} For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it.^{(E) 26} For what will it benefit someone if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will anyone give in exchange for his life?^{(F) 27} For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father,^(G) and then he will reward each according to what he has done. ²⁸ Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.’^(H)

The Transfiguration

17 After six days^(I) Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John and led them up on a high mountain by themselves.^{(J) 2} He was transfigured in front of them, and his face shone like the sun; his clothes became as white as the light.^{(K) 3} Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with him. ⁴ Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it’s good for us to be here. If you want, I will set up^[c] three shelters here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’^(L)

⁵ While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud covered^[d] them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased. Listen to him! ’^{(M) 6} When the disciples^(N) heard this, they fell face down and were terrified.

⁷ Jesus came up, touched them, and said, ‘Get up; don’t be afraid.’^{(O) 8} When they looked up they saw no one except Jesus alone.

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them,^(P) ‘Don’t tell anyone about the vision until the Son of Man is raised^[e] from the dead.’

¹⁰ So the disciples asked him, ‘Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first? ’^(Q)

¹¹ ‘Elijah is coming^[f] and will restore everything,’ he replied.^{[g](R) 12} ‘But I tell you: Elijah has already come, and they didn’t recognise him. On the contrary, they did whatever they pleased to him. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.’^{(S) 13} Then the disciples understood that he had spoken to them about John the Baptist.

The Power of Jesus over a Demon

¹⁴ When they reached the crowd,^(T) a man approached and knelt down before him. ¹⁵ ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘have mercy on my son, because he has seizures^[h] and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire and often into the water. ¹⁶ I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.’^(U)

¹⁷ Jesus replied, ‘You unbelieving and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to me.’^{(V) 18} Then Jesus rebuked the demon,^[i] and it^[j] came out of him,^(W) and from that moment^[k] the boy was healed.

¹⁹ Then the disciples approached Jesus privately and said, ‘Why couldn’t we drive it out? ’

²⁰ ‘Because of your little faith,’ he^[l] told them. ‘For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of^[m] a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move.^(X) Nothing will be impossible for you.’^[n](Y)

The Second Prediction of His Death

²² As^(Z) they were gathering together^[o] in Galilee, Jesus told them, ‘The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men. ²³ They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised up.’ And they were deeply distressed.

Paying the Temple Tax

²⁴ When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the temple tax approached Peter and said, ‘Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax? ’^(AA)

²⁵ ‘Yes,’ he said.

When he went into the house, Jesus spoke to him first,^[p] ‘What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings collect tariffs or taxes? From their sons or from strangers? ’^[q](AB)

²⁶ ‘From strangers,’ he said.^[r]

‘Then the sons are free,’ Jesus told him. ²⁷ ‘But, so we won’t offend them, go to the sea, cast in a fish hook, and take the first fish that you catch. When you open its mouth you’ll find a coin.^[s] Take it and give it to them for me and you.’^(AC)

Who Is the Greatest?

18 At that time^[t](AD) the disciples^(AE) came to Jesus and asked, ‘So who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven? ’^{(AF) 2} He called a small child and stood him among them. ³ ‘Truly I tell you,’ he said, ‘unless you turn and become like little children,^(AG) you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.^{(AH) 4} Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child – this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ And whoever welcomes^[u] one child like this in my name welcomes me.

⁶ ‘But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away – it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung round his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea.^{(AI) 7} Woe to the world because of offences. For offences will inevitably come, but woe to that person by whom the offence comes.^{(AJ) 8} If your hand or your foot causes you to fall away, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire.^{(AK) 9} And if your eye causes you to fall away, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hellfire.^[v](AL)

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

¹⁰ ‘See to it that you don’t despise one of these little ones,^(AM) because I tell you that in heaven their angels^(AN) continually view the face of my Father in heaven.^{[w](AO) 12} What do you think?^(AP) If someone has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, won’t he leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go and search for the stray?^{(AQ) 13} And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over that sheep^[x] more than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. ¹⁴ In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones perish.

Restoring a Brother

¹⁵ ‘If your brother sins against you,^[y] go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother.^{(AR) 16} But if he won’t listen, take one or two others with you, so that by the testimony^[z] of two or three witnesses every fact may be established.^{[aa](AS) 17} If he doesn’t pay attention to them, tell the church.^[ab](AT) If he doesn’t pay attention even to the church, let him be like a Gentile and a tax collector to you.^{(AU) 18} Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound^[ac] in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed^[ad] in heaven.^{(AV) 19} Again, truly I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about any matter that you^[ae] pray for, it will be done for you^[af] by my Father in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.’

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

²¹ Then Peter approached him and asked, ‘Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? As many as seven times? ’^(AW)

²² ‘I tell you, not as many as seven,’ Jesus replied, ‘but seventy times seven.^[ag]

²³ ‘For this reason, the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴ When he began to settle accounts, one who owed ten thousand talents^[ah] was brought before him. ²⁵ Since he did not have the money to pay it back, his master commanded that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the debt.^(AX)

²⁶ ‘At this, the servant fell face down before him and said, “Be patient with me, and I will pay you everything.” ²⁷ Then the master of that servant had compassion, released him, and forgave him the loan.

²⁸ ‘That servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii.^[ai](AY) He grabbed him, started choking him, and said, “Pay what you owe! ”

²⁹ ‘At this, his fellow servant fell down^[aj] and began begging him, “Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.” ³⁰ But he wasn’t willing. Instead, he went and threw him into prison until he could pay what was owed. ³¹ When the other servants saw what had taken place, they were deeply distressed and went and reported to their master everything that had happened. ³² Then, after he had summoned him, his master said to him, “You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. ³³ Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you? ”^{(AZ) 34} And because he was angry, his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured until he could pay everything that was owed. ³⁵ So also my heavenly Father will do to you unless every one of you forgives his brother or sister^[ak] from your heart.’^(BA)

The Question of Divorce

19 When Jesus had finished saying these things,^(BB) he departed from Galilee and went to the region of Judea across the Jordan.^{(BC) 2} Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.^{(BD) 3} Some Pharisees approached him to test him. They asked, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife on any grounds? ’^(BE)

⁴ ‘Haven’t you read,’ he replied, ‘that he who created^[al] them in the beginning made them male and female,^{(BF)[am] 5} and he also said, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh”?^{(BG)[an] 6} So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.’

⁷ ‘Why then,’ they asked him, ‘did Moses command us to give divorce papers^(BH) and to send her away? ’

⁸ He told them, ‘Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of the hardness of your hearts, but it was not like that from the beginning. ⁹ I tell you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another commits adultery.’^[ao](BI)

¹⁰ His disciples^(BJ) said to him, ‘If the relationship of a man with his wife is like this, it’s better not to marry.’

¹¹ He responded, ‘Not everyone can accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given.^{(BK) 12} For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb, there are eunuchs who were made by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves that way because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who is able to accept it should accept it.’

Blessing the Children

¹³ Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.^{(BL) 14} Jesus said, ‘Leave the little children alone, and don’t try to keep them from coming to me, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’^{[ap](BM) 15} After placing his hands on them, he went on from there.

The Rich Young Ruler

¹⁶ Just then someone came up and asked him,^(BN) ‘Teacher, what good must I do to have eternal life? ’^(BO)

¹⁷ ‘Why do you ask me about what is good? ’^[aq] he said to him. ‘There is only one who is good.^[ar] If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.’^(BP)

¹⁸ ‘Which ones? ’ he asked him.

Jesus answered: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness;^{(BQ) 19} honour your father and your mother; and love your neighbour as yourself.^[as](BR)

²⁰ ‘I have kept all these,’^[at] the young man told him. ‘What do I still lack? ’

²¹ ‘If you want to be perfect,’^[au] Jesus said to him, ‘go, sell your belongings and give to the poor,^(BS) and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’

²² When the young man heard that, he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.

Possessions and the Kingdom

²³ Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven.^{(BT) 24} Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.’^(BU)

²⁵ When the disciples heard this, they were utterly astonished and asked, ‘Then who can be saved? ’

²⁶ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’^(BV)

²⁷ Then Peter responded to him, ‘See, we have left everything and followed you. So what will there be for us? ’

²⁸ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things,^(BW) when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne,^(BX) you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ²⁹ And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother^[av] or children or fields because of my name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life.^{(BY) 30} But many who are first will be last, and the last first.^(BZ)

The Parable of the Vineyard Workers

20 ‘For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.^{(CA) 2} After agreeing with the workers on one denarius,^[aw] he sent them into his vineyard for the day. ³ When he went out at about nine in the morning,^[ax] he saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. ⁴ He said to them, “You also go into my vineyard, and I’ll give you whatever is right.” So off they went. ⁵ At about noon and about three,^[ay] he went out again and did the same thing. ⁶ Then at about five^[az] he went and found others standing around^[ba] and said to them, “Why have you been standing here all day doing nothing? ”

⁷ ‘ “Because no one hired us,” they said to him.

‘ “You also go into my vineyard,” he told them.^{[bb] 8} When evening came, the owner of the vineyard told his foreman, “Call the workers and give them their pay,^(CB) starting with the last and ending with the first.”

⁹ ‘When those who were hired at about five came, they each received one denarius. ¹⁰ So when the first ones came, they assumed they would get more, but they also received a denarius each. ¹¹ When they received it, they began to complain to the landowner: ¹² “These last men put in one hour, and you made them equal to us who bore the burden of the day’s work and the burning heat.”^(CC)

¹³ ‘He replied to one of them, “Friend, I’m doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me on a denarius?^{(CD) 14} Take what’s yours and go. I want to give this last man the same as I gave you. ¹⁵ Don’t I have the right to do what I want with what is mine? Are you jealous^[bc] because I’m generous? ”^[bd](CE)

¹⁶ ‘So the last will be first, and the first last.’^[be](CF)

The Third Prediction of His Death

¹⁷ While going up to Jerusalem,^(CG) Jesus took the twelve disciples aside privately and said to them on the way, ¹⁸ ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death.^{(CH) 19} They will hand him over to the Gentiles^(CI) to be mocked, flogged,^[bf] and crucified, and on the third day he will be raised.’^[bg]

Suffering and Service

²⁰ Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons approached him with her sons.^(CJ) She knelt down to ask him for something.^{(CK) 21} ‘What do you want? ’ he asked her.

‘Promise,’^[bh] she said to him, ‘that these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right and the other on your left, in your kingdom.’^(CL)

²² Jesus answered, ‘You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink? ’^[bi](CM)

‘We are able,’ they said to him.

²³ He told them, ‘You will indeed drink my cup,^[bj] but to sit at my right and left is not mine to give; instead, it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.’^(CN)

²⁴ When the ten disciples heard this, they became indignant with the two brothers. ²⁵ Jesus called them over and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. ²⁶ It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,^{(CO) 27} and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave; ²⁸ just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,^(CP) and to give his life as a ransom for many.’^(CQ)

Two Blind Men Healed

²⁹ As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him.^{(CR) 30} There were two blind men sitting by the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, ‘Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David! ’ ³¹ The crowd demanded that they keep quiet, but they cried out all the more, ‘Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David! ’^(CS)

³² Jesus stopped, called them, and said, ‘What do you want me to do for you? ’

³³ ‘Lord,’ they said to him, ‘open our eyes.’ ³⁴ Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they could see, and they followed him.

The Triumphal Entry

21 When they approached Jerusalem^(CT) and came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives,^(CU) Jesus then sent two disciples, ² telling them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you. At once you will find a donkey tied there with her colt. Untie them and bring them to me. ³ If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them at once.’

⁴ This took place so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled:

⁶ The disciples went and did just as Jesus directed them. ⁷ They brought the donkey and the colt; then they laid their clothes on them, and he sat on them. ⁸ A very large crowd spread their clothes on the road; others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road. ⁹ Then the crowds who went ahead of him and those who followed shouted:

¹⁰ When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in an uproar, saying, ‘Who is this? ’ ¹¹ The crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus^(CX) from Nazareth in Galilee.’

Cleansing the Temple

¹² Jesus went into the temple^[bm](CY) and threw out all those buying and selling. He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the chairs of those selling doves.^{(CZ) 13} He said to them, ‘It is written, my house will be called a house of prayer,^[bn] but you are making it a den of thieves! ’^(DA)[bo]

Children Praise Jesus

¹⁴ The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. ¹⁵ When the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonders that he did and the children shouting in the temple, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! ’ they were indignant ¹⁶ and said to him, ‘Do you hear what these children are saying? ’

Jesus replied, ‘Yes, have you never read:

¹⁷ Then he left them, went out of the city to Bethany,^(DC) and spent the night there.

The Barren Fig Tree

¹⁸ Early in the morning,^(DD) as he was returning to the city, he was hungry. ¹⁹ Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, he went up to it and found nothing on it except leaves. And he said to it, ‘May no fruit ever come from you again! ’ At once the fig tree withered.

²⁰ When the disciples saw it, they were amazed and said, ‘How did the fig tree wither so quickly? ’

²¹ Jesus answered them, ‘Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you tell this mountain, “Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,” it will be done.^{(DE) 22} And if you believe, you will receive^(DF) whatever you ask for in prayer.’

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

²³ When he entered the temple,^(DG) the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority? ’^(DH)

²⁴ Jesus answered them, ‘I will also ask you one question, and if you answer it for me, then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. ²⁵ Did John’s baptism come from heaven, or was it of human origin? ’

They discussed it among themselves, ‘If we say, “From heaven,” he will say to us, “Then why didn’t you believe him? ”^{(DI) 26} But if we say, “Of human origin,” we’re afraid of the crowd,^(DJ) because everyone considers John to be a prophet.’^{(DK) 27} So they answered Jesus, ‘We don’t know.’

And he said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

The Parable of the Two Sons

²⁸ ‘What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, “My son, go and work in the vineyard today.”^(DL)

²⁹ ‘He answered, “I don’t want to,” but later he changed his mind and went. ³⁰ Then the man went to the other and said the same thing. “I will, sir,” he answered, but he didn’t go. ³¹ Which of the two did his father’s will? ’

They said, ‘The first.’

Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. ³² For John came to you in the way of righteousness,^(DM) and you didn’t believe him. Tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; but you, when you saw it, didn’t even change your minds then and believe him.

The Parable of the Vineyard Owner

³³ ‘Listen^(DN) to another parable:^(DO) There was a landowner, who planted a vineyard, put a fence round it, dug a winepress in it, and built a watchtower.^(DP) He leased it to tenant farmers and went away.^{(DQ) 34} When the time came to harvest fruit, he sent his servants to the farmers to collect his fruit. ³⁵ The farmers took his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.^{(DR) 36} Again, he sent other servants, more than the first group, and they did the same to them. ³⁷ Finally, he sent his son to them. “They will respect my son,” he said.

³⁸ ‘But when the tenant farmers saw the son, they said to each other, “This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.”^{(DS) 39} So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. ⁴⁰ Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers? ’

⁴¹ ‘He will completely destroy those terrible men,’ they told him, ‘and lease his vineyard to other farmers who will give him his fruit at the harvest.’^(DT)

⁴² Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the Scriptures:

⁴³ Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruit. ⁴⁴ Whoever falls on this stone will be broken to pieces;^(DV) but on whomever it falls, it will shatter him.’^[bt]

⁴⁵ When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables,^(DW) they knew he was speaking about them. ⁴⁶ Although they were looking for a way to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because the people regarded him as a prophet.^(DX)

The Parable of the Wedding Banquet

22 Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables: ² ‘The kingdom of heaven^(DY) is like a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.^{(DZ) 3} He sent his servants to summon those invited to the banquet,^(EA) but they didn’t want to come. ⁴ Again, he sent out other servants and said, “Tell those who are invited: See, I’ve prepared my dinner; my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.”^(EB)

⁵ ‘But they paid no attention and went away, one to his own farm, another to his business, ⁶ while the rest seized his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. ⁷ The king^[bu] was enraged, and he sent out his troops, killed those murderers, and burned down their city.

⁸ ‘Then he told his servants, “The banquet is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.^{(EC) 9} Go then to where the roads exit the city and invite everyone you find to the banquet.”^{(ED) 10} So those servants went out on the roads and gathered everyone they found, both evil and good. The wedding banquet was filled with guests.^{[bv] 11} When the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed for a wedding.^{(EE) 12} So he said to him, “Friend,^(EF) how did you get in here without wedding clothes? ” The man was speechless.

¹³ ‘Then the king told the attendants, “Tie him up hand and foot,^[bw] and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

¹⁴ ‘For many are invited, but few are chosen.’^(EG)

God and Caesar

¹⁵ Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to trap him by what he said.^{[bx](EH) 16} So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians.^(EI) ‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘we know that you are truthful and teach truthfully the way of God. You don’t care what anyone thinks nor do you show partiality.^{[by](EJ) 17} Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar^(EK) or not? ’

¹⁸ Perceiving their malicious intent, Jesus said, ‘Why are you testing me, hypocrites? ¹⁹ Show me the coin used for the tax.’ They brought him a denarius.^{[bz] 20} ‘Whose image and inscription is this? ’ he asked them.

²¹ ‘Caesar’s,’ they said to him.

Then he said to them, ‘Give, then, to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’^{(EL) 22} When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

The Sadducees and the Resurrection

²³ That same day some Sadducees,^(EM) who say there is no resurrection, came up to him and questioned him:^{(EN) 24} ‘Teacher, Moses said, if a man dies, having no children, his brother is to marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.^{[ca](EO) 25} Now there were seven brothers among us. The first got married and died. Having no offspring, he left his wife to his brother. ²⁶ The same thing happened to the second also, and the third, and so on to all seven. ²⁷ Last of all, the woman died. ²⁸ In the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be of the seven? For they all had married her.’^[cb]

²⁹ Jesus answered them, ‘You are mistaken, because you don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God. ³⁰ For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like^[cc] angels in heaven.^{(EP) 31} Now concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven’t you read what was spoken to you by God: ³² I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob?^(EQ)[cd] He^[ce] is not the God of the dead, but of the living.’

³³ And when the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.

The Primary Commands

³⁴ When^(ER) the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. ³⁵ And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test him:^{(ES) 36} ‘Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest? ’

³⁷ He said to him, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.^{[cf](ET) 38} This is the greatest and most important^[cg] command. ³⁹ The second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself.^{[ch](EU) 40} All the Law and the Prophets depend^[ci] on these two commands.’^(EV)

The Question about the Messiah

⁴¹ While the Pharisees were together, Jesus questioned them,^{(EW) 42} ‘What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he? ’

They replied, ‘David’s.’

⁴³ He asked them, ‘How is it then that David, inspired by the Spirit,^[cj] calls him “Lord”^(EX):

⁴⁵ ‘If David calls him “Lord,” how, then, can he be his son? ’ ⁴⁶ No one was able to answer him at all,^[cm] and from that day on no one dared to question him any more.^(EZ)

Religious Hypocrites Denounced

23 Then^(FA) Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples:^{(FB) 2} ‘The scribes and the Pharisees are seated in the chair of Moses.^{(FC) 3} Therefore do whatever they tell you, and observe it. But don’t do what they do, because they don’t practise what they teach.^{(FD) 4} They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry^[cn] and put them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves aren’t willing to lift a finger to move them.^{(FE) 5} They do everything^[co] to be seen by others: They enlarge their phylacteries^(FF) and lengthen their tassels.^{[cp](FG) 6} They love the place of honour at banquets, the front seats in the synagogues,^{(FH) 7} greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called “Rabbi” by people.

⁸ ‘But you are not to be called “Rabbi,” because you have one Teacher,^[cq] and you are all brothers and sisters.^{(FI) 9} Do not call anyone on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is in heaven.^{(FJ) 10} You are not to be called instructors either, because you have one Instructor, the Messiah. ¹¹ The greatest among you will be your servant.^{(FK) 12} Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.^(FL)

¹³ ‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you don’t go in, and you don’t allow those entering to go in.^[cr](FM)

¹⁵ ‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to make one convert,^(FN) and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a child of hell as you are!

¹⁶ ‘Woe to you, blind guides,^(FO) who say, “Whoever takes an oath by the temple, it means nothing. But whoever takes an oath^(FP) by the gold of the temple is bound by his oath.”^{[cs] 17} Blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold? ¹⁸ Also, “Whoever takes an oath by the altar, it means nothing; but whoever takes an oath by the gift that is on it is bound by his oath.” ¹⁹ Blind people!^[ct] For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift?^{(FQ) 20} Therefore, the one who takes an oath by the altar takes an oath by it and by everything on it. ²¹ The one who takes an oath by the temple takes an oath by it and by him who dwells^(FR) in it. ²² And the one who takes an oath by heaven takes an oath by God’s throne^(FS) and by him who sits on it.^(FT)

²³ ‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of^[cu] mint, dill, and cumin, and yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law – justice,^(FU) mercy, and faithfulness.^[cv] These things should have been done without neglecting the others. ²⁴ Blind guides!^(FV) You strain out a gnat, but gulp down a camel!

²⁵ ‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed^[cw] and self-indulgence.^{(FW) 26} Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup,^[cx] so that the outside of it^[cy] may also become clean.

²⁷ ‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs,^(FX) which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of the bones of the dead and every kind of impurity. ²⁸ In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

²⁹ ‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous, ³⁰ and you say, “If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we wouldn’t have taken part with them in shedding the prophets’ blood.” ³¹ So you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. ³² Fill up, then, the measure of your ancestors’ sins!^(FY)

³³ ‘Snakes! Brood of vipers! How can you escape being condemned to hell?^{[cz](FZ) 34} This is why I am sending you prophets,^(GA) wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will flog in your synagogues^(GB) and pursue from town to town. ³⁵ So all the righteous blood shed on the earth will be charged to you,^[da] from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah,^(GC) son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.^{(GD) 36} Truly I tell you, all these things will come on this generation.^(GE)

Jesus’s Lamenting over Jerusalem

³⁷ ‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem,^(GF) who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks^[db] under her wings, but you were not willing!^{(GG) 38} See, your house is left to you desolate.^{(GH) 39} For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”! ’^(GI)[dc]

Destruction of the Temple Predicted

24 As Jesus left and was going out of the temple,^(GJ) his disciples^(GK) came up and called his attention to its buildings. ² He replied to them, ‘Do you see all these things? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down.’

Signs of the End of the Age

³ While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately and said, ‘Tell us, when will these things happen? And what is the sign of your coming and of the end of the age? ’^(GL)

⁴ Jesus replied to them, ‘Watch out that no one deceives^(GM) you. ⁵ For many will come in my name, saying, “I am the Messiah,” and they will deceive many.^{(GN) 6} You are going to hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet. ⁷ For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines^[dd](GO) and earthquakes in various places.^{(GP) 8} All these events are the beginning of labour pains.^(GQ)

Persecutions Predicted

⁹ ‘Then they will hand you over to be persecuted, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name.^{(GR) 10} Then many will fall away, betray one another, and hate one another. ¹¹ Many false prophets^(GS) will rise up and deceive many. ¹² Because lawlessness^(GT) will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. ¹³ But the one who endures to the end will be saved. ¹⁴ This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world^[de] as a testimony to all nations,^(GU) and then the end will come.^(GV)

The Great Tribulation

¹⁵ ‘So when you see the abomination of desolation,^[df] spoken of by the prophet Daniel,^(GW) standing in the holy place’^(GX) (let the reader understand), ¹⁶ ‘then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. ¹⁷ A man on the housetop^[dg] must not come down to get things out of his house,^{(GY) 18} and a man in the field must not go back to get his coat. ¹⁹ Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days! ²⁰ Pray that your escape may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. ²¹ For at that time there will be great distress,^[dh](GZ) the kind that hasn’t taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again. ²² Unless those days were cut short, no one would^[di] be saved. But those days will be cut short because of the elect.^(HA)

²³ ‘If anyone tells you then, “See, here is the Messiah! ”^(HB) or, “Over here! ” do not believe it.^{(HC) 24} For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray,^(HD) if possible, even the elect. ²⁵ Take note: I have told you in advance. ²⁶ So if they tell you, “See, he’s in the wilderness! ” don’t go out; or, “See, he’s in the storerooms! ” do not believe it. ²⁷ For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.^{(HE) 28} Wherever the carcass is, there the vultures^[dj] will gather.^(HF)

The Coming of the Son of Man

²⁹ ‘Immediately after the distress^(HG) of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ³⁰ Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the peoples of the earth^[dk] will mourn;^[dl] and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.^{(HH) 31} He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet,^(HI) and they will gather his elect from the four winds,^(HJ) from one end of the sky to the other.

The Parable of the Fig Tree

³² ‘Learn this lesson^(HK) from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. ³³ In the same way, when you see all these things, recognise^[dm] that he^[dn] is near – at the door.^{(HL) 34} Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place.^{(HM) 35} Heaven and earth will pass away,^(HN) but my words will never pass away.^(HO)

No One Knows the Day or Hour

³⁶ ‘Now concerning that day and hour no one knows – neither the angels of heaven nor the Son^[do] #– #except the Father alone.^{(HP) 37} As the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. ³⁸ For in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah boarded the ark.^{(HQ) 39} They didn’t know until the flood came and swept them all away. This is the way the coming of the Son of Man will be. ⁴⁰ Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding grain with a hand mill; one will be taken and one left.^{(HR) 42} Therefore be alert, since you don’t know what day^[dp] your Lord is coming.^{(HS) 43} But know this: If the homeowner had known what time^[dq] the thief was coming, he would have stayed alert and not let his house be broken into.^{(HT) 44} This is why you are also to be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.^(HU)

Faithful Service to Christ

⁴⁵ ‘Who then is a faithful and wise servant,^(HV) whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give them food at the proper time?^{(HW) 46} Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes.^{(HX) 47} Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁸ But if that wicked servant says in his heart, “My master is delayed,” ⁴⁹ and starts to beat his fellow servants, and eats and drinks with drunkards,^{(HY) 50} that servant’s master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. ⁵¹ He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

25 ‘At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins^[dr] who took their lamps^[ds] and went out to meet the groom.^{(HZ) 2} Five of them were foolish and five were wise.^{(IA) 3} When the foolish took their lamps, they didn’t take oil with them; ⁴ but the wise ones took oil in their flasks with their lamps. ⁵ When the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

⁶ ‘In the middle of the night there was a shout: “Here’s the groom! Come out to meet him.”

⁷ ‘Then all the virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ The foolish ones said to the wise ones, “Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.”

⁹ ‘The wise ones answered, “No, there won’t be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell oil, and buy some for yourselves.”

¹⁰ ‘When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.^{(IB) 11} Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, “Master, master, open up for us! ”

¹² ‘He replied, “Truly I tell you, I don’t know you! ”

¹³ ‘Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.^[dt]

The Parable of the Talents

¹⁴ ‘For it is just like a man about to go on a journey.^(IC) He called his own servants and entrusted his possessions to them. ¹⁵ To one he gave five talents,^[du] to another two talents, and to another one talent, depending on each one’s ability. Then he went on a journey.^(ID) Immediately ¹⁶ the man who had received five talents went, put them to work, and earned five more. ¹⁷ In the same way the man with two earned two more. ¹⁸ But the man who had received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.

¹⁹ ‘After a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. ²⁰ The man who had received five talents approached, presented five more talents, and said, “Master, you gave me five talents. See, I’ve earned five more talents.”

²¹ ‘His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.”^(IE)

²² ‘The man with two talents also approached. He said, “Master, you gave me two talents. See, I’ve earned two more talents.”

²³ ‘His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.”

²⁴ ‘The man who had received one talent also approached and said, “Master, I know you. You’re a harsh man, reaping where you haven’t sown and gathering where you haven’t scattered seed.^{(IF) 25} So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.”

²⁶ ‘His master replied to him, “You evil, lazy servant!^(IG) If you knew that I reap where I haven’t sown and gather where I haven’t scattered, ²⁷ then^[dv] you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and I would have received my money^[dw] back with interest when I returned.

²⁸ ‘ “So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. ²⁹ For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.^{(IH) 30} And throw this good-for-nothing servant into the outer darkness,^(II) where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

The Sheep and the Goats

³¹ ‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels^[dx](IJ) with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.^{(IK) 32} All the nations^[dy](IL) will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.^{(IM) 33} He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on the left. ³⁴ Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the kingdom^(IN) prepared for you from the foundation of the world.^(IO)

³⁵ ‘ “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed me; I was ill and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me.”^(IP)

³⁷ ‘Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or without clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you ill, or in prison, and visit you? ”

⁴⁰ ‘And the King will answer them, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”^(IQ)

⁴¹ ‘Then he will also say to those on the left, “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels!^{(IR) 42} For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink; ⁴³ I was a stranger and you didn’t take me in; I was naked and you didn’t clothe me, ill and in prison and you didn’t take care of me.”

⁴⁴ ‘Then they too will answer, “Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or ill, or in prison, and not help you? ”

⁴⁵ ‘Then he will answer them, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.”^(IS)

⁴⁶ ‘And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.’^(IT)

The Plot to Kill Jesus

26 When Jesus had finished saying all these things,^(IU) he told his disciples, ² ‘You know^[dz] that the Passover takes place after two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.’^(IV)

³ Then the chief priests^[ea] and the elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, who was named Caiaphas,^{(IW) 4} and they conspired to arrest Jesus in a treacherous way and kill him.^{(IX) 5} ‘Not during the festival,’ they said, ‘so there won’t be rioting among the people.’

The Anointing at Bethany

⁶ While Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon^(IY) the leper,^{[eb] 7} a woman approached him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume. She poured it on his head as he was reclining at the table. ⁸ When the disciples^(IZ) saw it, they were indignant. ‘Why this waste? ’ they asked. ⁹ ‘This might have been sold for a great deal and given to the poor.’

¹⁰ Aware of this, Jesus said to them, ‘Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a noble thing for me. ¹¹ You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.^{(JA) 12} By pouring this perfume on my body, she has prepared me for burial. ¹³ Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel^(JB) is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.’

¹⁴ Then^(JC) one of the Twelve, the man called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests^{(JD) 15} and said, ‘What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you? ’ So they weighed out thirty pieces of silver for him.^{(JE) 16} And from that time he started looking for a good opportunity to betray him.

Betrayal at the Passover

¹⁷ On the first day of Unleavened Bread^(JF) the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover? ’

¹⁸ ‘Go into the city to a certain man,’ he said, ‘and tell him, “The Teacher says: My time is near; I am celebrating the Passover at your place^[ec] with my disciples.” ’^{(JG) 19} So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. ²⁰ When evening came, he was reclining at the table with the Twelve. ²¹ While they were eating, he said, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.’^(JH)

²² Deeply distressed, each one began to say to him, ‘Surely not I, Lord? ’

²³ He replied, ‘The one who dipped his hand with me in the bowl – he will betray me. ²⁴ The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him,^(JI) but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for him if he had not been born.’

²⁵ Judas, his betrayer, replied, ‘Surely not I, Rabbi? ’^(JJ)

‘You have said it,’ he told him.

The First Lord’s Supper

²⁶ As they were eating,^(JK) Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples,^(JL) and said, ‘Take and eat it; this is my body.’^{(JM) 27} Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them and said, ‘Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸ For this is my blood of the covenant,^[ed] which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.^{(JN) 29} But 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.’^{(JO) 30} After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.^(JP)

Peter’s Denial Predicted

³¹ Then Jesus said to them, ‘Tonight all of you will fall away because of me, for it is written:

³² But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.’^(JR)

³³ Peter told him, ‘Even if everyone falls away because of you, I will never fall away.’

³⁴ ‘Truly I tell you,’ Jesus said to him, ‘tonight, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.’^(JS)

³⁵ ‘Even if I have to die with you,’ Peter told him, ‘I will never deny you,’ and all the disciples said the same thing.

The Prayer in the Garden

³⁶ Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane,^(JT) and he told the disciples, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ ³⁷ Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled.^{(JU) 38} He said to them, ‘I am deeply grieved^[ef] to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.’^{(JV) 39} Going a little further,^[eg] he fell face down and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.’^(JW)

⁴⁰ Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He asked Peter, ‘So, couldn’t you stay awake with me for one hour? ⁴¹ Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’

⁴² Again, a second time, he went away and prayed, ‘My Father, if this^[eh] cannot pass^[ei] unless I drink it, your will be done.’^{(JX) 43} And he came again and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open.

⁴⁴ After leaving them, he went away again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. ⁴⁵ Then he came to the disciples and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and resting? See, the time is near. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.^{(JY) 46} Get up; let’s go. See, my betrayer is near.’

Judas’s Betrayal of Jesus

⁴⁷ While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived.^(JZ) A large mob with swords and clubs was with him from the chief priests and elders of the people. ⁴⁸ His betrayer had given them a sign: ‘The one I kiss, he’s the one; arrest him.’ ⁴⁹ So immediately he went up to Jesus and said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi! ’ and kissed him.

⁵⁰ ‘Friend,’^(KA) Jesus asked him, ‘why have you come? ’^[ej]

Then they came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested him. ⁵¹ At that moment one of those with Jesus reached out his hand and drew his sword. He struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his ear.^(KB)

⁵² Then Jesus told him, ‘Put your sword back in its place because all who take up the sword will perish by the sword.^{(KC) 53} Or do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and he will provide me here and now with more than twelve legions of angels?^{(KD) 54} How, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled^(KE) that say it must happen this way? ’

⁵⁵ At that time Jesus said to the crowds, ‘Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a criminal,^[ek] to capture me? Every day I used to sit, teaching in the temple, and you didn’t arrest me.^{(KF) 56} But all this has happened so that the writings of the prophets^(KG) would be fulfilled.’ Then all the disciples^(KH) deserted him and ran away.

Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin

⁵⁷ Those^(KI) who had arrested Jesus led him away to Caiaphas^(KJ) the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had convened. ⁵⁸ Peter was following him at a distance right to the high priest’s courtyard. He went in and was sitting with the servants to see the outcome.^(KK)

⁵⁹ The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death,^{(KL) 60} but they could not find any, even though many false witnesses^(KM) came forward.^[el] Finally, two^[em] who came forward ⁶¹ stated, ‘This man said, “I can destroy the temple of God^(KN) and rebuild it in three days.” ’

⁶² The high priest stood up and said to him, ‘Don’t you have an answer to what these men are testifying against you? ’ ⁶³ But^(KO) Jesus kept silent.^(KP) The high priest said to him, ‘I charge you under oath^(KQ) by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.’^(KR)

⁶⁴ ‘You have said it,’ Jesus told him. ‘But I tell you, in the future^[en] you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.’^(KS)[eo]

⁶⁵ Then the high priest tore his robes and said, ‘He has blasphemed!^(KT) Why do we still need witnesses? See, now you’ve heard the blasphemy.^{(KU) 66} What is your decision? ’

They answered, ‘He deserves death! ’^{(KV) 67} Then they spat in his face^(KW) and beat him; others slapped him ⁶⁸ and said, ‘Prophesy to us, Messiah! Who was it that hit you? ’^(KX)

Peter Denies His Lord

⁶⁹ Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard.^(KY) A servant girl approached him and said, ‘You were with Jesus the Galilean too.’

⁷⁰ But he denied it in front of everyone: ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

⁷¹ When he had gone out to the gateway, another woman saw him and told those who were there, ‘This man was with Jesus the Nazarene! ’^(KZ)

⁷² And again he denied it with an oath:^(LA) ‘I don’t know the man! ’

⁷³ After a little while those standing there approached and said to Peter, ‘You really are one of them, since even your accent^[ep] gives you away.’

⁷⁴ Then he started to curse and to swear with an oath, ‘I don’t know the man! ’ Immediately a cock crowed, ⁷⁵ and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, ‘Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.’^(LB) And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Jesus Handed Over to Pilate

27 When daybreak came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put him to death.^{(LC) 2} After tying him up, they led him away and handed him over to Pilate,^[eq] the governor.^(LD)

Judas Hangs Himself

³ Then Judas, his betrayer, seeing that Jesus had been condemned, was full of remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders.^{(LE) 4} ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,’ he said.

‘What’s that to us? ’ they said. ‘See to it yourself! ’ ⁵ So he threw the silver into the temple^(LF) and departed. Then he went and hanged himself.

⁶ The chief priests took the silver and said, ‘It’s not permitted^(LG) to put it into the temple treasury, since it is blood money.’ ⁷ They conferred together and bought the potter’s field with it as a burial place for foreigners. ⁸ Therefore that field has been called ‘Field of Blood’ to this day. ⁹ Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: They took^[er]the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him whose price was set by the Israelites, ¹⁰ and they gave^[es]them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.^[et](LH)

Jesus Faces the Governor

¹¹ Now Jesus stood before the governor.^(LI) ‘Are you the king of the Jews? ’ the governor asked him.

Jesus answered, ‘You say so.’^{(LJ) 12} While he was being accused by the chief priests and elders, he didn’t answer.^(LK)

¹³ Then Pilate said to him, ‘Don’t you hear how much they are testifying against you? ’ ¹⁴ But he didn’t answer him on even one charge, so that the governor was quite amazed.^(LL)

Jesus or Barabbas

¹⁵ At the festival^(LM) the governor’s custom was to release to the crowd a prisoner they wanted. ¹⁶ At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.^{[eu] 17} So when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, ‘Who is it you want me to release for you – Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ? ’^{(LN) 18} For he knew it was because of envy that they had handed him over.

¹⁹ While he was sitting on the judge’s bench, his wife sent word to him, ‘Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I’ve suffered terribly in a dream because of him.’^(LO)

²⁰ The chief priests and the elders, however, persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to execute Jesus. ²¹ The governor asked them, ‘Which of the two do you want me to release for you? ’

‘Barabbas! ’ they answered.

²² Pilate asked them, ‘What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Christ? ’

They all answered, ‘Crucify him! ’^(LP)

²³ Then he said, ‘Why? What has he done wrong? ’

But they kept shouting all the more, ‘Crucify him! ’^(LQ)

²⁴ When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was starting instead, he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood.^[ev] See to it yourselves! ’^(LR)

²⁵ All the people answered, ‘His blood be on us^(LS) and on our children! ’ ²⁶ Then he released Barabbas to them and, after having Jesus flogged, handed him over to be crucified.^(LT)

Mocked by the Military

²⁷ Then^(LU) the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the governor’s residence and gathered the whole company^[ew] around him.^{(LV) 28} They stripped him and dressed him in a scarlet robe.^{(LW) 29} They twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on his head, and placed a staff in his right hand. And they knelt down before him and mocked him: ‘Hail, king of the Jews! ’ ³⁰ Then they spat on him, took the staff, and kept hitting him on the head. ³¹ After they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe, put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.^(LX)

Crucified Between Two Criminals

³² As they were going out, they found a Cyrenian man named Simon. They forced him to carry his cross.^{(LY) 33} When they came to a place called Golgotha^(LZ) (which means Place of the Skull), ³⁴ they gave him wine^[ex] mixed with gall to drink. But when he tasted it, he refused to drink it. ³⁵ After crucifying him, they divided his clothes by casting lots.^{[ey](MA) 36} Then they sat down and were guarding him there. ³⁷ Above his head they put up the charge against him in writing: This Is Jesus, the King of the Jews.

³⁸ Then two criminals^[ez] were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.^{(MB) 39} Those who passed by were yelling insults at^[fa] him, shaking their heads^{(MC) 40} and saying, ‘You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross! ’^{(MD) 41} In the same way the chief priests, with the scribes and elders,^[fb] mocked him and said, ⁴² ‘He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is the King of Israel!^(ME) Let him^[fc] come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. ⁴³ He trusts in God; let God rescue him now – if he takes pleasure in him!^[fd] For he said, “I am the Son of God.’ ” ⁴⁴ In the same way even the criminals who were crucified with him taunted him.^(MF)

The Death of Jesus

⁴⁵ From noon until three in the afternoon,^[fe] darkness came over the whole land.^{[ff](MG) 46} At about three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Elí, Elí, lemá^[fg] sabachtháni? ’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you abandoned me ?’^(MH)[fh]

⁴⁷ When some of those standing there heard this, they said, ‘He’s calling for Elijah.’

⁴⁸ Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and offered him a drink.^{(MI) 49} But the rest said, ‘Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.’

⁵⁰ But Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit.^{(MJ) 51} Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary^(MK) was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, and the rocks were split. ⁵² The tombs were also opened^(ML) and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. ⁵³ And they came out of the tombs after his resurrection, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.

⁵⁴ When the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified and said, ‘Truly this man was the Son of God! ’^(MM)

⁵⁵ Many women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and looked after him were there, watching from a distance.^{(MN) 56} Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.^(MO)

The Burial of Jesus

⁵⁷ When it was evening,^(MP) a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph came, who himself had also become a disciple^(MQ) of Jesus. ⁵⁸ He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus’s body. Then Pilate ordered that it^[fi] be released. ⁵⁹ So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in clean, fine linen, ⁶⁰ and placed it in his new tomb, which he had cut into the rock. He left after rolling a great stone against the entrance of the tomb.^{(MR) 61} Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were seated there, facing the tomb.

The Closely Guarded Tomb

⁶² The next day, which followed the preparation day, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate^{(MS) 63} and said, ‘Sir, we remember that while this deceiver was still alive he said, “After three days I will rise again.”^{(MT) 64} So give orders that the tomb be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples^(MU) may come, steal him, and tell the people, “He has been raised from the dead,” and the last deception will be worse than the first.’

⁶⁵ ‘Take^[fj] guards,’ Pilate told them. ‘Go and make it as secure as you know how.’ ⁶⁶ They went and secured the tomb by setting a seal on the stone and placing the guards.^(MV)