Matthew 26:14-35 : Easy-to-Read Version
Judas Becomes an Enemy of Jesus (Mk. 14:10-11; Lk. 22:3-6)
14Then one of the twelve followers went to talk to the leading priests. This was the follower named Judas Iscariot. 15Judas said, "I will give you Jesus. What will you pay me for doing this?" The priests gave Judas 30 silver coins. 16After that time Judas waited for the best time to give Jesus to the priests.
Jesus Eats the Passover Meal (Mk. 14:21-22; Lk. 22:7-14, 21-23; Jn. 13:21-30)
17On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread,* the followers came to Jesus. The followers said, "We will prepare everything for you to eat the Passover* meal. Where do you want us to have the meal?" 18Jesus answered, "Go into the city. Go to a man I know. Tell him that the teacher says, 'The chosen time is near. I will have the Passover* meal with my followers at your house.'" 19The followers obeyed and did the thing Jesus told them to do. They prepared the Passover meal. 20In the evening Jesus was at the table with the twelve followers. 21They were all eating. Then Jesus said, "I tell you the truth. One of you twelve here will soon give me to my enemies." 22The followers were very sad to hear this. Each follower said to Jesus, "Lord, surely I am not the one!" 23Jesus answered, "The man that has dipped his hand into the same bowl with me is the person that will be against me. 24The Son of Man* will go [and die]. The Scriptures* say this will happen. But it will be very bad for the person that gives the Son of Man [to be killed]. It would be better for that person if he were never born." 25Then Judas said to Jesus, "Teacher, surely I will not be against you!" (Judas is the one that would give Jesus to his enemies.) Jesus answered, "Yes, it is you."
The Lord's Supper (Mk. 14:22-26; Lk. 22:15-20; 1 Cor 11:23-25)
26While they were eating, Jesus took some bread. Jesus thanked God for the bread and divided it. He gave the bread to his followers. Jesus said, "Take this bread and eat it. This bread is my body." 27Then Jesus took a cup of wine. Jesus thanked God for it and gave it to the followers. Jesus said, "Every one of you drink this. 28This wine is my blood. My blood (death) begins the new agreement [from God to his people]. This blood is given for many people to forgive their sins. 29I tell you this: I will not drink this wine again until that day when we are together in my Father's kingdom and the wine is new. Then I will drink it again with you." 30All the followers sang a song. Then they went out to the Mount of Olives.*
Jesus Says His Followers Will Leave Him (Mk. 14:27-31; Lk. 22:31-34; Jn. 13:36-38)
31Jesus told the followers, "Tonight you will lose your faith because of me. It is written [in the Scriptures*]: 'I will kill the shepherd, and the sheep will run away.' Zechariah 13:7
32But [after I die], I will rise from death. Then I will go into Galilee. I will be there before you go there." 33Peter answered, "All the other followers may lose their faith because of you. But I will never lose my faith." 34Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth. Tonight you will say you don't know me. You will say this three times before the rooster crows." 35But Peter answered, "I will never say that I don't know you! I will even die with you!" And all the other followers said the same thing.
Festival of Unleavened Bread An important Jewish holiday week. In the Old Testament it began the day after Passover, but by this time the two holidays had become one. Passover Important Jewish holy day. They ate a special meal on this day every year to remember that God freed them from slavery in Egypt in the time of Moses. Son of Man A name Jesus used for himself. In Dan. 7:13-14, this is the name for the Messiah, the one God chose to save his people. Scriptures Holy Writings--the Old Testament. Mount of Olives A hill east of the city of Jerusalem where a person could look down into the temple area.