Matthew 26 explained: Betrayed, Arrested and Denied

A plot and a perfume (vv. 1-16)

As Passover nears, the festival remembering Israel's escape from slavery in Egypt, the temple leaders plan to seize Jesus quietly so the crowds do not riot, while a woman pours costly perfume on him and he defends her gift as preparing his body for burial. Then Judas, one of his twelve closest followers, agrees to hand him over for thirty silver coins.

The last meal (vv. 17-30)

During the Passover meal Jesus says one of the Twelve will betray him, then gives the bread and wine a new meaning as his body and his blood, poured out for the forgiveness of sins. "Covenant" means a binding agreement between God and people, and Christians still repeat this meal, often called Communion or the Lord's Supper.

Anguish in Gethsemane (vv. 31-46)

Jesus quotes the prophet Zechariah to say his friends will scatter, and Peter insists he never will. In the garden Jesus pleads to be spared the "cup," an image from Israel's scriptures for suffering, yet yields to God's will, while his closest friends keep falling asleep.

Betrayed with a kiss (vv. 47-56)

Judas uses a kiss, a common respectful greeting for a teacher, as the signal for the armed crowd to seize Jesus. Jesus stops a follower from fighting back, says he could call on vast armies of angels but will not, and then all the disciples run away.

Before the high priest (vv. 57-68)

The high priest and the Sanhedrin, the ruling council of Jewish leaders, look for evidence to condemn Jesus, but nothing usable turns up until two witnesses claim he said he could destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days. When Jesus answers with words from Daniel and the Psalms picturing him at God's right hand, the high priest tears his robes, a customary sign of horror at what he judged an insult to God, and the council declares he deserves death and beats him.

Peter denies Jesus (vv. 69-75)

In the courtyard people recognize Peter, partly by his Galilean accent, and he denies knowing Jesus three times, the last time with oaths and curses. When the rooster crows he remembers Jesus' warning and weeps bitterly, a painful failure that all four Gospels choose to tell.

Key verse: Matthew 26:39

Where Christians differ

Christians genuinely differ over what Jesus meant by "this is my body": some believe the bread and wine truly become or carry his body and blood, while others understand them as a symbol and a way of remembering him.

Something to think about

Peter meant his promise of loyalty and still broke it within hours; what do you think separates who we intend to be from who we turn out to be under pressure?