Matthew 26:3-17

The Plot to Kill Jesus

³At that time the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together in the courtyard of the high priest named Caiaphas; ⁴and they plotted together to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him. ⁵But they were saying, “Not during the festival, otherwise a riot might occur among the people.”

The Precious Ointment

⁶Now when Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the Leper, ⁷a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very expensive perfume, and she poured it on His head as He was reclining at the table. ⁸But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, “Why this waste? ⁹For this perfume could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” ¹⁰But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you bothering the woman? For she has done a good deed for Me. ¹¹For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. ¹²For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. ¹³Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.”

Judas’ Bargain

¹⁴Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests ¹⁵and said, “What are you willing to give me to betray Him to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver. ¹⁶And from then on he looked for a good opportunity to betray Jesus.

¹⁷Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”