The Entry into Jerusalem.

When they drew near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, JESUS sent off two disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village directly ahead of you, and as soon as you enter you will find a tethered donkey and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to ME. If anyone says anything to you, tell them, 'THE LORD needs them.' Then he will let you have them at once." This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the prophet:

       "Say to the daughter of Zion:

       'Behold, your king is coming to you,

       humble and riding on a donkey,

          and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.' "

       The disciples went off and did as JESUS had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their cloaks on their backs, and HE sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that preceded HIM and those that followed kept shouting:

       "Hosanna to THE SON OF DAVID!

          Blessed is HE who comes in the name of THE LORD!

          Hosanna in the highest!"

       And when HE entered Jerusalem, the whole city was filled with excitement. "Who is this?" the people asked, and the crowds replied, "This is the prophet JESUS from Nazareth in Galilee."

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 21, VERSES 1 - 11

JESUS Cleanses the Temple.

       Then JESUS entered the temple and drove out all those whom HE found buying and selling there. HE overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. HE said to them, "It is written:

       'MY house shall be called a house of prayer,'

          but you are making it a den of thieves."

The blind and the crippled came to HIM in the temple, and HE cured them. But when the chief priests and the scribes witnessed the wonderful things HE was performing and heard the children crying out in the temple area, "Hosanna to THE SON OF DAVID," they became infuriated ad said to HIM, "Do you hear what they are saying?" JESUS replied, "Yes. Have you never read the text:

       'Out of the mouths of infants and babies who are nursing

          you have received fitting praise'?"

Then HE left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where HE spent the night.

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 21, VERSES 12 - 17

The Lesson of the Withered Fig Tree.

       Early the next morning, as HE was returning to the city, HE was hungry. Noticing a fig tree by the side of the road, HE went over to it but found nothing on its branches except leaves. Then HE said to it, "May you never give forth fruit again!" And instantly the fig tree withered away.

       When the disciples witnessed this, they were stunned, and they asked, "How could that fig tree wither away in an instant?" JESUS answered them, "Amen, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what has been done to this fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' it will be accomplished. Whatever you ask for in faith-filled prayer, you will receive."

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 21, VERSES 18 - 22

The Authority of JESUS Questioned.

       When HE entered the temple and began to teach, the chief priests and the elders of the people approached HIM and asked, "By what authority are YOU doing these things? And who gave YOU this authority?" JESUS said to them in reply, "I will also ask you one question. If you give ME an answer, then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Where did John's baptism originate? From heaven or from men?"

       They argued among themselves, "If we say: 'From heaven,' HE will say to us, 'Then why did you not believe him? But if we say, 'From men,' we are afraid of the people, for they all regard John as a prophet."

       Therefore, they answered JESUS, "We do not know." And JESUS said to them, "Then neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 21, VERSES 23 - 27

The Parable of the Two Sons.

       "What is your opinion about this? A man had two sons. he went to the first and said, 'My son, go and work in the vineyard today.' He answered, 'I will not,' but later he had a change of heart and went. The father then gave the same instruction to the second son, who answered, 'Of course I will,' but then did not go. Which of the two complied with his father's instruction?" They responded, "The first."

       Then JESUS said to them, "Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of GOD ahead of you. For John came to show you the path of righteousness, but you did not believe him, whereas the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. Yet even after you realized that, you still refused to change your minds and believe in him.

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 21, VERSES 28 - 32

The Parable of the Tenants.

       "Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, fenced it in on all sides, dug a winepress in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went off on a journey.

       "When the time for harvest approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the produce. But the tenants seized his servants and beat one of them, killed another, and stoned a third. Again, he sent more servants, but they treated them in the same manner.

       "Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, 'They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.' And so they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.

       "Now what do you think the owner of the vineyard will do to those tenants when he comes?" They said to HIM, "He will kill those evil men, and then he will lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest."

       JESUS then said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures:

       'The stone that the builders rejected

          has become the cornerstone;

       by THE LORD has this been done,

          and it is wonderful in our eyes'?

Therefore, I tell you, the kingdom of GOD will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce fruit in abundance. [The one who falls on this stone will be broken into pieces, and the one on whom it falls will be crushed.]"

       When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard HIS parables, they realized that HE was speaking about them. They wanted to arrest HIM, but they were afraid of the crowds, who regarded HIM as a prophet.

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 21, VERSES 33 - 46

The Parable of the Wedding Banquet.

JESUS spoke to them again in parables, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent forth his servants to summon those who had been invited to the banquet, but they refused to come. Then he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who have been invited, "Behold, my banquet has been prepared, my oxen and my fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet." '

       "But they ignored his invitation. One went off to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, mistreated them, and killed them.

       "The king was enraged, and he sent forth his troops who destroyed those murderers and burned their city to the ground. Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding banquet is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy of that honor. Go forth, therefore, to the main roads and invite everyone you can find to the wedding banquet.' The servants went forth into the streets and gathered together everyone they could find, good and bad alike. And so the wedding hall was filled with guests.

       "But when the king came in to greet the guests, he noticed one man who was not properly dressed for a wedding. 'My friend,' he said to him, 'how did you gain entrance here without a wedding garment?' The man was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet and cast him outside into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen."

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 22, VERSES 1 - 14

GOD or Caesar.

       Then the Pharisees went off and made plans to trap HIM in what HE said. They sent some of their disciples to HIM, along with the Herodians, and said, "TEACHER, we know that YOU are truthful and that YOU teach the way of GOD in accordance with the truth. Nor are YOU concerned with anyone's opinion for YOU do not care about people's opinions. Tell us then what YOU think about this: Is it lawful or not for us to pay taxes to Caesar?"

       JESUS was aware of their malicious intent, and HE said, "You hypocrites! Why are you trying to trap ME? Show ME the coin that is used for paying the tax." When they brought HIM a denarius, HE asked them, "Whose image is this, and whose inscription?" They replied, "Caesar's." On hearing this, HE said to them, "Give to Caesar what is due to Caesar, and to GOD what is due to GOD." Stunned on hearing this reply, they went away and left HIM alone.

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 22, VERSES 15 - 22

Marriage and the Resurrection.

       On that same day, the Sadducees, who assert that there is no resurrection, approached HIM and posed this question, "Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies without having children, his brother is to marry his brother's wife and raise up children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers who belonged to our group. The first one married and died without issue, and therefore left his wife to his brother. The same result occurred with the second brother and the third, right down to the seventh. Finally, the woman herself died. Now at the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be, inasmuch as all of them had her?"

       JESUS answered them, "You are in error, for you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of GOD. At the resurrection they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. They are like the angels in heaven.

       "And in regard to the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what GOD HIMSELF said to you: 'I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, THE GOD OF ISAAC, and THE GOD OF JACOB'? HE is not THE GOD of the dead but of the living."

       When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at HIS teaching.

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 22, VERSES 23 - 33

The Greatest Commandment.

       When the Pharisees learned that HE had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and, to test HIM, one of them, a lawyer, asked this question, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"

       JESUS said to him, " 'You shall love THE LORD your GOD with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Everything in the Law and the Prophets depends on these two commandments."

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 22, VERSES 34 - 40

JESUS is LORD.

       While the Pharisees were assembled together, JESUS asked them this question, "What is your opinion about THE CHRIST? Whose son is HE?" They replied, "HE is the son of David." HE responded, "How is it then that David, under the inspiration of THE SPIRIT, calls HIM 'LORD,' saying:

       'THE LORD said to my LORD,

       "Sit at MY right hand

          until I put YOUR enemies under YOUR feet" '?

If David calls HIM 'LORD,' how can HE be his son?" No one was able to give HIM an answer, and from that day onward no one dared to ask HIM any further questions.

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 22, VERSES 41 - 46

Portrait of the Scribes and Pharisees.

Then JESUS addressed the crowds and HIS disciples: "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat. Therefore, be careful to do whatever they tell you, but do not follow their example, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy burdens that are difficult to bear and lay them on the shoulders of others, but they will not lift a finger to be of assistance.

       "Everything they do is meant to attract the attention of others. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love to have places of honor at banquets and the best seats in synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the market places and to be addressed as 'Rabbi.'

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 23, VERSES 1 - 7

Do Not Be Called Teacher.

       "But do not allow yourselves to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one MASTER, and you are all brethren. Call no one on earth your father, for you have but one FATHER, and HE is in heaven. You must not be called 'teacher,' for you have only one TEACHER, THE CHRIST. The greatest among you must be your servant. All those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all those who humble themselves will be exalted.

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 23, VERSES 8 - 12

Woe to You, Teachers of the Law.

       "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the entrance to the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor do you allow others to enter.

       ["Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! For you devour the houses of widows, while for the sake of appearance you recite lengthy prayers. As a result, you will receive the severest possible condemnation.]

       "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You journey over sea and land to make a single convert, and then you make that convert twice as worthy of Gehenna as you are.

      "Woe to you, blind guides! You say, 'If someone swears by the temple, that is not binding, but if someone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?

       "And you say, 'If someone swears by the altar, that is not binding, but if someone swears by the offering that lies on the altar, he is bound by his oath.' You blind fools! Which is of greater value-- the offering, or the altar that makes the offering sacred?

       "The one who swears by the altar swears both by it and by everything that lies upon it. The one who swears by the temple swears both by it and by the one who dwells within it. And the one who swears by heaven swears both by the throne of GOD and by THE ONE who is seated upon it.

       "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint and dill and cumin, but you have neglected the more important aspects of the Law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced these without neglecting the others. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat and then swallow a camel!

       "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You cleanse the outside of a cup and dish, but you leave the inside full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First cleanse the inside of the cup and dish so that the outside may also be clean.

       "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs that look beautiful on the outside, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of decay. In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 23, VERSES 13 - 28

Judgment Against This Generation.

       "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build the tombs of the Prophets and adorn the graves of the righteous, and you say, 'If we had lived in the time of our ancestors, we never would have collaborated with them in shedding the blood of the Prophets.' Thus, you acknowledge that you are the descendants of those who murdered the Prophets. Go and complete the work that your ancestors began.

       "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How can you escape being condemned to Gehenna? Behold, therefore, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. As a result, upon you will fall the guilt of all the innocent blood that has been shed upon the earth, from the blood of the righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Amen, I say to you, the guilt for all this will fall upon this generation.

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 23, VERSES 29 - 36

The Lament over Jerusalem.

       "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you murder the Prophets and stone the messengers sent to you! How often have I longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not allow it! Behold, your house has been abandoned and left desolate. I tell you, you will not see ME again until you say: 'Blessed is HE who comes in the name of THE LORD.' "

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 23, VERSES 37 - 39

JESUS Announces the Destruction of the Temple.

As JESUS left the temple and was walking away, HIS disciples came up to HIM to call HIS attention to the buildings of the temple. HE thereupon said to them, "Do you see all these? Amen, I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another; every one will be thrown down."

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 24, VERSES 1 & 2

The End Has Not Yet Come.

       As HE was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached and spoke to HIM when they were alone. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of YOUR coming and of the end of the age?"

       JESUS answered them, "Take care that no one deceives you. For many will come in MY name, saying, 'I AM THE CHRIST,' and they will lead many astray. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Do not be alarmed, for those things are bound to happen, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are only the beginning of the labor pains.

       "Then you will be handed over to be tortured and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of MY name. At that time, many will fall away from the faith; they will betray and hate one another. Many false prophets will appear and lead many astray, and with the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. But whoever endures to the end will be saved. And the good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the entire world as a testimony offered to all the nations. And then the end will come.

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 24, VERSES 3 - 14

The Great Trial.

       "Therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation, about which the prophet Daniel spoke, standing in the Holy Place (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, the one who is standing on the roof must not come down to collect what is in his house, and someone who is in the field must not turn back to retrieve his coat.

       "Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that you will not have to take flight in the winter or on a Sabbath. For at that time there will be great suffering that has not been equaled since the beginning of the world until now, and will never again be duplicated. And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect they will be shortened.

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 24, VERSES 15 - 22

False Messiahs and False Prophets.

       "Therefore, if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is THE CHRIST,' or 'There HE is,' do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise, and they will perform great signs and wonders that are impressive enough to deceive even the elect, if that were possible.

       "Remember, I have forewarned you about this. So if anyone says to you, 'Behold, HE is in the wilderness,' do not go out there. If they say, 'Behold, he is in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. For just as lightning comes from the east and is visible even in the west, so will the coming of THE SON OF MAN be. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 24, VERSES 23 - 28

The Coming of THE SON OF MAN.

       "Immediately after the distress of those days,

       'the sun will be darkened

          and the moon will not give forth its light;

       the stars will fall from the sky

          and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.'

       "Then the sign of THE SON OF MAN will appear in heaven, and all the peoples of the earth will mourn, and they will see THE SON OF MAN coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And HE will send forth HIS angels with a trumpet blast, and they will gather HIS elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 24, VERSES 29 - 31

The Parable of the Fig Tree.

       "Learn this lesson from the fig tree. As soon as its twigs become tender and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things take place, know that HE is near, at the very gates. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but MY words will never pass away.

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 24, VERSES 32 - 35

The Day and Hour Unknown.

       "As for the exact day and hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor THE SON, but only THE FATHER. For as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of THE SON OF MAN. In the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark. They knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and swept them all away.

       "That is how it will be at the coming of THE SON OF MAN. Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and the other will be left. Therefore, keep watch, for you do not know the day when your LORD is coming.

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 24, VERSES 36 - 42

The Parable of the Owner of the House.

       "But keep this in mind: if the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore, you must also be prepared, because THE SON OF MAN will come at an hour when you do not expect HIM.

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 24, VERSES 43 & 44

The Parable of the Faithful Servant.

       "Who, then, is the faithful and wise servant whom his MASTER has put in charge of HIS household to give its members their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant if his MASTER finds him doing so when HE returns home. Amen, I say to you, HE will put him in charge of all HIS property.

       "But if that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My MASTER is detained,' and he proceeds to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, THE MASTER of that servant will return on a day when he does not expect HIM and at an hour he does not know. HE will punish him and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 24, VERSES 45 - 51

The Parable of the Ten Virgins.

       "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went forth to meet THE BRIDEGRROM. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. When the foolish ones took their lamps, they neglected to take any oil with them, whereas those who were wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. Since THE BRIDEGRROM was delayed in coming, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

       "At midnight, a shout was raised: 'Behold, THE BRIDEGROOM! Come out to meet HIM!' Then all the virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' The wise ones replied, 'No, for there may not be enough for both us and you. You had better go to the merchants and buy some.'

       "While they went off to purchase it, THE BRIDEGRROM arrived, and those who were ready went in with HIM to the wedding banquet. Then the door was locked. Afterward, the other virgins returned, and they cried out, 'LORD! LORD! Open the door for us!' But HE replied, 'Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.' Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 25, VERSES 1 - 13

The Parable of the Talents.

       "Again, the kingdom of heaven will be like a man going on a journey who summoned HIS servants and entrusted HIS property to them. To one HE gave five talents, to another two talents, to a third one talent--to each according to his ability. Then HE set forth on HIS journey.

       "The servant who had received the five talents promptly went to invest them and gained five more. In the same manner, the servant who had received the two talents gained two more. But the servant who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his MASTER'S money.

       "After a long period of time, THE MASTER of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing an additional five. 'MASTER,' he said, 'YOU gave me five talents. Behold, I have gained five more.' His MASTER said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. Since you have been faithful in small matters, I will give you much greater responsibilities. Come and share your MASTER'S joy.'

       "Next, the one who had received the two talents also came forward and said, 'MASTER, YOU gave me two talents. Behold, I have gained two more.' His MASTER said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. Since you have been faithful in small matters, I will give you much greater responsibilities. Come and share your MASTER'S joy.'

       "Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, 'MASTER, I knew that YOU were a hard man, reaping where YOU did not sow, and gathering where YOU did not scatter seed. Therefore, out of fear I went off and hid YOUR talent in the ground. Behold, I give it back to YOU.'

       "His MASTER replied, 'You wicked and lazy servant. So you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered! Then you should have deposited MY money with the bankers, and on MY return I would have gotten back MY money with interest.

       " 'Therefore, take the talent from him and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he does have will be taken away. As for this worthless servant, cast him outside into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 25, VERSES 14 - 30

The Solemn Judgment at the End of Time.

       "When THE SON OF MAN comes in HIS glory, and all the angels with HIM, then HE will sit on the throne of HIS glory. All the nations will be gathered before HIM, and HE will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. HE will place the sheep on HIS right and the goats on HIS left.

       "Then THE KING will say to those on HIS right, 'Come, you who are blessed by MY FATHER, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 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 welcomed ME; I was naked and you clothed ME; I was ill and you took care of ME; I was in prison and you came to visit ME.'

       "Then the righteous will say to HIM, 'LORD, when did we see YOU hungry and give YOU something to eat, or thirsty and give YOU something to drink? When did we see YOU a stranger and welcome YOU, or naked and clothe YOU? When did we see YOU ill or in prison and come to visit YOU?' And THE KING will answer, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brethren of MINE, you did for ME.'

       "Then HE will say to those on HIS left, 'Depart from ME, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you did not give ME anything to eat; I was thirsty and you did not give ME anything to drink; I was a stranger and you did not welcome ME; I was naked and you did not give ME any clothing; I was ill and in prison and you did not visit ME.'

       "Then they will ask HIM, 'LORD, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison and not minister to you?' HE will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you failed to do for one of the least of these brethren of MINE, you failed to do for ME.' And they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous will enter eternal life."

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 25, VERSES 31 - 46

The Plot against JESUS.

When JESUS had finished discoursing on all these subjects, HE said to HIS disciples, "In two days it will be Passover, at which time THE SON OF MAN will be handed over to be crucified."

       Meanwhile, the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled together in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they made plans to arrest JESUS by deceit and have HIM put to death. However, they said, "It must not occur during the feast, or the people may begin to riot."

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 26, VERSES 1 - 5

A Woman of Bethany Anoints JESUS.

       Now when JESUS was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a woman came up to HIM with an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment and poured it over HIS head as HE reclined at table. When the disciples saw this, they became indignant, and they remarked, "Why this waste? This ointment could have been sold for a considerable sum, with the money given to the poor."

       JESUS was aware of their attitude, and HE said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has performed a good deed for ME. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have ME. In pouring this ointment on MY body, she has prepared ME for burial. Amen, I say to you, wherever in the whole world this gospel is proclaimed, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her."

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 26, VERSES 6 - 13

Judas Betrays JESUS.

       Then one of the Twelve, the man called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand HIM over to you?" They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray HIM.

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 26, VERSES 14 - 16

The Preparations for the Passover Supper.

       On the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to JESUS and asked, "Where do YOU want us to make the preparations for YOU to eat the Passover?" HE said: "Go to a certain man in the city and say to him, 'THE TEACHER says, "MY appointed time is near. I intend to celebrate the Passover at your house with MY disciples." ' " The disciples thereupon followed JESUS instructions, and they prepared the Passover.

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 26, VERSES 17 - 19

The Treachery of Judas Foretold.

       When evening came, HE reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, HE said, "Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray ME." Greatly distressed on hearing this, they began to ask HIM, one after another, "Is it I, LORD?"

       HE answered, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with ME is the one who will betray ME. THE SON OF MAN indeed goes, as it is written of HIM, but woe to that man by whom THE SON OF MAN is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born."

       Then Judas, the one who would betray HIM, said: "Is it I, Rabbi?" JESUS replied, "You have said so."

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 26, VERSES 20 - 25

The Last Supper.

       While they were eating, JESUS took bread, and after HE had pronounced the blessing, HE broke it and gave it to HIS disciples, saying, "Take this and eat; this is MY body." Then HE took a cup, and after offering thanks HE gave it to them, saying, "Drink from this, all of you. For this is MY blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins. And I tell you, from now on I shall not drink this fruit of the vine until the day when I shall drink it anew with you in the kingdom of MY FATHER."

       And after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 26, VERSES 26 - 29

JESUS Predicts Peter's Denial.

       Then JESUS said to them, "This very night you will all be scandalized because of ME, for it is written:

       'I will strike the shepherd,

          and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'

But after I have been raised up, I shall go ahead of you to Galilee."

       Peter said to HIM, "Even if all the others will be scandalized because of you, I will never be." JESUS replied, "Amen, I say to you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny ME three times." Peter said to HIM, "Even if I have to die with YOU, I will not deny YOU." And all the other disciples said the same thing.

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 26, VERSES 31 - 35

The Agony in the Garden.

       Then JESUS went with HIS disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and HE said to them, "Sit here while I go over there to pray." HE took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and HE began to suffer grief and anguish.

       Then HE said to them, "MY soul is sorrowful, even to the point of death. Remain here and keep watch with ME." Moving on a little farther, HE threw HIMSELF prostrate on the ground in prayer, saying, "MY FATHER, if it is possible, allow this cup to be taken from ME. Yet let YOUR will, not MINE, be done."

       Returning to the disciples, HE found them sleeping. HE said to Peter, "Could you not keep watch with ME for just one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak."

       HE went apart for a second time and prayed, "MY FATHER, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, YOUR will be done." Then HE came back again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.

       HE left them there and went away again, praying for the third time in the same words as before. Then HE returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour has come for THE SON OF MAN to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up! Let us be going! Look, MY betrayer is approaching."

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 26, VERSES 36 - 46

JESUS Is Arrested.

       While HE was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him there was a large crowd of men, armed with swords and clubs, who had been sent by the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now HIS betrayer had agreed with them on a signal, saying, "The one I shall kiss is the man. Arrest HIM." Proceeding directly to JESUS, he said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed HIM. JESUS said to him, "Friend, do what you are here to do." Then they came forward, seized JESUS, and placed HIM under arrest.

       Suddenly, one of those who were accompanying JESUS reached for his sword, drew it, and struck a servant of the high priest, slicing off his ear. Then JESUS said to him, "Put back your sword into its place. For all who take the sword shall die by the sword. Do you suppose that I cannot appeal to MY FATHER for help and HE will not immediately send ME more than twelve legions of angels? But then how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?"

       At that hour, JESUS said to the crowd, "Why are you coming forth with swords and clubs to arrest ME, as though I were a bandit? Day after day I sat teaching in the temple, and you did not arrest ME. But all this has taken place so that the writings of the Prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples deserted HIM and fled.

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 26, VERSES 47 - 56

JESUS Is Condemned by the Sanhedrin.

       Those who had arrested JESUS led HIM away to Caiaphas the high priest where the scribes and the elders had gathered. Meanwhile, Peter followed HIM at a distance up to the courtyard of the high priest. Then, going inside, he sat down with the attendants to see what the outcome would be.

       The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin tried to elicit some false testimony against JESUS so they could put HIM to death, but they failed in their efforts, even though many witnesses came forward with Perjured testimony. Finally, two men came forward who stated, "This man said, 'I can destroy the temple of GOD and rebuild it within three days.' "

       The high priest then rose and said to HIM, "Have YOU no reply to counter the testimony that these witnesses have given?" But JESUS remained silent. Then the high priest said to HIM, "I command YOU to tell us before THE LIVING GOD whether YOU are THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD." JESUS replied, "You have said it. But I tell you:

       From now on you will see THE SON OF MAN

          seated at the right hand of THE POWER and coming on the clouds of heaven."

       Then the high priest tore his robes and exclaimed, "HE has blasphemed! What need do we have for any further witnesses? Behold, you have just heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" They shouted in reply, "HE deserves to die." Then they spat in HIS face and struck HIM with their fists. Some taunted HIM as they beat HIM, "Prophesy to us, CHRIST! Who hit YOU?"

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 26, VERSES 57 - 68

Peter Denies JESUS.

       Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. One of the servant girls came over to him and said, "You too were with JESUS the Galilean." But he denied it before all of them, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about." When he walked out to the entrance gate, another servant girl caught sight of him and said to the people around her, "This man was with JESUS of Nazareth." And again he denied it, this time with an oath: "I do not know the man."

       Shortly afterward, some bystanders came up to Peter and said to him, "You unquestionably are one of them. Even your accent gives you away." Then Peter began to shout curses, and he swore an oath: "I do not know the man." At that very moment, a cock crowed, and Peter remembered what JESUS had said: "Before the cock crows, you will deny ME three times." And he went outside and began to weep uncontrollably.

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 26, VERSES 69 - 75

JESUS Is Handed Over to Pilate.

When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people met together in council to decide how to put HIM to death. They bound HIM and led HIM away, and handed HIM over to Pilate, the governor.

MATTHEW: CHAPTER, 27, VERSES 1 & 2

Judas Hangs Himself.

       When Judas discovered that JESUS, whom he betrayed, had been condemned he was seized with a sense of remorse, and he brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. "I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood." They replied, "Of what importance is that to us? That is your responsibility." Flinging the silver pieces into the temple, he departed. Then he went off and hanged himself.

       The chief priests retrieved the silver coins and said, "It is not lawful for us to deposit this into the temple treasury, for it is blood money." They conferred together, and then used it to purchase the potter's field as a buri-al place for foreigners. This is the reason why that field to this very day is called the Field of Blood.

       Thus was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:

       "And they took the thirty pieces of silver,

          the price set on his head by the people of Israel,

       and they used them to purchase the potter's field

          as THE LORD had commanded me."

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 27, VERSES 3 - 10

JESUS Is Questioned by Pilate.

       Meanwhile, JESUS was brought into the presence of the governor, who asked HIM, "Are YOU THE KING OF THE JEWS?" JESUS replied, "You have said so." And when HE was accused by the chief priests and the elders, HE offered no reply. Pilate then said to HIM, "Have YOU not heard how many charges they have brought against YOU?" But HE did not offer a single word in response, much to the governor's amazement.

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 27, VERSES 11 - 14

JESUS Is Sentenced to Death.

       Now on the occasion of the feast, the governor's custom was to release to the people one prisoner whom they had designated. At that particular time, they had in custody a notorious prisoner named Barabbas. Therefore, after the people had gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which man do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or JESUS who is called THE CHRIST?" For he knew that it was out of envy that they had handed HIM over.

       While he was still seated on the judge's bench, his wife sent him a message: "Have nothing to do with that innocent man. I have been greatly troubled today by a dream that I had about HIM."

       Meanwhile, the chief priests and the elders had persuaded the crowd to ask for the release of Barabbas and to have JESUS executed. Therefore, when the governor asked them, "Which of the two men do you want me to release to you?" they shouted, "Barabbas!" Pilate asked them, "Then what shall I do with JESUS who is called THE MESSIAH?" All of them shouted, "Let HIM be crucified!" He asked, "Why? What evil has HE done?" But they only screamed all the louder, "Let HIM be crucified!"

       When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere and that a riot was about to occur, he took some water and washed his hands in full view of the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood. It is your responsibility." With one voice the entire crowd cried out, "Let HIS blood be on us and on our children!" He then released Barabbas to them, and after JESUS had been scourged, he handed HIM over to be crucified.

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 27, VERSES 15 - 26

JESUS Is Crowned with Thorns.

       Then the governor's soldiers took JESUS inside the praetorium and gathered the whole cohort around HIM. They stripped HIM and put a scarlet robe on HIM, and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they placed it on HIS head and put a reed in HIS right hand. Then, bending the knee before HIM, they mocked HIM, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" They also spat upon HIM and, taking the reed, used it to strike HIM on the head. And when they had finished mocking HIM, they stripped HIM of the robe, dressed HIM in HIS own clothes, and led HIM away to crucify HIM.

MATTHEW: CHAPTER 27, VERSES 27 - 31