Jesus Foretells His Death; a Woman Honors Him; Judas Plans Betrayal

26:1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he told his disciples, 26:2 "You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified." 26:3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people met together in the palace of the high priest, who was named Caiaphas. 26:4 They planned to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. 26:5 But they said, "Not during the feast, so that there won't be a riot among the people." 26:6 Now while Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, 26:7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of expensive perfumed oil, and she poured it on his head as he was at the table. 26:8 When the disciples saw this, they became indignant and said, "Why this waste? 26:9 It could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor!" 26:10 When Jesus learned of this, he said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a good service for me. 26:11 For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me! 26:12 When she poured this oil on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 26:13 I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her." 26:14 Then one of the twelve, the one named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 26:15 and said, "What will you give me to betray him into your hands?" So they set out thirty silver coins for him. 26:16 From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray him.

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Matthew 26:1-16 begins the passion story. Jesus says he will be crucified at Passover. Matthew then shows three responses to him: the leaders plot in secret, a woman gives costly honor, and Judas turns traitor for money.

Matthew marks a major turning point when Jesus finishes his teaching and speaks about what is coming. He says that in two days, at Passover, the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified. This shows that Jesus is not caught off guard. He knows the time, the place, and the kind of death ahead of him.

The mention of Passover is important. Passover carried the memory of God’s saving work for Israel. So Jesus’ death is placed inside God’s redemptive timing, not outside it.

The chief priests and elders then gather and plan to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. They want to avoid a riot during the feast. Their intent is evil, even while they try to manage the crowd.

Matthew then places the Bethany anointing between the plot of the leaders and the betrayal of Judas. A woman comes with very expensive perfume and pours it on Jesus’ head. The disciples are angry and call it waste. They think the money should have been given to the poor.

Jesus corrects them. He says she has done a good thing for him. He also says, “You will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.” He is not dismissing the poor. He is speaking of a unique moment before his death. The woman’s act is fitting because his burial is near. Jesus gives the meaning of the act himself.

Then Jesus says that wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, this woman’s deed will be remembered. Her hidden faithfulness is honored by Christ.

After that, Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, goes to the chief priests and asks what they will give him to betray Jesus. They offer him thirty silver coins. Judas then looks for a chance to hand Jesus over. The passage shows a sharp contrast: secret hatred, costly devotion, careless judgment, and greedy betrayal. Through it all, Jesus remains in control and speaks clearly about his coming cross.

• Jesus knowingly announces his crucifixion before it happens.
• Passover gives Jesus’ death redemptive and covenant meaning.
• The leaders plot in secret, but their evil plan does not surprise Jesus.
• The woman’s costly act is good because Jesus says it prepares him for burial.
• Jesus’ words about the poor do not cancel ordinary care for the poor.
• Judas’s betrayal is deliberate and blameworthy, not a small mistake.

• Do not use Jesus’ words about the poor to excuse indifference to the poor.
• Do not turn this passage into only a lesson about generosity and greed; it is mainly about Jesus’ coming death.
• Do not claim more than the text says about the woman’s inner thoughts.
• Do not treat the anointing as only a strict time marker; Matthew also uses it to contrast devotion, hostility, and betrayal.
• Do not soften Judas’s guilt by appealing to God’s plan.

Jesus says beforehand that he will be handed over and crucified at Passover. This places the cross inside God’s redemptive timing. The woman’s act is then given lasting memorial by Jesus, while Judas’s betrayal shows how human evil still acts freely and responsibly.

Let Jesus, not your own first reaction, define what is good. Honor Christ with costly devotion. Keep caring for the poor. And take warning from Judas: closeness to Jesus’ people is not the same as faithfulness.

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