Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
19 Open for me the gates of the just king’s temple.[a]
I will enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the Lord’s gate—
the godly enter through it.
21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me,
and have become my deliverer.
22 The stone that the builders discarded[b]
has become the cornerstone.[c]
23 This is the Lord’s work.
We consider it amazing![d]
24 This is the day the Lord has brought about.[e]
We will be happy and rejoice in it.
25 Please, Lord, deliver!
Please, Lord, grant us success![f]
26 May the one who comes in the name of the Lord[g] be blessed.
We will pronounce blessings on you[h] in the Lord’s temple.[i]
27 The Lord is God, and he has delivered us.[j]
Tie the offering[k] with ropes
to the horns of the altar.[l]
28 You are my[m] God, and I will give you thanks.
You are my God and I will praise you.
29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good
and his loyal love endures.[n]
The Triumphal Entry
28 After Jesus[a] had said this, he continued on ahead,[b] going up to Jerusalem.[c] 29 Now[d] when he approached Bethphage[e] and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives,[f] he sent two of the disciples, 30 telling them,[g] “Go to the village ahead of you.[h] When[i] you enter it, you will find a colt tied there that has never been ridden.[j] Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs[k] it.’” 32 So those who were sent ahead found[l] it exactly[m] as he had told them. 33 As[n] they were untying the colt, its owners asked them,[o] “Why are you untying that colt?” 34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.” 35 Then[p] they brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks[q] on the colt,[r] and had Jesus get on[s] it. 36 As[t] he rode along, they[u] spread their cloaks on the road. 37 As he approached the road leading down from[v] the Mount of Olives,[w] the whole crowd of his[x] disciples began to rejoice[y] and praise[z] God with a loud voice for all the mighty works[aa] they had seen:[ab] 38 “Blessed is the king[ac] who comes in the name of the Lord![ad] Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 But[ae] some of the Pharisees[af] in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”[ag] 40 He answered,[ah] “I tell you, if they[ai] keep silent, the very stones[aj] will cry out!”
The Servant Perseveres
4 The Sovereign Lord has given me the capacity to be his spokesman,[a]
so that I know how to help the weary.[b]
He wakes me up every morning;
he makes me alert so I can listen attentively as disciples do.[c]
5 The Sovereign Lord has spoken to me clearly;[d]
I have not rebelled,
I have not turned back.
6 I offered my back to those who attacked,[e]
my jaws to those who tore out my beard;
I did not hide my face
from insults and spitting.
7 But the Sovereign Lord helps me,
so I am not humiliated.
For that reason I am steadfastly resolved;[f]
I know I will not be put to shame.
8 The one who vindicates me is close by.
Who dares to argue with me? Let us confront each other![g]
Who is my accuser?[h] Let him challenge me![i]
9 Look, the Sovereign Lord helps me.
Who dares to condemn me?
Look, all of them will wear out like clothes;
a moth will eat away at them.
9 Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress!
My eyes grow dim[a] from suffering.[b]
I have lost my strength.[c]
10 For my life nears its end in pain;
my years draw to a close as I groan.[d]
My strength fails me because of[e] my sin,
and my bones become brittle.[f]
11 Because of all my enemies, people disdain me;[g]
my neighbors are appalled by my suffering[h]—
those who know me are horrified by my condition;[i]
those who see me in the street run away from me.
12 I am forgotten, like a dead man no one thinks about;[j]
I am regarded as worthless, like a broken jar.[k]
13 For I hear what so many are saying,[l]
the terrifying news that comes from every direction.[m]
When they plot together against me,
they figure out how they can take my life.
14 But I trust in you, O Lord!
I declare, “You are my God!”
15 You determine my destiny.[n]
Rescue me from the power of my enemies and those who chase me.
16 Smile[o] on your servant.
Deliver me because of your faithfulness.
5 You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had,[a]
6 [b] who though he existed in the form of God[c]
did not regard equality with God
as something to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself
by taking on the form of a slave,[d]
by looking like other men,[e]
and by sharing in human nature.[f]
8 He humbled himself,
by becoming obedient to the point of death
—even death on a cross!
9 As a result God highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow
—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—
11 and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord
to the glory of God the Father.
The Lord’s Supper
14 Now[a] when the hour came, Jesus[b] took his place at the table[c] and the apostles joined[d] him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired[e] to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again[f] until it is fulfilled[g] in the kingdom of God.”[h] 17 Then[i] he took a cup,[j] and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit[k] of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”[l] 19 Then[m] he took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body[n] which is given for you.[o] Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And in the same way he took[p] the cup after they had eaten,[q] saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant[r] in my blood.
A Final Discourse
21 “But look, the hand of the one who betrays[s] me is with me on the table.[t] 22 For the Son of Man is to go just as it has been determined,[u] but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” 23 So[v] they began to question one another as to which of them it could possibly be who would do this.
24 A dispute also started[w] among them over which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.[x] 25 So[y] Jesus[z] said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’[aa] 26 Not so with you;[ab] instead the one who is greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader[ac] like the one who serves.[ad] 27 For who is greater, the one who is seated at the table,[ae] or the one who serves? Is it not[af] the one who is seated at the table? But I am among you as one[ag] who serves.
28 “You are the ones who have remained[ah] with me in my trials. 29 Thus[ai] I grant[aj] to you a kingdom,[ak] just as my Father granted to me, 30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit[al] on thrones judging[am] the twelve tribes of Israel.
31 “Simon,[an] Simon, pay attention![ao] Satan has demanded to have you all,[ap] to sift you like wheat,[aq] 32 but I have prayed for you, Simon,[ar] that your faith may not fail.[as] When[at] you have turned back,[au] strengthen[av] your brothers.” 33 But Peter[aw] said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!”[ax] 34 Jesus replied,[ay] “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow[az] today until you have denied[ba] three times that you know me.”
35 Then[bb] Jesus[bc] said to them, “When I sent you out with no money bag,[bd] or traveler’s bag,[be] or sandals, you didn’t lack[bf] anything, did you?” They replied,[bg] “Nothing.” 36 He said to them, “But now, the one who[bh] has a money bag must take it, and likewise a traveler’s bag[bi] too. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. 37 For I tell you that this scripture must be[bj] fulfilled in me, ‘And he was counted with the transgressors.’[bk] For what is written about me is being fulfilled.”[bl] 38 So[bm] they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.”[bn] Then he told them, “It is enough.”[bo]
On the Mount of Olives
39 Then[bp] Jesus[bq] went out and made his way,[br] as he customarily did, to the Mount of Olives,[bs] and the disciples followed him. 40 When he came to the place,[bt] he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”[bu] 41 He went away from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take[bv] this cup[bw] away from me. Yet not my will but yours[bx] be done.” 43 [Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And in his anguish[by] he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.][bz] 45 When[ca] he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping, exhausted[cb] from grief. 46 So[cc] he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you will not fall into temptation!”[cd]
Betrayal and Arrest
47 While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd appeared,[ce] and the man named Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He walked up[cf] to Jesus to kiss him.[cg] 48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”[ch] 49 When[ci] those who were around him saw what was about to happen, they said, “Lord, should[cj] we use our swords?”[ck] 50 Then[cl] one of them[cm] struck the high priest’s slave,[cn] cutting off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said,[co] “Enough of this!” And he touched the man’s[cp] ear and healed[cq] him. 52 Then[cr] Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard,[cs] and the elders who had come out to get him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs like you would against an outlaw?[ct] 53 Day after day when I was with you in the temple courts,[cu] you did not arrest me.[cv] But this is your hour,[cw] and that of the power[cx] of darkness!”
Jesus’ Condemnation and Peter’s Denials
54 Then[cy] they arrested[cz] Jesus,[da] led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house.[db] But Peter was following at a distance. 55 When they had made a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a slave girl,[dc] seeing him as he sat in the firelight, stared at him and said, “This man was with him too!” 57 But Peter[dd] denied it: “Woman,[de] I don’t know[df] him!” 58 Then[dg] a little later someone else[dh] saw him and said, “You are one of them too.” But Peter said, “Man,[di] I am not!” 59 And after about an hour still another insisted,[dj] “Certainly this man was with him, because he too is a Galilean.”[dk] 60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” At that moment,[dl] while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.[dm] 61 Then[dn] the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter, and Peter remembered the word of the Lord,[do] how he had said to him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.[dp]
63 Now[dq] the men who were holding Jesus[dr] under guard began to mock him and beat him. 64 They[ds] blindfolded him and asked him repeatedly,[dt] “Prophesy! Who hit you?”[du] 65 They also said many other things against him, reviling[dv] him.
66 When day came, the council of the elders of the people gathered together, both the chief priests and the experts in the law.[dw] Then[dx] they led Jesus[dy] away to their council[dz] 67 and said, “If[ea] you are the Christ,[eb] tell us.” But he said to them, “If[ec] I tell you, you will not[ed] believe, 68 and if[ee] I ask you, you will not[ef] answer. 69 But from now on[eg] the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand[eh] of the power[ei] of God.” 70 So[ej] they all said, “Are you the Son of God,[ek] then?” He answered[el] them, “You say[em] that I am.” 71 Then[en] they said, “Why do we need further testimony? We have heard it ourselves[eo] from his own lips!”[ep]
Jesus Brought Before Pilate
23 Then[eq] the whole group of them rose up and brought Jesus[er] before Pilate.[es] 2 They[et] began to accuse[eu] him, saying, “We found this man subverting[ev] our nation, forbidding[ew] us to pay the tribute tax[ex] to Caesar[ey] and claiming that he himself is Christ,[ez] a king.” 3 So[fa] Pilate asked Jesus,[fb] “Are you the king[fc] of the Jews?” He replied, “You say so.”[fd] 4 Then[fe] Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation[ff] against this man.” 5 But they persisted[fg] in saying, “He incites[fh] the people by teaching throughout all Judea. It started in Galilee and ended up here!”[fi]
Jesus Brought Before Herod
6 Now when Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 When[fj] he learned that he was from Herod’s jurisdiction,[fk] he sent him over to Herod,[fl] who also happened to be in Jerusalem[fm] at that time. 8 When[fn] Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform[fo] some miraculous sign.[fp] 9 So[fq] Herod[fr] questioned him at considerable length; Jesus[fs] gave him no answer. 10 The chief priests and the experts in the law[ft] were there, vehemently accusing him.[fu] 11 Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then,[fv] dressing him in elegant clothes,[fw] Herod[fx] sent him back to Pilate. 12 That very day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other,[fy] for prior to this they had been enemies.[fz]
Jesus Brought Before the Crowd
13 Then[ga] Pilate called together the chief priests, the[gb] leaders, and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading[gc] the people. When I examined him before you, I[gd] did not find this man guilty[ge] of anything you accused him of doing. 15 Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, he has done nothing[gf] deserving death.[gg] 16 I will therefore have him flogged[gh] and release him.”[gi]
18 But they all shouted out together,[gj] “Take this man[gk] away! Release Barabbas for us!” 19 (This[gl] was a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection[gm] started in the city, and for murder.)[gn] 20 Pilate addressed them once again because he wanted[go] to release Jesus. 21 But they kept on shouting,[gp] “Crucify, crucify[gq] him!” 22 A third time he said to them, “Why? What wrong has he done? I have found him guilty[gr] of no crime deserving death.[gs] I will therefore flog[gt] him and release him.” 23 But they were insistent,[gu] demanding with loud shouts that he be crucified. And their shouts prevailed. 24 So[gv] Pilate[gw] decided[gx] that their demand should be granted. 25 He released the man they asked for, who had been thrown in prison for insurrection and murder. But he handed Jesus over[gy] to their will.[gz]
The Crucifixion
26 As[ha] they led him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene,[hb] who was coming in from the country.[hc] They placed the cross on his back and made him carry it behind Jesus.[hd] 27 A great number of the people followed him, among them women[he] who were mourning[hf] and wailing for him. 28 But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem,[hg] do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves[hh] and for your children. 29 For this is certain:[hi] The days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore children, and the breasts that never nursed!’[hj] 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains,[hk] ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’[hl] 31 For if such things are done[hm] when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”[hn]
32 Two other criminals[ho] were also led away to be executed with him. 33 So[hp] when they came to the place that is called “The Skull,”[hq] they crucified[hr] him there, along with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 [But Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”][hs] Then[ht] they threw dice[hu] to divide his clothes.[hv] 35 The people also stood there watching, but the leaders ridiculed[hw] him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save[hx] himself if[hy] he is the Christ[hz] of God, his chosen one!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine,[ia] 37 and saying, “If[ib] you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription[ic] over him, “This is the king of the Jews.”
39 One of the criminals who was hanging there railed at him, saying, “Aren’t[id] you the Christ?[ie] Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying,[if] “Don’t[ig] you fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?[ih] 41 And we rightly so, for we are getting what we deserve for what we did, but this man has done nothing[ii] wrong.” 42 Then[ij] he said, “Jesus, remember me[ik] when you come in[il] your kingdom.” 43 And Jesus[im] said to him, “I tell you the truth,[in] today[io] you will be with me in paradise.”[ip]
44 It was now[iq] about noon,[ir] and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon,[is] 45 because the sun’s light failed.[it] The temple curtain[iu] was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!”[iv] And after he said this he breathed his last.
47 Now when the centurion[iw] saw what had happened, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent!”[ix] 48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts.[iy] 49 And all those who knew Jesus[iz] stood at a distance, and the women who had followed him from Galilee saw[ja] these things.
Jesus’ Burial
50 Now[jb] there was a man named Joseph who was a member of the council,[jc] a good and righteous man. 51 (He[jd] had not consented[je] to their plan and action.) He[jf] was from the Judean town[jg] of Arimathea, and was looking forward to[jh] the kingdom of God.[ji] 52 He went to Pilate and asked for the body[jj] of Jesus. 53 Then[jk] he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth,[jl] and placed it[jm] in a tomb cut out of the rock,[jn] where no one had yet been buried.[jo] 54 It was the day of preparation[jp] and the Sabbath was beginning.[jq] 55 The[jr] women who had accompanied Jesus[js] from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then[jt] they returned and prepared aromatic spices[ju] and perfumes.[jv]
On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.[jw]
Jesus Brought Before Pilate
23 Then[a] the whole group of them rose up and brought Jesus[b] before Pilate.[c] 2 They[d] began to accuse[e] him, saying, “We found this man subverting[f] our nation, forbidding[g] us to pay the tribute tax[h] to Caesar[i] and claiming that he himself is Christ,[j] a king.” 3 So[k] Pilate asked Jesus,[l] “Are you the king[m] of the Jews?” He replied, “You say so.”[n] 4 Then[o] Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation[p] against this man.” 5 But they persisted[q] in saying, “He incites[r] the people by teaching throughout all Judea. It started in Galilee and ended up here!”[s]
Jesus Brought Before Herod
6 Now when Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 When[t] he learned that he was from Herod’s jurisdiction,[u] he sent him over to Herod,[v] who also happened to be in Jerusalem[w] at that time. 8 When[x] Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform[y] some miraculous sign.[z] 9 So[aa] Herod[ab] questioned him at considerable length; Jesus[ac] gave him no answer. 10 The chief priests and the experts in the law[ad] were there, vehemently accusing him.[ae] 11 Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then,[af] dressing him in elegant clothes,[ag] Herod[ah] sent him back to Pilate. 12 That very day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other,[ai] for prior to this they had been enemies.[aj]
Jesus Brought Before the Crowd
13 Then[ak] Pilate called together the chief priests, the[al] leaders, and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading[am] the people. When I examined him before you, I[an] did not find this man guilty[ao] of anything you accused him of doing. 15 Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, he has done nothing[ap] deserving death.[aq] 16 I will therefore have him flogged[ar] and release him.”[as]
18 But they all shouted out together,[at] “Take this man[au] away! Release Barabbas for us!” 19 (This[av] was a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection[aw] started in the city, and for murder.)[ax] 20 Pilate addressed them once again because he wanted[ay] to release Jesus. 21 But they kept on shouting,[az] “Crucify, crucify[ba] him!” 22 A third time he said to them, “Why? What wrong has he done? I have found him guilty[bb] of no crime deserving death.[bc] I will therefore flog[bd] him and release him.” 23 But they were insistent,[be] demanding with loud shouts that he be crucified. And their shouts prevailed. 24 So[bf] Pilate[bg] decided[bh] that their demand should be granted. 25 He released the man they asked for, who had been thrown in prison for insurrection and murder. But he handed Jesus over[bi] to their will.[bj]
The Crucifixion
26 As[bk] they led him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene,[bl] who was coming in from the country.[bm] They placed the cross on his back and made him carry it behind Jesus.[bn] 27 A great number of the people followed him, among them women[bo] who were mourning[bp] and wailing for him. 28 But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem,[bq] do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves[br] and for your children. 29 For this is certain:[bs] The days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore children, and the breasts that never nursed!’[bt] 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains,[bu] ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’[bv] 31 For if such things are done[bw] when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”[bx]
32 Two other criminals[by] were also led away to be executed with him. 33 So[bz] when they came to the place that is called “The Skull,”[ca] they crucified[cb] him there, along with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 [But Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”][cc] Then[cd] they threw dice[ce] to divide his clothes.[cf] 35 The people also stood there watching, but the leaders ridiculed[cg] him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save[ch] himself if[ci] he is the Christ[cj] of God, his chosen one!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine,[ck] 37 and saying, “If[cl] you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription[cm] over him, “This is the king of the Jews.”
39 One of the criminals who was hanging there railed at him, saying, “Aren’t[cn] you the Christ?[co] Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying,[cp] “Don’t[cq] you fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?[cr] 41 And we rightly so, for we are getting what we deserve for what we did, but this man has done nothing[cs] wrong.” 42 Then[ct] he said, “Jesus, remember me[cu] when you come in[cv] your kingdom.” 43 And Jesus[cw] said to him, “I tell you the truth,[cx] today[cy] you will be with me in paradise.”[cz]
44 It was now[da] about noon,[db] and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon,[dc] 45 because the sun’s light failed.[dd] The temple curtain[de] was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!”[df] And after he said this he breathed his last.
47 Now when the centurion[dg] saw what had happened, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent!”[dh] 48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts.[di] 49 And all those who knew Jesus[dj] stood at a distance, and the women who had followed him from Galilee saw[dk] these things.
NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.