--- title: "Two Days Before the Passover" description: "Tensions reach a breaking point as local leaders plot a secret arrest, a mysterious act of devotion stirs controversy, and an insider strikes a deal to hand over a wanted man." image: "" book: "Matthew" bookId: "MAT" testament: "new" startChapter: 26 startVerse: 1 endChapter: 26 endVerse: 19 coversChapters: [26] aiTitle: "High-Stakes Betrayal and Impending Conflict: The Siege on the Teacher" aiDescription: "Tensions reach a breaking point as local leaders plot a secret arrest, a mysterious act of devotion stirs controversy, and an insider strikes a deal to hand over a wanted man." hasAiStory: true location: "Bethany" persons: ["Caiaphas","Chief Priests","Disciples","Elders","Jesus","Judas Iscariot","Simon the Leper","Twelve"] hashtags: ["betrayal","gospel","redemption","suffering"] genre: "gospel" readingTime: 2 type: "adaptive" slug: "MAT/two-days-before-the-passover" canonicalId: "MAT.26.1-26.19" chronologicalOrder: 1454 relatedSlugs: ["MRK/two-days-before-passover","JHN/mary-anoints-jesus-the-plot-to-kill-lazarus","LUK/passover-approaching","LUK/a-sinful-woman-anoints-jesus-women-minister-to-jesus","TIT/heirs-of-grace-avoid-divisions-final-remarks-and-greetings","DEU/treatment-of-the-needy","JHN/jesus-washes-his-disciples-feet","JHN/jesus-goes-to-jerusalem-in-secret","EXO/the-passover","MAT/the-king-of-the-community","ZEC/thirty-pieces-of-silver"] prevSlug: "MAT/the-sheep-and-the-goats" nextSlug: "MAT/the-last-supper" --- The clock is ticking on a massive confrontation. Public figures, including the high priest [Caiaphas](/persons/caiaphas), have gathered behind closed doors to orchestrate the secret arrest of the man known as the Teacher. Fearing a public uprising, these leaders are desperate to avoid a riot while they map out their strategy to eliminate Him before the upcoming Passover festival. Amidst this mounting pressure, a touching scene unfolded at a local home. A woman approached the Teacher and poured a bottle of incredibly expensive, rare perfume over His head. While some bystanders were outraged by what they called a 'waste' of resources that could have funded aid for the poor, the Teacher defended her actions as a beautiful and necessary tribute. The Teacher revealed the gravity of the situation, explaining that this act served a somber purpose: it was, in effect, a preparation for His upcoming burial. He challenged those critical of the woman, noting that while the poor will always be around, His time with them is now rapidly coming to an end. The most shocking update comes from within the inner circle itself. [Judas Iscariot](/persons/judas%20iscariot), one of the Teacher's own hand-picked group, has initiated contact with the [chief priests](/persons/chief%20priests). Sources confirm a deal has been struck for thirty pieces of silver, and Judas is now actively scouting for the perfect window of opportunity to hand his leader over to the authorities. Meanwhile, as the Feast of Unleavened Bread begins, the Teacher has ordered His [disciples](/persons/disciples) to coordinate secret preparations for a final meal. Following His specific instructions to meet a contact in the city, the team is currently finalizing arrangements to host this last Passover gathering. ### The Plot to Kill Jesus When [Jesus](/persons/jesus) had finished saying all these things, He told His [disciples](/persons/disciples), “You know that the Passover is two days away, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” At that time the [chief priests](/persons/chief%20priests) and [elders](/persons/elders) of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, whose name was [Caiaphas](/persons/caiaphas), and they conspired to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him. “But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.” ### Jesus Anointed at Bethany While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of [Simon the Leper](/persons/simon%20the%20leper), a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, which she poured on His head as He reclined at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant and asked, “Why this waste? This perfume could have been sold at a high price, and the money given to the poor.” Aware of this, Jesus asked, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful deed to Me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me. By pouring this perfume on Me, she has prepared My body for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached in all the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.” ### Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus Then one of the [Twelve](/persons/twelve), the one called [Judas Iscariot](/persons/judas%20iscariot), went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver. So from then on Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus. ### Preparing the Passover On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” He answered, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him that the Teacher says, ‘My time is near. I will keep the Passover with My disciples at your house.’” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

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