Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
19 Open the gates of righteousness for me;
I will enter through them
and give thanks to the Lord.(A)
20 This is the Lord’s gate;
the righteous will enter through it.(B)
21 I will give thanks to you
because you have answered me
and have become my salvation.(C)
22 The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.(D)
23 This came from the Lord;
it is wondrous in our sight.(E)
24 This is the day the Lord has made;
let’s rejoice and be glad in it.(F)
25 Lord, save us!
Lord, please grant us success!(G)
26 He who comes in the name
of the Lord is blessed.(H)
From the house of the Lord we bless you.(I)
27 The Lord is God and has given us light.
Bind the festival sacrifice with cords
to the horns of the altar.(J)
28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks.
You are my God; I will exalt you.(K)
29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his faithful love endures forever.(L)
The Triumphal Entry
28 When(A) he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.(B) 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives,(C) he sent two of the disciples 30 and said, “Go into the village ahead of you. As you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say this: ‘The Lord needs it.’”
32 So those who were sent left and found it just as he had told them.(D) 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
34 “The Lord needs it,” they said. 35 Then(E) they brought it to Jesus, and after throwing their clothes on the colt, they helped Jesus get on it.(F) 36 As he was going along, they were spreading their clothes on the road.(G) 37 Now he came near the path down the Mount of Olives, and the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen:
38 Blessed is the King(H) who comes
in the name of the Lord.[a](I)
Peace in heaven
and glory(J) in the highest heaven!(K)
39 Some of the Pharisees from the crowd told him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”
40 He answered, “I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out.”(L)
The Obedient Servant
4 The Lord God has given me
the tongue of those who are instructed(A)
to know how to sustain the weary with a word.
He awakens me each morning;
he awakens my ear to listen like those being instructed.(B)
5 The Lord God has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious;
I did not turn back.(C)
6 I gave my back to those who beat me,
and my cheeks to those who tore out my beard.
I did not hide my face from scorn and spitting.(D)
9 Be gracious to me, Lord,
because I am in distress;(A)
my eyes are worn out from frustration—
my whole being[a] as well.(B)
10 Indeed, my life is consumed with grief
and my years with groaning;(C)
my strength has failed
because of my iniquity,[b]
and my bones waste away.(D)
11 I am ridiculed by all my adversaries
and even by my neighbors.
I am dreaded by my acquaintances;
those who see me in the street run from me.(E)
12 I am forgotten: gone from memory
like a dead person—like broken pottery.(F)
13 I have heard the gossip of many;
terror is on every side.(G)
When they conspired against me,
they plotted to take my life.(H)
Christ’s Humility and Exaltation
5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,
6 who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God(A)
as something to be exploited.[a]
7 Instead he emptied himself(B)
by assuming the form of a servant,(C)
taking on the likeness of humanity.(D)
And when he had come as a man,
8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.(E)
9 For this reason God highly exalted him(F)
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow(G)—
in heaven(H) and on earth
and under the earth(I)—
11 and every tongue(J) will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory(K) of God the Father.
The First Lord’s Supper
14 When(A) the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 Then he said to them, “I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again[a] until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”(B) 17 Then he took a cup,(C) and after giving thanks,(D) he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 And he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is my body,(E) which is given for you. Do this in remembrance (F) of me.”
20 In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant(G) in my blood,(H) which is poured out for you.[b] 21 But(I) look, the hand of the one betraying me is at the table with me.(J) 22 For the Son of Man will go away as it has been determined,(K) but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!”
23 So they began to argue(L) among themselves which of them it could be who was going to do it.
The Dispute over Greatness
24 Then a dispute also arose among them about who should be considered the greatest.(M) 25 But he said to them,(N) “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who have authority over them have themselves called[c] ‘Benefactors.’ 26 It is not to be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever is greatest among you should become like the youngest,(O) and whoever leads, like the one serving. 27 For who is greater, the one at the table or the one serving? Isn’t it the one at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.(P) 28 You are those who stood by me in my trials.(Q) 29 I bestow on you a kingdom,(R) just as my Father bestowed one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom.(S) And you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.(T)
Peter’s Denial Predicted
31 “Simon, Simon,[d] look out. Satan(U) has asked to sift you[e] like wheat.(V) 32 But I have prayed(W) for you[f] that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen(X) your brothers.”
33 “Lord,”(Y) he told him, “I’m ready to go with you both to prison and to death.”
34 “I tell you, Peter,” he said, “the rooster will not crow today until[g] you deny three times that you know me.”
Be Ready for Trouble
35 He also said to them, “When I sent you out(Z) without money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?”
“Not a thing,” they said.
36 Then he said to them, “But now, whoever has a money-bag should take it, and also a traveling bag. And whoever doesn’t have a sword should sell his robe and buy one. 37 For I tell you, what is written must be fulfilled in me: [h] And he was counted among the lawless.[i](AA) Yes, what is written about me is coming to its fulfillment.”(AB)
38 “Lord,” they said, “look, here are two swords.”
“That is enough!” he told them.
The Prayer in the Garden
39 He went out and made his way(AC) as usual(AD) to the Mount of Olives,(AE) and the disciples followed him. 40 When he reached the place,(AF) he told them, “Pray that you may not fall into temptation.”(AG) 41 Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and began to pray,(AH) 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup(AI) away from me—nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
43 Then an angel from heaven(AJ) appeared to him, strengthening him. 44 Being in anguish,(AK) he prayed more fervently, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.[j] 45 When he got up from prayer and came to the disciples, he found them sleeping, exhausted from their grief. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you won’t fall into temptation.”
Judas’s Betrayal of Jesus
47 While(AL) he was still speaking, suddenly a mob came, and one of the Twelve named Judas was leading them. He came near Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
49 When those around him saw what was going to happen, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” 50 Then one of them struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear.
51 But Jesus responded, “No more of this!” And touching his ear, he healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple police, and the elders who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal?[k] 53 Every day while I was with you in the temple,(AM) you never laid a hand on me. But this is your hour(AN) —and the dominion of darkness.”(AO)
Peter Denies His Lord
54 They seized him, led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. Meanwhile Peter(AP) was following at a distance. 55 They(AQ) lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard(AR) and sat down together, and Peter sat among them. 56 When a servant saw him sitting in the light, and looked closely at him, she said, “This man was with him too.”
57 But he denied it: “Woman, I don’t know him.”
58 After a little while, someone else saw him and said, “You’re one of them too.”
“Man, I am not!” Peter said.
59 About an hour later, another kept insisting, “This man was certainly with him, since he’s also a Galilean.”
60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61 Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter.(AS) So Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”(AT) 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Jesus Mocked and Beaten
63 The men who were holding Jesus started mocking and beating him.(AU) 64 After blindfolding him, they kept[l] asking, “Prophesy! Who was it that hit you?” 65 And they were saying many other blasphemous(AV) things to him.
Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin
66 When daylight came,(AW) the elders[m] of the people, both the chief priests and the scribes,(AX) convened and brought him before their Sanhedrin.(AY) 67 They said,(AZ) “If you are the Messiah, tell us.”
But he said to them, “If I do tell you, you will not believe. 68 And if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”(BA)
70 They all asked, “Are you, then, the Son of God?” (BB)
And he said to them, “You say that I am.”(BC)
71 “Why do we need any more testimony,” they said, “since we’ve heard it ourselves from his mouth?”
Jesus Faces Pilate
23 Then(BD) their whole assembly rose up and brought him before Pilate. 2 They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation, opposing payment of taxes(BE) to Caesar, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.”
3 So Pilate asked him,(BF) “Are you the king of the Jews?” (BG)
He answered him, “You say so.”[n]
4 Pilate then told the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no grounds(BH) for charging this man.”
5 But they kept insisting, “He stirs up the people,(BI) teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee(BJ) where he started even to here.”
Jesus Faces Herod Antipas
6 When Pilate(BK) heard this,[o] he asked if the man was a Galilean. 7 Finding that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod,(BL) who was also in Jerusalem during those days. 8 Herod was very glad to see Jesus; for a long time he had wanted to see him because he had heard about him and was hoping to see some miracle[p] performed by him. 9 So he kept asking him questions, but Jesus did not answer him.(BM) 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod, with his soldiers, treated him with contempt, mocked(BN) him, dressed him in bright clothing,(BO) and sent him back to Pilate. 12 That very day Herod and Pilate became friends.[q](BP) Previously, they had been enemies.
Jesus or Barabbas
13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people,(BQ) 14 and said to them, “You have brought me this man as one who misleads the people.(BR) But in fact, after examining him in your presence, I have found no grounds(BS) to charge this man with those things you accuse him of. 15 Neither has Herod, because he sent him back to us. Clearly, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will have him whipped[r](BT) and then release him.”[s]
18 Then(BU) they all cried out together, “Take this man away!(BV) Release Barabbas to us!” 19 (He had been thrown into prison for a rebellion that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)
20 Wanting to release Jesus,(BW) Pilate addressed them again, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify! Crucify him!”
22 A third time he said to them, “Why? What has this man done wrong?(BX) I have found in him no grounds(BY) for the death penalty. Therefore, I will have him whipped and then release him.”
23 But they kept up the pressure, demanding with loud voices that he be crucified, and their voices[t] won out. 24 So(BZ) Pilate decided to grant their demand(CA) 25 and released the one they were asking for, who had been thrown into prison for rebellion and murder. But he handed Jesus over to their will.(CB)
The Way to the Cross
26 As(CC) they led him away, they seized Simon, a Cyrenian,(CD) who was coming in from the country, and laid the cross(CE) on him to carry behind Jesus. 27 A large crowd of people followed him, including women who were mourning and lamenting him.(CF) 28 But turning to them, Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem,(CG) do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and your children. 29 Look, the days are coming(CH) when they will say, ‘Blessed are the women without children, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed!’(CI) 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ [u](CJ) 31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”(CK)
Crucified Between Two Criminals
32 Two others—criminals(CL)—were also led away to be executed with him. 33 When(CM) they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father,(CN) forgive(CO) them, because they do not know what they are doing.”[v](CP) And they divided his clothes and cast lots.(CQ)
35 The(CR) people stood watching, and even the leaders were scoffing:(CS) “He saved others; let him save himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!” (CT) 36 The soldiers also mocked him. They came offering him sour wine(CU) 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews,(CV) save yourself!”
38 An inscription was above him:[w] This Is the King of the Jews.
39 Then(CW) one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at[x] him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God,(CX) since you are undergoing the same punishment? 41 We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.”(CY) 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me[y](CZ) when you come into your kingdom.”(DA)
43 And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”(DB)
The Death of Jesus
44 It(DC) was now about noon,[z] and darkness came over the whole land[aa] until three,[ab] 45 because the sun’s light failed.[ac] The curtain(DD) of the sanctuary was split down the middle. 46 And Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.”[ad](DE) Saying this, he breathed his last.
47 When the centurion saw what happened, he began to glorify(DF) God, saying, “This man really was righteous!” [ae] 48 All the crowds that had gathered for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, went home, striking their chests.(DG) 49 But(DH) all who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance,(DI) watching these things.
The Burial of Jesus
50 There(DJ) was a good and righteous man named Joseph, a member of the Sanhedrin, 51 who had not agreed with their plan(DK) and action. He was from Arimathea, a Judean town, and was looking forward to the kingdom of God.(DL) 52 He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus’s body. 53 Taking it down, he wrapped it in fine linen and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever been placed.[af](DM) 54 It was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.[ag] 55 The women(DN) who had come with him from Galilee followed along and observed the tomb and how his body was placed. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes.(DO) And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.(DP)
Jesus Faces Pilate
23 Then(A) their whole assembly rose up and brought him before Pilate. 2 They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation, opposing payment of taxes(B) to Caesar, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.”
3 So Pilate asked him,(C) “Are you the king of the Jews?” (D)
He answered him, “You say so.”[a]
4 Pilate then told the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no grounds(E) for charging this man.”
5 But they kept insisting, “He stirs up the people,(F) teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee(G) where he started even to here.”
Jesus Faces Herod Antipas
6 When Pilate(H) heard this,[b] he asked if the man was a Galilean. 7 Finding that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod,(I) who was also in Jerusalem during those days. 8 Herod was very glad to see Jesus; for a long time he had wanted to see him because he had heard about him and was hoping to see some miracle[c] performed by him. 9 So he kept asking him questions, but Jesus did not answer him.(J) 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod, with his soldiers, treated him with contempt, mocked(K) him, dressed him in bright clothing,(L) and sent him back to Pilate. 12 That very day Herod and Pilate became friends.[d](M) Previously, they had been enemies.
Jesus or Barabbas
13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people,(N) 14 and said to them, “You have brought me this man as one who misleads the people.(O) But in fact, after examining him in your presence, I have found no grounds(P) to charge this man with those things you accuse him of. 15 Neither has Herod, because he sent him back to us. Clearly, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will have him whipped[e](Q) and then release him.”[f]
18 Then(R) they all cried out together, “Take this man away!(S) Release Barabbas to us!” 19 (He had been thrown into prison for a rebellion that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)
20 Wanting to release Jesus,(T) Pilate addressed them again, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify! Crucify him!”
22 A third time he said to them, “Why? What has this man done wrong?(U) I have found in him no grounds(V) for the death penalty. Therefore, I will have him whipped and then release him.”
23 But they kept up the pressure, demanding with loud voices that he be crucified, and their voices[g] won out. 24 So(W) Pilate decided to grant their demand(X) 25 and released the one they were asking for, who had been thrown into prison for rebellion and murder. But he handed Jesus over to their will.(Y)
The Way to the Cross
26 As(Z) they led him away, they seized Simon, a Cyrenian,(AA) who was coming in from the country, and laid the cross(AB) on him to carry behind Jesus. 27 A large crowd of people followed him, including women who were mourning and lamenting him.(AC) 28 But turning to them, Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem,(AD) do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and your children. 29 Look, the days are coming(AE) when they will say, ‘Blessed are the women without children, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed!’(AF) 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ [h](AG) 31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”(AH)
Crucified Between Two Criminals
32 Two others—criminals(AI)—were also led away to be executed with him. 33 When(AJ) they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father,(AK) forgive(AL) them, because they do not know what they are doing.”[i](AM) And they divided his clothes and cast lots.(AN)
35 The(AO) people stood watching, and even the leaders were scoffing:(AP) “He saved others; let him save himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!” (AQ) 36 The soldiers also mocked him. They came offering him sour wine(AR) 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews,(AS) save yourself!”
38 An inscription was above him:[j] This Is the King of the Jews.
39 Then(AT) one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at[k] him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God,(AU) since you are undergoing the same punishment? 41 We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.”(AV) 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me[l](AW) when you come into your kingdom.”(AX)
43 And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”(AY)
The Death of Jesus
44 It(AZ) was now about noon,[m] and darkness came over the whole land[n] until three,[o] 45 because the sun’s light failed.[p] The curtain(BA) of the sanctuary was split down the middle. 46 And Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.”[q](BB) Saying this, he breathed his last.
47 When the centurion saw what happened, he began to glorify(BC) God, saying, “This man really was righteous!” [r] 48 All the crowds that had gathered for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, went home, striking their chests.(BD) 49 But(BE) all who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance,(BF) watching these things.
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