Devine Scripture

Matthew 26:18

What does Matthew 26:18 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 26:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 26:18 means

Jesus instructs them to go into the city, find a certain man, and tell him the Teacher will keep the Passover at his house because 'my time is at hand.' Jesus claims authority and foreknowledge: he knows the place and timing and sends his disciples to arrange it. The designation 'Teacher' affirms his office; announcing his time is at hand reinforces the urgency. This verse shows Jesus’ control over events even as betrayal looms—he arranges the final meal in a way that fulfills his timetable and purpose.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Teacher saith, My time is at hand; I keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Teacher saith, My time is at hand; I keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he said to them, Go into the town to such a man, and say to him, The Master says, My time is near: I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and he said, `Go away to the city, unto such a one, and say to him, The Teacher saith, My time is nigh; near thee I keep the passover, with my disciples;'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But Jesus said: Go ye into the city to a certain man and say to him: The master saith, My time is near at hand. With thee I make the pasch with my disciples.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And he said, Go into the city unto such a one, and say to him, The Teacher says, My time is near, I will keep the passover in thy house with my disciples.

Context

This instruction follows the disciples’ question and moves the story toward the Last Supper arrangements. It demonstrates Jesus’ sovereign orchestration: despite conspiracies, he prepares the Passover in fulfillment of his purpose. The verse also introduces the theme of timing—Jesus’ 'time'—which recurs as he faces the cross, revealing divine control amid human plotting.

v.17Now on the firstdayof unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Where wilt thou that we make ready for thee to eat the passover?

v.18This passage

v.19And the disciples did as Jesus appointed them; and they made ready the passover.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Matthew 26:2

    Ye know that after two days the passover cometh, and the Son of man is delivered up to be crucified.

  • Matthew 26:49

    And straightway he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, Rabbi; and kissed him.

  • John 20:16

    Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turneth herself, and saith unto him in Hebrew, Rabboni; which is to say, Teacher.

  • John 7:30

    They sought therefore to take him: and no man laid his hand on him, because his hour was not yet come.

  • John 13:1

    Now before the feast of the passover, Jesus knowing that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own that were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

  • John 7:6

    Jesus therefore saith unto them, My time is not yet come; but your time is always ready.

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