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Holy Week · Year A

Palm Sunday (Sunday of the Passion)

March 29, 2026

Christ Mocked (The Crowning with Thorns), Hieronymus Bosch
Christ Mocked (The Crowning with Thorns), Hieronymus Bosch, c. 1510National Gallery, London
Four tormentors fill the frame, each one leaning in from a corner, each face a separate study in cruelty. Christ looks straight out at the viewer and does nothing.Let us test him with insult and torture, that we may find out how gentle he is: Wisdom writes the script, and Bosch painted the four men following it.Hieronymus BoschA Netherlandish painter of demons, hybrids and exact human cruelty, whose work was collected by Philip II and has never been fully explained.National Gallery, LondonFounded in 1824 by buying one banker's collection, and deliberately placed in Trafalgar Square so that people from every part of London could walk to it.National Gallery, London
LSB Three-Year Lectionary
GospelMatt. 26:1-27:66Mt 26:1-27:66Alt. GospelMatt. 27:11-66Mt 27:11-66Alt. GospelJohn 12:20-43Jn 12:20-43
EpistlePhil. 2:5-11Phil 2:5-11
Old TestamentIsa. 50:4-9aIs 50:4-9a
PsalterPs. 118:19-29Ps 118:19-29Alt. PsalmPs. 31:9-16Ps 31:9-16

Overview & Insights

“My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39)

Matthew contrasts the Jewish leaders and Judas, who conspire against Jesus, and even the disciples, who continue to lack understanding about Jesus’ impending death, with an unnamed woman who anoints Jesus for his burial, pointing toward his missional death to bring covenant renewal through the forgiveness of sins.

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Take it further: Matthew 26:1-27:66

Commentary

Commentary on Matthew 26:14-27:66Commentary on Mt 26:14-27:66 Working Preacher

An exegetical commentary on the passion narrative from betrayal to burial.

Matthew 26 CommentaryMt 26 Commentary Enduring Word

A verse by verse evangelical commentary covering the Last Supper through Gethsemane.

Matthew 27 Commentary: Jesus' Trial, Death, and BurialMt 27 Commentary: Jesus' Trial, Death, and Burial Enduring Word

A verse by verse evangelical commentary covering the trial, crucifixion, and burial.

Matthew 26 CommentaryMt 26 Commentary Precept Austin

Verse by verse devotional notes on the events leading into the passion.

Commentary on Matthew 26 by Matthew HenryCommentary on Mt 26 by Mt Henry Blue Letter Bible

A classic Puritan-era commentary on the betrayal and arrest of Jesus.

Background & Word Study

Matthew 26:1 CommentariesMt 26:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Parallel classic commentaries and Greek word study opening the passion narrative.

Matthew 14-28 overviewMt 14-28 overview BibleProject

Visual overview of the second half of Matthew, closing on the passion.

The Church Fathers

Matthew 26:1Mt 26:1 Catena Bible

Patristic comments keyed to the opening of the passion narrative.

Podcast

#1075: Sunday of the Passion (Palm Sunday) - March 29, 2026 Working Preacher (Sermon Brainwave)

Luther Seminary’s homiletics roundtable on this Sunday’s appointed texts, including Matthew 26:1-27:66.

Art & Music

Christ's Entry into Jerusalem Web Gallery of Art

Haydon's large canvas depicting the crowd greeting Jesus that opens this reading's arc.

Study Hub

Matthew 26, The Pulpit CommentaryMt 26, The Pulpit Commentary StudyLight

A homiletical outline commentary useful for sermon preparation.

Prep at sermons.com

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