The St. Matthew Passion tells the story of the last two days in the life of Jesus. He is betrayed, tried, crucified and buried. Interspersed within the narrative sung by the Evangelist (tenor soloist), whose text is drawn from the Gospel of Saint Matthew, arias, choruses and chorales offer commentary on the action that the Evangelist describes.
PART ONE
An opening chorus of lamentation is interwoven with a chorale: O Lamb of God
Two days before Passover, Jesus tells His disciples that He will be crucified.
Chorale: Jesus, most dear to my heart
The high priest Caiaphas calls a council to discuss arresting and executing Jesus; they ask him not to do so during the festival, to avoid inciting the people to riot. In Bethany, a woman anoints Jesus' head with precious ointment, an action the disciples find wasteful. Jesus responds that the woman's kindness, in anticipation of His entombment, will be remembered forever.
Alto aria: Penance and remorse
The disciple Judas bargains with the high priests to betray Jesus; they offer him 30 pieces of silver as a reward.
Soprano aria: Bleed now, loving heart
At the Last Supper, Jesus tells the disciples that one of them will betray Him.
Chorale: I am the one, I should pay for this
Jesus identifies Judas as the one who will betray Him. He breaks bread and passes the cup of wine.
Soprano aria: Although my heart swims in tears
Jesus and the disciples go to the Mount of Olives.
Chorale: Recognize me, my guardian
Jesus tells the disciples that they will all be scattered that evening. At Peter's protests, Jesus responds that Peter will deny Him three times before the cock crows the next morning.
Chorale: I shall stand here beside you
Jesus and the disciples go to Gethsemane. Jesus goes to pray, taking Peter and two others to keep watch.
Tenor aria: I shall keep watch by my Jesus
Jesus prays: "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will."
Bass aria: Willingly I shall bring myself
Jesus finds the watchers sleeping and reproaches them. He prays once more.
Chorale: May what my God wills happen always
Jesus sees that the watchers are asleep again. He prays a third time. Jesus returns to the disciples. Judas approaches with armed men, having arranged to identify Jesus to them with a kiss. Jesus is arrested.
Soprano and alto duet: So my Jesus is now captured
Jesus orders the disciples to put their swords down. The disciples flee.
Chorale: O man, bewail your great sin
INTERMISSION
PARt TWO
Alto aria: Ah, now has my Jesus gone
Jesus is led to Caiaphas. Peter watches from a distance as Caiaphas asks witnesses to speak up so that Jesus might be put to death.
Chorale: I have been judged deceitfully by the world
False witnesses speak out against Jesus, who remains silent.
Tenor aria: Patience, even if false tongues stab me
When Caiaphas asks Jesus if He is the Messiah, the son of God, Jesus replies that He did not say so Himself, adding: "From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." Jesus is sentenced to death for blasphemy; the crowd spits on Him and strikes Him.
Chorale: Who has struck you in this way
Peter is identified as a follower of Jesus three times; each time, Peter denies it. When he hears the cock crow, Peter is reminded of Jesus' prediction. He weeps bitterly.
Alto aria: Have mercy
Chorale: Although I have strayed from you
The next morning, Jesus is handed over to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. Full of remorse, Judas tries to return the silver to the priests. Judas hangs himself.
Bass aria: Give me back my Jesus
At the trial, Jesus does not answer when asked if He is the Messiah.
Chorale: Commend your way
Pilate, who traditionally releases a prisoner during the festival, gives the people a choice between Jesus or the criminal Barabbas. Persuaded by the priests, the people choose to save Barabbas and demand that Jesus be crucified.
Chorale: How amazing is this punishment
Pilate asks the crowd what sins Jesus has committed.
Soprano aria: Out of love, my savior is willing to die
They merely cry out that Jesus be crucified. Pilate washes his hands, saying that he bears no responsibility for Jesus' fate. Barabbas is released; Jesus is scourged and handed over to be crucified.
Alto aria: If the tears on my cheeks can achieve nothing
Soldiers strip Jesus, crown Him with thorns, and mock him as "king of the Jews."
Chorale: O head full of blood and wounds
Jesus is led to be crucified; a Cyrene named Simon is forced to carry the cross.
Bass aria: Come, sweet cross, this is what I will say
At Golgotha, Jesus is hung on a cross along with two murderers. He is reviled by the crowd and the murderers.
Alto aria: See, Jesus had stretched out his hands to embrace us
Darkness falls on the land. Jesus cries out "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" He dies.
Chorale: When I one day must depart from here
The veil in the temple is torn. An earthquake breaks the land apart. The soldiers guarding the cross realize that Jesus was indeed the Son of God. Joseph of Arimathea asks Pilate for the body of Jesus.
Bass aria: Make yourself pure, my heart
Joseph lays the body in a tomb, sealing it with a large stone. Women watch over the tomb. The priests also stand guard, remembering that Jesus said He would rise from the dead in three days.
Chorus: We sit down with tears
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