Holy Week Bible Reading Plan: All Four Gospels — Daniel Fast Journey

Are you looking for a Bible reading plan for your devotional time during Holy Week? Holy Week, also known as Passion Week, is observed the week leading up to Easter Sunday. It is a time to remember and reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

For Christians, this is a time of repentance and forgiveness. It is a time to remember that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus. Although it's easy to take the fundamentals of our faith for granted, we should never lose a sense of awe and reverence for what Jesus did for us on the cross.

While Easter Sunday is a joyous occasion commemorating Jesus' resurrection, Passion Week is a time for somber reflection. Sometimes we'd rather avoid the difficult parts of the story, but they amplify all the more the amazing grace and love God has for us!

One way to focus your thoughts on the events of Passion Week is to read through the gospels. Below, we have a general Holy Week reading plan and then individual plans for each of the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, chronologically covering the final week of Jesus’ life.

An Overview of Holy Week

Here's a brief overview of events that took place in Jesus’ last week. You can also see how Jesus followers frequently commemorate these days and the Bible stories corresponding to each day.

There are passages from all four gospels for the entire week.

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday falls on the Sunday before Easter. It commemorates Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, where he was greeted by crowds of people waving palm branches and chanting "Hosanna!"

In many churches, this day is celebrated with a procession of worshipers carrying palm branches or palm branches are handed out to the congregation. The palms are a symbolic reminder of how Jesus entered Jerusalem.

Palm Sunday Bible Readings:

Matthew 21:1-11

Mark 11:1-11

Luke 19:28-42

John 12:12-19

Holy Monday

On Monday, we remember Jesus' cleansing of the temple. This event is recorded in all four gospels. He also makes prophetic statements about what the temple and its destruction.

Bible Readings for Monday:

Matthew 21:12-22

Mark 11:15-26

Luke 19:43-48

John 2:13-22

Holy Tuesday

On Tuesday, we remember Jesus' teaching in the temple and his interactions with the religious leaders. Although there are some differences in parables and teachings, all four gospels contain stories of Jesus’ interactions between His arrival in Jerusalem and His crucifixion.

Bible Readings for Tuesday:

Matthew 21:23-22:46

Mark 11:27-13:37

Luke 20:1-47

John 12:23-50

Spy Wednesday

Spy Wednesday gets its name from the fact that Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' twelve disciples agreed to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.

Bible Readings for Wednesday:

Matthew 26:3-16

Mark 14:1-11

Luke 22:1-6

John 13:21-30

Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday)

Holy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper when Jesus washed the disciple’s feet and chose to break bread with them for the final time.

"Maundy" comes from the Latin word mandatum which means command or order. It refers to Jesus' instruction to serve one another and His example: He humbled Himself to wash their feet.

Thursday services sometimes feature a ceremonial foot washing and celebration of communion, as Jesus instituted this sacrament on this day.

Bible Readings for Thursday:

Matthew 26:17-30

Mark 14:12-50

Luke 22:7-65

John 13:1-18:27*

*The passage in John is longer, but it contains the intimate teaching, conversation, and prayer Jesus had with His disciples.

Good Friday

Good Friday is the day we reflect on Jesus' crucifixion and death. It is a day of fasting and somber prayer, as we remember all that Jesus went through for us. Events of this day include Jesus being tried by the Sanhedrin, appearing before Pilate, being mocked and beaten, and then crucified.

Bible Readings for Friday:

Matthew 27:1-54

Mark 14:55-15:39

Luke 22:66-23:48

John 18:28-19:37

Holy Saturday

Holy Saturday is a day of waiting and reflection as we remember Jesus' death and anticipate his resurrection. We are reminded that enduring periods of waiting are essential to receiving the promises of God.

Although nothing happened on the Sabbath day, we can read about the devotion of the disciples including the women who followed Jesus. And, we see the kindness of Joseph of Arimathea who summoned the courage to approach Pilate and ask for the body of Jesus. He then wrapped Him in clean cloths and laid Him in his tomb.

Bible Readings for Saturday:

Matthew 27:55-66

Mark 15:40-47

Luke 23:50-56

John 19:38-42

Easter Sunday

On Easter Sunday, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ! He is risen, as He said He would! This is the day of ultimate hope and joy for Christians around the world.

Bible Readings for Resurrection Sunday:

Matthew 28:1-10

Mark 16:1-8

Luke 24:1-12

John 20:1-22

Holy Week Bible Reading Plans by Gospel

Although you might choose to read all Bible passages associated with each day of Passion Week, that can be quite a lot. Instead, you may choose one gospel and read through that particular account from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday.

The great thing about this approach is that you can read a different account each year for a fresh perspective. Here are the Bible reading plans by gospel.

Gospel of Matthew

Palm Sunday - Matthew 21:1-11

Holy Monday Matthew 21:12-22

Holy Tuesday - Matthew 21:23-22:46

Spy Wednesday - Matthew 26:3-16

Maundy Thursday - Matthew 26:17-30

Good Friday - Matthew 27:1-54

Holy Saturday - Matthew 27:55-66

Resurrection/Easter Sunday - Matthew 28:1-10