Holy Week Bible Readings, Day by Day (KJV)
Holy Week is the most densely recorded week in the Bible. Roughly a third of each Gospel is spent on these seven days. Below is a King James reading for every day from Palm Sunday to Resurrection Sunday, a short devotional for each, and free printables you can hand out at church.
Holy Week readings day by day
Palm Sunday — Matthew 21:1-11. The triumphal entry. Monday — Mark 11:12-19, the cleansing of the temple. Tuesday — Mark 11:20-13:37, the day of questions and the Olivet discourse. Wednesday — Matthew 26:1-16, the anointing at Bethany and the betrayal agreed.
Maundy Thursday — John 13-17, the upper room, the new commandment, and the high priestly prayer. Good Friday — John 18-19 or Luke 23. Saturday — Matthew 27:57-66, the sealed tomb and the silent day. Resurrection Sunday — John 20 or Luke 24.
Read one passage a day aloud. Nothing else is required. The week teaches itself if you simply let the Gospels set the pace.
"Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest."Matthew 21:9 (KJV) — read in context
"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."John 13:34 (KJV) — read in context
"Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost."Luke 23:46 (KJV) — read in context
Read these passages in the KJV Bible reader:
What happened on each day of Holy Week
The order matters. Sunday's crowd shouts Hosanna; by Friday a crowd shouts Crucify. Between the two the Gospels place the temple cleansing, the fig tree, the questions from the Pharisees, the widow's mite, and the Olivet discourse. Jesus is not swept along by events — He is teaching to the last hour.
Thursday's supper reframes Passover around Himself. Friday fulfils Isaiah 53 line by line. Saturday is the day the Bible says almost nothing about, and the silence is part of the story: the disciples spent a whole Sabbath believing it had ended.
Read these passages in the KJV Bible reader:
Keeping Holy Week at home or in a small church
You do not need a liturgy team. Light one candle on Thursday and read John 13. Cover a mirror or put away flowers on Friday. Read nothing on Saturday except Matthew 27:66 — let the silence stand. Then read John 20 out loud on Sunday morning before anything else happens.
For families with children, use the colouring pages and memory verses in the kids hub for Thursday and Friday, and save the resurrection page for Sunday.
Read these passages in the KJV Bible reader:
Free printable PDFs for Holy Week
Every printable is free, KJV, and cleared for church and classroom use — no signup, no watermark.
30 Verses for Easter (PDF)
Cuttable KJV scripture cards covering the cross and the resurrection.
30 Verses for Comfort (PDF)
For the Friday and Saturday of the week, and for anyone grieving through it.
Holy Week verse of the day
Add this free KJV verse widget to your church site for the week — it updates itself each day.
Copy the embed code
<iframe src="https://www.biblesundays.com/embed/verse?ref=isaiah-53-5&theme=paper&size=md" width="100%" height="260" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Holy Week verse of the day"></iframe>Frequently asked questions
What are the days of Holy Week called?
Palm Sunday, Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, Spy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Resurrection (Easter) Sunday.
What should I read each day of Holy Week?
Matthew 21 on Palm Sunday, Mark 11 on Monday, Mark 12-13 on Tuesday, Matthew 26:1-16 on Wednesday, John 13-17 on Thursday, John 18-19 on Friday, Matthew 27:57-66 on Saturday, and John 20 on Sunday.
Why is it called Maundy Thursday?
From the Latin mandatum, "commandment" — from John 13:34, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another."
Is Holy Week in the Bible?
The events are, in detail; the name is not. The Gospels devote long, consecutive chapters to these seven days, which is why the church has marked them since the earliest centuries.
Keep reading
Palm Sunday Hub
Where Holy Week begins.
Good Friday Hub
The seven sayings from the cross.
Easter Hub
Resurrection Sunday readings and printables.
Bible Reading Plans
Short plans to keep the momentum after Easter.
Thanksgiving Hub
A complete KJV Thanksgiving hub: verses to read at the table, a short family devotional, gratitude readings, a free printable verse pack, and a daily verse widget.
Advent Hub
A KJV Advent hub: what Advent means, the four candles explained, a daily Advent Scripture reading plan, wreath-lighting readings, and a free printable Advent plan.
Christmas Hub
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Pentecost Hub
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New Year Hub
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Ash Wednesday Hub
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Epiphany Hub
KJV Epiphany readings for January 6: the wise men, the star, the gifts, and what the feast means — with a short devotional and free printable verse cards.
Ascension Hub
KJV Ascension Day readings — Acts 1, Luke 24, and Ephesians 1 — what the ascension means, why it matters, and free printable verse cards.
Trinity Sunday Hub
KJV Trinity Sunday readings and the clearest Bible verses on Father, Son, and Holy Ghost — with a plain explanation and free printable verse cards.
All Saints Hub
KJV All Saints' Day readings — Revelation 7, Hebrews 11, and the Beatitudes — what a saint is in the Bible, plus free printable verse cards for remembrance.
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