Bible Reading Plan for Holy Week: A 7-Day Guide from Palm Sunday to Easter
Matt · May 20, 2026
A Bible reading plan for Holy Week walks through the final eight days of Jesus' life one day at a time, starting on Palm Sunday and ending on Easter morning. Each day pairs the gospel account of what happened that day with a related psalm or prophetic passage so the week reads like a single, unfolding story.
Why Holy Week deserves its own reading plan
Roughly a third of each gospel is spent on the last week of Jesus' life. The writers slow down on purpose. If you treat the passion narrative as just another stretch of New Testament reading, you race past the heart of the story. A dedicated Holy Week plan does the opposite — it lingers, gives one day to each scene, and lets the events land in real time as the week progresses.
It also turns Easter morning into something you've been walking toward rather than something that arrives all at once on Sunday.
A simple 8-day reading plan
Here's a plan you can start the Saturday before Palm Sunday. Each day takes about 10 to 15 minutes.
Palm Sunday — The triumphal entry Matthew 21:1-11 and Zechariah 9:9-12. The donkey, the cloaks, the shouts of "Hosanna." Zechariah shows you that the entry was a prophecy fulfillment, not a coincidence.
Monday — Cleansing the temple Mark 11:12-25. Jesus curses the fig tree and overturns the money changers' tables. Read it slowly — the two scenes interpret each other.
Tuesday — Teaching in the temple Matthew 22:15-46 and Matthew 24:1-14. Jesus answers traps from the Pharisees and Sadducees, then begins his Olivet discourse about the end of the age.
Wednesday — The plot and the anointing Matthew 26:1-16. The leaders conspire, a woman pours expensive perfume on Jesus' head, and Judas agrees to betray him for thirty pieces of silver. Three scenes, one chapter.
Maundy Thursday — The last supper and Gethsemane John 13-17 and Matthew 26:36-56. John's account contains the longest recorded teaching of Jesus, including the new commandment to love one another. End your reading in the garden with the arrest.
Good Friday — The crucifixion John 18-19 and Psalm 22. Read the gospel account first, then read the psalm David wrote roughly a thousand years earlier. The overlap is staggering.
Holy Saturday — The tomb Matthew 27:57-66 and Lamentations 3:1-33. A day of silence. The grief of Lamentations gives words to a day when nothing seems to be happening.
Easter Sunday — The resurrection John 20-21 and 1 Corinthians 15:1-28. Start with the empty tomb in John, then read Paul's explanation of why the resurrection changes everything.
How to get the most out of the week
Read at the same time each day so the rhythm carries you through. Pair each reading with a single question: what did Jesus do today, and what did it mean for the people watching? If you keep a journal, jot one sentence of response per day — by Sunday you'll have a short personal record of the week.
If you're using a daily Bible app like Bible In A Year, most plans don't pause for Holy Week — they keep marching through whatever book they're on. Some readers run their normal plan alongside this Holy Week plan as a separate, seasonal track. It's only an extra 10-15 minutes per day for one week.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Holy Week start and end?
Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday and ends on Holy Saturday, with Easter Sunday celebrated the following day. The eight-day stretch from Palm Sunday through Easter is what most reading plans cover.
Can I do this plan if I've never read the Gospels before?
Yes. Holy Week is actually one of the best entry points into the Gospels because the events are so concentrated and the story is so familiar. Reading John alongside Matthew gives you both the action and the meaning side by side.
What translation works best for Holy Week reading?
A readable translation like the NIV, NLT, or CSB works well for narrative passages, while the ESV or NASB serves better if you want to study word choices carefully. Pick the one you'll actually read each day.
Should I read these in chronological order or by gospel?
Chronological order — by day of the week — gives you the strongest sense of the unfolding story. Reading one gospel straight through is great in other seasons, but Holy Week is the time to feel the events happen in real time.