Monday, January 12, 2015

Matthew 26:56-68

But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled. Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’” And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?”


Matthew doesn’t give an account of everything that occurred. See also Mark 14, Luke 22 and John 18. Jesus was taken before Annas (John 18:12-14, 19-23) before He was taken before Caiaphas.

"The order of Jesus' trials was as follows: (1) the hearing before Annas (John 18:12-14, 19-23); (2) the trial before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:57-68; 27:1); (3) the first appearance before (Matthew 27:2, 11-14); (4) an appearance before Herod (Luke 23:6-12); (5) a second trial before Pilate (Matthew 27:15-16)." (Ryrie)

disciples left him and fled - fulfilling the Lord’s prophecy in Matthew 26:31.

many false witnesses - "To establish a charge, two witnesses were required under Jewish law, and their testimony had to be in agreement." (Ryrie)

I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days. - The false witnesses (v 61) misstated what Jesus had said almost three years earlier (John 2:19, 21).

"Jesus had said this about three years before (John 2:19), but speaking of His body, not the temple building." (Ryrie)

Jesus remained silent - See Isa 53:7.

I adjure you by the living God - Jesus refused to respond to the false and illegal testimony of the witnesses. Caiaphas than put Him under oath, and under oath, Christ responded.

"Being under oath, Jesus had to reply." (Ryrie)

You have said so - the legal way of saying "yes"

but I tell you - probably in response to Caiaphas’ unbelief

Jesus’ response (v 64) is from Psalm 110:1 and Daniel 7:13. His reference to "coming on the clouds of heaven" may be a reference to His ascension to heaven to the place of power (see Daniel 7:13) or to His return. Or perhaps both.

the high priest tore his robes - "By the laws of the Hebrew people it was illegal for the Sanhedrin to meet in the night to try a case such as this, but they arraigned Him in the night. It was illegal for the Sanhedrin to pass sentence on the day that the prisoner was arrested, but they did it in this case in a few hours. It was distinctly ordered (Leviticus 21:10) that the high priest shall not rend his garments in the hour of sorrow or anguish." (Morgan)

By the act of tearing his robe, Caiaphas was, in effect, ending the Levitical priesthood for all time.

they spit in his face - See. Isa 50:6.

Prophesy to us - "Having blindfolded Him, they suggest He name His taunters (Luke 22:64)." (Ryrie)

"The regular place for the meeting of the Sanhedrin was in the temple, but they led Jesus away to the house of the high priest Caiaphas, situated in a place just outside the present wall of the city, where all the chief priests and elders and scribes had been summoned to meet. Nor was the legal hour of meeting for trials in the night. Other features in the illegality practiced in the trials of Jesus were: undue haste, seeking or bribing witnesses, neglecting to warn the witnesses solemnly before they should give evidence, forcing the accused to testify against Himself, judicial use of the prisoner’s confession, and failure to release the prisoner when there was failure of agreement between witnesses. In such a case as this, it was required that witnesses be found who could support the accusations made against the accused. The Sanhedrin had been quickly called together to conduct this trial and had had no opportunity to prepare witnesses. Thus, though many false witnesses bore testimony, the testimony bore no weight for it was not supported by two witnesses (Mark 14:56)." (Pentecost)

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