WE ARE STUDYING THE FOUR GOSPELS MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE AND JOHN TO KNOW THE LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST.
TO KNOW HIM IS TO LOVE HIM.
Matthew 26:57-68
Jesus before Caiaphas and the Council
And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.
Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,
And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.
Jesus saith unto him,
“Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”
the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.
Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,
Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?
Frederick Brotherton Meyer, a contemporary and friend of D. L. Moody and A. C. Dixon, was a Baptist pastor and evangelist in England involved in ministry and inner city mission work on both sides of the Atlantic presents it to us this way regarding Matthew 26:57-68.
THE TRUE ANSWER TO FALSE WITNESS
This meeting of the Jewish leaders had been hastily summoned; but their difficulty was to substantiate a charge that would warrant the death sentence. They had to go back to the beginning of Christ’s ministry for the one charge that seemed sufficient for their purpose. But see Joh_2:19; Mar_14:58. In the meanwhile our Lord opened not His mouth. He left His reputation in the care of the Father, to whom He also committed His soul. It is a good example to follow. Do what is right and let God vindicate you!
It was only when Jesus was directly challenged as to His unique relationship to God, that He opened His lips. There is an evident reference in His words to Dan_7:13-14. The court instantly recognized that in His reply He claimed to be equal with God. To be the Son of God was to be God. See also Joh_5:18. Note that word henceforth, which suggests that though it is hidden from us, the Kingdom is already set up, as was David’s even when Saul was still on the throne.
William MacDonald (1917-2007) Believer’s Bible Commentary on Matthew 26:57-68.
Jesus before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin
26:57 There were two main trials of the Lord Jesus: a religious trial before the Jewish leaders, and a civil trial before the Roman authorities. Combining the accounts from all four Gospels shows that each trial had three stages. John’s account of the Jewish trial shows that Jesus was first brought before Caiaphas’ father-in-law, Annas. Matthew’s account begins with the second stage at the home of Caiaphas, the high priest. The Sanhedrin were assembled there. Ordinarily, accused men were given an opportunity to prepare their defense. But the desperate religious leaders hurried Jesus away from prison and justice (Isa_53:8), in every way denying Him a fair trial.
On this particular night, the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, and elders who comprised the Sanhedrin showed an utter disregard for the rules under which they were supposed to operate. They were not supposed to meet at night nor during any of the Jewish feasts. They were not supposed to bribe witnesses to commit perjury. A death verdict was not to be carried out until a night had elapsed. And, unless they met in the Hall of Hewn Stone, in the temple area, their verdicts were not binding. In their eagerness to get rid of Jesus, the Jewish establishment did not hesitate to stoop to breaking their own laws.
26:58 Caiaphas was the presiding judge. The Sanhedrin apparently served as both jury and prosecution, an irregular combination, to say the least. Jesus was the Defendant. And Peter was a spectator—from a safe distance; he sat with the guards to see the end.
26:59-61 The Jewish leaders had a difficult time finding false testimony against Jesus. They would have been more successful had they fulfilled their prior obligation in the judicial process and sought evidence of His innocence. Finally, two false witnesses produced a garbled account of Jesus’ words: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (Joh_2:19-21). According to the witnesses, He had threatened to destroy the temple in Jerusalem and then rebuild it. In fact, He had been predicting His own death and subsequent resurrection. The Jews now used that prediction as an excuse for killing Him.
26:62-63 During these accusations the Lord Jesus said nothing: “as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth” (Isa_53:7). The high priest, irritated by His silence, pressed Him for a statement; still the Savior refrained from answering. The high priest then said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!” The Law of Moses required that a Jew testify when put under oath by the high priest (Lev_5:1).
26:64 Being an obedient Jew under the law, Jesus answered: “It is as you said.” He then asserted His Messiahship and deity even more strongly: “Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” In essence He was saying, “I am the Christ, the Son of God, as you have said. My glory is presently veiled in a human body; I appear to be just another man. You see Me in the days of My humiliation. But the day is coming when you Jews will see Me as the glorified One, equal in all respects with God, sitting at His right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
In verse 64 the first you is singular, referring to Caiaphas. The second you is plural (also the third), referring to the Jews as representative of those Israelites living at the time of Christ’s glorious appearing, who will clearly see that He is the Son of God.
“The assertion is sometimes made,” writes Lenski, “that Jesus never called Himself ‘The Son of God.’ Here (in v. 64) He swears that He is no less.”
26:65-67 Caiaphas did not miss the point. Jesus had alluded to a Messianic prophecy of Daniel: “I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him.” The high priest’s reaction proves that he understood Jesus was claiming equality with God (see Joh_5:18). He tore his priestly clothes, a sign that the witness had blasphemed. His inflammatory words to the Sanhedrin assumed Jesus was guilty. When asked their verdict, the Council answered, “He is deserving of death.”
26:68 The second stage of the trial ended with the jurists striking and spitting upon the Accused, then taunting Him to use His power as Christ to identify His assailants. The entire proceeding was not only unjuridical, but scandalous.
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Below you will find links to previous studies done as we proceed through the New Testament starting with Matthew.
Our Saviour was rejected in Nazareth see;
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth.
The Wedding at Cana.
Then He;
Cleanses the Temple.
We see that He;
Knows What Is in Man.
He then tells us how to get saved;
You Must Be Born Again!
For God So Loved the World!
Jesus ends His Ministry in Judea and;
John the Baptist Exalts Christ.
Jesus finished His Ministry in Judea and went up to Galilee but did not take the long road the Jews normally take to avoid going through Samaria but went straight to a place called Sychar near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there.
Jesus and the Woman of Samaria.
Jesus returned via Samaria to Galilee and we see The Rewards Of Service John 4:28-38, The Growth Of Faith John 4:39-45 and lastly The Reward Of Trusting Jesus’ Word John4:46-54.
The Rewards Of Service
Back in Galilee after a year in Judea;
Jesus Ministers to Great Crowds.
Nazareth’s loss was Capernaum’s gain. The people in the latter city recognized that His teaching was authoritative. His words were convicting and impelling.
The Sermon on the Mount.
And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
The Beatitudes. Salt and Light.
Lust-Divorce-Oaths.
Retaliation and Love Your Enemies
Secret giving and secret praying
How to pray and how to fast
What to Seek and Whom to Serve
Do Not Be Anxious
Judging Others
Ask, and It will Be Given & The Golden Rule.
A Tree and Its Fruit
I Never Knew You
Build your House on the Rock.
The Authority of Jesus
Rewards Of Faith, The Great Physician
The Helper Of The Needy And The Friend Of Sinners
a Sermon Christ in Me by Dr. Sidlow J. Baxter.
Jairus daughter Restored to Life, a Woman Healed, Jesus Heals Two Blind men, Jesus Heals a Man Unable to speak.
Hope for the hopeless. Tender Ministry to Maid and Women. Curing the Incurable and Raising the Dead
The sending forth of the twelve in Chapter 9 opens the third year Jesus’ public ministry
The Harvest Is Plentiful, the Laborers Few
The Mission to Israel.
Not Peace, but a Sword
Messengers from John the Baptist
Woe to Unrepentant Cities
Come to Me, and I Will Give You Rest
Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath
God’s Chosen Servant
The Sign of Jonah
Return of an Unclean Spirit
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers
The Parable of the Sower
The Purpose of the Parables
The Parable of the Sower Explained
The Parable of the Weeds
The Mustard Seed and the Leaven
The Parable of the Weeds Explained.
Jesus’ Parables of the Hidden Treasure-The Pearl of Great Value-Fishing Net.
New and Old Treasures.
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
The Death of John the Baptist told to Jesus
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand men plus women and children.
Jesus Walks on the Water.
Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret
Traditions and Commandments
What Defiles a Person
The Faith of a Canaanite Woman
Healing and feeding the multitudes
The Pharisees and Sadducees Demand Signs
The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees
Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ
Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection
Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus
The Transfiguration
Jesus Heals a Boy with a Demon
Jesus Again Foretells Death, Resurrection and pays The Temple Tax.
Who Is the Greatest?
Temptations to Sin
A Prayer for the world to a New Life.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
If Your Brother Sins Against You
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
Teaching About Divorce
Let the Children Come to Me
The Rich Young Man
Riches in the kingdom
Laborers in the Vineyard
Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time
A Mother’s Request
Jesus Heals Two Blind Men
The Triumphal Entry of the Lamb of GOD!
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
Jesus Curses the Fig Tree
The Authority of Jesus Challenged
The Parable of the Two Sons
The Parable of the Tenants
The Parable of the Wedding Feast
Paying Taxes to Caesar
Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection
The Great Commandment
Whose Son Is the Christ?
Seven Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees-Judgment And Lament.
Seven Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees-Woes For The False-Hearted
The King’s Olivet Discourse-Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple
The King’s Olivet Discourse-Signs of the End of the Age.
The King’s Olivet Discourse- The Abomination of Desolation.
The King’s Olivet Discourse- The Coming of the Son of Man.
The King’s Olivet Discourse-The Coming of the Son of Man.
The Parable Of The Ten Virgins.
The Parable of the Talents
The Final Judgment
The Plot to Kill Jesus- Jesus Anointed at Bethany
The Plot to Kill Jesus-Judas to Betray Jesus
The Last Supper
Institution of the Lord’s Supper- Jesus Foretells Peter’s Denial
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
