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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Matthew 26:63 - 26:63
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Held his peace (esiōpa). Kept silent, imperfect tense. Jesus refused to answer the bluster of Caiaphas.
I adjure thee by the living God (exorkizō se kata tou theou tou zōntos). So Caiaphas put Jesus on oath in order to make him incriminate himself, a thing unlawful in Jewish jurisprudence. He had failed to secure any accusation against Jesus that would stand at all. But Jesus did not refuse to answer under solemn oath, clearly showing that he was not thinking of oaths in courts of justice when he prohibited profanity. The charge that Caiaphas makes is that Jesus claims to be the Messiah, the Son of God. To refuse to answer would be tantamount to a denial. So Jesus answered knowing full well the use that would be made of his confession and claim.