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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Matthew 26:59 - 26:64
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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat_26:59-64
59Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death. 60They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. But later on two came forward, 61and said, " This man stated, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.'" 62The high priest stood up and said to Him, "Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?" 63But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, "I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God." 64Jesus said to him, "You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven."
Mat_26:59 "kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus" This seems to imply that they were looking for two witnesses who could agree on some charge because OT legal precedent required two witnesses to condemn a person (cf. Num_35:30; Deu_17:6; Deu_19:15).
The Sanhedrin could not find two consistent testimonies against Jesus (Mat_26:60-61). Finally they found two similar testimonies (cf. Mar_14:59) connected with Jesus' statement about destroying the temple (cf. Joh_2:19).
There were many illegal elements in this night trial (see Special Topic at Mat_26:57). These Jewish leaders would have rationalized this by illegally sacrificing this one man to save the whole nation from Roman retaliation.
Mat_26:61 This is an allusion to Jesus' statement recorded in Joh_2:19, although He may have made the statement often. He is referring to the coming destruction of the temple in a.d. 70 by Titus and His new resurrection body (cf. Mat_16:21; Mat_17:23; Mat_20:19), which will be the new focus of worship for YHWH's people. The sacrificial system is replaced by the once-and-for-all sacrifice of Christ (cf. Hebrews). The central focus of acceptance and worship has changed! Jesus is the new temple (cf. Joh_2:19-21), as are His followers (cf. 1Co_3:16-17; 1 Cor. Mat_6:19).
Mat_26:63 "But Jesus kept silent" This was also true during his later trial which was recorded in Mat_27:12; Mat_27:14. This fulfilled the prophecy of Isa_53:7.
▣ "And the high priest said to Him, 'I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God'" Self-incrimination by means of an oath was illegal but effective, for Jesus would not be silent in the face of an oath in the name of YHWH. The name "YHWH," from Exo_3:14, was from the Hebrew verb "to be," which means the " ever-living, only-living God" (cf. Mat_16:16). It was the covenant name for the God of Israel.
These leaders recognized that Jesus, at least by His words and deeds, was claiming to be the promised Messiah (note how the titles "Messiah" and "Son of God" are equated). They saw Him as one of many false Messiah's because He was not committed to the oral traditions and their authority.
Mat_26:64
NASB "You have said it yourself"
NKJV "It is as you said"
NRSV "You have said so"
TEV "So you say"
JB"The words are your own"
NJB "It is you who say it"
This same affirmative idiom is found in Mat_26:25. It was somewhat ambiguous. Possibly Jesus was saying, "Yes, I am the Messiah, but not in the sense you think" (cf. Mar_14:62).
▣ "I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven" These Hebrew scriptural idioms affirmed His self-understanding. Being at the right hand of the power (i.e., YHWH) was an allusion to Psa_110:1. Coming on the clouds in heaven was an allusion to Dan_7:13 (cf. Mar_13:26; Mat_24:30; and Rev_1:7). With these OT phrases, Jesus was asserting unambiguously His full and divine Messiahship. He knew this would lead to His death for blasphemy (i.e., claiming to be equal with God).