Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #13 Matthew 26:59-68 – False Witnesses and the Charge of Blasphemy

Matthew 26:59-68 – False Witnesses and the Charge of Blasphemy

|| Mark 14:55-65; Luke 22:63-71

MT26:59 But the religious hierarchy[1] and the entire Sanhedrin Court[2] were seeking false testimony against Jesus[3] so that they might execute him. MT26:60 They discovered none who would come forward as pseudo evidentiary.[4] But at last two ‘witnesses’ came forward. MT26:61 One person claimed, “[Jesus] said, ‘I can tear down this Sanctuary[5] of The God and within three days reconstruct[6] it.’” MT26:62 Now the chief priest Caiaphas rose and said to Jesus, “Have you no answer? What about these testimonies against you?” MT26:63 However, Jesus remained silent.[7] Then the chief priest Caiaphas told Jesus, “I put you under oath down here before the Living God[8] so that you should tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of The God.”[9] MT26:64 Jesus said to the priest, “You said it.[10] Yet I tell all of you: In the future[11] all of you will see the Son of Humankind sitting on the right-hand[12] of the Power and returning[13] upon the clouds of the sky.” [Daniel 7:13; Psalm 110:1] MT26:65 At that the chief priest Caiaphas ripped his outer garments, screaming, “He blasphemed![14] Why do we need witnesses? See, you just heard the blasphemy! MT26:66 How does it seem to you?” But, these answered, ‘He is liable to death!’ MT26:67 Then they all spit into his face and hit him with their fists. Others slapped Jesus, MT26:68 asking, “Prophesy[15] to us, ‘Messiah’! Who just slapped you?”

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[1] Religious hierarchy: The Greek is HARCHIEREIS from which “hierarchy” comes.

[2] Sanhedrin Court: Or, BECK: the whole Jewish court. Research Sanhedrin for notes elsewhere.

[3] Seeking false testimony against Jesus: Or, RIEU: were casting about for evidence against Jesus; NEB: some allegation against Jesus on which a death-sentence could be based.

[4] Pseudo evidentiary: The Greek is PSEUDO-MARTYRON. Or, KJV: false witnesses. Mark 14:59 adds, “But neither on these grounds was their testimony in agreement.”

[5] Sanctuary: The Greek is NAON a Divine Habitat and refers to the inner shrine of the Temple. Research temple or NAOS. Or, KJV: temple; RHM: shrine; GDSP: sanctuary.

[6] Reconstruct: Or, RIEU: build it. This charge is taken from John 2:19.

[7] Jesus remained silent: In fulfillment of Isaiah 53:7.

[8] I put you under oath down here before the Living God: This is the adjuration formula inferred in Leviticus 5:1. Or, KJV: I adjure you; RHM: I put thee on oath; NEB: I charge you.

[9] The Messiah, the Son of The God: The high priest has in mind Psalm 2:1, 7 and whether Jesus claims to be the Anointed One of that Psalm. Peter quotes this Psalm at Acts 4:24-26 and Paul refers to it in a Jewish synagogue (Acts 13:33-35).

[10] You said it: A Hebraism meaning “Yes.” In English it remains a positive statement to this day. Or, KNX: your own lips have said it; MON: I am he; GDSP: it is true. And, thus the response from the priest.

[11] In the future: Or, RIEU: the time has come; NEB: from now one, you will see; BER: shortly you shall see; MOF: in the future you will all see. It is possibly a Hebraism which means, “You will live to see…” or, “you will still be alive when such and such is fulfilled.”

[12] The Son of Humankind sitting on the right-hand: This is a conflate or compound paraphrase of Daniel 7:13 and Psalm 110:1 – a combination which appears several times. Note Daniel 7:13 refers to the ascension to heaven of “a son of man” and is seen from Daniel’s heavenly perspective (Daniel 7:15).

[13] Returning: The Greek word in both Daniel 7:13 (LXX) and here is a form of ERCHOMENON which may meaning coming, leaving, returning. It is virtually a synonym for PAROUSIA judging from the uses in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. It seems to some that it is possible Jesus is referring to his foretold ascension to heaven as Daniel 7:13 predicts. On these details see commentaries in Nazarene Apocalypse© under Daniel 7:13 or ERCHOMENON (Parousia). Compare the parallel readings at Mark 14:62 and Luke 22:69. See how this was fulfilled in Acts 7:54-57 and note who was present then (John 6:62; Acts 1:9-11).

[14] He blasphemed: The priest realizes the answer of Jesus is, “Yes.”

[15] Prophesy: Note that the word PROPHETEUSON may be used in a broader since of speaking rather than just predicting something. Mark 14:65 adds, “… to spit on him and to cover his whole face and hit him with their fists.” Luke 22:65 adds, “And they went on saying many other things in blasphemy against him.”

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Preceding

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #1 Matthew 26:1-2 – Two Days Before Execution

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #2 Matthew 26:3-5 – Plotting to Seize Jesus

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #3 Matthew 26:6-13 – A Woman to Be Remembered

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #4 Matthew 26:14-16 – The Price of Betrayal

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #5 Matthew 26:17-19 – Passover Preparations

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #6 Matthew 26:20-25 – The Last Passover

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #7 Matthew 26:26-30 – Keep Doing This in My Memory

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #8 Matthew 26:31-35 – How All Will Be Stumbled This Night

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #9 Matthew 26:36-39 – Garden Prayer

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #10 Matthew 26:40-47 – Two More Prayers for the Cup to Pass

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #11 Matthew 26:48-56 – Betrayal by Judas and Arrest of Jesus

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #12 Matthew 26:57-58 – To Caiaphas