Matthew 26:59-68

Matthew 26:59. Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; but found none:

Neither for love nor money.

Matthew 26:60. Yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none.

That is, none that agree; the lie that one man spoke was refuted by the next.

Matthew 26:61. At last came two false witness, and said this

They did not say any other word, as if they did not know any word in any language vile enough for him. «This»; our translators have very properly put in the word fellow.

Matthew 26:61. Fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

He never said anything of the kind; it was a most wicked misrepresents of what he had said. If men wish to find an accusation against us, they can do it without any materials.

Matthew 26:62. 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 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.

He binds them over to make their appearance before him when he becomes the judge, and they shall take the,place of the criminal.

Matthew 26:65 , Then 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?

He looks round upon the seventy elders of the people who were sitting there in the great council, and «They answered and said, He is guilty of death:.» Probably Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were not there;: they were the only two friends the Lord had in the Sanhedrim.

Matthew 26:66. 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?

This ended the regular ecclesiastical trial of Christ. A little time was spent, before Pilate, the judicial ruler, was ready to see Christ, but soon as the dawn was come, they dragged him before another tribunal. We shall now turn to Luke 23:1.

This exposition consisted of readings from Matthew 26:59; Luke 23:1.