Matthew 26:57-68
Jesus is condemned by the council, but His own confession reveals that the judged one is the coming Son of Man.
57 Those who had taken Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.
58 But Peter followed him from a distance, to the court of the high priest, and entered in and sat with the officers, to see the end.
59 Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might put him to death;
60 and they found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward,
61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.’ ”
62 The high priest stood up, and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that these testify against you?”
63 But Jesus held his peace. The high priest answered him, “I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.”
64 Jesus said to him, “You have said it. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of the sky.”
65 Then the high priest tore his clothing, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Behold, now you have heard his blasphemy.
66 What do you think?” They answered, “He is worthy of death!”
67 Then they spat in his face and beat him with their fists, and some slapped him,
68 saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who hit you?”
Jesus is condemned by the council, but his own confession reveals that the judged one is the coming Son of Man.
Matthew presents Jesus standing before the assembled religious leadership, where false testimony collapses, Jesus confesses his messianic and Son of Man identity, and the council condemns and abuses him.
Jesus is brought at night to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and elders have assembled during the Passover-period passion sequence. This unit belongs to the formal passion trial sequence, moving Jesus from arrest to condemnation, mockery, Roman handover, crucifixion, death, and resurrection.
The Betrayal, Passover, Gethsemane, Trial, and Denial of Jesus
Jesus willingly enters betrayal, abandonment, false judgment, and death as the obedient Son who fulfills Scripture, gives his body, pours out his covenant blood for the forgiveness of sins, and submits to the Father’s will while his disciples fail and his enemies condemn him.