What does Matthew 26:63 mean?

Caiaphas, the high priest, seems to be getting agitated. He wants Jesus to say something in front of the council they can use to charge Him with blasphemy and sentence Him to death (Matthew 26:57–62). He has demanded Jesus answer a charge from two witnesses, who claimed Jesus said He would destroy the temple in Jerusalem and rebuild it in three days. The supposed blasphemy—and false quotation (John 2:19–21)—was not enough to condemn Jesus to death. Caiaphas needed more.

Jesus, though, would not even answer that charge. He knew they had misquoted Him and that He had been talking about His own future resurrection, not the destruction of the city temple. He also knew that to get to His resurrection, He would have to be sentenced to death by the men before whom He stood now. He would not try to defend Himself from false charges (Isaiah 53:7).

Whether in frustration, or a moment of cleverness, Caiaphas finally hits on the most controversial statements Jesus ever suggested in His teaching. The high priest asks Jesus directly, challenging Him to swear by the living God, whether He is the Christ, the Son of God. In other words, is Jesus truly the Messiah?

Caiaphas' strategy might have been purely procedural. If Jesus resists, they may be able to charge Him with refusing to answer a question backed by a legal oath from the high priest. If He answers that He is not the Messiah, the crowds will no longer be stirred to possible rebellion (John 11:48). If Jesus says He is the Son of God, the council will use that declaration to sentence Him to death.

Of course, that requires these men to refuse to believe Jesus is, in fact, the Messiah (John 5:39–40). As it turns out, Jesus will answer this challenge with absolute truth, leaving no room for doubt about what He means. That's enough for His enemies to declare this sham trial a success (Matthew 26:64–66).