What does Matthew 26:66 mean?
In a tense moment, the high priest has pressed Jesus to answer a direct question, under oath before God, about whether He is the Christ, the Son of God (Matthew 26:62–63). Jesus has been waiting for this moment, as well, to make His official claim before Israel's official ruling body (Isaiah 53:7).Jesus declares that He is indeed the Christ, the Messiah, who will wield the power of God Himself and return to earth to judge with God's judgment (Matthew 26:64). This references Psalm 110:1 as well as the prophecies of Daniel 7:13–14:
"Behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed."This is not a vague statement. There is no room, at all, for anyone to misunderstand what Jesus means here. This is a claim to not merely be the Chosen One of God, but a claim to be God. Fully grasping Jesus' claim—and rejecting it (John 5:39–40)—the high priest tears his robes, declares that they have all heard Jesus speak blasphemy, and demands the council make their judgment. Israel's ruling religious leaders answer instantly: He deserves death. This, of course, is what they'd already planned to do (John 11:48–53).
Israel, through the highest levels of leadership, has now formally rejected the Son of God as the Messiah (Matthew 23:37). They have scorned Him to His face and sentenced Him to die.
