Matthew 26:65 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy.

NIV: Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.

NASB: Then the high priest tore his robes and said, 'He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? See, you have now heard the blasphemy;

CSB: Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? See, now you’ve heard the blasphemy.

NLT: Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, 'Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy!

Jesus has given the high priest and Jewish ruling council exactly what they wanted to condemn Him to death (Matthew 26:57–59). He has told them the truth about His identity. He has openly declared He is the Christ, the Son of God, who will sit on God's right hand and return in judgment on the clouds (Psalm 110:1; Daniel 7:13). Since these men have already rejected Jesus' ministry (John 5:39–40) and sought to kill Him (John 11:48–53), they are infuriated by this claim (Matthew 26:64).

In indignation and grief over this supposed affront to God's character, the high priest dramatically tears his robes. This was a common sign used to represent deep grief and rejection of some wicked action. It's the moment Caiaphas has been waiting for. He turns from Jesus to the council and declares that Jesus has uttered blasphemy. There is no more need for lying, misleading witnesses (Matthew 26:60; Mark 14:56–59). Everyone present has heard these words, and everyone has clearly understood what Jesus meant.

Caiaphas thinks he has won. However, Jesus has accomplished exactly what He needed to do. He has expected to be condemned and then crucified (Matthew 16:21). He will not resist what comes next.

Matthew 26:57–68 describes Jesus' sham trial before members of the Jewish ruling body. False witnesses accuse Jesus of crimes worthy of a death sentence; their attempts are so transparently false that the effort fails. Finally, the high priest challenges Jesus to state that He is the Messiah and the Son of God. Jesus agrees, and even adds to the declaration. The high priest and council agree Jesus is guilty of blasphemy and condemn Him to death. Mark 14:53–65, Luke 22:63–71, John 18:12–14, and John 18:19–24 explain different perspectives on the same events.

The Jewish religious leaders further their plots to arrest and kill Jesus, finding a willing traitor in Judas Iscariot. A woman anoints Christ with oil during a dinner at Bethany. Next, Jesus and the disciples hold the Passover meal in an upper room where Jesus predicts His arrests and introduces the sacrament of communion. Then Jesus prays in unimaginable agony in the garden of Gethsemane before being betrayed by Judas and captured. The disciples scatter. Before the high priest, Jesus explicitly claims to be divine. They convict Him of blasphemy and sentence Him to death. As this happens, Peter denies knowing Jesus and runs away in shame.

After a long series of teaching (Matthew 24—25), Matthew 26 begins with Jesus saying He will be delivered up for death. Christ is anointed at a dinner in Bethany and Judas agrees to turn Him over to the chief priests. Jesus holds a Passover meal with the disciples, predicts an act of treachery, and introduces the sacrament of communion. He tells the disciples they will run in fear and that Peter will deny Him, which happens just as prophesied. Christ prays in great sorrow in a garden and is then arrested and taken away and unfairly sentenced to death. After this, Jesus will be taken to the Roman governor, where Jewish leadership will press for Him to be executed as an insurgent.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.