Matthew 26:67 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him,

NIV: Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him

NASB: Then they spit in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him,

CSB: Then they spat in his face and beat him; others slapped him

NLT: Then they began to spit in Jesus’ face and beat him with their fists. And some slapped him,

KJV: Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,

NKJV: Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands,

The high priest and the council have achieved what they had long since set out to do (John 11:48–53). They have crossed the legal barrier they could not previously overcome (Matthew 26:57–60). Based on His own words—true though they are—Jesus has been proclaimed guilty of blasphemy and sentenced to death (Matthew 26:61–66). The trial itself has not been legal in several ways. It has taken place in the middle of the night in the home of the high priest instead of during the daytime in the temple, and its outcome was decided before the trial even began. False witnesses were used.

None of that really matters, though, because what was needed has been accomplished. Jesus has revealed Himself as the Christ to Israel's religious leaders and has been officially rejected and condemned (Matthew 16:21). They have been given the opportunity to receive God's Son, and they have decided instead to kill Him (John 5:39–40).

At this point, abuse of Jesus begins to get more serious. Either the members of the Sanhedrin themselves or their servants or guards begin to spit in Jesus' face and strike Him. The word "struck" here is from a Greek term which is often translated as "beat," and often refers to use of fists. Christ is now being beaten and mocked. According to the Jewish leaders, He is a false Messiah who will soon die.

While Scripture does not say so directly, this abuse may also serve another purpose. Jesus' enemies may feel that their ability to mock and mistreat Him is more evidence that He is not really the Son of God. In their minds, the real Messiah would immediately put an end to such things. He would lash out and strike down all who strike Him. They do not know that He is choosing not to resist, not to defend Himself, so He can carry out the will of His Father (Matthew 26:42).

Jesus flattened a group of soldiers with a mere word earlier that evening (John 18:4–7); if any of them were there, one can only imagine what they thought of this moment.

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.