Matthew 26:68 - Printer Friendly

ESV: saying, "Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?"

NIV: and said, "Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?"

NASB: and said, 'Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?'

CSB: and said, "Prophesy to us, Messiah! Who was it that hit you?"

NLT: jeering, 'Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you that time?'

KJV: Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?

NKJV: saying, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?”

Jesus has declared Himself to be the one and true Messiah (Matthew 26:64). This has left no possible room for misinterpretation: Jesus says He is not only the Savior, not only favored by God, but that He is God. The high priest and council have condemned Him for blasphemy and sentenced Him to die (Matthew 26:65–67). Now the abuse has begun. Some spit in His face and beat Him.

Mark clarifies that Jesus is blindfolded at this point (Mark 14:65). This is why abusers mock Him by telling Him to prophesy about who is hitting Him. Their point is that if Jesus were really the Christ, He would know this supernaturally.

Jesus, of course, knows all of this (Matthew 16:21). He has resolved Himself to submit to His Father's will and take all the cruelty which comes His way (Matthew 26:42). He will refuse to resist or ask His Father to send 12 legions of angels to save Him (Matthew 26:53). He will walk to the cross as a lamb to the slaughter to die for the sins of humanity as the sinless Son of God (Acts 8:32–35; Philippians 2:8).

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.

Accessed 11/23/2024 7:00:34 AM