Matthew 26:60 - Printer Friendly

ESV: but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward

NIV: But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward

NASB: They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. But later on two came forward,

CSB: but they could not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. Finally, two who came forward

NLT: But even though they found many who agreed to give false witness, they could not use anyone’s testimony. Finally, two men came forward

KJV: But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,

NKJV: but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward

The chief priests and ruling council known as the Sanhedrin were ready to see Jesus put to death by the Romans (Matthew 26:57–59). Though they've already passed a verdict and sentence in their own minds, they need official charges with which to charge Him. To get this, they look for people willing to make misleading or false claims. To seek Jesus' death out of prejudice is already wicked (John 11:53). To pursue false witnesses is a blatant violation of the same Law these men claim to uphold (Deuteronomy 19:18).

Unfortunately, it's not easy to coordinate these lies. Simply stating what Jesus has said and done isn't enough. Jesus, of course, had done nothing wrong. No true statement is going to show that He's committed any sin or crime (John 8:46). Those attempting to twist Christ's words into something damning wind up contradicting one another (Mark 14:56–59).

Two came forward with a statement that, itself, is not useful, but it provides an opening for the chief priest. Their account (Matthew 26:61) is a misquote.

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 5/3/2024 11:45:24 PM