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Matthew 26

And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples,

Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.

Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,

And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.

But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.

Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,

There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.

But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?

For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.

When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.

For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.

For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.

Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,

And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?

And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.

And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.

Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.

And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?

And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.

The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.

Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.

Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.

And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.

And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.

And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.

And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.

Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.

But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.

Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;

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

And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?

But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

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.

What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.

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

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

Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.

But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.

And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.

And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.

And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.

Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

What does Matthew 26:59 mean?

Explanation

The verse Matthew 26:59, taken from the King James Version of the Bible, depicts the concerted efforts of the Jewish religious leadership to find evidence against Jesus Christ that would warrant a death sentence under their laws.

It speaks of the chief priests, elders, and the whole council, which would likely refer to the Sanhedrin, the highest judicial and legislative body among the Jewish people, that actively sought false testimony against Jesus.

The term "false witness" indicates an acknowledgment that the testimony they sought was untrue or fabricated, underlining the hostility towards Jesus and the lengths to which these leaders were willing to go to ensure his condemnation.

The deeper meaning points to the injustice Jesus faced and the moral failings of the religious authorities who were more interested in protecting their own power and influence than in seeking the truth.

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

During the time of Jesus, the Sanhedrin was the ruling body among the Jews under Roman authority.

It was composed of chief priests, elders, and teachers of the law.

The historical context of this verse is the trial of Jesus before his crucifixion.

It reflects the tension between Jesus and the Jewish leaders, who saw him as a threat to their religious authority and potentially to the uneasy peace with the Roman rulers.

This judicial process lacked fairness by actively seeking fabricated evidence, highlighting the corruption and the political machinations at play.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, various points can be considered.

Within Christian theology, this verse is sometimes seen as part of the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah being falsely accused and suffering injustice (e.g., Psalm 35:11, Isaiah 53:7-9).

It also emphasizes the sinfulness and fallibility of human institutions, including religious ones, while contrasting with the innocence and truth embodied by Jesus Christ.

The trial sets the stage for the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus for the salvation of mankind in Christian doctrine.

Practical Applications

The injustice Jesus faced in Matthew 26:59 can serve as a reminder of the importance of truth and justice in our daily lives.

It prompts believers to consider issues of false testimony, the integrity of the legal process, and the moral responsibility to stand against injustice even when facing societal pressures.

It also encourages reflection on the dangers of allowing power, fear, or envy to lead to unethical actions against others.

Cross-References

Mark 14:55-56: "And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none.

For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together."

Psalm 35:11: "False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not."
Isaiah 53:7-9: "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth."

Language Study

In this verse, key words in the original Greek language used in Matthew's Gospel include:

"False witness" (ψευδόμαρτυρες, pseudomartyres): referring to those giving untrue testimony.
"Sought" (ἐζήτουν, ezētoun): to seek or look for, highlighting the active pursuit of false evidence.
"Put him to death" (θανατῶσαι, thanatōsai): referring to the intention to cause death, showing the severity of the intent against Jesus.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The use of false witnesses in judicial settings is not unique to the biblical narrative. Comparisons can be drawn with other ancient cultures such as the Greeks and Romans, where legal proceedings might also be corrupted by influence and false testimony.

In ancient Mesopotamian law, for example, bearing false witness was met with severe punishment, highlighting the gravity of such actions.

Scientific Perspectives

While there is no direct scientific perspective on the verse, the fields of psychology and sociology might explore the human behaviors and social dynamics that lead to false accusations and the corruption of justice, as witnessed in the actions of the chief priests and elders.

Understanding these factors can shed light on modern judicial failures and the importance of safeguarding against them.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have commented on Matthew 26:59.

For instance:

William Barclay notes the desperation of the Sanhedrin to find grounds for a capital charge against Jesus, despite the lack of genuine evidence.
John Calvin comments on the wickedness displayed by the Jewish leaders in subverting justice for their own ends.
The Matthew Henry Commentary points out the prophecy fulfillment aspect of the event and the great patience of Jesus in facing such an unjust trial.

Each of these commentaries provides a unique perspective, reflecting the richness of interpretation that this verse has inspired throughout history.

Matthew 26

Matthew 26

What does Matthew 26:59 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 26:59 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?