Matthew 26:60

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

It ought to be observed, also, that the appellation of _false witnesses _is applied not to those who contrive a lie which had no foundation, but to those who calumniously pervert what was justly said, and turn it into a crime; an instance of which is here expressly related as to _the destruction and rebuilding of the temple. _Christ had indeed said, that when the temple of his body was destroyed, he would raise it up within three days, (John 2:19.) The _false witnesses _do not now resort to some new contrivance, but they put a wrong interpretation on his words, as if he boasted that he would practice some juggling in _building the temple. _Now as the calumny was trivial and worthless, we may readily infer from it how greatly the priests and scribes were blinded by their fury, since, without any pretext, they demand that Christ shall be put

57-68 Jesus was hurried into Jerusalem. It looks ill, and bodes worse, when those who are willing to be Christ's disciples, are not willing to be known to be so. Here began Peter's denying him: for to follow Christ afar off, is to begin to go back from him. It is more our concern to prepare for the end, whatever it may be, than curiously to ask what the end will be. The event is God's, but the duty is ours. Now the Scriptures were fulfilled, which said, False witnesses are risen up against me. Christ was accused, that we might not be condemned; and if at any time we suffer thus, let us remember we cannot expect to fare better than our Master. When Christ was made sin for us, he was silent, and left it to his blood to speak. Hitherto Jesus had seldom professed expressly to be the Christ, the Son of God; the tenor of his doctrine spoke it, and his miracles proved it; but now he would not...

Verse 60. _THOUGH MANY FALSE WITNESSES CAME_] There is an unaccountable confusion in the MSS. in this verse: without stating the variations, which may be seen in _Griesbach_, I shall give that which I believe to be the genuine sense of the evangelist. _Then_ _the chief priests and elders, and all the council, sought false_ _witness against Jesus, to put him to death; but they found it not,_ _though many false witnesses came up. At last two false witnesses_ _came up, saying; This man said, c_. It is the property of falsity to be ever inconsistent, and to contradict itself therefore they could not find _two consistent testimonies_, without which the Jewish law did not permit any person to be put to death. However, the hand of God was in this business: for the credit of Jesus, and the honour of the Christian religion, he would not permit him to be condemned on a _false_ accusation; and, th...

FOUND NONE - That is, they found none on whose testimony they could with any show of reason convict him. The reason was, as Mark says Mark 14:56, that “their witnesses agreed not together.” They differed about facts, times, and circumstances, as all false witnesses do. Two witnesses were required by their law, and they did not “dare” to condemn him without conforming, “in appearance” at least, to the requirements of the law....

EXPOSITION Ch. 26-28:20 THUS JESUS ENTERS UPON HIS KINGDOM. Before attempting to expound this most momentous section of the gospel history, we must make up our minds concerning the solution of the difficulties which are involved in some details in the account of the Supper. The supposed discrepancy between the narrative of the synoptists and that of St. John has exercised the minds of commentators from the earliest times unto the present, and enormous ingenuity has been expended in endeavouring to harmonize what are regarded as conflicting statements. The two chief difficulties are these: According to the synoptists, as generally understood, our Lord and his apostles ate the Passover, _i.e. _the Paschal lamb, when he instituted the Holy Communion; according to St. John, the death of Christ took place before the Passover was celebrated. Hence

BUT FOUND NONE,.... That were fit for their purpose; YEA, THOUGH MANY FALSE WITNESSES CAME, YET FOUND THEY NONE; whose testimonies were sufficient to put him to death, which was what they were resolved upon, or whose witness were not alike and agreed; for according to their law, a man must not die by the mouth of one witness only, but by the mouth of two or three witnesses agreed in a point; and though they might be willing enough to dispense with the law in this case, yet might have some regard to their own character and reputation; and especially as they meant to deliver him to the Roman governor, in order to be condemned by him; they knew they must have a charge, and this supported with a proper evidence, or they could not hope to succeed; for which reason, they could not put up, as they otherwise willingly would, with any sort of witnesses: AT THE LAST CAME TWO FALSE WITNESSES; who...

The story of Peter's denial of his Master is recorded in all four of the Gospels. There are some differences of expression in each version, so it will not be tautology if we read all four of them; and if we read them attentively, we shall get a clear view of the whole incident. Matthew 26:31. _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._ This was a very presumptuous speech, not only because of the self-confidence which it displayed, but also because it was a flat contradiction of what the Master had just said «All ye shall be offended because of me this nig

13. THE PASSION OF THE KING. Chapter s 26-27. CHAPTER 26 1. His Death Planned. (Matthew 26:1 .) 2. Mary of Bethany Anointing the King.(Matthew 26:6 .) 3. The Betrayal. (Matthew 26:14 .) 4. The Last Passover.(Matthew 26:17 .) 5. The Lord's Supper Instituted.(Matthew 26:26 .) 6. Peter's Denial Announced and the Scattered Sheep.(Matthew 26:30 .) 7. In Gethsemane. ...

THE TRIAL BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN (Mark 14:53 *; see also Luke 22:54 f., Luke 22:66). There are no striking divergences from Mk.'s narrative. Matthew 26:57. Apparently we are to think of the Sanhedrin as having been in (informal) session since Matthew 26:3. Matthew 26:58. Peter comes to see the end, not to warm himself as in Mk. Matthew 26:59. Syr. Si