The Blasphemous Court

Matthew 26:57-68

Immanuel – 6/22/25

Read Daniel 7:9-10,13-14

          Jesus’ favorite title for himself was Son of Man, a title which derives its most significant meaning from Daniel 7. The scene opens with the Ancient of Days, Yahweh, sitting down as Judge before heaven’s court. Into the middle of that court comes the victorious Son of Man, both human and divine. The Father then does something astonishing: He gives the Son the entirety of his kingdom, with all authority and power.

          Jesus is that Son of Man, the Son of God, crucified and resurrected, whom the Father has given all authority in heaven and on earth – and he is with us always, even to the end of the age.

          For these glories to be true, Christ had to endure the cross, and it is in our passage today that such a fate was sealed. Today we see the Jewish leaders condemn Jesus to death. But as I said last week, Jesus is not a passive victim in all of this. He is the prime actor. With resolved intentionally, Jesus plays right into their murderous hands.

          But before we get into that, let’s consider the setting.

          Read vs 57

          Those who seized Jesus. Remember the large crowd that arrested Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. It was sent by the Sanhedrin, the governing body of the Jews. Sanhedrin officials were in the crowd, accompanied by a significant deployment of temple guards. As John indicates, a detachment of Roman soldiers came too. Then, an untold number of spectators followed along, curious why such an eclectic and armed band was hurriedly leaving the temple in the middle of the night. Then, walking at the head of this huge torch-carrying throng, was Judas.

          In verse 47, Matthew indicated this is an unusually large crowd. With malicious hands they seize Jesus, and John adds they bound him. Seized and bound, they marched Jesus through the night to the palace of Caiaphas – the Jewish high priest.

          It’s imperative we consider not just the setting, but the context of these proceedings.

          As I’ve said, the Sanhedrin was the governing body of the Jews, in religious, political, and legal matters. Though the Romans were their authoritative overlords, they upheld the Sanhedrin’s authority to govern the Jews. But there was one major exception. The Romans did not allow the Sanhedrin to execute anyone. Only the Romans could implement the death penalty.

          But the Sanhedrin could live with that, because in this twisted up way, the Romans validated their authority. Thus, the members of the Sanhedrin were quite comfortable with the Romans, something the more zealous Jews despised.

          Still, the Sanhedrin held power. It was a body of 71 members, with the high priest presiding as president. All of their official proceedings were held in the Chamber of Hewn Stone, adjacent to the inner court of the temple – the Court of Israel. Their own policies required them to hold session during the day, with one-third of the members present for quorum (that’s 24 members if you were wondering).

          I explain all this because I want you to see the injustice of Jesus’ trial. Jesus is taken to Caiaphas’ house, not the Chamber of Hewn Stone. It is dark, still the early morning hours, 3-4 o’clock. The Sanhedrin was supposed to hold session during the day.

Likely around 11 that night, while Jesus was still in the Upper Room with the other disciples, Judas snuck off to Caiaphas and initiated Jesus’ secret arrest. Consequently, Caiaphas had to summon the Sanhedrin quickly and in the middle of the night. By the time Jesus is brought to Caiaphas, a quorum had likely gathered. But the Gospels give us a picture that more and more members of the Sanhedrin arrived at the assembly while the trial was underway.  

The setting: Hours before sunrise Jesus is brought, bound, to Caiaphas’ palace where a relatively small portion of the Sanhedrin is gathered.

The context: The whole trial reeks of secrecy and injustice. The more we continue, the more you’ll pick up the stink.

But before that, Matthew gives us something of a parenthetical statement.

Read vs 58

Only hours before, Peter was full of bluster, declaring he would never fall away even if he must die with Jesus (Matthew 26:33,35). But all that bluster has blown away, and now you get a picture of a defeated Peter, following Jesus only to see the end. No rescue mission, no sharing in Jesus’ fate, just a sad resignation of inevitable execution.

Peter is a living example of how pride comes before the fall. Matthew, by inserting this comment about Peter, is setting us up for Peter’s threefold denial – we’ll study that next week.

          Read vs 59-60a

          Prejudiced Proceedings

As I have said, in these early morning hours the whole Sanhedrin had not yet gathered. But all that had gathered, the whole present counsel, wanted to put Jesus to death. Far from a courtroom of blind justice, Jesus was thrust into a bias trial, with a predetermined verdict. No such think as “innocent until proven guilty” for Jesus.

          Caiaphas and his cronies had somehow arranged, even at this strange hour, many witnesses against Jesus. Matthew labels them false witnesses for two potential reasons. First, these witnesses could have been liars, speaking falsely or intentionally misrepresenting Jesus. Second, the witnesses might not know they are lying, but they so misunderstand Jesus that their conclusions are false. Jesus is the living embodiment of truth, the perfection of innocence; anything which perpetuates misunderstanding about him is false witness.

          The voices in our world bearing false witness against Jesus are loud and relentless. No longer can they kill Christ, so they try to assassinate his character. Their aim is for you to deny him, even to betray him. They want to devour your faith. Because if they cannot take from Christ’s everlasting life, then with false testimony they try to take yours. They are of their father, the Devil.

          Be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith.               -1 Peter 5:8

          Holding fast to the faith is how we resist our demonic enemies, who would have us believing in lies about Jesus. Our spiritual foes are perpetual false witnesses against Jesus. So hold fast to the faith. Come near to Christ once again. Cling to his word. Trust in his goodness and love. Rest your life on the victory he has won!

          Contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

                                                                                      -Jude 1:3

          Contend for purity of faith in your own heart. Contend for purity of faith in the church. Contend for proclamation of the faith in our world. Contend for the faith, once delivered, to all the saints!

          But when Jesus was on trial, and the falsehoods were flying, no one was there to contend for him. It was all prosecution and no defense, and he faced it alone. But evidently, none of the false witnesses gave Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin what they sought: enough evidence to condemn Jesus to death. Not until two finally came forward with a unified and serious accusation.

          Read vs 60b-61

          Since the early days of Jesus’ ministry, he has stood in opposition to the Jewish religious system that had infected the temple. Additionally, he had come to fulfill the purpose of the temple. No longer would people need to worship at a building, now they could worship anywhere in spirit and in truth. Speaking of himself, Jesus said, “I tell you, something greater than the temple is here” (Matthew 12:6).

          The temple had become so corrupted it now stood in rebellion against God. This is why, in Matthew 24:2, Jesus said of the temple, “Truly, I say to you, there will not be left one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” Jesus prophesied the destruction of the temple – though, only the disciples heard this. Perhaps one of them betrayed that information to the religious leaders?

          But so far, none of this sounds like the false accusation: “I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.” John’s gospel gets us the closest. There we hear Jesus say,

          “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But [Jesus] was speaking about the temple of his body.                   -John 2:19-21

          Jesus was speaking of his body – his death and resurrection; but you can understand how he could have been misunderstood. Ultimately, the two witnesses give a garbled up, misunderstood, uncharitable recollection of what Jesus had really said.

          Confused as it was, make no mistake, it was a serious charge. As Jesus said to the religious leaders only a few days before, “Whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it” (Matthew 23:21). Similarly, whoever demeans or disparages the temple demeans and disparages the God who dwells within it.

          Yes, the charge against Jesus – however confused it was – appears right on the edge of blasphemy. This is why the high priest, Caiaphas, erupts from his seat.

          Read vs 62-63a

          “Are these things true? Defend yourself.” But Jesus says nothing. The words of the prophets were being fulfilled.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.                                                 -Isaiah 53:7

          You can imagine the silent anticipation of that room as everyone waits for Jesus’ response; but he is quiet. Caiaphas tries another question, one that is brooding in everyone’s mind.

          Read vs 63b

          In several places the Old Testament prophesies the Messiah would build a purified the temple. Let me show you just one of these.

“He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son.”               -2 Kings 7:13-14

          Caiaphas, the high priest, understands the implications of the accusations levied against Jesus. If Jesus rebuilds the temple, and he claims to be the Messiah, then he is also the one whom the Father calls, “Son.” So, he calls Jesus to make a most serious oath: I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.

          For 3.5 years Jesus has avoided answering this question. The Jews thought the Messiah would be a warrior, come to overthrow their Roman overlords, to restore the glory of ancient Israel. But Jesus came in lowly gentleness; a bruised reed he would not bend nor would he quench a smoldering wick. Jesus did not come to wield a sword. He came to be pierced for our transgressions, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

          Jesus was not the Messiah the Jews were looking for, so He concealed his identity. He worked in obscurity. He told the recipients of his miracles to tell no one. And the only open declarations of his identity were saved for his trusted disciples.

          But now, nearly at the end, in the middle of biased proceedings, the high priest demands to know Jesus’ true identity; and though he is bound, Jesus breaks his silence and throws back the veil. And he goes far beyond what Caiaphas had asked.

          Read vs 64

          You have said so. Jesus is effectively saying, “Yes, I am the Messiah, the Son of God, though I am not the nationalistic Messiah you imagine. I am far, far more.”

          And I want you to see, with crystal clarity, that Jesus is not suddenly talking about the end of history. He says to the Sanhedrin, “From now on you will see.” From now on being the events immediately unfolding: their condemnation of Jesus, his crucifixion, death, and resurrection. And when Jesus ascends into the clouds, he will appear in heaven on the clouds to be presented before the Ancient of Days, victorious!

Behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.                                        -Daniel 7:13-14

From that time forward, if any of them are given eyes of faith, or anyone else – Jew or Gentile, they will see that Jesus is the divine Son of Man, King of heaven and earth, Judge of the nations, as spoken of by the prophet Daniel.

But even without the eyes of faith, every first century Jew would have understood Jesus’ words. Unequivocally, unambiguously, he was claiming equality with God. And Jesus knew it. He knew what he was doing. He knew he was giving the Sanhedrin all they needed.

Read vs 65-66

          It was forbidden for priests to tear their robes except in the most extreme cases. By tearing his robes, Caiaphas, the high priest, declares that Jesus has uttered egregious blasphemy. According to Mosaic Law, Israel was to execute anyone who blasphemed.

          No further witnesses were needed. Everyone heard it from Jesus’ own mouth: He equates himself with God. All the members of the Sanhedrin present, these representatives of the Jewish people, with united voice, condemned Jesus to death. In their eyes, this man from Nazareth is an abomination; and such an abomination deserves humiliation.

          Read vs 67-68

          Members of the Sanhedrin struck Jesus in the face. Luke adds that temple guards also beat him. Together they spat in his face to shame him. 

          Have you ever had someone spit in your face? I have. When it happened to me it elicited a flash of anger, and an instant impulse to retaliate. Few things are more degrading, more humiliating. But Jesus is unfazed. These are but momentary disgraces, and glory lies on the other side.

“I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.”                                                         -Isaiah 50:6-7

          With the spitting and the beating, also they mock him. Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you? They want Jesus to perform prophetic parlor tricks. Little do they know, Jesus has prophesied this very moment. Jesus prophesied he would suffer many things at the hands of the Sanhedrin, be condemned to death, and headed over to the Romans to be killed. It is happening.

          Little did Jesus’ abusers know, just outside in the courtyard, another one of his prophesies was being fulfilled in that very moment – though we will look at that next week.

          But inside Caiaphas’ house they have no idea. So in overflowing hatred they strike Jesus, and mock him, and spit in his face. And with turned cheek he takes it. He takes all of it.

          And he is no passive victim. He is the prime actor. Acting to fulfill Scripture. Acting in obedience to the Father. Acting for the redemption of a people lost.

          So he stands in that blasphemous court and takes the strikes for the ways we have abominated the image of God. He takes the mockery our selfish delusions deserve. He takes the spit of our shame. With turned cheek he takes it. He takes all of it.

          Jesus is condemned so the condemned can be released. And those that condemn him, meet their own condemnation. For who can call the King of heaven and earth a blasphemer but blasphemers? Their judgment of Jesus is their own condemnation.

          And whoever has ears to hear, let them hear: if you with your life reject Jesus, disregarding the claims he made about himself, and continue to lose yourself to selfishness and pride, your rejection of him is your condemnation. To reject the source of everlasting life is to face an everlasting death!

          But if you are a lover of life, let not the false witnesses lead you astray. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life! He is the Messiah and Son of God. He took the strikes for how we have abominated the image of God. He took the mockery our selfish delusions deserve. He took the spit of our shame. With turned cheek he took it. He took all of it.

And now, if today you believe, contend for purity of faith in your own heart. Contend for purity of faith in the church. Contend for proclamation of the faith in our world. Contend for the faith, once delivered, to all the saints!

          I close with the words of the Christ, the Son of God.

          “For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”                                                       -John 5:22-24