Those
who had taken Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. But Peter followed him from a distance, to the court of the high priest, and entered in and sat with the officers, to see the end. Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might put him to death; and they found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward, and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.’” The high priest stood up, and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that these testify against you?”
Matthew 26:57-62
Matthew 26 [55.] In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to seize me? I sat daily in the temple teaching, and you didn’t arrest me. But all this has happened, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him, and fled.
Matthew 26 [57.] Those who had taken Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. But Peter followed him from a distance, to the court of the high priest, and entered in and sat with the officers, to see the end. Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might put him to death; and they found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward, and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.’”
Matthew 26 [62.] The high priest stood up, and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that these testify against you?” But Jesus held his peace. The high priest answered him, “I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.”
Matthew 26 [64.] Jesus said to him, “You have said it. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of the sky.”
Meaning:
After his arrest Jesus is taken by night to the house of Caiaphas, where the Jewish council has gathered. Peter follows at a distance. The leaders have already decided on the verdict; what they need is evidence. Matthew shows a trial in which the judges look for false testimony, the witnesses cannot agree, and the accused remains silent. Mark records the same hearing (Mark 14:53; Mark 14:54-55; Mark 14:56; Mark 14:57-59; Mark 14:60-61).
- “led him away to Caiaphas the high priest”
John tells us Jesus was taken first to Annas, “father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was high priest that year” (John 18:13). Annas had been high priest earlier and still had great influence. Caiaphas was the man who had told the council that “it is advantageous for us that one man should die for the people” (John 11:49-50). The judge had made up his mind before the trial began. According to later Jewish tradition, capital cases were to be heard by day, yet this hearing took place at night in a private house.
- “But Peter followed him from a distance”
Peter had promised, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you” (Matthew 26:35). He showed some courage by following at all, while the others had fled. But he followed “from a distance”, and he sat with the officers, the very men who had arrested Jesus, “to see the end.” His position set him up for the denials that followed in the same courtyard (Matthew 26:69-75).
- “sought false testimony against Jesus”
The council was supposed to protect justice. The Law demanded true witness: “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16). It also required agreement between witnesses: “At the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall a matter be established” (Deuteronomy 19:15). And it warned that a false witness should receive the punishment he intended for his brother. Yet here the judges themselves went looking for lies. Even so, “they found none.” Mark explains that “their testimony didn’t agree with each other” (Mark 14:56). David had prayed, “false witnesses have risen up against me, such as breathe out cruelty” (Psalm 27:12).
- “I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days”
At last two witnesses came with a twisted version of something Jesus had said early in his ministry: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” John explains, “But he spoke of the temple of his body” (John 2:19-21). Jesus had not threatened to destroy the temple; he had foretold his own death and resurrection. A threat against the temple was a serious charge, and it would be thrown at him again on the cross (Matthew 27:40). Later the same accusation was made against Stephen (Acts 6:13-14).
- “Have you no answer?”
The high priest stood up, frustrated. The case was collapsing, and he tried to make Jesus incriminate himself. But Jesus “held his peace” (Matthew 26:63). There was nothing to answer in contradictory lies. His silence fulfilled the prophecy of the Servant: “As a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he didn’t open his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7).
The Significance of Matthew 26:57-62
- Injustice in high places
The highest court of God’s people became a place of lies. Jesus experienced the worst kind of injustice, from those who should have upheld the Law. He understands those who suffer unfairly, and God will one day judge all things rightly.
- The danger of following from a distance
Peter loved Jesus but tried to stay safe. Half-hearted discipleship leaves us exposed to temptation. It is better to stand openly with Jesus.
- Silent strength
Jesus did not defend himself against false accusations. Peter later wrote that he “committed himself to him who judges righteously” (1 Peter 2:23). Sometimes trust in God means leaving our defence in his hands.
Cross-References:
Mark 14:57-59: "I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands." The false testimony in Mark.
John 2:19-21: "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." What Jesus actually said.
Deuteronomy 19:15: "At the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall a matter be established." The Law on witnesses.
Isaiah 53:7: "as a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he didn’t open his mouth." The silent Servant.
Conclusion: Matthew 26:57-62 records Jesus’ night hearing before Caiaphas and the council. Peter followed at a distance and sat with the officers. The council sought false testimony to put Jesus to death, but found none that agreed, until two witnesses twisted his words about destroying the temple and rebuilding it in three days. When the high priest demanded an answer, Jesus remained silent, the innocent Lamb of God before his accusers.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible