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Matthew 26:57-68

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57Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled.

58But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.

59The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death.

60But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward

61and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”

62Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?”

63But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

64“You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

65Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.

66What do you think?” “He is worthy of death,” they answered.

67Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him

68and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”

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1)       According to verse 57 where did the crowd take Jesus?

o   They took Jesus to Caiaphas the high priest.

o   Where

o   The teachers of the law and the elders had assembled.

 

2)       According to verse 58 what did Peter do?

o   He

§  Followed Jesus at a distance.

§  Entered the courtyard of the high priest.

§  And sat down with the guards to see the outcome.

 

3)       What motivated Peter to follow Jesus at a distance?

o   Peter was

§  Concerned about Jesus.

§  And keeping his word of not falling away.

 

4)       What was the Sanhedrin?

o   The Sanhedrin was the Jewish high court.

 

5)       According to verse 59 what were the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin trying to do?

o   They were looking for false evidence against Jesus.

o   So that

o   They could put him to death.

 

6)       According to verses 59 and 60 what evidence against Jesus could the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin find?

o   None, though many false witnesses came forward.

 

7)       According to verses 60 and 61 what was the testimony brought against Jesus?

o   Two

§  Came forward.

§  And declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to

Ø  Destroy the temple of God. 

Ø  And rebuild it in three days.’”

 

8)       According to verses 62 and 63 what was Jesus’ response to the high priest’s asking him if he was not going to answer the testimony against him?

o   Jesus remained silent.

 

9)       According to verses 63 and 64 what was Jesus’ response to the high priest’s question under oath whether he was the Messiah or the Christ, the Son of God?

o   Jesus

§  First confirmed it.

§  And then said that they would see the Son of Man

Ø  Sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One.

Ø  And coming on the clouds of heaven.

 

10)   Who is the Mighty One that Jesus was referring to?

o   The Mighty One is a reference to God.

 

11)   What does sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One mean?

o   The seat at the right hand of God is a position of power and honor next only to God.

 

12)   What is blasphemy?

o   Blasphemy is the offense of speaking sacrilegiously about

§  God.

§  Or sacred things.

 

13)   In accordance with verse 65 why did the high priest tear his clothes upon hearing Jesus’ reply, given that people in Jesus’ time tore their clothes as an expression of grief?

o   He tore his clothes as an expression of grief at what Jesus said.

o   That

o   He considered blasphemy.

 

14)   According to verse 66 what was the verdict of the Sanhedrin?

o   They condemned Jesus as worthy of death.

 

15)   According to verses 67 and 68 what happened to Jesus next?

o   They

§  Spit in his face.

§  Struck him with their fists.

§  Slapped him.

§  And said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”

 

16)   In what ways was the trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin illegal according to Jewish legal practice?

o   The trial for capital offense

§  Must not take place

Ø  At night. 

Ø  Nor during the festival. 

Ø  Nor in a private home.

§  But must take place in a public place.

§  Where

§  Witnesses were to testify.

o   The high priest was forcing Jesus to testify against himself.

o   While

o   Every matter was supposed to be settled by two or three witnesses.

o   But the Sanhedrin

§  Did not have witnesses ready to testify to begin with.

§  And was scrambling to find evidence against Jesus.

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Matthew 26:57-68

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