26:59-61
Matthew does not mince his words, saying that the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence in order to condemn Jesus to death. When we think the death of an innocent person is the answer to a problem we are in serious trouble. Today we can see this scenario when we think abortion is the answer to a problem, or the death of an elderly person is the answer. Many false witnesses came forward, but they could not find a coherent case (Mark 14:56). Finally they found two who said Jesus was able to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days. These words resembled what Jesus said, except that He did not say He would destroy the temple. The importance of their being two witnesses was that this complied with the Law.
26:62-64
Jesus was remaining silent, much to the annoyance of the high priest. Why didn’t He answer the accusation of the last two “witnesses”? Why didn’t he explain why the first bit of their testimony was mistaken? There is a time to speak and a time to remain silent. Exasperated by this, the high priest used an oath to force Jesus to answer the next question, “are you the Messiah, the Son of God”. Jesus did not answer the question directly, apart from saying “You have said so”, but then goes further in ensuring that, in their terms, He is guilty of blasphemy. His answer combines Ps 110:1 and Dan 7:13, and leaves them in no doubt that He is claiming equality with God. This was indeed blasphemy, unless, of course, Jesus actually is the Son of God. There are some who say that Jesus never claimed equality with God, deity, but that this was an idea that developed over time. Such people know nothing.
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