Matthew 26:57-68 The Arrest

Those who arrested Jesus did not take Him straight to the house of the high priest.  Instead, they first stopped at the house of Annas, who was sort of the "godfather" behind the office of high priest.  Five of his sons had served as high priest, my commentary said, and now his son-in-law, Caiphas, was high priest.  (The Romans were limiting the term of high priest to suit them.)  

Witnesses could not be found that could truthfully present charges, so two false witnesses altered a statement He had made, reporting that He said, "I can destroy the temple of God and build it again in three days."  

Jesus would give no reply to the charges, even though the temple He'd referred to was His own body, and they were the ones doing the destroying.  

"Caiphas knew that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, so he put Him under oath to declare this.  The clever priest knew that Jesus could not avoid replying.  Jesus did affirm that He is the Son of God.  He applied to Himself Psalm 110:1 and Daniel 7:13, both of which were messianic passages ... He predicted His resurrection and ascension."

Strangely, the Sadducees, which included Annas and Caiphas, did not believe in resurrection, and they only believed the five books of Moses were authoritative.  But, they pounced on Jesus' use of Psalm 110 and Daniel 7 and His claims about the coming resurrection!"

Father, years ago my own intellect got in the way of my beliefs about You and Your Son, just as theirs did here.  Please keep me humble and help me not to think I know better than You do.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford