Matthew 26:47-68 records the betrayal of Jesus by Judas and the beginning of Christ’s trial before the religious leaders. In Matthew 26:47-68, we see Judas arrive with a great multitude carrying swords and staves sent by the chief priests and elders. With a kiss, Judas identifies Jesus to those who came to arrest Him. This moment begins the suffering, rejection, and false accusations that lead to the crucifixion of Christ.
This study of Matthew 26:47-68 explains the betrayal of Jesus, the arrest in Gethsemane, and the trial before Caiaphas. Matthew 26:47-68 also reveals how Jesus responded to betrayal, violence, and false testimony while remaining silent before His accusers. In Matthew 26:47-68, the real issue becomes clear: Jesus was condemned because He declared Himself to be the Christ, the Son of God.
Key Lessons from Matthew 26:47-68
- Betrayal often comes from people close to us.
- Jesus chose submission instead of violence.
- Christ was condemned because He declared Himself to be the Son of God.
GOSPEL OF MATTHEW BIBLE STUDY SERIES
This study of Matthew: Matthew 26:47-68 Betrayal of Jesus Audio is part of a verse-by-verse teaching series through the Gospel of Matthew.
Previous: Matthew 26:31-46 Gethsemane
Next: Matthew 26:69-75 – 27:1-10 Peter Denied Jesus Judas Hung Himself
Matthew 26:47-68 Explained – Betrayal and Christ’s Trial
Audio
The events of Matthew 26:47-68 reveal the betrayal of Jesus, the arrest in the garden, and the beginning of the trial that led to the crucifixion.
Scriptures used in Matthew 26:47-68
- Matthew 26:47–50, Matthew 26:51, John 18:10, Matthew 26:52-54, Luke 22:35–38, Mark 16:15, Mark 16:20, Matthew 28:18–20, Matthew 26:55–56, Matthew 26:57-58, Matthew 26:59–61, Deuteronomy 17:6, John 2:19, Matthew 26:62-64, Isaiah 53:7, Revelation 1:7, Matthew 26:65–66, Genesis 37:29, Leviticus 24:16, Matthew 26:67–68
Matthew 26:47-68 Betrayal of Jesus
The Setting of Matthew 26:47-68 After Gethsemane
We will explore Matthew 26:47-68 today. I realized that we have been in the book of Matthew for about a year. We are now nearing the climax of the book. Chapter 26 is almost the end, with only two chapters remaining. Last week, we were in the garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus was praying. That setting leads directly into the events we study now.
Jesus prayed three times in the garden. Each time he returned to the disciples and found them sleeping. Finally, he told them to sleep on. Then he spoke again and said that the hour had come. The Son of Man was being betrayed into the hands of sinners. That moment leads directly into the passage we are reading in Matthew 26:47–68.
Judas Arrives With the Multitude in Matthew 26:47-68
While Jesus was still speaking, Judas Iscariot arrived. He came with a great multitude carrying swords and staves sent by the chief priests and elders. Judas had already given them a signal. He told them that the one he kissed would be the man they should seize. Judas came directly to Jesus and greeted Him as Master. He kissed him, marking him for arrest.
Jesus responded to Judas and called him friend. After the kiss, the crowd stepped forward. They laid hands on Jesus and took him. This moment marks the beginning of the betrayal and arrest described in Matthew 26:47–50.
Matthew 26:47–50
47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.
49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus and took him.
The Kiss of Betrayal in Matthew 26:47-68
Judas left the Lord’s table and went to Caiaphas. A crowd was gathered, and the stage was set for the trial of Jesus (John 13:27). Few passages are sadder than this one. Judas gave the sign beforehand. The one he kissed would be the man they must seize. When people think of Judas, they remember that act – the kiss of betrayal. Yet I have learned something painful. Until you have been a Judas yourself, you do not fully understand the weight of that betrayal.
The Pain of Betrayal
Every ministry eventually faces a Judas experience. Someone trusted turns and betrays the one who loved and trusted them. Dr. Bill Hammond often teaches this principle. He compares Lucifer’s betrayal of God and Judas’ betrayal of Jesus (Isaiah 14:12) (Luke 22:48). Now, I’m not one who goes with the traditional “Lucifer teaching,” but I understand the principle. Most ministers will experience that kind of betrayal. At the same time, there is another side. Sometimes we discover that we ourselves have played the Judas. When that happens, the passage becomes very personal. It burns deep inside.
Nothing hurts more than betraying someone who truly loves you. I hope you never face that moment. I also hope no one betrays you. Yet the deeper truth appears when Jesus speaks to Judas. He still calls him friend (Matthew 26:50). That word has always spoken strongly to me, i.e., the person I betrayed still called me friend. When someone can respond that way, you are seeing the spirit of Christ.
Because of that truth, we must respond correctly on either side of the experience. If someone betrays us, we must still be able to call that person a friend. Forgiveness is not optional. If we refuse to forgive, we ourselves cannot be forgiven (Matthew 6:14–15). That means whether we were betrayed or we were the betrayer, the right response is still forgiveness and grace.
The pain of betrayal explains why Judas later wanted to hang himself (Matthew 27:5). That kind of guilt burns the soul. Few things wound the heart more deeply than realizing you betrayed someone who loved you. The weight of that moment is overwhelming.
Peter Draws the Sword in Matthew 26:47-68
Peter Strikes the Servant
The story then moves forward to another scene. One of the disciples drew a sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
Matthew 26:51
51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear.
John Reveals the Servant’s Name
The man who did it was Peter. John records the detail and even gives the servant’s name as Malchus (John 18:10).
John 18:10
10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
John was able to record certain details later because by that time, the people involved were already dead. Peter had died. Malchus was probably dead. Jesus had already departed. Because of that, John could name the individuals involved. The other Gospel writers could not do that because many of those people were still alive when their accounts were written. That explains why John could identify who struck the servant and even give his name.
Jesus Commands the Sword to Be Put Away in Matthew 26:47-68
What stands out in this passage is how Jesus responded to the incident with the sword. The moment raises an important question. If there were ever a reason for civil disobedience, it would seem to be when people come to arrest Christ Himself. One might think that would justify resistance.
Yet Jesus answered in a completely different way.
Matthew 26:52-54
52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
He told them to put the sword back in its place (Matthew 26:52). Even in that moment, Jesus commanded that the sword be put away. Now that was interesting to me. Jesus told Peter to put away the sword when he tried to use it.
The events recorded in Matthew 26:47-68 show that Jesus rejected violence and chose submission to the Father’s will.
Matthew 26:47-68 and the Question of Civil Disobedience
Could Jesus Have Used Force?
Another thought came to me. If Jesus had wanted to respond by force, He would not have needed us to act in civil disobedience. He could have called upon the angels of God to intervene (Matthew 26:53). That realization forces me to think about balance in the things our fellowship is wrestling with.
I am not saying that civil disobedience is never something God may call a person to do. God may tell someone to go stand at an abortion clinic and even be arrested. Yet that cannot be the whole message God is speaking. The Lord may be saying something deeper and broader than that.
My conviction is simple. If God wanted to accomplish his purpose through force, he could do it without our help. The question then becomes how the scriptures would be fulfilled if that happened (Matthew 26:54). The events taking place in Jesus’ time were fulfilling scripture. The same principle holds in our time.
Because of that, I have been looking more carefully at the issue. My perspective has been changing. A year ago, I might have been ready to get arrested over these matters. Today, I am not in that same place. That is not cowardice. It comes from walking through some things and seeing the situation in a different light.
Luke 22 and the Two Swords
Luke records part of the background to this discussion. In Luke chapter 22, Jesus spoke to His disciples after the Lord’s table. He reminded them of the earlier mission when they went out without money, a bag, or shoes. They testified that they lacked nothing (Luke 22:35). Then Jesus gave new instructions. Those who had a purse or bag should take it. The one without a sword should sell his garment and buy one (Luke 22:36).
Luke 22:35–38
35 And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.
36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
38 And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.
Why Two Swords Were Enough
Two swords cannot accomplish very much. You cannot start an insurrection with two swords. Jesus still said that two were enough (Luke 22:38). That response makes me think He was pointing out that the disciples did not really understand what He meant.
Two swords are not enough for a rebellion. Two swords cannot accomplish what many people claim this passage teaches. The weapons mentioned were likely short daggers. That kind of weapon would not support an uprising. For that reason, I believe Jesus was not preparing them for insurrection. Even though Jesus earlier spoke about buying a sword (Luke 22:36), the disciples reported that they had two swords, and Jesus said that was enough (Luke 22:38).
I openly admit that I do not fully understand everything in this passage. I am not pretending to explain every detail. One thing is clear to me, though. Two swords cannot support civil disobedience or armed resistance. Jesus declared that two were sufficient for the purpose He had in mind (Luke 22:38).
The story of Peter confirms that idea. Jesus did not command Peter to use a sword. Instead, He told Peter to put the sword back in its place (Matthew 26:52). Jesus warned that those who take the sword will perish by the sword (Matthew 26:52). That statement does not sound like a command to overcome by natural force.
Matthew 26:47-68 and the Question of Civil Disobedience
Christ also made it clear that force was never the issue. If He had wanted to act by power, He could have called twelve legions of angels (Matthew 26:53). The events had to unfold as they did because scripture had to be fulfilled (Matthew 26:54).
This raises a question for me. What scriptures are we fulfilling today? What has the Lord commanded us to do? Should we draw the sword or practice civil disobedience? Those questions have caused me to pray deeply. I do not want to miss what God is saying.
If the Lord wanted me to be arrested, I would go without hesitation. At the same time, I do not want to act wrongly if that is not what He is asking of me. I have been wrestling with these matters and asking God for direction. That is why I turned to the commissions Jesus gave His disciples. When we look at Mark chapter 16, we see the instruction clearly. Jesus told them to go into all the world and preach the gospel (Mark 16:15).
Mark 16:15
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Matthew 26:47-68 and the True Weapon of the Church
The Commission to Preach the Gospel
That is the sword I believe we are to carry – the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17). Our commission is to go and preach the gospel to every creature.
Those who believe and are baptized will be saved. Those who do not believe will be condemned. The gospel message brings that clear division.
Signs Following the Believer
Signs are also promised to follow those who believe. In His name they will cast out devils. Believers will speak with new tongues. They will take up serpents. Deadly things will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and the sick will recover (Mark 16:16-18).
What I see in this passage is that the world’s mentality is not changed by swords. The change comes from signs following the believer. The disciples went everywhere preaching the gospel. The Lord worked with them. He confirmed the word through signs that followed.
Mark 16:20
20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
The Great Commission
Signs following the believer confirmed the word (Mark 16:20). That is what I desire. I want the word to be confirmed. I then look at the Great Commission again to see if it aligns with what I am seeing here. My goal is not to correct anyone. I am simply sharing what I believe I am hearing from the Lord.
Jesus declared that all power was given to Him in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). Then He commanded that they go and teach all nations. The instruction was not to take a sword. The command was to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19).
Christ also commanded that we teach people to observe everything He has commanded. He promised that He would be with us always, even to the end of the world (Matthew 28:20).
Matthew 28:18–20
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Obeying God Rather Than Men
I do not find swords in the Great Commission. That does not mean I would never take one or never be civilly disobedient. Joe and I talked about this. He said that if there is absolutely no other way, then civil disobedience may become necessary.
That raises the question of obedience. When the issue becomes obeying God or obeying the law, the choice must be obedience to God (Acts 5:29). Even so, I do not clearly see civil disobedience taught in these passages. What I do see is teaching, preaching, and expecting signs to follow the word.
Christ has the power to act by force if He chooses. He could call more than twelve legions of angels just as He said (Matthew 26:53). That power could be exercised today just as easily as it could have been then.
Because of that, my prayer is for clarity. I ask the Lord to make the issue of civil disobedience clear for the churches. I am not against it, and I am not fully for it because I do not yet see it clearly. This is something that our fellowship and many others need to pray about.
Matthew 26:47-68: Jesus Arrested and the Disciples Flee
The Crowd Comes With Swords and Staves
Jesus Himself spoke to the crowd that came to arrest Him. They arrived with swords and staves as if they were capturing a thief. Yet He had been teaching openly in the temple, and no one arrested Him there. These events took place so that the scriptures the prophets spoke would be fulfilled (Matthew 26:55–56).
Matthew 26:55–56
55 In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.
56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
All the Disciples Forsook Him
All the disciples forsook Him and fled (Matthew 26:56). Jesus had already told them that they would forsake the shepherd that night, and they did exactly that (Matthew 26:31). Because of this, I do not believe we should condemn those eleven men. Many disciples today still run when trouble comes.
Later, those same men reached a point where they would stand and even die for their Lord. A time is coming when the church of Jesus Christ will also have to stand rather than run. For too long, the church has been running. The next section shows that the church must eventually stand or face judgment.
That leads into the next part of the study in Matthew 26:47-68, verses 67-75. This passage begins the ecclesiastical trial of Jesus before the religious system. In that trial, we see what Jesus was actually guilty of. He remained silent during the accusations. I have to ask how well we imitate Him in holding our peace.
Jesus finally answered Caiaphas and those present. He declared that He was the Christ. He then said they would see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven (Matthew 26:64). Caiaphas and the leaders of Israel were given the opportunity to decide whether Jesus was the Christ.
Every nation faces that same decision. A nation can receive the blessings of God or experience His coming in the clouds of judgment. The direction depends on what its leaders do with Jesus Christ. The spirit of this message warns that our nation is receiving judgment because its leaders have not received Christ.
Peter later denied Christ three times (Matthew 26:75). That reminds me to ask how many times we ourselves deny Him.
Matthew 26:47-68: Jesus Before Caiaphas
Peter Follows Afar Off
Matthew 26:57-58
57And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
58 But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.
The Search for False Witnesses
The trial itself then unfolds. Those who arrested Jesus brought Him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and elders were gathered (Matthew 26:57). The council searched for false witnesses so they could put Him to death. Many witnesses appeared, but none provided a valid charge. Finally, two false witnesses came forward and repeated the claim that Jesus said He could destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days (John 2:19).
The trial scene in Matthew 26:47-68 reveals the real issue that led to the crucifixion of Jesus.
Matthew 26:59–61
59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
60 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,
61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
It is important to understand that Jesus was not crucified because He said He could destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days. That accusation had nothing to do with the real reason for His crucifixion. The leaders needed witnesses and a formal trial to carry out their plan. The hearing was largely a formality. They were using any accusation they could find in order to justify the death they had already decided upon.
Matthew 26:47-68 and the Six Trials of Jesus
Three Religious Trials
Jesus was brought to Caiaphas and the religious leadership. Scripture shows that He faced three trials before the religious system. These were ecclesiastical trials – trials conducted by the organized religious authority. The three religious hearings appear in John 18:13, Matthew 26:57, and Matthew 27:1. In the first hearing, Jesus stood before Annas, Caiaphas’s father-in-law. Annas had previously served as high priest.
The second hearing occurred before Caiaphas and those assembled with him during the night (Matthew 26:57). Matthew records this part of the event after the interview with Annas. The third religious hearing occurred before the Sanhedrin the following morning (Matthew 27:1).
Three Civil Trials
Jesus also faced three civil trials. These appear in Matthew 27:2, Luke 23:7, and Luke 23:14. First, He was brought before Pilate. Then Pilate sent Him to Herod. Finally, he was returned again to Pilate. In total, Jesus went through six separate hearings or trials.
During these events, the leaders were searching for false witnesses. The timing of the trial was also unusual. It was very early in the morning, around one or two o’clock. Normally, people do not run through the city at that hour trying to gather witnesses. Yet they were urgently seeking people who would testify against Jesus.
Their haste came from the requirements of Jewish law. According to their legal tradition, a man could not be sentenced and executed on the same day. A conviction had to occur on one day, and the execution on the following day. Since the Jewish day began at six in the morning (sunrise), they had only a few hours to conduct the hearing, gather witnesses, secure a conviction, and bring Jesus to Pilate before the day ended.
The leaders were extremely strict about the technical details of the law. They were determined to follow the legal form while still accomplishing their purpose. That is why they rushed through the night seeking witnesses and pushing the process forward before the new day began.
The leaders were extremely careful about the smallest legal details. At the same time, they were missing the most important truth standing in front of them. They were straining at gnats and swallowing camels (Matthew 23:24). They were so focused on technicalities that they could not see Christ Himself.
The Father Determined the Day of the Crucifixion
The real question is who controlled the day of the crucifixion. It was not ultimately the Sanhedrin. Father God was in control. Scripture says the Father smote the Son and that it pleased Him to do so (Isaiah 53:10). Jesus was not crucified by the devil or by the Sanhedrin alone. He was crucified according to the purpose of the Father.
The Sanhedrin actually tried to avoid executing someone during Passover. They plotted to seize Jesus and kill Him by stealth (Matthew 26:4). Caiaphas was the high priest leading the council (Matthew 26:3). Their decision was clear. They said the execution must not occur on the feast day because it might cause an uproar among the people (Matthew 26:5).
Jesus said something very different. He told His disciples that after two days the Passover would come and the Son of Man would be betrayed to be crucified (Matthew 26:1–2). The leaders said, “Not on the feast day.” Jesus said it would happen on the Passover. Heaven’s plan determined the day.
While the leaders were scheming and gathering witnesses, they were unknowingly carrying out the Father’s purpose. Even their plotting and decisions were being used to fulfill the will of God.
The same principle applies to our lives. Human plans and schemes still work within God’s larger purpose. The Lord takes everything and works it together for good (Romans 8:28). The leaders declared that Jesus would not be killed on the feast day, yet heaven had already determined the timing (Matthew 26:5) (Matthew 26:2).
Religious Trials Often Reveal Carnal Systems
The search for witnesses shows the nature of the trial. They were not seeking the truth. They were seeking a way to justify execution. The hearing was a farce. The leaders were simply going through the motions so they could carry out their decision.
That behavior reveals something about flesh and carnality. Whenever systems resort only to rituals and outward motions, the activity is driven by the flesh. This is true in civil systems, church systems, or any structure run by men. Empty motions reveal a carnal heart rather than the work of the Spirit.
Many men of God have been placed on trial by denominations or religious systems. The purpose is often not justice but removal. The goal is to discredit the man and eliminate him. That experience is painful. Rejection by a religious system makes a person feel small, unnecessary, and deeply wounded.
Understanding the larger picture changes the perspective. The system may think it is removing the man, but in reality, the Father may be moving him out. What appears to be rejection may actually be God’s purpose. The Lord may be removing a man from a system that no longer fits His plan.
The Requirement for Two Witnesses
The hearing itself often becomes a formality. The process is carried out, but the decision is already made. Rules are adjusted to achieve the desired outcome. The situation looks unjust, yet behind it God’s purpose is still at work.
Father determines the timing, the place, and the circumstances. What happens to one man has happened to many others. Thousands of men have faced similar treatment.
The account then resumes its search for witnesses. At first, none were found. Eventually, two witnesses came forward. The requirement for two or three witnesses was established in the law (Deuteronomy 17:6) (Deuteronomy 19:15).
Deuteronomy 17:6
6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.
Two Witnesses and the Temple Accusation
When religious people decide they want to destroy someone, they will find the witnesses they need. They will at least find two. Jesus ministered to multitudes. He preached, taught, and healed many people. Yet when the time came, they could only produce two witnesses against Him.
This reality shows something important. The crucifixion of Jesus was not ultimately the work of the Sanhedrin or the devil. It was the purpose of the Father. Those two witnesses were simply part of the process that fulfilled His plan.
The amount of trouble people can cause is limited. Two people can only cause the amount of trouble the Father allows. If more trouble is needed to accomplish His purpose, more trouble will come. If only a little trouble is required, that is all that will occur. The Father remains in control, and He governs the outcome.
Those witnesses were not the real cause of the crucifixion. Their accusation about the temple had nothing to do with the true reason Jesus would die. They repeated the statement that He said He could destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days (John 2:19).
John 2:19
19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
Matthew 26:47-68 and the Real Reason Jesus Was Crucified
False Accusations About the Temple
The statements of the witnesses had nothing to do with the crucifixion. It is not, I repeat it is not, Father’s purpose to crucify Jesus because he said I can build a temple in three days.
What people say does not determine what the Father does. The purpose of the crucifixion was not the accusation of destroying the temple. Jesus was crucified because He declared Himself to be the Christ. The nation and its leaders rejected Him.
This truth leads to a serious question. What happens to leaders and nations that reject Christ? That is the issue the Spirit presses on our hearts. Nations and their leaders must decide whether to receive Jesus as Christ.
The High Priest Demands an Answer
Matthew 26:62-64
62 And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.
64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
Jesus Declares He Is the Christ
The trial scene shows this clearly. The high priest demanded an answer and asked whether Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus finally answered and confirmed the truth. He then declared that they would see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven (Matthew 26:62–64).
Matthew 26:47-68 and Learning to Hold Our Peace
Jesus Fulfilled Isaiah’s Prophecy
Before that moment, Jesus remained silent. False accusations were presented, and His words were twisted. He did not defend Himself. Like a lamb led to the slaughter, He opened not His mouth (Isaiah 53:7).
The accusations about the temple were trivial. They did not deserve an answer. Jesus held His peace and refused to respond to them. That response teaches an important lesson. Not every accusation deserves a defense.
Learning to remain silent is difficult. The natural instinct is to defend every word and action. Yet the example of Christ shows the wisdom of holding our peace. The prophecy describes Him as oppressed and afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth (Isaiah 53:7).
Isaiah 53:7
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Vengeance Belongs to the Lord
How hard is it to hold our peace? Can we sit and let someone take something we said or did and mix it up so badly that it sounds ludicrous and blasphemous, yet still hold our peace? That is difficult. I struggle with that. When people twist what I say or do, I feel the need to defend myself. I feel like I must vindicate Delbert because no one else will.
Yet the question remains – whose vengeance is it? The Lord said that vengeance belongs to Him (Romans 12:19). Because of that truth, there are times when the right response is simply to hold our peace (Romans 12:19).
That really ministers to me. Do we feel that we must always have the last word?
Matthew 26:47-68: The Real Issue Is Jesus the Christ
Caiaphas Reaches the Real Question
Finally, Caiaphas reached the real issue. It was not the temple. He said, I adjure thee by the living God that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God (Matthew 26:63). The word adjure means to exact an oath. The Living Bible says I demand in the name of the living God. The Today’s English Bible says in the name of the living God, I now put you on oath. The NIV Bible says I charge you under oath by the living God.
This was the real issue, not the temple. The question was whether Jesus was the Christ. It was the issue then, and it is the issue today. If our national leaders believed Jesus was Christ, our nation would not be doing five thousand abortions a day. If we believed Jesus was the Christ, pornography would not be readily available. Drugs would not be destroying lives. Homes would not be filled with the situations we see. Child molestation would not exist.
When we truly believe Jesus is the Christ, our nation will receive blessings instead of clouds. It was the issue then. It is the issue today, and it will be the issue tomorrow. To this charge and only this charge, Jesus would be crucified. To it He answered, thou hast said (Matthew 26:64).
Jesus Spoke Only When Asked if He Was the Christ
During the entire trial, this was the only thing He answered. They spat on Him, slapped Him, beat Him, blindfolded Him, and mocked Him. Then they’d say, ” Tell us who smote you, and prophesy unto us.” They accused Him and twisted His words. They misinterpreted what He said and tried to make Him sound ludicrous, insane, and blasphemous. Yet He never opened His mouth. Like the lamb led to the slaughter (Isaiah 53:7).
The only time He responded and the only time He made Himself guilty was when they asked if He was the Christ. I agree. He was guilty of being the Christ. To this charge and only this charge, He would be crucified. The Living Bible says yes, Jesus said I am. The NIV Bible says yes, it is as you say.
Why Jesus Was Crucified
There was only one reason Jesus was crucified. What was it? He was Jesus Christ. He was Christ the Messiah, the Son of God. Do we understand that? Say that back to me. I will ask again, and I want you to respond. Why was Jesus crucified? He was the Christ. He was the Son of God.
The Responsibility of Nations
If this is why Jesus was crucified, if this is the only reason the Father allowed Him to be crucified, then what was the only reason natural national Israel was destroyed? They rejected Jesus as Christ.
What will be the only reason the United States of America will be destroyed? It will be because we reject Jesus as Christ. Either we believe this, or we do not, and our lifestyle proves what we believe. Our lives are written epistles (2 Corinthians 3:2). Jesus said we will know people by their fruit (Matthew 7:16). In the same way, we can know a nation by its fruit.
Throughout the trial, Jesus made only one substantive comment. His only reply was that He was the Christ, the Son of God. His only guilt was being the Christ, the Son of God. For this and only this, Jesus was crucified.
The issue had now been addressed. The truth had been given to the leadership of the Jewish nation. It was up to them what they would do with that truth. They could accept it and live, or reject it and be destroyed. The leaders of the nation would decide whether to receive Jesus as Christ or not. Our nation has the same choice. Our leaders can accept biblical principles, accept what Jesus said, and receive Him as Christ, or reject Him. The response toward us will be the same as it was toward them.
Nations Must Decide Whether Jesus Is the Christ
Jesus told Caiaphas that He was the Christ. He also said that from that point forward, they would see Him sitting in power and coming on the clouds (Matthew 26:64). The same warning stands today. If a nation refuses to receive Him as Christ, it will face Him in power and judgment.
This same decision stands before the leadership of our nation. They must decide whether Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, or reject Him. That choice is real, and it carries consequences.
We must stop playing around with leaders who bring judgment on our nation. They must be removed. What will the Father do with any nation that rejects His Son as Christ? Would He be just if He allowed America to ignore this issue while judging every other nation that rejects Jesus as Christ? He could not. It is not that God wants to judge America. His word demands it when a nation rejects His Son. This is the issue. This is the real issue today. I sense in my heart that the Spirit is sounding a trumpet and warning us to wake up, America.
Matthew 26:47-68 and the Warning of Judgment
Coming in the Clouds
Jesus said that hereafter they would see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven (Matthew 26:64). Those are the Scriptures concerning the coming of the Lord in the clouds. I am not going into all of that because we have studied those things many times. This was not speaking of a distant future event. Jesus was speaking about the judgment of AD 70. He declared that He was the Christ, and the proof would be His coming upon them in the clouds of heaven. From that point forward, they would see Him in that way – judgment!
The Judgment of AD 70
The cloud reveals the heavenlies where God is seated. It shows the place where He speaks, rules, and judges, and where He is surrounded by the court and council. We studied this when we looked at the cloud Ezekiel saw (Ezekiel 1:4). Ezekiel looked into that cloud and saw the heavenly scene. John later saw the same thing when the window of heaven opened, and a voice said come up here (Revelation 4:1). What John saw was the same cloud Ezekiel saw.
The book of Revelation is built upon that vision. From that point forward, it reveals the judgment that would come upon the earth. This is the cloud Jesus was speaking about. That judgment came upon natural national Israel in AD 70.
The same principle applies today. If our nation does not wake up, the same kind of judgment will come upon the United States of America. Our leaders are bringing judgment instead of blessing. The destruction of natural Israel in AD 70 proved that Jesus was the Christ. Revelation says that He comes with clouds and every eye shall see Him, including those who pierced Him (Revelation 1:7). Those who pierced Him would see Him coming in the cloud that the book of Revelation describes.
The warning given in Matthew 26:47-68 applies not only to Israel but to every nation that must decide whether Jesus is the Christ.
Revelation 1:7 and the Judgment on Those Who Rejected Christ
Revelation 1:7
7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
That was Caiaphas and the leadership, and judgment came upon those people. Will that be what it takes for America to realize that Jesus is the Christ and that He means what He says? I pray it will not come to that. Still, I fear it might if nothing changes. Something is happening in me. We have talked about the judgment of God on our nation for years, but now I sense it more deeply and see it more clearly.
Matthew 26:47-68: Caiaphas Tears His Garments
The High Priest Declares Blasphemy
Matthew 26:65–66
65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
66 What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.
Then the high priest tore his clothes and declared that Jesus had spoken blasphemy. He said there was no need for further witnesses because they had heard the blasphemy themselves. He asked the council what they thought, and they answered that Jesus was guilty of death (Matthew 26:65-66).
Rent Garments or Rent Hearts
The renting of clothes dates back to Genesis 37:29.
Genesis 37:29
29 And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.
Rent means to tear apart forcibly. The first time it appears is when Reuben returned to the pit where Joseph had been thrown and found that he was gone, and Reuben rent his clothes (Genesis 37:29). Later, Jacob rent his clothes when the coat of many colors was brought to him with blood on it (Genesis 37:34).
Joel gives the real meaning when he says that if we rent our hearts, we will not have to rent our garments (Joel 2:13). God is not interested in people tearing their clothes. What He desires is the renting of the heart. He wants the old man torn away. He wants the heart opened so He can come in and do His work.
Caiaphas and Israel were faced with the decision to accept or reject Christ. Caiaphas did not want Jesus to be the Christ. He stood face to face with the truth and responded by tearing his clothes instead of his heart. Many people today face the same moment when they encounter Jesus Christ. When that happens, something must be torn. Something must change.
When Christ Is Revealed, Something Must Change
Caiaphas refused to change. He was the high priest and the leader of Israel. In his mind, he did not have to submit to anyone, and he certainly was not going to submit to a man from Nazareth.
Whenever Jesus is identified as Christ, something must be torn apart. Something must change. We must submit to His authority. Before Jesus, we act as our own high priest. What He desires is not torn garments but a torn heart. He wants a heart that will yield and submit to Him.
When we come face to face with Jesus, something has to tear inside. A person feels as if they will burst if they do not either accept or reject Him. Something must happen. Many of us experienced that moment, and our hearts were rent. We opened our hearts and received Him.
Others face that same moment and turn away. When they reject Him, they then receive the judgments that follow. That is what happened with Caiaphas and the leaders of the nation. They rejected Jesus, and judgment came upon them.
The leaders said there was no further need for witnesses because they had heard what they called blasphemy. The law taught that blasphemy was worthy of death (Leviticus 24:16).
Blasphemy and the Law of Moses
Leviticus 24:16
16 And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall be put to death.
Matthew 26:47-68: The Mocking and Beating of Jesus
They Spat and Struck the Son of God
Matthew 26:67–68
67 Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,
68 Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?
What are our leaders doing to Jesus today? Are they spitting in His face and striking Him? Many act as if there is no God in heaven and claim the right to make their own rules while thousands of babies are killed each day. Mark records that they covered His face (Mark 14:65). Luke says they blindfolded Him (Luke 22:64). The word buffet means to strike with the fist.
They spat on Him, covered His face, struck Him with their fists, and slapped Him with their hands. Then they mocked Him and said to Him, ” Prophesy who struck You ” (Matthew 26:67-68). This is one of the most disturbing passages in Scripture. It is hard to imagine people treating anyone this way, much less someone who had done nothing but good.
A Warning for Religious Leaders
Those same men likely spent that very day teaching Scripture, giving tithes, blessing children, fasting, and praying. Yet that night, they were spitting on the Son of God. America thinks it is getting by, but it is not. Religious leaders may preach, pray, fast, and tithe during the day, yet still dishonor Christ.
I have never literally spit on Him or struck Him, yet I must ask whether some of the things I have done have been just as hurtful. When we look at what religious leaders have done, is it not like a spit or a slap against Him? Jesus knew who struck Him then, and He knows now.
The warning I hear is that the church must begin moving into every community and preaching the word of God. Lives must be changed, and changed lives will change society and legislation.
Religious leaders must move beyond simply preaching and praying. They must truly preach the word of God and bring real change to people’s lives. There was only one reason Jesus was crucified. He was the Christ. There was only one reason natural Israel was destroyed. It rejected the Christ.
There will be only one reason the United States of America will fall. It will be the rejection of Christ. Our leaders hold positions of authority and must lead the nation toward safety.
The Church Must Speak to the Moral Direction of a Nation
We must become more aware of what our nation’s leaders are saying, doing, and believing. We must understand where they stand and speak about it openly. If someone supports perversion, that must be known. If someone supports abortion, the church must say so. It does not matter whether the person is a Democrat or a Republican. The real question is where that person stands in relation to the word of God.
God help us see that we have no choice but to receive Jesus Christ or face destruction as natural Israel did. If we care about future generations, about our grandchildren and those who come after them, then we must take our stand today and declare that we must receive Jesus as Christ, the Son of God.
We will either receive His blessings or His cloud.
Questions and Answers about Matthew 26:47-68
What happens in Matthew 26:47-68?
Matthew 26:47-68 records the betrayal of Jesus by Judas, the arrest in the garden, and the beginning of Christ’s trial before the religious leaders. In Matthew 26:47-68 Judas identifies Jesus with a kiss, Peter strikes the servant of the high priest, and Jesus is brought before Caiaphas, where false witnesses accuse Him.
Why did Judas betray Jesus in Matthew 26:47-68?
Matthew 26:47-68 records Judas betraying Jesus with a kiss after making an agreement with the chief priests. The betrayal fulfilled the events that would lead to the trial and crucifixion of Christ.
Why did Jesus tell Peter to put away the sword in Matthew 26:47-68?
In Matthew 26:47-68 Jesus tells Peter to put away his sword because the events were necessary to fulfill Scripture. Jesus explained that those who take the sword will perish by the sword and that He could call on heavenly power if He chose.
What was Jesus accused of in Matthew 26:47-68?
Matthew 26:47-68 shows the religious leaders searching for false witnesses against Jesus. They eventually accused Him of claiming He could destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, but the real issue became whether He was the Christ, the Son of God.
Why was Jesus condemned in Matthew 26:47-68?
Matthew 26:47-68 reveals that Jesus was condemned because He declared Himself to be the Christ. When the high priest asked whether He was the Son of God, Jesus confirmed the truth, leading the council to declare Him guilty.
These truths from Matthew 26:47-68 remind us that the central question of history is whether Jesus is the Christ.
Key Truths from Matthew 26:47-68
- Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss, showing that betrayal often comes from those closest to us.
- Jesus refused to defend Himself with violence and told Peter to put away the sword.
- Christ remained silent in the face of false accusations and spoke only when asked whether He was the Christ.
- Jesus was crucified for one reason – He declared that He was the Christ, the Son of God.
- Nations and leaders must decide whether to receive Jesus as Christ or reject Him.
Other Related Sermons:
Matthew 26:13-30 Judas Betrayal – Passover Audio
Kissing Calves audio sermon notes
Judas Iscariot part 2 Luke 6:12-16 audio video notes
Matthew 27:28-66 Crucifixion Audio
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