59 Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus , so that they might put Him to death . 60 They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward . But later on two came forward , 61 and said , "This man stated , ' I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days .' " 62 The high priest stood up and said to Him, "Do You not answer ? What is it that these men are testifying against You?" 63 But Jesus kept silent . And the high priest said to Him, "I adjure You by the living God , that You tell us whether You are the Christ , the Son of God ." 64 Jesus said to him, " You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter e you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER , and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN ." 65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said , "He has blasphemed ! What further need do we have of witnesses ? Behold , you have now heard the blasphemy ; 66 what do you think ?" They answered , " He deserves death !"
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 26:59-66
Commentary on Matthew 26:57-68
(Read Matthew 26:57-68)
Jesus was hurried into Jerusalem. It looks ill, and bodes worse, when those who are willing to be Christ's disciples, are not willing to be known to be so. Here began Peter's denying him: for to follow Christ afar off, is to begin to go back from him. It is more our concern to prepare for the end, whatever it may be, than curiously to ask what the end will be. The event is God's, but the duty is ours. Now the Scriptures were fulfilled, which said, False witnesses are risen up against me. Christ was accused, that we might not be condemned; and if at any time we suffer thus, let us remember we cannot expect to fare better than our Master. When Christ was made sin for us, he was silent, and left it to his blood to speak. Hitherto Jesus had seldom professed expressly to be the Christ, the Son of God; the tenor of his doctrine spoke it, and his miracles proved it; but now he would not omit to make an open confession of it. It would have looked like declining his sufferings. He thus confessed, as an example and encouragement to his followers, to confess him before men, whatever hazard they ran. Disdain, cruel mocking, and abhorrence, are the sure portion of the disciple as they were of the Master, from such as would buffet and deride the Lord of glory. These things were exactly foretold in the fiftieth chapter of Isaiah. Let us confess Christ's name, and bear the reproach, and he will confess us before his Father's throne.