Morning – Psalm
54, 61, Jer. 36:20-26, Col.
3:12-17
Evening – Psalm
51, Dt. 8:11, Mt. 26:57
Commentary,
Matthew 26:57-75
What is the
main point of Matthew 26:57-75? It is
that the trial of Jesus by the high priest and Sanhedrin was an underhanded and
immoral perversion. It was never
intended to seek truth and do justice.
It was a farce which acted with one purpose, to find a way to get the
Romans to crucify Christ. It was held at
night. It was held in secret. It was held in the high priest’s house. Only selected members of the council were
present, for there is no mention of Nicodemus, who would certainly have vocally
opposed their actions. False witnesses told lies about Christ’s words and
actions. All of these things were
against the normal and moral methods of dealing with religious disputes in Israel . In the end they killed the Son of God for
saying He is the Son of God.
There is a
second point in this passage. Peter, who
so bravely said he would die with Christ, denies knowing Him three times. When Peter said he would die with Christ he
had visions of a glorious war that would drive away Romans and establish Israel as a
free and independent nation. When he
drew his sword in the garden, and cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant,
he probably expected the Lord to begin the battle there, and he was probably
ready to die in battle with Christ, if that would bring about a free Israel . But when Christ allowed Himself to be taken
captive, Peter’s resolve fled with the rest of the disciples. Fear overcame him, and he ran away from the
soldiers like the other disciples. Now,
standing outside of the high priest’s house where the “trial” is taking place,
he denies knowing Christ out of fear that he, too, might be crucified.
