The Meaning of Matthew 26:61 Explained

Matthew 26:61

KJV: And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

YLT: said, 'This one said, I am able to throw down the sanctuary of God, and after three days to build it.'

Darby: and said, He said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and in three days build it.

ASV: and said, This man said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And said,  This  [fellow] said,  I am able  to destroy  the temple  of God,  and  to build  it  in  three  days. 

What does Matthew 26:61 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 26:57-66 - The True Answer To False Witness
This meeting of the Jewish leaders had been hastily summoned; but their difficulty was to substantiate a charge that would warrant the death sentence. They had to go back to the beginning of Christ's ministry for the one charge that seemed sufficient for their purpose. But see John 2:19; Mark 14:58. In the meanwhile our Lord opened not His mouth. He left His reputation in the care of the Father, to whom He also committed His soul. It is a good example to follow. Do what is right and let God vindicate you!
It was only when Jesus was directly challenged as to His unique relationship to God, that He opened His lips. There is an evident reference in His words to Daniel 7:13-14. The court instantly recognized that in His reply He claimed to be equal with God. To be the Son of God was to be God. See also John 5:18. Note that word henceforth, which suggests that though it is hidden from us, the Kingdom is already set up, as was David's even when Saul was still on the throne. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 26

1  Jesus foretells his own death
3  The rulers conspire against him
6  The woman anoints his feet
14  Judas bargains to betray him
17  Jesus eats the Passover;
26  institutes his holy supper;
30  foretells the desertion of his disciples, and Peter's denial;
36  prays in the garden;
47  and being betrayed by a kiss,
57  is carried to Caiaphas,
69  and denied by Peter

Greek Commentary for Matthew 26:61

I am able to destroy the temple of God [δυναμαι καταλυσαι τον ναον του τεου]
What he had said (John 2:19) referred to the temple of his body which they were to destroy (and did) and which he would raise again in three days as he did. It was a pitiful perversion of what Jesus had said and even so the two witnesses disagreed in their misrepresentation (Mark 14:59). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 26:61

John 2:22 When therefore he was raised from the dead [οτε ουν ηγερτη εκ νεκρων]
First aorist passive indicative of εγειρω — egeirō to raise up. And not at first then, but only slowly after the disciples themselves were convinced. Then “they believed the Scripture” They “believed” again. Dative case γραπηι — graphēi Probably Psalm 16:10 is meant (Acts 2:31; Acts 13:35). And the word which Jesus had said Dative case λογωι — logōi also, but ον — hon (relative) is not attracted to the dative. Clearly then John interprets Jesus to have a parabolic reference to his death and resurrection by his language in John 2:19. There are those who bluntly say that John was mistaken. I prefer to say that these scholars are mistaken. Even Bernard considers it “hardly possible” that John interprets Jesus rightly in John 1:21. “Had he meant that, He would have spoken with less ambiguity.” But how do we know that Jesus wished to be understood clearly at this time? Certainly no one understood Christ when he spoke the words. The language of Jesus is recalled and perverted at his trial as “I will destroy” (Mark 14:58), “I can destroy” (Matthew 26:61), neither of which he said. [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 26:61 mean?

they said This [man] has been saying I am able to destroy the temple - of God and in three days to rebuild it
εἶπαν Οὗτος ἔφη Δύναμαι καταλῦσαι τὸν ναὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ διὰ τριῶν ἡμερῶν οἰκοδομῆσαι

εἶπαν  they  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
Οὗτος  This  [man] 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
ἔφη  has  been  saying 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: φημί  
Sense: to make known one’s thoughts, to declare.
Δύναμαι  I  am  able 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 1st Person Singular
Root: δύναμαι  
Sense: to be able, have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom.
καταλῦσαι  to  destroy 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: καταλύω  
Sense: to dissolve, disunite.
ναὸν  temple 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ναός  
Sense: used of the temple at Jerusalem, but only of the sacred edifice (or sanctuary) itself, consisting of the Holy place and the Holy of Holies (in classical Greek it is used of the sanctuary or cell of the temple, where the image of gold was placed which is distinguished from the whole enclosure).
τοῦ  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Θεοῦ  of  God 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
τριῶν  three 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Feminine Plural
Root: τρεῖς 
Sense: three.
ἡμερῶν  days 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Plural
Root: ἡμέρα  
Sense: the day, used of the natural day, or the interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night.
οἰκοδομῆσαι  to  rebuild  it 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: οἰκοδομέω 
Sense: to build a house, erect a building.