What does Matthew 26:57 Mean?

Study Notes

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A comparison of the narratives gives the following order of events in the crucifixion day:

(1) Early in the morning Jesus is brought before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin. He is condemned and mocked Matthew 26:57-68 ; Mark 14:55-65 ; Luke 22:63-71 ; John 18:19-24 .

(2) The Sanhedrin lead Jesus to Pilate, Matthew 27:1 ; Matthew 27:2 ; Matthew 27:11-14 ; Mark 15:1-5 ; Luke 23:1-5 ; John 18:28-38 .

(3) Pilate sends Jesus to Herod Luke 23:6-12 ; John 19:4 .

(4) Jesus is again brought before Pilate, who releases Barabbas and delivers Jesus to be crucified Matthew 27:15-26 ; Mark 15:6-15 ; Luke 23:13-25 ; Matthew 27:35-381 ; John 18:40 ; John 19:4-16 .

(5) Jesus is crowned with thorns and mocked Matthew 27:26-30 ; Mark 15:15-20 ; John 19:1-3 .

(6) Suicide of Judas Matthew 27:3-10 .

(7) Led forth to be crucified, the cross is laid upon Simon: Jesus discourses to the women Matthew 27:31 ; Matthew 27:32 ; Mark 15:20-23 ; Luke 23:26-33 ; John 19:16 ; John 19:17 .

For the order of events at the crucifixion

And when

The Order of Events at the Crucifixion

The order of events at the crucifixion:

(1) the arrival at Golgotha Matthew 27:33 ; Mark 15:22 ; Luke 23:33 ; John 19:17

(2) the offer of the stupefying drink refused Matthew 27:34 ; Mark 15:23

(3) Jesus is crucified between two thieves 1713499041_63 ; Mark 15:24-28 ; Luke 23:33-38 ; John 19:18-24

(4) He utters the first cry from the cross, "Father, forgive," etc. Luke 23:34 .

(5) The soldiers part His garments Matthew 27:35 ; Mark 15:24 ; Luke 23:34 ; John 19:23

(6) The Jews mock Jesus Matthew 27:39-44 ; Mark 15:29-32 ; Luke 23:35-38

(7) The thieves rail on Him, but one repents and believes Matthew 27:44 ; Mark 15:32 ; Luke 23:39-43 .

(8) The second cry from the cross, "To-day shalt thou be with me," etc. Luke 23:43 .

(9) The third cry, "Woman, behold thy son" John 19:26 ; John 19:27 .

(10) The darkness Matthew 27:45 ; Mark 15:33 ; Luke 23:44 .

(11) The fourth cry, "My God," etc. Matthew 27:46 ; Matthew 27:47 ; Mark 15:34-36

(12) The fifth cry, "I thirst" John 19:28 .

(13) The sixth cry, "It is finished" John 19:30 .

(14) The seventh cry, "Father, into thy hands," etc. Luke 23:46 .

(15) Our Lord dismisses his spirit Matthew 27:50 ; Mark 15:37 ; Luke 23:46 ; John 19:30 . (See Scofield " Matthew 26:57 ")

Verse Meaning

Josephus wrote that the building in which the Sanhedrin normally met, the "chamber of hewn stone," stood close to the western wall of the temple enclosure. ^[1] Part of this western wall is the modern Wailing Wall where Jews go daily to pray. The exact location of this chamber is presently unknown. However this meeting of the Sanhedrin took place in Caiaphas" house or palace, the location of which is also debated ( Luke 22:54). ^[2] While Annas examined Jesus, the Sanhedrin members assembled.

As mentioned earlier, Caiaphas was the official high priest then. He would have presided over the Sanhedrin. He was probably a Sadducee. The Sadducees held the power in Israel then. The scribes were the official teachers of the law, and the elders were the lay representatives of the people. The chief priests, mainly Sadducees, were also present ( Matthew 26:59). These were the three groups that composed Israel"s chief ruling body.

Matthew stressed Jesus" righteousness for his readers by highlighting the injustice of His trials. [source][source]

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"The breaches in law are so numerous as to be unbelievable ..." ^[1] [source]

". . . even the ordinary legal rules were disregarded in the following particulars: (a) The examination by Annas without witnesses. (b) The trial by night. (c) The sentence on the first day of trial. (d) The trial of a capital charge on the day before the Sabbath. (e) The suborning of witnesses. (f) The direct interrogation by the High Priest." ^[1]1 [source]

France noted that these rules applied later, as reflected in the Mishnah (at the end of the second century A.D.), so not all of them may have been in force when Jesus was tried. ^[3] [source]

It may be helpful to take a brief overview of Jesus" trials since none of the Gospel evangelists gives the complete picture. There were essentially two trials, one Jewish and one Roman. The Jewish trial, really a preliminary hearing, began when Annas informally examined Jesus late Thursday night ( John 18:12-14; John 18:19-23). During this examination, members of the Sanhedrin were evidently assembling. His accusers then brought Jesus before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin who decided He was guilty of blasphemy ( Matthew 26:57-68; Mark 14:53-65). At sunrise on Friday the Sanhedrin decided to send Jesus to Pilate for trial ( Matthew 27:1-2; Luke 22:66-71). The Roman trial began with Jesus appearing before Pilate ( Matthew 27:11-14; John 18:28-38 a). Pilate then sent Jesus to Herod for interrogation ( Luke 23:6-12). Finally Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate for a second examination ( Matthew 27:15-31; John 18:38 to John 19:16). The trials were over and Jesus was at Golgotha by mid-morning, about9:00 a.m. ( Mark 15:25). [source][source]

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Context Summary

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