JESUS’ TRIALS

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Matthew 26:57-68
Lesson #68
JESUS’ TRIALS

• Memory verse: Mat 5:11
• Read Mat 26:57-68 The trials of the King
  • When Jesus was arrested, the disciples fled.
    • Mark fled naked to keep from being arrested. (Mar 14:51-52)
    • Jesus was immediately taken to trial. There were 6 trials
  • Between his arrest and his crucifixion. Three of the trials were Jewish, and three were Roman. Matthew does not mention all of these trials. All of these trials were illegal trials.
    • Trial #1 (Jewish)
      • Jesus was first taken to the house of Annas, the high priest. Annas questioned Jesus about His disciples and his teachings.
      • Read Joh 18:19-23
    • Trial #2 (Jewish) (This is the trial in Matthew 26)
      • Jesus was then taken next door to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest, who was the son-in-law of Annas.
      • The priests and the Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus to put Him to death. There were many contradictory false witnesses against Him.
      • The evidence:
        • His statement in Joh 2:18-19

That if the temple were destroyed He would rebuild it in 3 days.

They used Jesus statement to refer to the fact that Jesus would destroy the physical temple.

Jesus did not answer this false interpretation of his words according to a Jewish Law maintaining a person’s right to silence.

• • • • • The resulting charge against Him:

The charge was blasphemy because He claimed to be the Christ, the Son of God. (Mat 26:64)

They referred to Him as the Son of God, while He referred to himself as the Son of Man. Both are titles for the Messiah. He quoted Dan 7:13 as proof.

How did the high priest know to ask Jesus if he was the Messiah?

Jesus had told his disciples to tell know one who He was. He had also encouraged silence among those He healed.

Perhaps Judas broke his vow of silence and told the priests when he betrayed Jesus.

Blasphemy always carried a death sentence since Old Testament times. However, at that time, the Jews did not have the authority to carry out a death sentence.

Only the Roman government could do that.

Therefore, while the priests thought he was worthy of death, they had to find a way to cause it to occur.

• • • Trial #3 (Jewish)
      • Jesus was taken at daybreak before the Sanhedrin, the supreme court of the Jews. (Luk 22:66-71)
      • Because the trials before the 2 high priests were illegal they had to make a show of legality by holding this trial before the Sanhedrin. There were 71 members in the Sanhedrin, but to have 23 members present was sufficient legally for a capital case.
      • However, there were not to be any capital cases tried during Passover week. Only if the verdict was not guilty could a trial end on the day it began. Otherwise one night had to pass before sentence was pronounced.
      • A trial was illegal unless it met in the temple. There had to be at least 2 witnesses examined separately who had no contact with each other. False testimony was punishable by death.
        • Before any evidence of guilt could be produced, they first had to give all evidence for innocence.
        • Therefore, this trial was also illegal in many respects.

The resulting charge against him:

Blasphemy.

• • • Trial #4 (roman) (This trial is also in Mat 27:1-2,11-14)
      • Jesus was then taken to the palace of the Roman governor, Pilate, for the first time. (Joh 18:28-38)
        • The Jews could not enter the Gentile palace and remain ceremonially clean for Passover, so Pilate came out to them.
        • Pilate was surprised they brought him a capital case during Passover. However, Pilate took Jesus into the palace for trial.
      • The evidence:
        • Jesus claimed to be a King of another world.
        • The resulting charge: Innocent of any charge.
      • Pilate was a politician who used every opportunity to further his own career and keep the peace so as not to anger higher Roman authorities.
      • He could see the anger and hatred of the Jewish leaders. He did not want a riot during Passover.
      • Pilate saw an opportunity to pass the responsibility to another Roman leader.
    • Trial #5 (Roman)
      • Jesus was sent to Herod Antipas who was in Jerusalem at the time. (Luk 23:6-12) Jesus’ ministry had primarily been in Galilee where Herod Antipas was in authority.
        • Herod was the man who had John the Baptist killed. Herod had wanted to meet Jesus to see a miracle.
        • He asked Jesus many questions but Jesus did not answer in order to fulfill prophecy. (Psa 33:13) Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked Jesus. They dressed Jesus in an elegant robe and returned to Pilate.
      • On that day Herod and Pilate became good friends. Previously they had been enemies.
      • The resulting charge: None
    • Trial #6 (Roman) (This trial is partially in Mat 27:15-26)
      • Jesus was returned to Pilate.
      • The resulting charge: None
      • The sentence: Death
• Application:
  • Discussion:
    • How did Jesus react when he was falsely accused?
    • Why do you show more power when you react the way Jesus did?

Homework

Matthew 26:69-27:10

• Application of Mat 26:57-68
  • Consider Jesus reactions when He was falsely accused. Compare them to your reactions when you are falsely accused. Write your experiences here.
  • Pray and ask God to help you demonstrate the strength of God next time you are falsely accused.
• Preparation for Mat 26:69-27:10
  • Read Mat 26:69-75 Peter’s denial
    • Also read the following scriptures and write any new details you learned.
      • Mar 14:66-72
      • Luk 22:55-62
      • Joh 18:15-18,25-27
    • Read Mat 27:1-10
    • Compare the death of Judas here in Matthew and that in Acts 1:16-20. How do you explain the differences?
• Memory verse: Rom 1:16