Saying Nothing: Matthew 26:57-68

Focus Passage: Matthew 26:57-68 (NCV)

57 Those people who arrested Jesus led him to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders were gathered. 58 Peter followed far behind to the courtyard of the high priest’s house, and he sat down with the guards to see what would happen to Jesus.

59 The leading priests and the whole Jewish council tried to find something false against Jesus so they could kill him. 60 Many people came and told lies about him, but the council could find no real reason to kill him. Then two people came and said, 61 “This man said, ‘I can destroy the Temple of God and build it again in three days.’”

62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Aren’t you going to answer? Don’t you have something to say about their charges against you?” 63 But Jesus said nothing.

Again the high priest said to Jesus, “I command you by the power of the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”

64 Jesus answered, “Those are your words. But I tell you, in the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of God, the Powerful One, and coming on clouds in the sky.”

65 When the high priest heard this, he tore his clothes and said, “This man has said things that are against God! We don’t need any more witnesses; you all heard him say these things against God. 66 What do you think?”

The people answered, “He should die.”

67 Then the people there spat in Jesus’ face and beat him with their fists. Others slapped him. 68 They said, “Prove to us that you are a prophet, you Christ! Tell us who hit you!”

Read Matthew 26:57-68 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!

During the trial Jesus faced on the night of His arrest, three words that open up one of the verses in our passage jump off the page as an amazing example that Jesus sets for all of us.

When faced with all the accusations, false witnesses telling lies, a crowd that is filled with anger and hate, and a high priest who has already sentenced Jesus to death before the trial even began, three simple words describe Jesus’ response: “Jesus said nothing.” (v. 63a)

All the accusations and the lies were contradicting each other. The lies worst enemy was not the truth, but other lies. Nothing that was coming to light was death-worthy, and the high priest knew this – and he had a problem: the high priest had already sentenced Jesus to death in his mind. This trial was simply to uncover a reason.

The longer Jesus said nothing, the more the case against Him would fall apart. By saying nothing, Jesus made it infinitely more difficult for the high priest and other leaders to actually find some fault with Him. If the high priest had not directly challenged Jesus in God’s name and position, the case against Jesus would have fallen completely apart.

The big thing I learn from this is that when facing trials and opposition, sometimes the best thing to say is nothing at all. In cases where the minds of those accusing are already made up, then there is really nothing to say. Jesus models this exceptionally well. Jesus stays silent when there is nothing to say, and He has an answer ready when challenged to speak.

While Jesus’ answer opened the door for His death, it also paved the way for humanity’s salvation – for all who accept His gift.

This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!

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