New Testament · Gospel

Matthew 26:59

The Last Supper

Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death. Matthew 26:59 · Berean Standard Bible
What It Means

Matthew 26:59, in plain English

The chief priests and the whole council are looking for false testimony against Jesus so they can put Him to death.

Why it's here

They are not searching for truth. They already have the verdict — guilty. Now they just need to make the paperwork look right.

Who's speaking

The narrator reveals the deeply corrupt nature of the proceedings against Jesus.

Where it sits in the story

The people in charge of God's law are breaking God's law to destroy God's Son. The irony is almost too much to bear.

A Closer Look

The scholarly reading

The chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin (holon to synedrion) actively seek false testimony (pseudomartyrian) against Jesus to secure a death sentence.

Language and setting

The Greek explicitly states they sought false testimony, not merely testimony. This judicial corruption violates Exodus 20:16 and Deuteronomy 19:15-21, laws the Sanhedrin was sworn to uphold.

Voice

The narrator exposes the corrupt motivations of the entire judicial body.

Significance

The highest court of Jewish law actively seeks to break the commandment against false witness to condemn the only perfectly innocent person who has ever lived.

In context

Matthew 26:57–61

57Those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to the house of Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and elders had gathered.

58But Peter followed Him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. And he went in and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.

59Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death.

60But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.

61and declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”

Read all of Matthew 26 — Bread broken. Wine poured. A betrayal predicted. The longest night in history begins around a table.

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