Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus found His disciples, “Peter, James and John” asleep while He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, and after allowing them to continue sleeping, telling them to get going, being seized by the religious leaders, elders and multitude and He said, “I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and you laid no hold on me.” Matthew continued, “But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse fifty-nine of his book, Matthew writes how, “the chief priests, and elders and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus” where we read:
Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council,
sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
The verse reads, “Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, ...” Matthew began word, “Now” which means “moreover and” “the chief priests” or “the men who comprised in addition to one holding the high priestly office, both those who had previously discharged it and although disposed, continued to have great power in the State, as well as the members of the families from which high priest were created, provided that they had much influence in public affairs”, “and elders” which means “the older members of the great council or Sanhedrin”, “and all the council” or “and each, every, the whole and everyone of the Sanhedrin which was the great council at Jerusalem consisting of the seventy one members including the scribes, elders, prominent members of the high priestly families and the high priest who was the president of the assembly”. Matthew shared how the entire group of the “religious leaders” were gathered together against Jesus.
The verse continues, “... sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;” Matthew added the words, “sought false witness” or “looked, strove, required, demanded and craved untrue testimony” “against Jesus” which means “in opposition to Jesus who is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation”, “to put him to death” or “to destroy, render extinct and mortify Jesus”. Matthew shared how the purpose of the gathering of the “religious leaders” was to seek out “untrue testimony” against Jesus so they could “destroy Him” through “death”.
When we think through upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see why the “multitude” along with the “religious leaders” led Jesus to “Caiaphas' house”. They wanted to find “untrue witnesses” against Jesus so they could “kill” Him. They desired to be rid of Jesus and His influence among the people, and the only way they knew to stop it was to “kill” Him. When we think about Jesus' purpose to “seek and to save that which was lost” (See Luke 19:10), it is a marvel there were those who wanted to “destroy” Him. Yet, today there are people who desire to “eliminate or cancel” God's effort to “save” man from his “sins”. God's desire is for people to live with Him for all eternity, and He has given access to do so by submitting to His Son Jesus. Those who are wise will yield themselves to Him and comply with the “true witness” of His Son Jesus.
Next time Matthew shares how the religious leaders sought false witnesses but, “found none, yes, though many false witnesses came”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
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Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
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