Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 26:65-66

"Then the high priest rent his garments, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy: what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? They answered and said, He is worthy of death." — Matthew 26:65-66 (ASV)

If He had not been God incarnate, He would have been guilty of blasphemy and would have deserved to die. By the law of Moses, a blasphemer was to be stoned to death (Leviticus 24:16). Christ’s works had proved that He was God, so His words were not those of a blasphemer, but His confession gave His enemies the opening they were seeking and they declared Him to be unworthy to live. They answered and said, “He is guilty of death.” He had foretold that He would be crucified, whereas the punishment for blasphemy was death by stoning, so further forms of trial had to take place before the end would come.