Matthew Henry Commentary Matthew 26:57-68

"And they that had taken Jesus led him away to [the house of] Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. But Peter followed him afar off, unto the court of the high priest, and entered in, and sat with the officers, to see the end. Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death; and they found it not, though many false witnesses came. But afterward came two, and said, This man said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. And the high priest stood up, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou art the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus said unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Henceforth ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven. 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. Then did they spit in his face and buffet him: and some smote him with the palms of their hands, saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ: who is he that struck thee?" — Matthew 26:57-68 (ASV)

Jesus was hurried into Jerusalem. It looks ill, and bodes worse, when those who are willing to be Christ's disciples are not willing to be known as such. Here Peter's denial of him began: for to follow Christ from a distance is to begin to go back from him. It is more our concern to prepare for the end, whatever it may be, than to curiously ask what the end will be.

The event is God's, but the duty is ours. Now the Scriptures were fulfilled, which said, False witnesses are risen up against me. Christ was accused, so that we might not be condemned; and if at any time we suffer in this way, let us remember we cannot expect to fare better than our Master. When Christ was made sin for us, he was silent, and left it to his blood to speak.

Until now, Jesus had seldom expressly professed to be the Christ, the Son of God; the tenor of his doctrine spoke it, and his miracles proved it. But now he would not omit to make an open confession of it. It would have looked like declining his sufferings. He confessed in this way, as an example and encouragement to his followers, to confess him before men, whatever risk they ran.

Disdain, cruel mocking, and abhorrence are the sure portion of the disciple, as they were of the Master, from those who would buffet and deride the Lord of glory. These things were exactly foretold in Isaiah 50. Let us confess Christ's name and bear the reproach, and he will confess us before his Father's throne.