And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.
And {G1161} they said {G2036}, What {G5101} need {G2192} we {G5532} any further {G2089} witness {G3141}? for {G1063} we ourselves {G846} have heard {G191} of {G575} his own {G846} mouth {G4750}.
They said, “Why do we need additional testimony? We have heard it ourselves from his own mouth!”
“Why do we need any more testimony?” they declared. “We have heard it for ourselves from His own lips.”
And they said, What further need have we of witness? for we ourselves have heard from his own mouth.
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Matthew 26:65
Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. -
Matthew 26:66
What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death. -
Mark 14:63
Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses? -
Mark 14:64
Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.
Luke 22:71 concludes the Jewish trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin, marking a pivotal moment in His passion narrative. The verse captures the council's unanimous decision that they had sufficient grounds for condemnation based solely on Jesus's own words.
Context of Luke 22:71
This verse immediately follows Jesus's powerful declaration concerning His identity and future role. When pressed by the council, "Art thou then the Son of God?" (as seen in Luke 22:70), Jesus affirmed their statement, saying, "Ye say that I am." This was preceded by His statement that the Son of Man would be seated at the right hand of the power of God (Luke 22:69). The Sanhedrin, comprising chief priests, scribes, and elders, had been seeking testimony against Him (as described in Luke 22:66-67), but ultimately found His own confession to be the most damning evidence in their eyes. This moment parallels accounts in Matthew 26:65-66 and Mark 14:63-64, where the high priest tears his clothes in response to what they considered blasphemy.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "What need we any further witness?" emphasizes the finality of their judgment. The Greek word for "witness" is martyria (μαρτυρία), meaning "testimony" or "evidence." Their declaration, "for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth," indicates that they considered Jesus's direct confession to be the most irrefutable evidence, eliminating the need for any other form of testimony, whether true or false, that they had sought earlier.
Practical Application
Luke 22:71 serves as a stark reminder of the cost of truth and the danger of rejecting it. Jesus stood firm in His identity, even when it led to His condemnation and death. For believers, this verse underscores the importance of: