Matthew 26:63

But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

But {G1161} Jesus {G2424} held his peace {G4623}. And {G2532} the high priest {G749} answered {G611} and said {G2036} unto him {G846}, I adjure {G1844} thee {G4571} by {G2596} the living {G2198} God {G2316}, that {G2443} thou tell {G2036} us {G2254} whether {G1487} thou {G4771} be {G1488} the Christ {G5547}, the Son {G5207} of God {G2316}.

Yeshua remained silent. The cohen hagadol said to him, "I put you under oath! By the living God, tell us if you are the Mashiach, the Son of God!"

But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to Him, “I charge You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.”

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.

Matthew 26:63 marks a pivotal moment in the trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish high council. After enduring false testimonies and remaining silent, Jesus is directly challenged by the high priest, Caiaphas, with a solemn oath concerning His true identity.

Context

This verse immediately follows a series of unsuccessful attempts by the Jewish leaders to find a valid charge against Jesus through false witnesses. Despite their efforts, the testimonies were inconsistent, failing to provide a legal basis for condemnation. Frustrated by Jesus' silence in the face of these accusations, the high priest Caiaphas resorts to a direct, binding question, invoking the highest authority of God. This scene is part of the larger narrative of Jesus' arrest and trial, which ultimately leads to His crucifixion.

Key Themes

  • Jesus' Deliberate Silence: Prior to Caiaphas's direct question, Jesus "held his peace," fulfilling prophecies such as Isaiah 53:7, which describes the suffering servant who "opened not his mouth." This silence was not out of fear but a demonstration of His sovereignty and willingness to submit to God's plan.
  • The High Priest's Solemn Oath: Caiaphas's phrase, "I adjure thee by the living God," was the most powerful and binding oath he could administer. It compelled Jesus to answer truthfully under penalty of divine judgment, placing Him in a position where He could no longer remain silent without defying God's name.
  • The Central Question of Jesus' Identity: The core of the high priest's inquiry—"whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God"—reveals the central theological conflict. The Jewish leaders understood "the Christ" (Messiah) to be the long-awaited deliverer, but they struggled to accept Jesus' claim to be the divine "Son of God." This question directly addresses Jesus' divine nature and His messianic claim.
  • Confrontation of Divine Truth and Human Authority: This moment highlights the clash between Jesus' inherent divine authority and the established human religious authority of the Sanhedrin. Their inability to comprehend or accept His true identity ultimately led to their condemnation of Him.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Held his peace": The Greek phrase here implies a deliberate, meaningful silence rather than mere quietness. It speaks to Jesus' composure and control in a highly volatile situation.
  • "I adjure thee": The Greek word is horkizo (ὁρκίζω), meaning "to put under oath" or "to charge solemnly." This was a formal legal procedure, forcing the one being questioned to speak truthfully under the authority of God.
  • "Living God": This title emphasizes God's active, dynamic, and true nature, distinguishing Him from lifeless idols. Invoking "the living God" made the oath supremely binding.
  • "Christ, the Son of God": "Christ" (Greek: Christos) is the Greek translation of the Hebrew "Messiah" (Mashiach), meaning "Anointed One." It refers to the divinely appointed King and Deliverer. "Son of God" signifies a unique, divine relationship and nature, pointing to Jesus' co-equality with God the Father, a claim considered blasphemous by the Jewish leaders.

Related Scriptures

Practical Application

This verse highlights the profound importance of Jesus' identity for Christian faith. His willingness to confirm His divine Sonship, even knowing it would seal His condemnation, underscores the truth of who He is. For believers, it serves as a reminder to affirm the truth of Christ's identity, even when facing opposition or pressure. It also teaches us about the gravity of oaths and the reverence due to God's name, as Caiaphas's question, though malicious in intent, inadvertently brought forth a divine declaration. In our own lives, we may be called to stand firm in our convictions about Christ, even when it is costly, trusting in the ultimate authority of the "Living God."

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Leviticus 5:1

    ¶ And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and [is] a witness, whether he hath seen or known [of it]; if he do not utter [it], then he shall bear his iniquity.

  • Isaiah 53:7

    He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

  • Matthew 16:16

    And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

  • Matthew 27:12

    And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

  • 1 Samuel 14:26

    And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath.

  • Acts 8:32

    The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:

  • Acts 8:35

    Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

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