Matthew 26:68

Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?

Saying {G3004}, Prophesy {G4395} unto us {G2254}, thou Christ {G5547}, Who {G5101} is he {G2076} that smote {G3817} thee {G4571}?

said, "Now, you `Messiah,' `prophesy' to us: who hit you that time?"

and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit You?”

saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ: who is he that struck thee?

Context

This verse finds Jesus in the midst of His unjust trial before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish high council, following His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. After being condemned for blasphemy by the High Priest Caiaphas (Matthew 26:65), He was subjected to severe abuse and mockery by the temple guards and servants. This particular incident immediately follows their spitting in His face and striking Him (Matthew 26:67), showcasing the depth of their contempt and cruelty towards Him.

Key Themes

  • Mockery and Humiliation of Christ: The scene vividly portrays the immense indignity and physical abuse Jesus endured. The blindfolding, striking, and challenging taunts were designed to strip Him of all honor and demonstrate their utter disrespect for His claims.
  • Rejection of Divine Truth: The command to "Prophesy unto us, thou Christ" is not a genuine request for a demonstration of His power, but a cynical, sarcastic challenge. They had already rejected His divine authority and were now ridiculing His identity as the Messiah.
  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: This brutal treatment stands as a poignant fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the suffering servant, who would be scourged and spit upon, and wounded for humanity's transgressions.
  • Jesus' Silent Endurance: Despite His omniscience and power, Jesus remained silent and did not identify His tormentors. This remarkable restraint underscores His willing submission to God's redemptive plan, enduring injustice without retaliation, as foretold in Isaiah 53:7.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Prophesy unto us": The Greek word for "prophesy" here is prophēteuō, which means "to speak for God" or "to foretell." In this context, it's used sarcastically, challenging Jesus to use His supposed divine insight to identify who struck Him while He was blindfolded. It highlights their cynical disbelief in His prophetic claims.
  • "thou Christ": The term "Christ" (Greek: Christos) is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew "Messiah," meaning "Anointed One." Ironically, they use this title, which acknowledges His claim to be the Anointed One, but do so in a mocking and derogatory manner, completely denying His true identity even as they utter it.
  • "smote thee": The Greek verb rhapizō suggests striking with a rod or the open hand, often implying a blow to the face. This emphasizes the personal and humiliating nature of the assault.

Practical Application

This verse offers powerful insights for believers today:

  • Understanding Christ's Sacrifice: It deepens our appreciation for the immense suffering and humiliation Jesus willingly endured for our salvation, highlighting the depth of His love and commitment to God's plan.
  • Enduring Injustice: Jesus' response to such cruel and unjust treatment serves as a profound example of enduring suffering with patience and grace, without retaliation.
  • The Nature of Unbelief: The scene reveals how human hearts can be so hardened by unbelief that they mock and reject divine truth, even when it stands directly before them.
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.

  • Luke 22:63

    ¶ And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote [him].

  • Luke 22:65

    And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.

  • Mark 14:65

    And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.

  • 1 Peter 2:4

    ¶ To whom coming, [as unto] a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, [and] precious,

  • 1 Peter 2:8

    And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, [even to them] which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

  • Matthew 27:39

    And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,

  • Matthew 27:44

    The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.

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