Matthew 26:62 — Community Reflections

MATTHEW 26:62 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?”

And the high priest stood up and said: have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you? The high priest's question to Jesus — have you no answer — is the request for self-defense. The silence that follows is the silence of the Servant who does not quarrel or cry aloud (Matthew 12:19).

Church Fathers on Matthew 26:62

When the Chief Priests were thus assembled, this conventicle of ruffians sought to give their conspiracy the character of a legal trial. But it was entirely a scene of confusion and uproar, as what follows shews, 'Though many false witnesses came, yet found they none.'
Chrysostom · 4th century

False witnesses have place when there is any good colour for their testimony. But no pretext was found which could further their falsehoods against Jesus; notwithstanding there were many desirous to do a favour to the Chief Priests. This then is a great testimony in favour of Jesus, that He had lived and taught so irreproachably, that though they were many, and crafty, and wicked, they could find no semblance of fault in Him.
Origen · 3rd century

'At last came two false witnesses.' How are they false witnesses, when they repeat only what we read that the Lord spoke? A false witness is one who takes what is said in a different sense from that in which it was said. Now this the Lord had spoken of the temple of His Body, and they cavil at His expressions, and by a slight change and addition produce a plausible charge. The Lord’s words were, 'Destroy this temple;' [John 2:19] this they make into, I can destroy the Temple…
Jerome · 4th century

Read all 20 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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