Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 26:60
But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, [yet] found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,
Found none – That is, they found none on whose testimony they could with any show of reason convict him. The reason was, as Mark says Mar 14:56, that their witnesses agreed not together. They differed about facts, times, and circumstances, as all false witnesses do. Two witnesses were required by their law, and they did not dare to condemn him without conforming, in appearance at least, to the requirements of the law.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 60. Though many false witnesses came] There is an unaccountable confusion in the MSS. in this verse: without stating the variations, which may be seen in Griesbach, I shall give that which I believe to be the genuine sense of the evangelist. Then the chief priests and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; but they found it not, though many false witnesses came up. At last two false witnesses came up, saying; This man said, c. It is the property of falsity to be ever inconsistent, and to contradict itself therefore they could not find two consistent testimonies, without which the Jewish law did not permit any person to be put to death. However, the hand of God was in this business: for the credit of Jesus, and the honour of the Christian religion, he would not permit him to be condemned on a false accusation; and, therefore, at last they were obliged to change their ground, and, to the eternal confusion of the unrighteous council, he is condemned on the very evidence of his own innocence, purity, and truth!
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
But found none,…. That were fit for their purpose;
yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none; whose testimonies were sufficient to put him to death, which was what they were resolved upon, or whose witness were not alike and agreed; for according to their law, a man must not die by the mouth of one witness only, but by the mouth of two or three witnesses agreed in a point; and though they might be willing enough to dispense with the law in this case, yet might have some regard to their own character and reputation; and especially as they meant to deliver him to the Roman governor, in order to be condemned by him; they knew they must have a charge, and this supported with a proper evidence, or they could not hope to succeed; for which reason, they could not put up, as they otherwise willingly would, with any sort of witnesses:
at the last came two false witnesses; who were agreed in a point, and whose testimonies were alike; at least, had a greater appearance of truth and agreement than the rest; though Mark says, “neither so did their witnesses agree together”, Mr 14:59, as to prove the point, for which it was given.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
They found it not ( ). They found false witnesses in plenty, but not the false witness that would stand any sort of test.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
It ought to be observed, also, that the appellation of false witnesses is applied not to those who contrive a lie which had no foundation, but to those who calumniously pervert what was justly said, and turn it into a crime; an instance of which is here expressly related as to the destruction and rebuilding of the temple. Christ had indeed said, that when
the temple of his body was destroyed, he would raise it up within three days, (Joh 2:19.)
The false witnesses do not now resort to some new contrivance, but they put a wrong interpretation on his words, as if he boasted that he would practice some juggling in building the temple. Now as the calumny was trivial and worthless, we may readily infer from it how greatly the priests and scribes were blinded by their fury, since, without any pretext, they demand that Christ shall be put to death.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
60. Found none They found plenty of false witnesses, but they found none that gave in testimony which was evidence before a Roman court to secure their victim’s death.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And they did not find it, although 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.” ’
Seemingly a good number of witnesses came to present their case against Jesus, no doubt expecting suitable reward for their helpfulness, but it appears that they continually contradicted each other (Mar 14:56; Mar 14:59). However, this very fact demonstrates that the system was not being openly abused, and that they were not just being ‘set up’ to give the same testimony. The aim had apparently been to spread the net wide among disillusioned people, hoping in that way that they would come up with something. For they felt that surely there must be something that He had done or said that could put Him in a bad light. But as the time went by, all too quickly, nothing promising seemed to be appearing.
However, hope began to grow when two witnesses were found who both stated that Jesus had said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.’ That was at least a start, for it meant that they had the required twofold witness (Deu 17:6) and that the subject matter was serious, for in those days men of all nations considered that the desecration of Temples was a serious matter. But the twofold problem was that when examined in more detail the evidence was clearly not considered sufficient to bring a charge, probably because under questioning it was not sufficiently definite, while their attempt at using it in order to get the accused to convict Himself failed because Jesus simply disdained to answer. It thus did not seem to be much to build a case on, especially as there appeared to be some doubt about what the exact details were (Mar 14:59).
We know that in fact their testimony was partially true, for Jesus had said something about someone destroying a temple which He would rebuild in three days (Joh 2:19). But what they had failed to observe was that Jesus had not actually said that He Himself would destroy the Temple (He had said that ‘if they did it’), and that He had said ‘this Temple’, meaning the Temple of His body (Joh 2:19). No wonder then that the witnesses disagreed on what was actually said.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Mat 26:60-61. At the last came two false witnesses, &c. St. Mark, Mar 14:58 tells us, that these false witnesses alleged, that our Lord had said, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands. Now it is in the addition of these last words that their false testimony consists, because it restrains to the temple of Jerusalem the expression of Jesus, which might otherwise be understood both of that temple, and of his body, and which indeed he meant of the latter. Besides, our Lord had not said I will destroy, but do you destroy this temple. See Joh 2:19. The witnesses, it seems, either through ignorance, or more probably through malice, perverted his answer into an affirmation, that he was able to destroy and build the temple in three days; and the judges reckoned it blasphemy, because it was an effect that could be accomplished by nothing less than divine power; wherefore these men are justly branded through the world with the name of false witnesses, and their testimony was deservedly disregarded by our Lord, especially as they had expressed great ill-will to him in giving it, contrary to the rules of equity and goodness.This fellow, said they contemptuously. This is one instance, among many others, in which the bow of malice has been broken by overstraining it, and innocence cleared up by the very extravagance of those charges which have been advanced against it. It is observable, that the words which they thus misrepresented, were spoken by Christ at least three years before. Their going back so far to find matter for the charge they brought, was a glorious, though silent attestation, of the unexceptionable manner in which our Lord had behaved himself during all the course of his public ministry. See Doddridge and Macknight.
See commentary on Mat 26:59
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
60 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,
Ver. 60. Yea, though many false witnesses came ] So adultery was objected to Athanasius, heresy and treason to Cranmer. Also I lay to thy charge, said Bonnet to Philpot, martyr, that thou killest thy father, and wast accursed of thy mother on her death bed, &c. Queen Elizabeth wrote these lines in a window at Woodstock, –
“Much alleged against me,
Nothing proved can be.”
Freedom of speech used by the Waldenses against the sins of those times, caused, Ut plures nefariae eis affingerentur opiniones, a quibus omnino fuerant alieni, saith Gerard, That many false opinions were fathered upon them, such as they never favoured. a So deal the Papists by us to this day; they tell the seduced people that we worship no God, count gain godliness, keep no promises, eat young children, make nothing of adultery, murder, &c. b Good people, these men deny Christ to be God, and the Holy Ghost to be God, &c., said White, Bishop of Winchester, concerning Woodman and other holy martyrs, in a sermon.
Yet found they none ] The enemies’ likeliest projects often fail. These false witnesses, as those Babel builders of old, disagreed in their language, which God confounded, and so he doth to this day.
a See Alex. Cook’s preface to his Abatement of Popular Brags.
b Eudaemon. Johan. contra Casaub.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
60. ] , i.e. sufficient for the purpose, or perhaps, consistent with itself. See note on , Mar 14:56 .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mat 26:60 . : they found not false witness that looked plausible and justified capital punishment. . .: it was not for want of witnesses of a kind; many offered themselves and made statements, but they did not serve the purpose: either trivial or inconsistent; conceivable in the circumstances: coming forward on the spur of the moment from the crowd in answer to an invitation from prejudiced judges eager for damnatory evidence. Those who responded deserved to be stigmatised as false. None but base, mea n creatures would have borne evidence in such a case. , only two had anything to say worth serious attention.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
none = not [any]. Greek. ou. App-105.
yet found they none. All the texts omit these words; but Scrivener thinks on insufficient authority.
At the last = But at last.
two. Compare Deu 19:15.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
60.] , i.e. sufficient for the purpose, or perhaps, consistent with itself. See note on , Mar 14:56.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
found none: Dan 6:4, Dan 6:5, Tit 2:8, 1Pe 3:16
At: Deu 19:15, Mar 14:57-59
Reciprocal: Exo 20:16 – General Lev 19:16 – stand 1Ki 21:10 – two men Psa 27:12 – false Psa 35:11 – False witnesses Pro 24:28 – not Isa 32:7 – instruments Jer 20:10 – I heard Mar 14:55 – sought Luk 6:7 – that Luk 23:2 – forbidding Joh 2:19 – Destroy Joh 18:21 – ask Act 6:11 – they Act 24:9 – General Act 25:7 – and laid 2Co 13:1 – In
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
6:60
But found none. That is, no man was willing to testify to any act on the part of Jesus that would have made him guilty of a capital offence under the law of Moses. However, at last two witnesses came forward who said they had something to offer the court about the prisoner.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses.
[Many false witnesses came.]…
Fuente: Lightfoot Commentary Gospels
Mat 26:60. And found it not, i.e., to answer their purpose.
Many false witnesses came, as was natural; but two witnesses to one specific point were required (Num 35:30; Deu 17:6; Deu 19:15).
Afterward; after numerous vain attempts to find two, even apparently concordant, witnesses.
Two. The smallest number requisite.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 60
None; none that agreed together, so that they could found a conviction upon their testimony.