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spoken blasphemy; what fur- | 66 What think ye?
ther need have we of witnesses?
behold, now ye have heard his
blasphemy.

They an swered and said, He is guilty of death.P

God (vs. 63), as implying divinity, for so alone could it be blasphemy and worthy of death. Blasphemy was a capital crime, regarded by the Jews with peculiar horror. And if Christ had been a mere man, this claim would have been blasphemy, and the death-sentence would have been lawful (see John 10. 31-33). They who deny Christ's true and proper divinity make Him out a blasphemer, and join the Jew in His condemnation and death. The law of blasphemy, as it existed among the Jews, extended not only to the offence of impiously using the name of the Supreme Being, but to every usurpation of His authority, or arrogation by a created being of the honour and power belonging to Him alone. The crime was held in such horror that whoever heard it, was obliged to rend his garments; but not the high priest, except in very special cases. So the high priest's act was an open and exciting testimony to the multitude, of His being found guilty. BUT IT WAS NOT BLASPHEMY IN CHRIST, BECAUSE HE WAS GOD.

The

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67 Then a did they spit in his

p Le.24,16. Jno.19.7. g Is.50.6.

sident of Judea with capital jurisdic tion." (Greenleaf.) Thus far, however, the charge and condemnation was purely on Jewish grounds, in which a Roman could not be expected to sympathize. The God of the Jews, against whom the offence had been committed (as alleged), was neither respected nor recognized by the Romans. This will account for the new form under which the accusation is now made. They shifted the charges, and came before Pilate with a new specification, founded on Roman law, and from that moment, no farther allusion was made to the charge of blasphemy. (See ch. 27. 11.) "It was now a charge of high treason against the Roman State and Emperor, which was wholly within Pilate's cognizance, and which no officer of Tiberius would venture lightly to regard." This led to Pilate's arraignment of Christ. It should be remarked that trials were usually held in the morning, (Jer. 21. 12.) and by the later Jews it was held unlawful to try a capital cause in the night-or to issue a cause of this nature on the same day. This last point was entirely disregarded in the case of our Lord. Before noon He was crucified. To see the haste in this transaction, consider that the supper was on Thursday evening-at midnight He was arrested and led before the high priest and Sanhedrim

66. He is guilty of death. usual form of giving sentence-i. e., He has incurred the penalty of death. (Levit. 24. 11-16.) The high priest, as presiding over the Council or Sanhedrim, called for their verdict. They gave it unanimously, guilty! The judgment was now passed in their own supreme court. The next step The next step was to present the case to the Roman government, in whose hands was the power of capital punishment. The sceptre had departed from Judah, since the Shiloh had come. The 67. Spit in His face. This was a Jewish prejudice was most bitterly mark of the most utter contempt and roused against Him, on the most re- abhorrence. See Numb. 12. 14. Deut. ligious point-and now they had only 25. 9. By this time the utmost bitto bring the matter before the Roman terness of the people had been stirred authority, for their consent to His up against Christ.--¶ Buffeted death. "Pilate was now Vice-Pre-cuffed Him with the fist-Mark adds,

at six o'clock on Friday morning He was brought before Pilate-was crucified at nine o'clock-darkness reigned from twelve to three-and He was buried the same evening!

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68. This was a taunting challenge of His divinity-" Thou Christ." He would not confound them now, as He had it in His power to do. (See John 18. 19-23.) No such impious tests of His claims would He gratify. Luke adds, Many other things blasphemously spake they against Him." They were the blasphemers,

and not He.

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69 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee, 70 But he denied before them

7 Mar. 14.66,&c. Lu.22.55,&c. Jno.18.16,&c.

"and began to cover His face." Luke house, closed next the street by a says, " blindfolded Him." And though heavy folding gate, with a smaller Matthew does not mention these wicket for single persons, kept by a things, he says they challenged Him porter, usually male, sometimes feto prophesy who smote Him-which in- male. (See Acts 12. 13.) In the text timates that He was first blindfolded. the interior court, often paved or This shows how the Evangelists un- flagged and open to the sky, is the designedly coincide in their state- avλn where the attendants made a fire, ments, and thus prove their honest and the passage beneath the front of truth. ¶ Smote Him with the palms the house from the street to this court of their hands (errapisan, Gr.)—rapped is the patio or vv (porch). or slapped Him. This was expressly The place where Jesus stood before predicted. (Isa 50. 6; 53. 3, 7.) the high priest may have been an open room or place of audience on the ground-floor in the rear or on one side of the court-such rooms, open in front, being customary. (See Fig. ch. 9. vs. 2.) It was close upon the court, for Jesus heard all that was going on around the fire, and turned and looked upon Peter. Luke 22. 61. Peter's first denial took place in the middle of the court, on his being questioned by the female porter. Peter then, according to Matthew and Mark, retreats into the passage leading into the street (or porch), where he is again questioned, and makes his second denial. Luke and John do not specify the place. As to the person who now questioned him, Mark says the maid saw him again and began to question him (vs. 69). Matthew has it another maid (vs. 71). Luke writes another person or man (vs. 58), while John uses the indefinite form, "they said," which gives us a key to the fact that Peter was here at length questioned and charged by several. The third denial took place an hour after, probably near the fire, or at least within the court, where our Lord and Peter could see each other (Luke 22. 61). Though the denials are narrated together, it is to be remembered that during the intervals between them, and all along,

69. The narrative now connects properly with verse 58. Our Lord was most shamefully treated-and He had prophesied at the supper that during that night, "before the cock crow," Peter should deny Him thrice (Matt. 26. 34). Mark and Luke have it," before the cock crow twice." The Jews in the time of our Lord divided the night into four periods, even, midnight, cock-crowing, and morning. But often it was reckoned from midnight to day-break, by three crowings of the cock-and of this period our Lord spake. Peter indeed believed it not, and all the disciples protested their steadfast adherence unto death.

¶ Peter sat without. Mark has it, beneath. This was in the hall or open court of Caiaphas' house. An oriental house is usually built around a quadrangular interior court, into which there is a passage, sometimes arched through the front part of the

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the examination of Christ was going his speech. His language was Galion before the high priest, the progress lean.- -¶ One of them (of the comof which is given in § 145.-Robin-pany).-Robin- | pany).——¶ Bewrayeth thee.” (Mark, son's Harmony, Notes.- - Jesus of Galilee. This was a title of reproach, as Jesus of Nazareth, which Mark reads.

70. But he denied, &c.—as though he was perfectly ignorant even of what was meant by the charge. “I know not what thou sayest.' This was the grossest, most unblushing falsehood. Mark now testifies that he went out into the porch, and the cock crew. (14. 68.)

71. Into the porch. After this first denial, Peter withdrew into the porch or vestibule of the front entrance. It was now about the time of the first cock-crowing, or about midnight. He was at once met by another, who repeated the charge. It would seem to have been confirmed by others, who insisted on its truth (Luke 22. 58. John 18.25). Amidst these charges he came up again toward the fire, embarrassed and confused.

72. Again he denied, with an oath more emphatically, and even profanely. This second denial followed soon upon the first-" after a little while." Luke 22. 58.

73. After a while-" about the space of an hour after." (Luke 22. 59.) He had now denied twice. Peter was now in or near the court-room. He had drawn nearer within sight of Christ, (Luke 22. 61,) and now "another confidently affirmed" (Luke 22. 59), and they that stood by pressed it upon him that they knew him from

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agreeth thereto.") This enraged

him, as it sealed his conviction.

74. Now he denied more vehemently-" began to curse and to swear.” This was about the second cockcrowing, or about 3 o'clock.¶ And immediately the cock crew. This made good to the letter the prediction of our Lord. Mark says, Mark says, "and the second time the cock crew." Peter was now within sight of Christ. "The Lord turned and looked upon Peter." Luke 22. 61.

The

75. Peter remembered. "When he thought thereon he wept." Mark 14. 72. "The Lord turned and looked upon Peter." Luke 22. 61. "To the vcice of the cock was added the look of Christ."-Calvin. This last was requisite. That personal notice and direct attention of Christ, causing us to remember his word (Luke 22. 61), gives the word pungency to us. truth as it is in Jesus, is flashed upon the mind, by seeing the Saviour face to face. Peter wept bitterly because he remembered Christ's love, Christ's warnings, and that tender assurance, "Simon, Satan hath desired to have thee that he might sift thee as wheat, but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not." Luke 22. 32. No one can keep himself from sin without the help of God. Behold this for ward, zealous apostle thrice denies in so brief a period, and would have gone on to deny with viler oaths, if others had arisen to the accusation

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he went out, and wept bitterly. | counsel against Jesus to put CHAPTER XXVII. him to death.

WH

HEN the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took

a Ps.2.2. b c.20.19.

Christ restrained the tongues of enemies, else Peter's denials had been thirty rather than three. Peter thought he could walk alone on the sea of Galilee, or go upon his own strength in the midst of temptations. But here he was taught his weakness, as there he was taught his need of Divine help. Being left of God, he cries, "Lord save, I perish." This teaches us the danger of presumption and self-confidence, and the danger especially of carnal influence. In the midst of Christ's foes, Peter thought of their power and number, and his heart failed. We should not forget the word of Christ, nor should we lose sight of the Master. Alas! for those who follow Him afar off. When shall a look from Him melt and reclaim His backsliding followers? Peter's tears did not merit salvation, but they were drawn from him by the covenant look of Christ. Repentance flows from Christ's looking at us in a way to remind us of our sins and of His word, and from our looking at Him in a way to catch this subduing glance of His. Peter after this followed out the charge of Christ-" When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." We never read of his being any more afraid to be known as a Christian. He was the bold and intrepid champion of the infant cause after the Master was removed; and the two Epistles which bear his name, he wrote full of ripe instruction.

CHAPTER XXVII. 146. THE SANHEDRIM LEAD Jesus AWAY TO PILATE.-SIXTH day of the

week.

'Matt.

27. 1, 2

Jerusalem. Mark. 15.1

Luke. John. 23. 1 18. 28

1. When the morning was come. At early dawn of the crucifixion day.

2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

All the procedure, up to this point, had been carried on at night. Though this was illegal, they disregarded the law. Luke (ch. 22. 66) introduces some of these events in a kind of parenthesis, as if he had said, “As soon as it was day, our Lord having acknowledged that he was the Son of God, they pronounced their sentence of His death." These events, therefore, are to be viewed in their rapid succession, from the paschal supper to the arrest of Christ, and sentence of the Sanhedrim-ALL IN A NIGHT. Now, they consulted how to bring the matter successfully before Pilate, for His death. The events being of such rapid occurrence and sequence, and all within so short a time, the Evangelists cannot be expected to speak very precisely of the time. John says it was early," and " they led Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of Judgment "—that is, Pilate's. Here, again, it is noted how the religious officers plotted for the death of Christ, and how all the show and formality of trial was with full intent to put Him to death. They saw that a charge of blasphemy would amount to nothing before Pilate, as he had no sympathy with the Jewish law. They must therefore frame an accusation upon grounds of Roman law. Having consulted, therefore, "they began to accuse Him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation and forbidding to give tribute to Cesar, saying that He himself is Christ, a king.'

2. When they had bound Him. "Annas had sent Him bound unto

Caiaphas." John 18. 24. But in the examination He had been partly or wholly loosed, and now was rebound, or more strongly bound, as being considered more certainly condemned.¶ Pontius Pilate the gov

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3. When he saw that He was condemned, viz. that Christ was condemned. Perhaps till this time he had thought to satisfy his evil intent without the guilt of his Master's blood. This is often the effect upon a guilty conscience of seeing the contemplated deed of iniquity done. So the murderer often goes frantic at the sight of his victim, or at the thought of what has been perpetrated by his bloody hands. This repentance of Judas was a sorrow of the world that worketh death. He went and hanged himself. His eyes were opened to the horrible enormity the moment be saw it enacted, and Christ actually condemned. Peter's repentance flowed from the melting look of Christ, reminding him of Christ's word. Judas' sprang from the horrors of a guilty conscience, reminding him of his own deed. The latter only drove the miserable man for solace to the parties whom he had served in his sin. The former came from a sense of the injury done to Christ; it caught a sight of His gracious face, and it led to His feet. Thirty pieces. This was the price of be,

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19. 1-3 19. 4-16

trayal-the money that he had received from the Sanhedrim for his traitorous work.

4. I have sinned, &c. He now confesses to them this sin. He thinks not of a sinful heart and life, but of a sinful act. He confesses, not to Christ, but to the chief priests. ¶ Betrayed the innocent blood-or been guilty of bringing this innocent being to death. The blood he thinks of-and that blood innocent. His testimony is most important. Judas had been with Christ nearly two years, as one of His constant attendants. If He had been a malefactor or impostor, he would have known it. He had now no motive to exculpate Him, but rather the contrary. Yet against himself — against his own recent act—and in a way to condemn himself before those whom he had just now served, he declares that Christ is innocent, and that the blood that should flow on Calvary, was innocent blood. The chief priests did not let Christ go, because they were bent on His death.

-T What is that to us? They cared not for Judas' remorse - nor could they cure it. His own cup of iniquity

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