KNOWING GOD – THE GOD OF LOVE || Lesson 29 

KNOWING GOD – THE GOD OF LOVE

[With Reference to the Events Concerning Jesus’ “Passion,” note how Jesus’ love is amazingly displayed throughout and therefore ‘stand in awe of God, the Most High.’]

Lesson Twenty-nine

At the High Priest’s House (Caiaphas) – Cont’d – Matthew 26:62-68 (Mark 14:60-65;

Luke 22:63-65)

Matthew 26:62-68 – ⁶²Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” ⁶³But Jesus remained silent.

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.”

⁶⁴“Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

⁶⁵Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. ⁶⁶What do you think?”

“He is worthy of death,” they answered.

⁶⁷Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him ⁶⁸and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?”

V.63 – But Jesus remained silent. – Thus fulfilling Isaiah 53:7 – He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

V.63-64 – The high priest said … heaven. – Mark’s account: Mark 14:62 – “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

From this, the GOD OF LOVE is teaching us to heed the following.

Ecclesiastes 3:7 – a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,

Amos 5:13 (AMP) – Therefore he who is prudent will keep silence in such a time, for it is an evil time.

Proverbs 26:4-5 – ⁴Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself.

⁵Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.

1 Peter 2:19-23 – ¹⁹For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. ²⁰But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. ²¹To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

²²“He committed no sin,

and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

²³When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

V.65 – Then the high priest tore his clothes – The Matthew Henry’s Commentary states: “… The High Priest rent his clothes, according to the custom of the Jews, when they heard or saw anything done or said which they looked upon to be a reproach to God.”

Contrast Leviticus 21:10 – “`The high priest, the one among his brothers who has had the anointing oil poured on his head and who has been ordained to wear the priestly garments, must not let his hair become unkempt or tear his clothes.

“He has spoken blasphemy! – The Bible Knowledge Dictionary states: “Bad or insulting language directed at a person or thing is usually referred to as a curse.  When directed at God it becomes a blasphemy.

According to the law of Moses, blasphemy was an act not merely of disrespect to God but of rebellion against God.  The penalty was death (Lev 24:10-23; 1 Kings 21:10; Acts 6:11; 7:58) …”

Note that in Jesus’ case, He was accused of blasphemy because He claimed to have powers that pertained to God solely.

V.66-68 – They spit in his face – Manners and Customs of the Bible states: “719 … Spitting in the face was considered the greatest insult that could be offered to a person.  See Deut. xxv, 9; Job xxx, 10.  An Oriental, in relating any circumstance of which he desires to express the utmost contempt, will make a motion with his mouth, as if spitting.”

And struck him with their fists. Others slapped him ⁶⁸and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?” – Luke’s account: Luke 22:63-65 – ⁶³The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. ⁶⁴They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” ⁶⁵And they said many other insulting things to him.

It is inferred that Jesus resisted the temptation to “prophesy” just as He resisted the devil in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-13).

General Application: Let us continue to ask the GOD OF LOVE to help us to heed Hebrews 12:3 – Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.