Matthew 26:57-75

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Our Lord’s Trial Before Caiaphas, and Peter’s Denial of the Lord

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Caiaphas will answer for his shameful treatment of the Lord.

  2. Peter was repentant for his shameful denial of the Lord.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. We can be silent when we’re wronged.

QUESTIONS

  1. How many trials did our Lord Jesus face?

  2. How can these trials be subdivided?

  3. How was the Jewish High Priest supposed to function?

  4. How did Caiaphas break the judicial law during Jesus’ trial?

  5. Did Peter fulfill the Lord’s prophesy of Matthew 26:34?

  6. How did Peter die?

ANSWERS

  1. Two, a religious trial and a civil trial

  2. Religious: Before Annas the High Priest Before Caiaphas the High Priest Before the Sanhedrin, the ruling body of the Jews Civil: Before Pilate Before Herod Before Pilate once again

  3. The High Priest was to be a mediator between God and the people. He was to represent the people before God.

  4. He did not allow time after Jesus’ arrest for a defense to be prepared. He only sought witnesses who would testify against the Lord. The Sanhedrin was not to meet at night or during any Jewish feast days. There was supposed to be at least a full day before a death sentence was passed.

  5. Yes, he denied three times that he knew the Lord and followed Him.

  6. Peter died as a martyr for the Lord. Historical records indicate he was crucified upside down.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. The High Priest was to minister as a mediator between the people and God. Caiaphas failed in this position, but we have a Mediator who will not fail. Read I Timothy 2:5. Hebrews refers to Jesus as the Mediator of the New Covenant. Discuss our Lord’s role as Mediator. Why do we need a mediator?

  2. Read Isaiah 53:7. Isaiah prophesied that the Lord would remain silent before His accusers. The Lord would have been justified in defending Himself, but He remained silent until He was questioned under oath. The Lord could remain silent because He had entrusted Himself and His circumstances into His Father’s hands. How could we take this same attitude? Can we trust that our lives are in our Father’s hands, even when we are wrongly accused?

CHALLENGE

  1. Have you every wept bitterly because of your sin? Sin is a devastating thing, and it is worth mourning over. When you come to this point, the Lord can begin to work in your life. Take your sin seriously. It cost the death of the Son of God.

KEY VERSES

  • “Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none.” Matthew 26:59-60

  • “But Jesus kept silent.” Matthew 26:63

  • “Immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus.” Matthew 26:74-75



Matthew, Talks, New TestamentDeb HarmsMatthew 26:57-75