Matthew 26:57-68 Before the Sanhedrin

Those who had seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. But Peter was following Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and entered in, and sat down with the officers to see the outcome. Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death. They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. But later on two came forward, and said, “This man stated, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.’” The high priest stood up and said to Him, “Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?” But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy; what do you think?” They answered, “He deserves death!” Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him, and said, “Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?” [Matthew 26:57-68 NASB]

How sad that they needed to bring in false witnesses, and even then they couldn't get their story straight enough to find agreement. When the did finally find two witnesses to agree, it was only because they had distorted Jesus' words.

After Jesus had overturned the tables of the money changers and driven out the merchants from the temple, the gospel of John tells us;

The Jews then said to Him, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body. [John 2:18-21 NASB]

They turned Jesus' prophecy of His resurrection into a terrorist threat.

Even with two witnesses agreeing, the claim was so far-fetched as to be dismissed even by the Sanhedrin. Otherwise, they would have charged Him with something immediately. It seems that Caiaphas was at his wits end when he desperately told Jesus, “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.” 

Jesus had only to remain silent, and they would have had no more basis for accusation. Instead, He answered honestly, "It is as you said." Jesus then warned them that although they were in the seat of power judging Him, one day He would be in the seat of power judging them.

Upon hearing the truth so boldly spoken, they flew into a rage.

I have witnessed this kind of behavior in Christians and church leaders who are so ingrained in their tradition and dogma that the simple truth of scripture results in irrational anger. I was called to stand before the district board of elders in my (former) denomination because I dared to question whether merely attending a movie theater was actually a sin. Setting aside the law of grace, and completely disregarding the teaching of Romans and Galatians, they let me know that theater attendance was sin - because they said so. What's more, I was sinning by questioning them. I didn't last long in that denomination.

It is good to stand up for the truth, but you must be sure that truth is truly on your side. Jesus calmly spoke the truth, and the priests angrily fought against it in defense of their tradition. When speaking of spiritual matters, do you calmly speak the simple truth as you know it from the Bible? Or are you defending a tradition or teachings you heard from someone else?Study the Bible for yourself, and know what it says and why you believe the things you do.

I will never forget the face of rage, mere inches from my own, as a man repeated the tradition that he had been taught in church. In fact, he was attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan, and he didn't know any better because he didn't know the scriptures.

Don't be caught blaspheming the Holy Spirit simply because you don't know what is written in the Bible. Study it for yourself, and - even if it contradicts everything you have been taught - embrace the truth.