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Explanation for:
Matthew
26
:
63
But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest said to him: I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us if thou be the Christ the Son of God.
12
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Ephraem the Syrian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88b589fc3e99eb7bb1839_Ephraem%20the%20Syrian.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The Lord emerged as the guardian of truth, approaching Pilate in silence as the truth was being twisted. Just as others may achieve victory through defense, the Lord triumphed through His quietness, for the honor due to His divine silence resulted in the victory of the genuine teaching. He communicated the doctrine through His words, yet remained silent during the judgment. His silence did not negate the elevation He offered us, nor did He retaliate against those who reviled us. The accusations against Him served as a adornment upon His head. He chose to remain quiet so that in His stillness, their shouts could ring louder, thus enhancing His crown. Had He spoken, His truth would have silenced the crowd intent on crafting His diadem. Though they condemned Him for proclaiming the truth, He was not thwarted, as His condemnation turned into His triumph. Consequently, He felt no obligation to persuade them of His righteousness. He willingly accepted death, recognizing that answers would hinder His sacrifice. He maintained His silence, for had He spoken, their falsehoods would not have stood against His truth."},{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Why, O most sinful of priests, do you invoke? Is it for the sake of belief or for the purpose of accusation? If your aim is to accuse, then let others rebuke Him: condemn the one who remains silent. Yet if your intention is to believe, why did you not believe when He revealed the truth?"},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The response was of no value when there was no willingness to hear, and their judgment presented merely a façade of righteousness, resembling an aggressive assault by thieves lying in wait for unsuspecting travelers. Thus, Christ chose to remain silent. At that moment, the high priest pressed on, asserting, “I urge you by the living God, tell us, are you the Christ, the Son of the living God?” He did not seek clarity for understanding but aimed to deliver a verdict. The high priest Caiaphas, fittingly aligned with that assembly, became enraged and reiterated, “I urge you by the living God, tell us, are you the Christ, the Son of God?”"},{"author-name":"Cyrill of Alexandria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88a8ea5c988a4fc073480_Cyrill%20of%20Alexandria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"False witnesses rose up against Him, claiming that He had spoken against God's glory. However, Christ remained silent, fully aware that any defense would be futile, as His judgment had already been decided by His adversaries. He also understood that if He proclaimed Himself as the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer of all creation, their anger would only intensify. Consequently, He chose to remain quiet, both in their presence and during Pilate's trial. \\nIsaiah 53:7"},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Jesus remained quiet. Observing the sham trial, which resembled more a highwayman's court than a just proceeding, and understanding that any attempt to defend Himself would be futile, Jesus Christ chose to remain silent. The high priest then confronted Him, saying, “I adjure Thee by the living God, that Thou tell us, Art Thou the Christ, the Son of God?” He sought to elicit a response, hoping to seize it as evidence against Jesus. The title “Son of God” was significant, as both kings and prophets were referred to as anointed ones, deriving from the term meaning to anoint. Mark noted in his Gospel, “Son of the Blessed One,” referring to God, who is eternally blessed and glorified."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"In light of their unjust verdict, Christ remained silent; for if they were not swayed by miracles, how could their guilt be alleviated? The magistrate, seeking to entrap Christ in blasphemy, persisted in his questioning—so that if He proclaimed, ‘I am the Son of God,’ He could be condemned for blasphemy, or if He refuted it, He would serve as evidence against Himself."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The Jewish authorities were expected to serve as the advocates for those accused, standing trial themselves in this role. One of the most unsettling scenes recorded in history must have been the solemn invocation made to the witnesses summoned to testify against Jesus' life. This ritualistic address is thoroughly detailed in the Jewish legal codes. It was the responsibility of the high priest to deliver this invocation to every witness in a capital case before they were sworn in. The impact of this invocation, pronounced by the esteemed judge of Israel, on the individuals required to face the accused, is beyond measure. ‘Do not forget, O witness, that it is a different matter to testify in a court regarding property and a different matter to testify where a person's life is at stake. In disputes over money, if your testimony is incorrect, it only results in a financial loss. However, if you err in a case involving life, the guilt of the accused and their descendants shall weigh upon you for eternity… Why Adam was created alone serves as a lesson: if any witness causes the demise of a single soul among Israel, Scripture considers it as having destroyed the entire world, while saving one such soul is seen as saving the world… A man can imprint many copies with a single seal, and they will all be identical; yet, the King of kings, the Holy and Blessed One, has taken from the image of the first man all future generations, ensuring that no two individuals mirror one another perfectly. Therefore, let us recognize and cherish that the entire world was created for someone like this, whose existence hinges on your words.’ \\n\\nThe council could not be swayed from its intentions by Jesus’ earnest appeals for fairness and order in the tribunal. They witnessed on His countenance the brilliance of an otherworldly righteousness, a truth His lips had hesitated to affirm until that moment. With a blend of fear and animosity, they rose in unison, proclaiming, ‘Are You then the Son of God?’ In that instant, the high priest elevated himself above the assembly of elder men, their faces twisted by hatred, silencing all voices and compelling the judges to resume their seats. The chief priest, the foremost authority of the sacred nation, demanded a response to his grave question under the authority of the God he served, ‘I stake my plea by the living God: tell us, are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’ This was the answer that the people had been longing for.\\n\\n‘But He was silent and responded not.’ This silence ultimately provoked the high priest's fury, leading him to address the captive with grave words, ‘I implore you by the living God, declare to us, are you the Christ, the Son of God?’"},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The BELIEVER approached Him with feigned reverence for His earlier statements, declaring: I ADDRESS YOU as the living God, the one true God, who condemns those who bear false witness in His name or invoke His name deceitfully: reveal to us, ARE YOU CHRIST, the Son of God? Are you indeed the Son of God, eternally blessed? Are you the Anointed One? The manner of the questioning was such that it would be deemed sinful not to respond, and any response would enable the judges to formulate an accusation against the Lord. Should He answer affirmatively, He would be labeled a blasphemer; if He responded negatively, He would be branded a deceiver, as He had openly professed to be the Messiah in front of the people. In both scenarios, the sentence is predetermined: deserving of death."},{"author-name":"Tichon (Pokrovski)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"I implore you by the God who is alive, reveal to us. Caiaphas employed an oath as the most powerful and compelling method to force the Lord Jesus to respond, a demand that could not be disregarded without disrespecting the sanctity of the oath, the authority of the high priest, and the law itself."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Jesus remained silent, recognizing that the charges lacked validity even in the eyes of the judges, while the high priest sought to exploit the very words of the Lord as grounds for His accusation. The response was futile when no one was willing to listen, as their proceedings were merely a façade of justice, in truth resembling nothing more than the actions of thieves. The high priest’s appeal, “I adjure thee,” was a standard incantation used in legal settings, compelling the accused to answer honestly. God was invoked as a witness, emphasizing that the truth could not be concealed under the gaze of the Almighty. \\n\\nThe term “the living God,” referring to Jehovah, signifies the one true and vibrant God, in stark contrast to lifeless idols, which are false and untrue. When asked, “Art thou the Christ?” the formulation of the question ensured that any response would lead to a charge against the Lord. Affirming His identity would lead to accusations of blasphemy, which indeed it was; alternatively, a subtle response would render Him a deceiver, seducing the people, particularly since He had openly proclaimed Himself as the Messiah. In either scenario, the conclusion drawn would ultimately be guilty of death."},{"author-name":"Philaret (Gumilevski)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c896f4b6fd32caa244b5d7_Philaret%20(Gumilevski).png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Jesus remains silent, and this silence resonates deeply within the conscience of those present. He appears composed, as if He is the one presiding over the trial rather than Caiaphas. This silence is particularly burdensome for Caiaphas. He longs for Jesus to speak, as his words might provide the grounds for accusations against Him. In the absence of a response, the situation hangs in the balance. Where are testimonies to justify the case? There are many, yet they lack substance. This is the predicament Caiaphas finds himself in. The high priest then exclaimed, I adjure Thee by the living God, that Thou mayest say unto us, If Thou art the Christ, the Son of God. In this moment, Caiaphas approaches Jesus as the high priest representing the God of Israel, demanding a reply in the name of the true God. While this request is inherently sacred, it is corrupted by Caiaphas’s intentions. What he truly seeks is a justification for condemning Jesus to death. If Jesus affirms His identity, it will lead to His demise since the Sanhedrin does not acknowledge Him as the Messiah. Conversely, if He denies it, it still results in death because He has spoken differently in the presence of the people."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Jesus remained quiet. What could He say in response to false witnesses, who were condemning one another in their dishonesty? This silence frustrated the high priest. He interrogated Jesus, seeking to manipulate Him into a confession that would prevent the court from requiring additional evidence of His wrongdoing. Yet, Jesus chose to remain silent. Consequently, Caiaphas resorted to a severe measure. As the high priest, he possessed the authority to compel the accused to testify under oath. Thus, he called upon Jesus, under oath, to respond to the question posed. If Jesus chose not to reply, thereby not contesting the claims of the false witnesses, He would be indirectly providing an answer to Caiaphas without the need for an oath, for He was determined not to hide His divine and Messianic identity, even in the presence of such a wicked assembly as the Sanhedrin. This was precisely what Caiaphas anticipated; with Jesus’ own words, he aimed to charge Him with blasphemy against God."}]}
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