The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-03-06
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MARCH 10.

Subject: jesus and Cniaphas, Matt. XVI
57-8S-Golden Text, XVII, 16- |" emory
Verses, 62-84 - Commentary Oh the
Days Lesson.
ST. "They-led Him away" The band
"To the house Of Caiaphas' Or. " In
John Is: L. we are told that He was
taken to Annas first. 1t is supposed that
Annas and Caaphas occupiedr different
apartments in the same palace, which was
probably situated on Mount Zion, near
David's tomb, in the southwestern part OF
the city. 1t was Annas and Caiaphas who
sent the band to arrest Jesus, and the
leaders wanted the sanction of Annas be-
fore they proceeded against Jesus. "The
scribes," etc. Scribes, that is, rabbis
learned in the literature of the church;
and elders, who were chosen from among
the most influential of the laity; and chief
priests ". 59), that is, the heads of the
twenty.four priestly classes. Were as
sembled." Annas sent Jesus bound to
Caiaphas John IS: 24), and Caiaphas with
all haste summoned the Sanhedrin, some
time between 2 and o'clock on Friday
morning, but this was irregular and infor.
NAL, because it was contrary to their law
to carry on the trial by night. This trial
is probably the one recorded by Matthew
and Mark. The usual place for the great
Sanhedrin was at the council room in the
temple precincts, but this being: an irregu-
lar meeting is held in the palace of the
high priest.
5S "Peter followed Him" Peter loved
Jesus; he could not help but follow Him;
he was anxious 'to see the end'-to know
what, they did with his Lord. But alas!
Peter followed from "afar off," This was
the cause of his downfall "And went in"
John also went with Peter, and, in fact, it
was John who succeeded in getting Peter
admitted in to the court of the palace.
John l8: Is, l6. 'Sat with the servants"
This was another great mistake. If he had
stayed by the size of John he would not
have denied his Master, for John seems
to have had no such temptation,
50. Cali the council" The great San
hedrin, the highest in the Jewish nation;
composed Of seventy-two members, and
founded, it is supposed, by Moses Mum
2I, and was continued long time after
the days of our Lord on earth. Sought
false witness" They have a criminal
without a crime They dared not sen.
tence Jesus to death without some salts
factory charge, and thus they were obliged
to search for witnesses.
had great difficulty in making up case
against Jesus. According to their law
(Deut. 10: l5) there must be two wit
nesses, and, out of the many false wit
nesses who came before the council it was
impossible to find two who agreed Mark
l4:56. "At the last came two" From
Mark IA: $3.50 we see that the testimony
of these witnesses did not agree in all
points, and this accusation il agreed upon
would not be sufficient for death sen.
tence. Falsehoods seldom agree; only the
truth ia harmonious. False witnesses"
Their testimony was false because the
facts were not correctly stated (see Mark
IA: 5s), and because Christ's words had
been misappled. This is still very com.
mon way of injuring others.
81. "rhis fellow said" Here they. were
obliged to go back to the beginning Of
Christ's public ministry and pervert
statement that He had made after He first
cleansed the temple. John 2: 49, II am
able" etc. Jesus had never said this.
What He did say was that if they would
destroy this temple in three days He
to the temple OF His body.
62. "Said unto Him" Their case had
failed, and now the high priest arose and
tried to force Jesus to criminate Himself.
"Answerest Thou nothing" There was
nothing to say. The witnesses had contra.
dicted themselves. Give the enemy time
and opportunity and he will destroy his
own cause.
&c. Held His peace" Thus fulfilling
the prophecy in Isa. SO: 7. Jesus knew
they were determined to put Him to death
and reply would have been useless. ri
adjure Thee" The high priest puts a sol.
emn oath to Him. The difficulty of this
question consisted in this: if He confessed
that He was the Son of God, they stood
ready to condemn Him for blasphemy; il
He denied it, they were prepared to con.
denim Him for being an imposter, and for
deluding the people u1der pretense Of
being the Messiah.
a.. 'Thou hast said" A common form
of expression for eyes, it is So" See
Mark IA: 81. Christ felt no disposition to
remain silent when questioned concerning
a truth for which He came into the world
to shed His blood. "On the right hand Of
power This is a reference to Dan..7: l3,
IA. The prophet is describing Christ's
be invested with all power. Its true full.
6llment took place at the resurrection
Mutt. %: ls), but the same Lord will
come at the judgment day in the came
glory. What a contrast will that be with
His present position! "The clouds of
heaven" This evidently has reference Q)
to the judgment executed on the wicked
Jewish nation Matt. l6: a. %; "a; 3O);
~ to the final judgment; (3 to the final
triumph of His kingdom.
65. "Rent his clothes" An expression
of violent grief (Gen. 81 29, 81; Job l: 2O)
and horror at what was considered to b.
blasphemous or impious. The act was en-
joined by the rabbinical rules When the
charge of blasphemy was proved, the
judges rend their garments and do not
sew them up again. "Blasphemy" They
considered it blasphemy for Jesus to say
He was the Christ Mark IA: 81, g.
Witnesses Their witnesses had proved
failure to them, and they had no more
to bring. Jesus was condemned on His
own testimony.
&C. "What think ye?" The high priest
had urged the case against Him, and now
he puts it to vote: Guilty of DEATH"
Worthy Of DEATH" r. V. The punish.
ment for blasphemy was death. Lev. "a:
Is. The irregular court now adjourned.
81. "Spit in His face" etc. There is an
interval now of at least two hours before
the regular session of the Sanhedrin could
convene. During this time the judges de.
livered Him into the hands of the mob.
They spat in His face as mark of con.
tempt "Buffeted." Smote with their
fists.
6S. "Who-smote Thee" They had
blindfolded Him. Mark Id: IS. They made
sport with Hin as the PhiIistines did with
Samson.
Increasing Mineral Product.