Treatment

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

TREATMENT

Matt 26:57-68

57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. 58 But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome. 59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward 61 and declared, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.'" 62 Then 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?" 63 But 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."  65 Then 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. 66 What do you think?" "He is worthy of death," they answered. 67 Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68 and said, "Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?"

NIV

We have arrived at the worse, yet the best, part of the gospel. It is the worse because of the ridicule and horrific treatment our Lord is going to endure. It is the best part because we can inherit eternal life because of all that happened to him. This also shows the evil that is within the heart of man. It does seem difficult to understand how one man can treat another in such a disrespectful manner. Yet in self-examination we find, not that we actually spit in each other face or strike each other with fists, but are just as guilty of having ill feelings toward another. This whole scene about men trying desperately to find a way to justify killing Jesus. It is rather odd high priest charges Jesus under oath by the living God, when in fact the living God was standing before him and he did not want to acknowledge him. This men were not about living to serve the living God, but rather living to serve their own selfish ambitions. How different the whole of history would have been had the Sanhedrin came to the realization Jesus was the Messiah. Then of course he would have to find another way to the cross, for that was the exact reason of his coming to earth in the form of a man. Nevertheless it shows us the hideousness within the heart of man. It shows us the self-interest of the heart of man. It shows the capacity of doing evil within all of us. Surely we would not desire to kill Jesus, we love him, because he first loved us. We hate to think of our ability of thinking anything other than pure thoughts. We are admonished as to what our thought life should be like.

Phil 4:8-9

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

NIV        

Certainly the Sanhedrin were not thinking about these things, but are we? Have we become so callous to thoughts other than these that we have grown accustom to them and do not recognize how damaging they are in our relationship with others? The Sanhedrin had no shame in using the name of the living God to mistreat Jesus. We would do well to remember we are called by the name of the living God, Christians. Then we should not be about mistreating him, by mistreating others. Forgive us Lord for our offense, help us to live rightly in your sight. Help us to treat others as though we were treating you.