Mark 14:56-60
Mark 14:56 (KJB)
For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.
There were many who had come forward to bring a false witness against Jesus but
the problem was they could not find any witnesses who could be in agreement with
each other and they could not condemn Jesus on just the words of one witness.
They had to make it look like this was a legitimate trial and needed to have
corroborating testimonies.
Mark 14:57 (KJB)
And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying,
Then the two witnesses which the Council was hoping would agree began to speak
concerning the temple. If they could get agreement here, then there would not be
a problem in legally condemning Jesus.
Mark 14:58 (KJB)
We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within
three days I will build another made without hands.
The first of the false witnesses came forward and stated that Jesus said that He
is able to destroy the Temple of God. The man had completely quoted Jesus
inaccurately. (John 2:19 KJV) Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy
this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Jesus was telling them
that if they destroy this temple, then in three days He would raise it up. The
religious leaders instantly thought that Jesus was referring to the physical
temple but He was not. (John 2:21 KJV) But he spake of the temple of his
body. Jesus was referring to His physical body. Once Jesus was crucified
and His physical body was killed, the third day He would be raised from the
dead. The physical temple was destroyed 37 years later by Titus but to try and
falsely accuse Jesus for the purpose of having Him killed, they would say
anything and misinterpret anything. Jesus did not use the phrase “made
without hands.” Already this man’s testimony was flawed, combined with the
accusation that Jesus was going to destroy the physical temple, meant he was
disqualified as a witness.
Mark 14:59 (KJB)
But neither so did their witness agree together.
It seems their last hopes of these two false witnesses was shattered because
they could not get their stories straight either. They both claimed that they
heard Jesus “say” yet they could not agree on what He actually said. Such is the
essence of being a false witness. So if they could not agree on what He actually
said, then their testimony was to be disregarded.
Mark 14:60 (KJB)
And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest
thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
The High Priest stood up because he was very agitated that Jesus was not
responding to the charges that were being levied against Him. The High Priest
wanted Jesus to answer to no doubt, incriminate Himself. Jesus probably thought
to Himself that to answer such a nebulous charge would be fruitless. He was well
aware that these “witnesses” were totally false. Even though these false
witnesses could not agree and would be disqualified under the law, the High
Priest was still trying to utilize their testimony to condemn Jesus.