Matthew 26:61

61 And said , This fellow said , I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

Matthew 26:61 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 26:61

And said, this fellow said
Or saith, as De Dieu observes, the Syriac version of this place should be rendered; that is, he has not only said in times past, referring to ( John 2:19 ) , but continues to say it, and glory in it:

I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three
days;
in which they did injury, both to his words and sense: he did not say, "I am able to destroy the temple", but only said, "destroy this temple"; signifying neither his power, nor his will and inclination to it; but put it upon the Jews, and left it to them to do it: nor did he say one word about the temple of God, or as it is in ( Mark 14:58 ) , "this temple that is made with hands"; the temple at Jerusalem, which was made by the hands of men, and devoted to the worship of God; but only "this temple", referring to his body, or human nature; in which he, the Son of God, dwelt, as in a temple; nor did he say that he was able to "build" it in three days, but that he would "raise it up" in three days; intending the resurrection of his body by his own power, after it had been dead three days; and so they perverted his sense, as well as misquoted his words; applying that to the material temple at Jerusalem, what he spoke of the temple of his body, and of its resurrection from the dead, on the third day; designing hereby to fix a charge, both of sacrilege and sorcery upon him: of sacrilege, in having a design upon the temple of God to destroy it; and of sorcery, or familiarity with the devil, and having assistance from him, or knowledge of the magic art, that he could pretend in three days to rebuild a temple, which had been forty and six years in building; and was what could never be done, but by help of Beelzebub, the prince of devils, by whom it was insinuated he did all his miracles.

Matthew 26:61 In-Context

59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death ;
60 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came , yet found they none . At the last came two false witnesses,
61 And said , This fellow said , I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
62 And the high priest arose , and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
63 But Jesus held his peace . And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.
The King James Version is in the public domain.