Matthew 26:59

Authorized King James Version

Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
οἱ
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
#2
δὲ
Now
but, and, etc
#3
ἀρχιερεῖς
the chief priests
the high-priest (literally, of the jews; typically, christ); by extension a chief priest
#4
καὶ
and
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
#5
οἱ
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
#6
πρεσβύτεροι
elders
older; as noun, a senior; specially, an israelite sanhedrist (also figuratively, member of the celestial council) or christian "presbyter"
#7
καὶ
and
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
#8
τὸ
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
#9
συνέδριον
the council
a joint session, i.e., (specially), the jewish sanhedrin; by analogy, a subordinate tribunal
#10
ὅλον
all
"whole" or "all", i.e., complete (in extent, amount, time or degree), especially (neuter) as noun or adverb
#11
ἐζήτουν
sought
to seek (literally or figuratively); specially, (by hebraism) to worship (god), or (in a bad sense) to plot (against life)
#12
ψευδομαρτυρίαν
false witness
untrue testimony
#13
κατὰ
against
(prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined)
#14
τοῦ
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
#15
Ἰησοῦ
Jesus
jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites
#16
ὅπως
to
what(-ever) how, i.e., in the manner that (as adverb or conjunction of coincidence, intentional or actual)
#17
αὐτὸν
him
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
#18
θανατώσωσιν
put
to kill

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of Jewish biographical literature presenting Jesus as the fulfillment of Scripture shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Matthew Understanding a worldview expecting divine intervention through a promised Messiah helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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