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.

Back