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.

MATTHEW 26:63KJV
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Matthew 26:63 (KJV)

What does Matthew 26:63 mean?

Matthew 26:63 shows the high priest pressing Jesus to declare his identity during a hearing before the Jewish council. Jesus has remained silent, but the high priest now places him under a solemn charge to answer whether he is the Christ, the Son of God.

The demand follows the high priest’s question about testimony against Jesus in the previous verse. The appeal to “the living God” gives the demand the force of an oath: Jesus is being called to answer before God.

The Greek behind Matthew 26:63

  • “adjure” — ἐξορκίζω (exorkizō): This word carries the sense of putting someone under oath or solemnly requiring an answer. The high priest’s words are more than an ordinary request for information.
  • “Christ” — Χριστός (Christos): This word means “anointed one,” someone set apart by the pouring of oil. Here it names the promised figure the high priest is asking Jesus to identify himself as.

Why Matthew 26:63 matters

  • Jesus’ silence comes at a particular moment in the hearing. In verse 62, the high priest asks him to answer the testimony brought against him; verse 63 begins with Jesus holding his peace.
  • The high priest asks about Jesus’ identity as well as the charges against him. His question joins “the Christ” and “the Son of God,” making both titles part of the answer he seeks.
  • The response belongs to the passage’s next movement. In verse 64, Jesus answers and speaks of the Son of man, while verse 65 shows the high priest reacting to that answer.

Where else these words appear

“peace” Greek G4623 · used in 11 verses

  • Matthew 20:31 And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.
  • Mark 9:34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
  • Luke 1:20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

“be” Greek G1488 · used in 89 verses

  • Matthew 2:6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
  • Luke 4:41 And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.
  • John 18:17 Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not.

“priest” Greek G749 · used in 120 verses

  • Matthew 2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
  • Mark 15:1 And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.
  • John 19:21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.

“living” Greek G2198 · used in 127 verses

  • Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
  • Romans 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
  • 1 Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.