Bible Strands
Matthew 26:61
and declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Two witnesses stand before the court to accuse Jesus during his trial. They deliver their charge to the assembled judges just before the high priest turns to demand a response from the accused.
The words — The accusation centers on καταλῦσαι (katalusai), meaning "to destroy" or "to tear down," and ναὸν (naon), meaning "temple." These terms specify the physical sanctuary as the object of the alleged threat.
The thread — The text records the false claim that Jesus said he could destroy and rebuild the temple, which directly parallels Jesus' own statement in John 2:19. This same charge reappears as public mockery during the crucifixion in Matthew 27:40 and Mark 15:29.
Why it lands — The passage first states the exact wording of the accusation before showing how it was weaponized against Jesus. It requires the reader to separate the fabricated testimony from the actual fulfillment of Jesus' words regarding his body and resurrection.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
Cross-references
- John 2:19 Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.”
- Matthew 27:40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!”
- Mark 15:29 And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,
- Psalms 22:6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people.
- Isaiah 49:7 Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel, to Him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the Servant of rulers: “Kings will see You and rise, and princes will bow down, because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen You.”
- Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.
- Acts 18:13 “This man is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law,” they said.
- Genesis 19:9 “Get out of the way!” they replied. And they declared, “This one came here as a foreigner, and he is already acting like a judge! Now we will treat you worse than them.” And they pressed in on Lot and moved in to break down the door.
- 2 Kings 9:11 When Jehu went out to the servants of his master, they asked, “Is everything all right? Why did this madman come to you?” “You know his kind and their babble,” he replied.
- Jeremiah 26:8 and as soon as he had finished telling all the people everything the LORD had commanded him to say, the priests and prophets and all the people seized him, shouting, “You must surely die!