The Trial, The Denial, And The Betrayal - When The Heart Is Tested - Matthew 26:57-27:10 Series

2025.10.26.Sermon Notes. THE TRIAL, THE DENIAL, AND THE BETRAYAL - WHEN THE HEART IS TESTED MATTHEW 26:57-27:10

Matthew 26:57-75, Matthew 27:1-10

William Akehurst, HSWC

KEY WORD:

Trial, Denial, Rejection, Betrayal, Sanhedrin, Blasphemy, Remorse, Repentance, Field of Blood, Remorse without Repentance, Religious, Guilt

SCRIPTURES:

Matthew 26:57-75, Matthew 27:1-10, Isaiah 53:7, Daniel 7:13-14, John 5:39-40, Luke 22:61-62, John 21:15-17, James 4:8, Acts 2:23, Romans 8:28, John 8:36, Zechariah 11:12-13, 1 John 1:9, Psalm 51:10, 2 Corinthians 7:10

BIG IDEA:

Every heart is tested in the presence of JESUS. The religious leaders rejected Him, Peter denied Him, and Judas betrayed Him, and yet each story reveals the depth of human weakness and the overwhelming grace of GOD’s redemptive love.

INTRODUCTION:

When the pressure is on, when faith costs us something, our true allegiance is revealed.

In this passage, we find three heart tests:

1. The religious heart that rejects the truth (the Sanhedrin).

2. The fearful heart that denies under pressure (Peter).

3. The guilty heart that regrets but does not repent (Judas).

Through each one, we are confronted with this question:

How will my heart respond when tested by truth?

1. THE TRIAL – JESUS BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN Matthew 26:57–68

57-68 Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin

57 And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. 58 But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest’s courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end.

59 Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, 60 but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward 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 to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” 63 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!”

64 Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

65 Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! 66 What do you think?”

They answered and said, “He is deserving of death.”

67 Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?”

SUPPORTING SCRIPTURES:

• Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.

• Daniel 7:13-14 13 “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him.

14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.

EXPLANATION:

The Sanhedrin (the religious elite) gathered in darkness to condemn the Light of the World. They assembled not to find truth, but to justify a predetermined verdict.

They were religious but blind; they sought a reason to kill JESUS, not to know the truth.

False witnesses couldn’t align their stories, yet the High Priest pushed JESUS to speak under oath.

When JESUS finally spoke, His words came from eternal authority, declaring His divinity, quoting Daniel 7 – that HE is the Son of Man who will come in glory. The high priest tore his garments, accusing JESUS of blasphemy and yet in truth, they were blaspheming the Son of GOD standing before them.

Their reaction? Rage and blasphemy accusations. Religion without relationship cannot recognize revelation.

JESUS remained silent, submitting to the Father’s plan.

His silence was not weakness, it was surrender to divine purpose.

POINT: JESUS was not on trial, the hearts of His accusers were.

SELF-REFLECTION AND APPLICATION:

• Do I ever stand among the accusers?

Have I allowed religious habit to harden my heart to the living truth of CHRIST?

John 5:39-40 “You search the Scriptures… but you are not willing to come to Me.”