Matthew 26:57-68 is about WITNESS AND TESTIMONY.
There are two kinds of witness and testimony as follows.
Physically, we have to bear witness in our office, school, in driving our vehicle, and in household.
Spiritually, we have to bear witness about the true teaching Word, true service and ministry, and our appearance as priests and kings.
Matthew 26:67-68
26:67 Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands,
26:68 saying, "Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?"
If one does not want to bear witness or does not become true witness, he will become false witness for sure. The false witness says that the false is right, despises Jesus, even he crucifies Him for the second time.
Hebrews 13:11-13
13:11 For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp.
13:12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.
13:13 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.
Jesus must be crucified outside the camp or Jerusalem as sin offering.
We have to bear the reproach of Jesus, who has sacrificed Himself outside the camp, in order not to despise or crucify Him for the second time. The practice is as follows.
There are two kinds of witness and testimony as follows.
- Verse 59-63a -->False witness.
- Verse 63-66 -->True witness.
Physically, we have to bear witness in our office, school, in driving our vehicle, and in household.
Spiritually, we have to bear witness about the true teaching Word, true service and ministry, and our appearance as priests and kings.
Matthew 26:67-68
26:67 Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands,
26:68 saying, "Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?"
If one does not want to bear witness or does not become true witness, he will become false witness for sure. The false witness says that the false is right, despises Jesus, even he crucifies Him for the second time.
Hebrews 13:11-13
13:11 For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp.
13:12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.
13:13 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.
Jesus must be crucified outside the camp or Jerusalem as sin offering.
We have to bear the reproach of Jesus, who has sacrificed Himself outside the camp, in order not to despise or crucify Him for the second time. The practice is as follows.
- Being willing to suffer in the flesh in order to repent.
I Peter 4:1-2
4:1. Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
4:2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
Repenting means we stop sinning and we live according to the will of God, namely righteousness.
It refers to the Altar of Burnt Offering in Tabernacle.
The process is confessing sin to God and other people and not repeating the sin after being forgiven.
Psalm 51:1, 17
51:1. <<To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.>>Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.
51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart––These, O God, You will not despise.
Repeating the sin after being forgiven, the forgiveness is canceled and one keeps being judged.
If we want to confess our sins and repent. It means that we bear Jesus’ reproach and we are precious before God.David was a king but he had to confess his sin. He was contemptible in the sight of human but precious before God.
Keeping sin equals to despising God and crucifying Jesus for the second time.
Exodus 29:13-14
29:13 "And you shall take all the fat that covers the entrails, the fatty lobe attached to the liver, and the two kidneys and the fat that is on them, and burn them on the altar.
29:14 "But the flesh of the bull, with its skin and its offal, you shall burn with fire outside the camp. It is a sin offering.
The flesh, skin, and offal are outside parts of our body, referring to sinful deeds.
They had to be burnt outside the camp, meaning we have to suffer in the flesh to repent from sinful deeds, so there is a hope to bear the glory of God. - Exodus 29:13
29:13 "And you shall take all the fat that covers the entrails, the fatty lobe attached to the liver, and the two kidneys and the fat that is on them, and burn them on the altar.
The fat that covers the entrails, the fatty lobe attached to the liver, and the two kidneys and the fat that is on them refer to the inside parts of our body.
It means the sanctification to our heart or inside part.
Our heart or feeling cannot be seen but we can feel it.
The result of the sanctification to our heart or inside part is we can persevere doing three main services to God.
The things that must be burnt are as follows.- The fat that covers the entrails, referring to the digestion. It points to the Table of Showbread in Tabernacle, namely perseverance in doing Bible Study Service with Holy Communion.
- The fatty lobe attached to the liver, referring to the water absorption. It points to Golden Candlestick in Tabernacle, namely perseverance in doing General Service.
- The two kidneys and the fat that is on them, referring to the blood circulation. It points to Golden Altar of Incense in Tabernacle or perseverance in doing Prayer Service.
King David confessed the shepherding. The result of being shepherded is “I shall not want.” Meaning there is preservation for our body, soul, and spirit abundantly and we can give thanks until we are perfect and blameless.
Matthew 25:40
25:40 "And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
Shepherded sheep bears the reproach of Jesus through remembering other people who are contemptible and need him. It is the reason of the church visit service.
We must be active in the building of Christ’s body, beginning from our marriage, shepherding, inter-shepherding, up to the perfect body of Christ. - The fat that covers the entrails, referring to the digestion. It points to the Table of Showbread in Tabernacle, namely perseverance in doing Bible Study Service with Holy Communion.
- The sprinkling of blood or we are willing to suffer in the flesh without any sin.
I Peter 4:12-14
4:12. Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
4:13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
4:14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
As a result, there is spirit of glory to perform miracles, especially the spiritual ones. We are renewed from flesh man to spiritual one, from mortar pot to golden one. It begins from obedienceuntil our flesh does not sound anymore. It is the flesh with its will, interest, and truth which makes disobedience in human.
Acts 13:22
13:22 "And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’
King David confessed his sin and the shepherding, so God confessed him as the obedient. If the spiritual miracle happens, the physical one will also happen.
If we repent, being shepherded and obedient, our steps are in miracle. We will be renewed to become as glorious as Jesus is when He comes a second time, and we will be lifted up to be with Him forever.