At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would an outlaw? Every day I sat teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest Me.
Parallel translations
- WEB In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to seize me? I sat daily in the temple teaching, and you didn’t arrest me.
- KJV In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.
- NKJV In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me.
- NASB At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a man inciting a revolt? Every day I used to sit within the temple grounds teaching, and you did not arrest Me.
- NLT Then Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there teaching every day.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus exposes the cowardice of arresting Him secretly with weapons, having taught openly in the temple. He reveals the injustice of their actions.
Overview
Jesus points out that the armed nighttime arrest is unnecessary and unjust, since He taught publicly every day without being seized. Their stealth confirms the corruption of their cause and fulfills the leaders' earlier plan to act by deceit. Even under arrest, Jesus speaks with authority and clarity.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Mark 12:35While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, He asked, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David?
- John 8:2Early in the morning He went back into the temple courts. All the people came to Him, and He sat down to teach them.
- Luke 21:37–38Every day Jesus taught at the temple, but every evening He went out to spend the night on the Mount of Olives.
- John 7:14About halfway through the feast, Jesus went up to the temple courts and began to teach.
- John 7:28Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, “You know Me, and you know where I am from. I have not come of My own accord, but He who sent Me is true. You do not know Him,
- John 18:20–21“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus answered. “I always taught in the synagogues and at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.
- Mark 14:48–50Jesus asked the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would an outlaw?
- Luke 22:52–53Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple officers, and elders who had come for Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against an outlaw?
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
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Original language
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