Luk 22:66-71 | TNotes | STEP | 22:66 At daybreak: It was Friday morning (see study note on 22:34). • all the elders of the people assembled: The Jewish high council (Greek Sanhedrin ) was originally made up of the Jerusalem nobility, both civil leaders and priests, with the high priest as its head. In Jesus’ time, the Sadducees still controlled the Sanhedrin (Acts 5:17 ), though leading Pharisees had also gained a prominent place on the council (Acts 23:7 ).

22:66 ^a At daybreak: It was Friday morning (see study note on 22:34).

• all the elders of the people assembled: The Jewish high council (Greek Sanhedrin) was originally made up of the Jerusalem nobility, both civil leaders and priests, with the high priest as its head. In Jesus’ time, the Sadducees still controlled the Sanhedrin (Acts 5:17 ^b), though leading Pharisees had also gained a prominent place on the council (Acts 23:7 ^c).
Summary for Luke 22:67-68: 22:67-68 ^d If I tell you, you won’t believe me: Jesus pointed out the hypocrisy of the question. They had already made up their minds that he was not the Messiah, so it would do no good to answer.
22:69 ^e Jesus referred to Ps 110:1 ^f (cp. Luke 20:42-43 ^g). Though he would be crucified, Jesus would be vindicated through his resurrection and exalted to God’s right hand (see Acts 2:33-36 ^h; cp. Dan 7:13-14 ⁱ). Furthermore, he would be seated in the place of power as Judge. Jesus would soon sit in judgment over those who were trying him.
22:70 ^j The significance of Jesus’ statement (22:69 ^k) was not lost on the council members. The Messiah was expected to be the Son of God and have a special father–son relationship with God (see study notes on 1:32-33; 4:41; cp. 2 Sam 7:14 ^l; Pss 2:7 ^m; 89:26 ⁿ). The Sanhedrin accused Jesus of claiming to be the Messiah (cp. study notes on Mark 14:62, 63-64).

• You say that I am: This is a qualified affirmation. Jesus probably meant, “What you say is true, but you do not understand what ‘Messiah’ means.” They understood it as a confirmation (Luke 22:71 ^o).
22:71 ^p Why do we need other witnesses? The high council regarded Jesus’ confirmation that he was both the Messiah and the Son of God as a blasphemous claim and thus as proof of his guilt.

Thematic note: The Messianic Banquet
Through his teaching and miracles, Jesus announced that the messianic banquet was about to be served. All may come and feast at the table of salvation in God’s Kingdom.
Jesus described his ministry as a wedding feast, with himself as the groom (Luke 5:33-35 ^q) and the Kingdom of God as a great banquet. All were invited, but some refused to come (Luke 14:15-24 ^r; see also Matt 8:11-12 ^s). Jesus often ate with diverse people, from despised tax collectors to pious Pharisees (5:29-32 ^t; 7:36-50 ^u; 11:37-41 ^v; 14:1-6 ^w). Jesus also used imagery of feasting and banquets in his teaching and parables (5:33-35 ^x; 12:35-38 ^y; 14:7-14 ^z, 15-24 ^aa; 17:7-10 ^ab; 22:28-30 ^ac). And he fed vast multitudes with a few loaves and fishes (9:10-17 ^ad).
The Old Testament background to this feasting imagery is Isa 25:6 ^ae, where God’s final salvation is described as a great feast for all people: “The Lord of Heaven’s Armies will spread a wonderful feast for all the people of the world. It will be a delicious banquet, with clear, well-aged wine and choice meat” (see also Isa 65:13-14 ^af).
Jesus’ public ministry marked the invitation to the banquet and its inauguration. Through his death and resurrection, he achieved salvation. All people can now come to God’s banquet table and receive the spiritual blessings of the Kingdom. At the same time, this banquet awaits its final consummation in the future Kingdom, when Jesus’ disciples will “eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom” and “sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Luke 22:30 ^ag; see also Rev 19:7-9 ^ah).

Passages for Further Study
Isa 25:6 ^ai; 65:13-14 ^aj; Luke 5:29-35 ^ak; 6:21 ^al; 7:36-50 ^am; 9:10-17 ^an; 11:37-41 ^ao; 12:35-40 ^ap; 13:24-30 ^aq; 14:1-24 ^ar; 17:8 ^as; 22:30 ^at