Matthew 26:55 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus rebukes the mob: they come armed as against a robber, though He taught openly in the temple every day.
What Does Matthew 26:55 Mean?
Jesus turns to the crowd and names the irony: Are ye come out as against a thief -- a violent robber -- with swords and staves? He sat teaching daily in the temple, unarmed and public, and no one laid hold on Him there.
The arsenal exposes the arresters. Men bring weapons against the defenseless when conscience knows the cause is wrong. Jesus marks the cowardice of the darkness without resisting it; this hour has been permitted, and it will be brief.
Matthew 26:55 in the Original Language
lestes (λῃστής), 'thief' -- a robber, a bandit who takes by violence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 26:55
What does Matthew 26:55 mean?
Jesus rebukes the mob: they come armed as against a robber, though He taught openly in the temple every day.