Matthew 26:65

Rent his clothes. This is, as a sign of being overcome with righteous indignation at Jesus’ alleged blasphemy (see v. 64). The Mosaic law prohibited the high priest from tearing his garments (Lev. 10:6; 21:10), the reason being that his garments represented the perfect character of Jesus Christ (DA 709). Caiaphas thus stood condemned before the very law he posed as defending, and disqualified himself from serving as high priest (DA 708). However, rabbinical regulations permitted one hearing blasphemy to rend his garments (Talmud Mo‘ed Katan 26a, Soncino ed., pp. 165, 166; cf. Mishnah Sanhedrin 7. 5, Soncino ed. of the Talmud, p. 378).

Blasphemy. See on Mark 2:7. Among the Jews it was considered blasphemy for a man to make himself equal with God (John 10:29-33), and Caiaphas refused to recognize that Jesus of Nazareth was different from any other man. Had He been only a man, it would have been blasphemous for Him to make the claim recorded in Matt. 26:64. Jesus had claimed under oath to be the Messiah, and had assented to the title “Son of God” (see vs. 63, 64). The Sanhedrin had known for two years that Jesus made this claim in the highest sense (see DA 207, 208; John 5:17, 18; cf. ch. 10:29-36).