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I. A CONVENTIONAL JUDGE. Note —

1. His officiousness. If he had been in possession of judicial power at this time, he had no right whatever to ask the prisoner concerning His disciples and doctrine. His business was with Christ's personal conduct? Was He guilty of crime? But in all probability Annas was not in possession of judicial authority, and so his officiousness was indecent and offensive.

2. Craftiness. The question was evidently designed to entrap Christ into statements that might be used against Him. Craftiness is despicable everywhere, but nowhere more than when it is most prominent, viz., in law courts. It is forsooth regarded as a qualification for judicial work.

3. Heartlessness. It might have been supposed that an old man brought up in the religion of the patriarchs, and long before Christ was born occupied the highest position, would have been touched at seeing this innocent and beneficent young man bound with chains. But no, his old heart is callous. The atmosphere of his high office had frozen all the fountains of humanity. Alas! Annas is not without successors. Quench love in the soul, and what is called justice becomes statutory rigourousness.

II. AN INSOLENT SYCOPHANT (ver. 22). Here is an act of —

1. Sycophancy. This man was one of those mean, craven souls who are ever ready to flatter superiors. He wished Annas to think that he saw in Christ's reply the want of respect due to so high a dignitary, and the miserable lacquey counted on the dignitary's approval. Such a spirit is —

(1) Despicable, because it lacks all manly independence.

(2) Pernicious, for it degrades the possessor, deceives others, and impedes progress.

(3) Sadly prevalent. Parasites abound.

2. Insolence. He "struck Jesus," &c. — an innocent man who stood before him bound, and more than that, incarnate Divinity. The lowest natures are always the most insolent. The sycophant can have no self-respect, and consequently neither the desire nor qualification to respect others.

III. AN UNIQUE PRISONER. Mark His reply —

1. To the conventional judge (ver. 21). Note here(1) Manly independency. There is no bowing down before this venerable official. Christ pays no respect for mere office. Nowadays office of itself is thought to have a just claim to honour. This is a huge fallacy. Legislative, administrative, regal offices are contemptible if not occupied by morally worthy men. Ignorance and depravity are bad everywhere, especially in high places. Mere office is an abstraction; it is the man who makes it worthy or unworthy. Christ has no respect for this man as a man, and therefore none for him as a judge.

(2) Conscious honesty (ver. 21). Christ's referring the question to His disciples shows that He had nothing to be ashamed of. "I am no conspirator; what I have said and done has been in the face of all the world." It was this that made Him fearless and invincible.

(3) Faith in humanity. No one had such a sense of men's depravity, yet He was prepared to trust to their verdict. This is the effect of conscious honesty. Treat every man as a rogue till you find him honest is the world's maxim. Christ acted on the opposite. The greatest rogues are ever the most suspicious.

2. To the insolent sycophant (ver. 23). Though a base minion Christ treats him as a man, and if he had a soul the rebuke must have shaken every fibre. An unique prisoner this! In truth, the judge and the sycophant were the prisoners: He was the Judge.

(D. Thomas, D. D.)

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KJV: The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.

WEB: The high priest therefore asked Jesus about his disciples, and about his teaching.