SEV Biblia, Chapter 26:55
En aquella hora dijo Jess a la multitud: ¿Como a ladrn habis salido con espadas y con bastones a prenderme? Cada día me sentaba con vosotros enseando en el Templo, y no me prendisteis.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 26:55
Verse 55. Are ye come out as against a thief] At this time Judea was much infested by robbers, so that armed men were obliged to be employed against them-to this our Lord seems to allude. See on ver. 52. I sat daily with you] Why come in this hostile manner? Every day, for four days past, ye might have met with me in the temple, whither I went to teach you the way of salvation. See on Matthew xxi. 17.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 55. In that same hour said Jesus to the multitude , etc.] That is, to the heads and chief of them, the chief priests, captains of the temple, and elders, as Luke says, ( Luke 22:52), for though it was in the dead of the night, and the company such, as they would not have chose to have been seen in at another time; yet so intent were they upon this affair, that they could not satisfy themselves without being in it, and seeing the issue of it; and this the Jews themselves confirm in their account; for they say f1583 , that the elders of Jerusalem took Jesus, and brought him to the city. Now in that same hour, immediately, that very moment, that Christ had made an end of rebuking Peter for his rash action, and reasoning with him upon it, he turned and addressed himself to these men, saying; are ye come out as against a thief, with swords and staves, for to take me ? as an highwayman, or notorious robber, that had done great mischief to the country; and being armed, and having associates, was not easy to be taken: the Syriac renders it, as a cut-throat: and the Persic, as a robber, and a cutthroat; a desperate villain, that would by no means yield, unless overpowered by numbers, by force of arms, by the dint of the sword, by knocks and blows: but how different from this, was the character of Jesus! who never did any injury to any mans person or property, but saved both; was meek, lowly, and humble in his deportment, throughout the whole of his life; never strove with men, or cried, and caused his voice, in any riotous manner, to be heard in the streets; and even when reviled, reviled not again, but took every insult patiently; and was now unarmed, and ready to submit at once; nay, before they could well come up to him, he asked them who they sought; and on mentioning his name, declared he was the person; and signified he was ready to surrender himself, only desired his disciples might have leave to go away: he adds, I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me .
The business he was employed was not thieving and stealing, but teaching; and that wholesome doctrine, which he, as man, had received from his Father, and as the great prophet in Israel taught; and with such power and authority, as the Scribes and Pharisees did not: the place where he taught, was the temple; not a corner, or a private place, but a place of public worship, and of public resort: the time when he taught there, was the daytime, and day by day; for some days past, it had been his custom in the daytime to teach in the temple, and at night to go out, and abide in the Mount of Olives; and his continuance day by day in the temple, or his constant teaching there, is signified by sitting daily there, and teaching; unless it should be thought rather to have regard to the posture in which he taught; (see Matthew 5:1). And yet, though this had been his common practice for some days past, and at other times before, yet no man laid hands on him then; which was not wanting to a good will in them, who were very desirous of it, and sought every opportunity to do it, but were prevented; either through fear of the people, or through Christs making his escape from them; and particularly, by the singular providence and power of God, which restrained them, because his time was not yet come.
However, Christ suggests by this, that they had no need to take such extraordinary methods to apprehend him, as to make use of one of his disciples to betray him; to come in the middle of the night to take him, and that in such great numbers, and with swords and staves, when he was every day with them in the temple.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 47-56 - No enemies are so much to be abhorred as those professed disciples tha betray Christ with a kiss. God has no need of our services, much les of our sins, to bring about his purposes. Though Christ was crucifie through weakness, it was voluntary weakness; he submitted to death. I he had not been willing to suffer, they could not conquer him. It was great sin for those who had left all to follow Jesus; now to leave his for they knew not what. What folly, for fear of death to flee from Him whom they knew and acknowledged to be the Fountain of life!
Greek Textus Receptus
εν 1722 PREP εκεινη 1565 D-DSF τη 3588 T-DSF ωρα 5610 N-DSF ειπεν 2036 5627 V-2AAI-3S ο 3588 T-NSM ιησους 2424 N-NSM τοις 3588 T-DPM οχλοις 3793 N-DPM ως 5613 ADV επι 1909 PREP ληστην 3027 N-ASM εξηλθετε 1831 5627 V-2AAI-2P μετα 3326 PREP μαχαιρων 3162 N-GPF και 2532 CONJ ξυλων 3586 N-GPN συλλαβειν 4815 5629 V-2AAN με 3165 P-1AS καθ 2596 PREP ημεραν 2250 N-ASF προς 4314 PREP υμας 5209 P-2AP εκαθεζομην 2516 5711 V-INI-1S διδασκων 1321 5723 V-PAP-NSM εν 1722 PREP τω 3588 T-DSN ιερω 2411 N-DSN και 2532 CONJ ουκ 3756 PRT-N εκρατησατε 2902 5656 V-AAI-2P με 3165 P-1AS
Vincent's NT Word Studies
55. A thief (lhsthn). Better Rev., a robber. See John x. 1, 8; and Luke xxiii. 39-43. It is more than a petty stealer; rather one with associates, who would require an armed band to apprehend him. Hence the propriety of the reference to swords and staves.I sat (ekaqezomhn). The imperfect tense, denoting something habitual. I was accustomed to sit.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
26:55 {As against a robber} (hws epi leisten). As a robber, not as a thief, but a robber hiding from justice. He will be crucified between two robbers and on the very cross planned for their leader, barabbas. They have come with no warrant for any crime, but with an armed force to seize Jesus as if a highway robber. Jesus reminds them that he used to sit (imperfect, ekathezomn) in the temple and teach. But he sees God's purpose in it all for the prophets had foretold his "cup." The desertion of Jesus by the disciples followed this rebuke of the effort of Peter. Jesus had surrendered. So they fled.
