Book of Matthew - Chapter 26 - Verse 68

When Jesus was mocked and beaten by the soldiers before his crucifixion, they blindfolded him and taunted him, asking him to prophesy who had struck him. This verse, found in the Gospel of Matthew, highlights the cruelty and disrespect that Jesus endured at the hands of his captors. The soldiers were challenging Jesus to prove his identity as the Christ by revealing supernatural knowledge. However, their request was not sincere, but rather a way to further humiliate him. This verse serves as a poignant reminder of the suffering and mockery that Jesus experienced in his final hours before his death on the cross. It also underscores the fulfillment of prophecy, as Jesus had been foretold as the suffering servant who would be despised and rejected. Despite the humiliation and pain, Jesus remained steadfast in his mission to atone for the sins of humanity through his sacrificial death.

In the verse "Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?" (Matthew 26:68), the theological interpretation delves into the mockery and challenge Jesus faced from the religious leaders and soldiers. The mocking request for Jesus to prophesy in this context is not a genuine call for divinely inspired knowledge, but rather a cruel taunt at his inability to defend himself. The word “Christ” in this verse refers to the anointed one, the promised Messiah, whom the people were expecting to deliver them. The question “Who is he that smote thee?” highlights the irony of Jesus being the suffering servant who willingly endured physical and emotional abuse for the salvation of mankind. This verse serves as a reminder of the suffering and humiliation Jesus endured during his crucifixion, fulfilling prophecies and demonstrating his commitment to fulfilling God's plan of redemption.