Conviction mingled with passion led Caiaphas to do as he did. He was furious with himself for believing Christ's words, and instead of rending his heart under a deep sense of truth, and confessing that Jesus was the Messiah, he rent his priestly robes in determined resistance. This act was deeply significant. Little did Caiaphas realize its meaning. In this act, done to influence the judges and secure Christ's condemnation, the high priest had condemned himself. By the law of God he was disqualified for the priesthood. He had pronounced upon himself the death sentence.

Det var både overbevisning og raseri, der fik Kajfas til at handle, som han gjorde. Han var rasende på sig selv, fordi han troede Kristi ord, og i stedet for at sønderrive sit hjerte i sin stærke fornemmelse af sandheden og indrømme, at Jesus var Messias, sønderrev han sin embedsdragt i sin afgjorte modstand. Denne handling var overordentlig betydningsfuld. Kajfas forstod kun lidt af, hvad den betød. Ved denne handling, der skete for at gøre indtryk på dommerne og skabe sikkerhed for at få Kristus dømt, havde ypperstepræsten dømt sig selv. Efter Guds løv var han gjort uskikket til at være præst. Han havde afsagt dødsdommen over sig selv.