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Matthew 27

When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:

And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.

And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.

Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;

And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.

And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.

And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?

And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.

And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.

Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?

For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.

When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.

The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.

Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.

And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.

When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.

Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.

And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.

And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!

And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.

And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.

And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,

They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.

And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.

And sitting down they watched him there;

And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.

And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,

And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,

He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.

He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.

And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.

The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.

Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,

And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:

Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.

When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:

He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.

And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,

Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.

Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.

So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

What does Matthew 27:4 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 27:4 depicts a moment of profound remorse from Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus Christ.

In this verse, Judas acknowledges his sin of having betrayed “innocent blood,” referring to Jesus, who had not committed any crime.

The response from the chief priests and elders is one of indifference, they dismiss his concerns and imply that whatever consequences arise from his actions are his to deal with alone.

This dialogue occurs after Judas returns the thirty pieces of silver he was given to betray Jesus, showing his regret and despair over the role he played in Jesus' impending death.

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Historical Context

The verse is situated in the narrative of Jesus' final days, specifically during His trial and ultimately His crucifixion. During the time, Roman occupation in Judea created a politically and socially tense environment.

Jewish authorities, feeling threatened by Jesus’ teachings and popularity among the people, sought to prevent any upheaval that might attract Roman crackdowns.

Betrayal by one of Jesus' closest associates, Judas, facilitated the arrest of Jesus, aligning with the desires of the religious elite of the time to remove what they perceived as a disruptive influence.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, Judas' admission and the reaction of the chief priests present several insights.

Judas' recognition of his sin could be seen as a moment of self-awareness and penitence, although it does not ultimately absolve him.

The lack of empathy from the priests reflects a rigid adherence to their agenda over moral considerations.

Theologically, the notion of "innocent blood" is significant, as it aligns with the Christian understanding of Jesus as the sinless sacrifice.

Moreover, Judas' subsequent suicide, as detailed in the Bible, has been interpreted as illustrating the consequences of sin and the importance of true repentance.

Practical Applications

Matthew 27:4 can serve as a reminder of the heavy burden of guilt and the importance of seeking true repentance.

It warns against betrayal and the harm it can do to oneself and others.

It also teaches the value of compassion and the responsibility individuals hold not to turn a blind eye to the wrongdoing of others.

In daily life, taking responsibility for one's actions and seeking to amend wrong decisions is a practical application of this passage.

Cross-References

Matthew 27:3 - "Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,"
Luke 22:48 - "But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?"
Acts 1:18 - "Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the phrase “innocent blood” is translated from "αθώου αἵματος" (athoou haimatos), where "αθώου" (athoou) means "innocent, guiltless, free from sin" and "αἵματος" (haimatos) refers to "blood," which is often symbolic of life or death.

The word "betrayed" is from "παρέδωκα" (paredōka), which means "to deliver over, give up, or betray." When Judas says, "I have sinned," the Greek word for sin is "ἥμαρτον" (hēmarton), reflecting a realization of moral failure.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In broader cultural and religious literature, themes of betrayal and the resulting guilt are common, such as the story of Cain and Abel in the Bible or even in Greek mythology with stories such as Epimetheus accepting Pandora.

Judas' interaction with the chief priests also reflects themes found in other ancient cultures where political and religious authorities often rejected moral responsibilities for utilitarian purposes.

Scientific Perspectives

The emotional and psychological turmoil exhibited by Judas in this verse aligns with modern understandings of cognitive dissonance and the impact of guilt on mental health.

Scientific perspectives on human behavior suggest that actions contrary to one's values, like Judas' betrayal, can lead to great emotional distress and the desire for atonement, which in extreme cases can lead to self-harm or suicide.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians offer varied perspectives on this verse.

Some focus on Judas' state of despair and interpret his actions as a final attempt to seek forgiveness. Others emphasize the cold response of the chief priests which highlights their moral bankruptcy and their role in the crucifixion plot.

Commentators often consider Judas' statement as an acknowledgment of Jesus' innocence and a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah's suffering and betrayal by a close friend.

Matthew 27

Matthew 27

What does Matthew 27:4 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 27:4 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?