Matthew 27:1-10

Read through Matthew 27:1-10 in your Bible or online HERE!!!

 

Matthew 27:1-10

These 10 verses really say a lot.  I would think that most people read these verses and mainly focus on Judas committing suicide.  As a matter of fact, my bible titles these verses “Judas Hangs Himself”.  We should remember as we read these verses that God is pretty silent on the issue of “suicide” in the bible, probably for a good reason which we are not equipped to understand.  Suicide is a type of murder, but murder is a forgivable sin.

Moving on……….Judas is usually remembered as the betrayer of all betrayers, the backstabbing friend who got what he deserved.

I really think Judas gets a bad rap, worse than he deserves.  In verses 9 & 10, Matthew tells us a messianic prophecy was fulfilled as prophesied by Jeremiah.  I researched this a bit and found that the exchange of 30 pieces of silver for the Messiah was not only prophesied in the book of Jeremiah, but also in the book of Zechariah. 

Many prophecies were fulfilled while Jesus was on earth.  These fulfilled prophecies authenticate the Word of God, assure us that He will continue to keep His promises, and that we can continue in faith when there is doubt. 

So who are we to judge the one who carries out God’s prophecies; even if he/she does it unknowingly? 

Here are the main things I will remember from these verses from now on:

1. The leading priests committed premeditated murder. (27:1)
2. Judas was just a man, human like the rest of us.  He doubted the Messiah and received 30 pieces of silver to turn him into the authorities, NOT to have him murdered.  I contemplate that Judas may have even convinced himself that Jesus would only be jailed once arrested.
3. Once Judas realized Jesus was condemned to die, the KJV specifically says he “repented himself” & then returned the silver, before dying. (27:3-5)
4. Unlike Judas, the leading priests (who were fully aware they were sending an innocent man to the worst possible death) DID NOT repent or attempt to take back what they had done. They discussed what to do with the returned silver because they knew it was blood money.
5. God’s prophecy was fulfilled when the blood money was used to purchase a field made into a cemetery for foreigners.

To be fair, the leading priests played an important part in God’s prophecy too, but…….I have to ask myself, who would God be more likely to forgive?  The man who had a heart of repentance before his death, or the man who died full of pride and with a heart of no repentance?

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  JESSICA HONC  is the wife of 14 years to Will, and homeschooling mother of three children.  She is the Director of Freedom Fellowship Home School Co-op.  Jessica has served in many different capacities at Freedom Fellowship in Silsbee, Texas, such as librarian and children's teacher.