1Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. 2So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.
3When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4“I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”
“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”
5So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
6The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. 8That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, 10and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”
11Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
11Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
12When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” 14But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
15Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd.16At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. 17So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.
19While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”
20But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
21“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.
“Barabbas,” they answered.
22“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.
They all answered, “Crucify him!”
23“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
24When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
25All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”
26Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. (Matthew 27)
Thoughts: Matthew once again reiterates prophecy being fulfilled all around these events. He saw the betrayal by a friend and the buying of the potter's field for 30 pieces of silver as not just a coincidence but signs that point to God's working in all these events. If God is working in them- even the betrayal is not out of God's control.
Jesus came to be a sacrifice and a substitute for others to pay their penalty and set them free. But Pilate offered Barabbas, a known evil criminal, as a substitute for Jesus. This would make sense. But again, we see God's hand in allowing the innocent Jesus to die as a substitute Passover Lamb for the people. Pilate tried to set Jesus free. The scripture says Pilate even knew it was their own self-interest that pushed them to condemn Jesus. His wife even had a dream about his innocence. But Pilate gave into the people who were stirred up by the Jewish leaders to call for Christ's death. We should not give up truth for the mob mentality. If everyone calls for sin and the death of those who stand against sin- we should still stand up for truth.
Jesus came to be a sacrifice and a substitute for others to pay their penalty and set them free. But Pilate offered Barabbas, a known evil criminal, as a substitute for Jesus. This would make sense. But again, we see God's hand in allowing the innocent Jesus to die as a substitute Passover Lamb for the people. Pilate tried to set Jesus free. The scripture says Pilate even knew it was their own self-interest that pushed them to condemn Jesus. His wife even had a dream about his innocence. But Pilate gave into the people who were stirred up by the Jewish leaders to call for Christ's death. We should not give up truth for the mob mentality. If everyone calls for sin and the death of those who stand against sin- we should still stand up for truth.
Prayer: Lord, help me to stand for truth as you did.
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