206 Matthew 27A The Foreshadowing of the End of the Wicked

In Chapter 27 of Matthew Judas realizes he has made a terrible mistake in betraying Jesus. Never in his wildest dreams did he think that Jesus would allow himself to be arrested. He comes in to the leaders and confesses his wrong doing and makes restitution as best he could by returning the money they had paid him to betray Jesus. And Yet the guilt and shame is so overwhelming he goes out and takes his own life. He just cannot live with himself a moment longer. The end of the wicked is foreshadowed in the death of Judas. The trial of Jesus proceeds even though Pilate and others make it evident that He is innocent.

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Matthew 27 NLT Suicide, Trial, Mocking, Crucifixion, Death, Burial, Tomb Guarded.

Judas Hangs Himself

27 Very early in the morning the leading priests and the elders of the people met again to lay

plans for putting Jesus to death. 2 Then they bound him, led him away, and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor.

3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.”

Judas was horrified that Jesus had submitted to arrest. He understood that once the death sentence was pronounced by the Jewish leaders Jesus death was certain. Taking Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor, was a formality.

“What do we care?” they retorted. “That’s your problem.”

This pronouncement confirms the hard hearts of the priests. The men who were to represent the merciful, compassionate God (Exodus 33:19; 34:6) had no mercy or compassion for the kindest healer the world had ever experienced (Acts 2:22).

5 Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself.

The consequence of unforgiven guilt is death. Death, not at the hands of God but at the hands of a sinner. Judas’ death is prophetic for fate of those who have refused God’s forgiveness at the end of the world. He had followed all the required steps for forgiveness but he could not forgive himself. He had confessed his sin, he had made restitution, he had demonstrated remorse but he could not believe he was forgiven. His sin was unpardonable because he could not accept the pardon (Matthew 6:14-15). He had refused God’s

forgiveness and now he had no forgiveness for himself or others. This is why the rejectors of God’s mercy and compassion call on the mountains and the rocks to fall on them (Revelation 6:15-17). This is the unpardonable sin. Not because God refuses to forgive but because the sinner cannot believe God’s forgiveness.

6 The leading priests picked up the coins. “It wouldn’t be right to put this money in the Temple treasury,” they said, “since it was payment for murder.”

These spiritual leaders knew what they had done was wrong, but they had violated their own conscience. How can this be? It is because jealousy and envy have deadly consequences. This is why we need a Saviour. We cannot stop ourselves from doing some of what we know is wrong. This is the malignancy of sin. It is a cancer or virus with no remedy apart from the grace of God.

7 After some discussion they finally decided to buy the potter’s field, and they made it into a

cemetery for foreigners. 8 That is why the field is still called the Field of Blood. 9 This fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah that says,

“They took the thirty pieces of silver— the price at which he was valued by the people of Israel,10 and purchased the potter’s field, as the Lord directed.”

Jeremiah (32:6-9) has 17 pieces and Zechariah (11:12-13) has 30 pieces of silver. While Matthew thinks he is quoting Jeremiah he is quoting Zechariah. Does it matter? It is unlikely that Matthew had a scroll of Jeremiah or Zechariah to check his memory. Rejoice that he remembered both passages.

Jesus’ Trial before Pilate

11 Now Jesus was standing before Pilate, the Roman governor. “Are you the king of the Jews?” the governor asked him.

Only Pilate can execute criminals for their actions against society or Rome. Pilate is confused about why Jesus has been brought to him. He does not appear to be a king by his dress or actions and the information about him was he had spent most of time healing people.

Jesus replied, “You have said it.”

Jesus does not speak again in Matthew’s gospel until just before he expires (verse 46).

12 But when the leading priests and the elders made their accusations against him, Jesus remained silent. 13 “Don’t you hear all these charges they are bringing against you?” Pilate demanded. 14 But Jesus made no response to any of the charges, much to the governor’s surprise.

Jesus did not justify himself. He had answered all these questions already for those who would or could hear. This is part of laying down his life. It will not be taken from him as with other human deaths.

John 10:17-18 NASB For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18 No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”

The NLT is unique in that it is the only English translation which uses “Sacrifice” rather than “lay down” out of more than 60 translations. Sacrifice implies that there is a requirement that must be met which was not true for Jesus. His death was pure malice and vindictiveness on the part of the Jewish leaders and Jesus consented to allow it. Jesus decided when they had made their point and laid down his life.

This is the difference between every martyr’s death and Jesus’ death. The martyr’s lives were taken from them. They could not prevent their death but Jesus could have prevented his death. He had done so at least 8 times in his three years of ministry.

1. Jesus called out His hometown for their racial prejudice (Luke 4:16–30). They tried to throw Him off a cliff, but Jesus passed through the crowd and left.

2. Jesus challenged the Pharisee’s traditions about healing a lame man on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1–14; Mark 2:23–3:6; Luke 6:1–11). The Pharisees began to plot how to destroy Jesus.

   
   

3. Jesus placed Himself above the Pharisee’s level of authority by healing another lame man (John 5:1– 18). Jesus claims God as His Father as a result they want to kill Him.

   
   

4. “Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:57–58). The Jews attempt stone Him.

5. Jesus referred to Himself as being God (John 10:31–39). The Jews picked up stones to stone Jesus.6. 7. 8.

6. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:45–57). The Pharisees decided to put Jesus to death.

7. Jesus cleansed the temple of traders (Mark 11:15–18; Luke 19:45–48). The leaders wanted to destroy Jesus but were prevented by the crowds gathered listening to Him.

8. Jesus told the chief priests and Pharisees that the kingdom of God would be taken from them and given to another nation (Matthew 21:33–46; Mark 12:1–12; Luke 20:9–19). The leaders of the peopl wanted to seize Jesus and kill Him at that very moment, but they were afraid of the people.

When Jesus laid down his life it revealed his heart to the cosmos. It meant he voluntarily gave up his life because he did not hold our evil against us. He knew we had not chosen to be born here. His death was the overflowing of the forgiveness and love in his heart for us. We could not stop him loving us. This claim is further substantiated by Jesus’ greetings after his resurrection when he says, “Fear not! Peace be unto you!” The death of Jesus demonstrated that God is the most unselfish being in the universe. It was the death knell of Satan’s charge that God was self-serving.

15 Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner to the crowd—anyone they wanted. 16 This year there was a notorious prisoner, a man named Barabbas. 17 As the crowds gathered before Pilate’s house that morning, he asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 (He knew very well that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy.)

This means Pilate understood the motives of the spiritual leaders. Their choice is between a man who lived only to please himself and a man who chose only to care for others. Their choice will reveal their hearts.

19 Just then, as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Leave that innocent man alone. I suffered through a terrible nightmare about him last night.”

This is more evidence that Jesus is innocent of the charges brought against him by the leaders. Judas, Pilate, Pilates wife, the Thief on the Cross, The Roman Centurion (Luke 23:47) all agree that Jesus is innocent. Out of this group of witnesses to Jesus’ innocence only Judas could be considered a follower of Jesus

20 Meanwhile, the leading priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death. 21 So the governor asked again, “Which of these two do you want me to release to you?”

The crowd shouted back, “Barabbas!”

By their choice they prefer anarchy and rebellion against compassion and mercy. Jesus had healed hundreds if not thousands of the Jews. Barabbas had only killed Jews. The crowd is choosing death rather than life and healing. In Jesus’ death he gave Barabbas life.

22 Pilate responded, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?”

Pilate acknowledged Jesus as their Messiah. He would have known about Jesus’ healings and resurrections. A Gentile is more sympathetic to the Jewish Messiah than the Jewish crowd. They are possessed by evil.

They shouted back, “Crucify him!”

They have no evidence of Jesus’ guilt. They are prisoners of the power of hatred possessing them.

23 “Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has he committed?”

There is no reasoning possible with hate filled people. They are filled with a primal desire for retribution which defies reason. This desire is manifest in the cruelty displayed in war, in genocide and the abuse of children and other marginalized groups.

But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify him!”

24 Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours!”

Pilate again acknowledged the innocence of Jesus. This innocence is acknowledged by both Jew, Gentile and angels. Jesus confirmed the latter by his statement that when he is “lifted up” the prince of this world will be cast down. It was clear to the watching cosmos that the crucifixion of Jesus was devil inspired and he lost the sympathy of the cosmos with the death of Jesus,

25 And all the people yelled back, “We will take responsibility for his death—we and our

children!”

This is where hatred takes one. The sufferings of the Jews down through the centuries are partially the result of their unforgiving relationship with those around them. This is not to justify antisemitism but to understand one of its causes. Nor does this mean that Gentiles are not culpable of evil in their anger against the Jews.

26 So Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.

The flogging of Jesus would have led a normal man to die but Jesus was not yet ready to lay down his life. There was more to come to demonstrate the love of God for those who were killing him. Jesus’ death could have taken place in the garden of Gethsemane. It would then have been a private affair, and the reason for his death could have be debated. His rejection, torture and death had to be public to reveal the cause beyond any doubt. It must be seen that he died at the hands of the chosen people’s envy and hatred. Whenever we allow envy to exist in our hearts, we are also guilty of the death of the one who

knew no envy or malice as his attitude after his resurrection demonstrated.