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Scripture reading – Matthew 27
Rich with drama, the passage we read today brings us to the spiritual crossroads of human history. This is God’s redemptive plan of salvation for man’s sin that was conceived in the heart of our Creator before the foundation of the world was laid (Ephesians 1:4-5; 1 Peter 1:18-20). This Bible study could focus on many aspects of Christ’s path to the Cross; however, I will limit my thoughts to one: Judas’ remorse and death.
Innocence Betrayed: Jesus Tried and Condemned (Matthew 27:1-10)
The chief priests and Sanhedrin tried and condemned Jesus to die (Matthew 27:1-2). They then led Him to the Roman governor’s palace, where Pontius Pilate held court. There, Jesus would be tried and sentenced to death by civil authority.
Judas watched the proceedings with regret, and the effect of his betrayal brought a wave of remorse over his soul (Matthew 27:3). Perhaps it was when they led Jesus away to be tried by Pilate (Matthew 27:2) that he realized the treachery of his betrayal. How could one privileged to be numbered among Christ’s Twelve betray Him into the hands of His enemies? After enjoying the intimacy of Jesus’ company, how could Judas now be His enemy?
Judas: Remorse is not Repentance (Matthew 27:4-5)
When they took Jesus away, Judas did not confess, “I made a mistake.” No, he said, “I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood” (Matthew 27:4). Judas was like many: a follower but not a believer that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
Poor, sad, miserable soul. Judas realized too late the scorn those religious hypocrites held not only for Jesus but for him. They answered his confession with contempt and said, “What is that to us? see thou to that” (Matthew 27:4b). They cared nothing for Judas’ soul, nor did they offer him counsel or consolation (Matthew 27:5a).
Judas realized too late that there was no place and no one to whom he could go to find relief for his wicked deeds. He found he could not bear the weight of his sin and betrayal of “innocent blood” (Matthew 27:4a). Judas realized no act of contrition could ease his guilt. He cast down the thirty pieces of silver he was given to betray Jesus, fled through the streets of Jerusalem “and went and hanged himself” (Matthew 27:5b; Acts 1:16-19).
Dilemma: Blood Money and a Potter’s Field (Matthew 27:6-10)
Determined to kill Jesus, the chief priests and members of the Sanhedrin magnified their hypocrisy when they disingenuously debated the lawful expenditure of blood money, the silver Judas hurled at them (Matthew 27:6b). To conceal their sin, those men proposed an act of charity. They purchased “the potter’s field, to bury strangers in” (Matthew 27:8).
Unknowingly, they fulfilled Jeremiah’s prophecy (Matthew 27:9-10) that Zechariah recorded: “So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. 13 And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord” (Zechariah 11:12–13). The public later learned the secret of their purchase and called the potter’s field “The field of blood” (Matthew 27:8).
Closing thoughts –
What sorrow and depravity. There was no justice that day; all was a charade of justice and pseudo-piety! Yet, such is the way of the wicked. Too many learn too late that the sorrow of remorse is not sincere repentance. Judas confessed, “I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood” (Matthew 27:4); however, he failed to confess his sin to God. He found himself in a state of hopelessness. His remorse was too little, and his repentance came too late.
Friend, don’t make that mortal mistake. I invite you to confess your sin to God and turn to Him, knowing Christ has borne the penalty of our sins on the Cross.
1 John 5:11–13 – 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Copyright © 2024 – Travis D. Smith
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