Judas' Remorse and Jesus Before Pilate
Study note
Judas, seeing Jesus condemned, is overcome with remorse and returns the thirty pieces of silver before taking his own life. The chief priests' use of the 'blood money' to buy a potter's field unwittingly fulfills prophecy. Before Pilate, Jesus answers the question about being King of the Jews with a simple 'You have said so,' then remains silent before his accusers, amazing the governor. Jesus' silence before his judges recalls Isaiah's prophecy of the Suffering Servant who was led like a lamb to slaughter.
1 At dawn, all the chief priests and elders of the people finalized their plan to have Jesus executed. When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:
2 They tied him up, led him away, and turned him over to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
3 When Judas — the one who betrayed him — saw that Jesus had been sentenced to die, he was overwhelmed with regret. He went back to the chief priests and elders, bringing the thirty pieces of silver with him. 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,
4 He said, "I have sinned — I betrayed a man who did nothing wrong." They replied coldly, "That is your problem, not ours." Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
5 Judas flung the silver coins onto the temple floor, walked out, and went and hanged himself. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
6 The chief priests picked up the coins. They said, "We cannot put this money in the temple treasury. It was used to pay for a man's life." 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.
7 After talking it over, they used the money to buy a piece of land called the potter's field. They used it to bury foreigners. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.
8 That piece of land has been called the Field of Blood ever since. Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.
9 This made the words of the prophet Jeremy come true. "They took the thirty silver coins. That was the price Israel set on his life." 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;
10 and used them to buy the potter's field, just as the Lord had told me." And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.
11 Jesus stood face to face with the governor. Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Those are your words." 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.
12 The chief priests and elders threw one charge after another at him. But Jesus did not answer any of them. And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.
13 Pilate asked him, "Can you not hear all the charges they are piling up against you?" Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?
14 But Jesus refused to answer — not a single word. The governor was completely baffled. And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
Barabbas Released, Jesus Condemned
Study note
Pilate offers the crowd a choice between the notorious prisoner Barabbas and Jesus, hoping they will choose Jesus' release. But the chief priests persuade the crowd to demand Barabbas, and they cry for Jesus' crucifixion. Pilate's handwashing symbolizes his attempt to absolve himself of responsibility, but his capitulation to mob pressure seals Jesus' fate. The exchange of an innocent man for a guilty one powerfully illustrates the principle of substitution at the heart of Jesus' death.
15 Each year at the feast, the ruler let one prisoner go free. The crowd picked which one. Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.
16 At that time, a well-known prisoner named Barabbas was behind bars. And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
17 So when the crowd had assembled, Pilate asked them, "Who do you want me to release — Barabbas, or Jesus, the one they call the Christ?" 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?
18 Pilate could tell that the leaders had only turned Jesus over because they were jealous of him. For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
19 While Pilate was sitting in the judge's chair, his wife sent an urgent message to him: "Do not get involved in what happens to that innocent man. I had a terrible nightmare about him last night." 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.
20 But the chief priests and elders worked the crowd, convincing them to ask for Barabbas and to demand Jesus's death. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
21 The governor asked again, "Which of these two men should I set free?" The crowd roared, "Barabbas!" The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.
22 Pilate asked, "Then what should I do with Jesus, the one called the Christ?" Every voice yelled back, "Crucify him!" Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.
23 Pilate pushed back: "Why? What crime has he committed?" But they screamed louder and louder, "Crucify him!" And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
24 Pilate could see he was losing control and a riot was about to break out. He called for a bowl of water and washed his hands in full view of the crowd. He announced, "This man's blood is not on my hands. This is on you." 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.
25 The entire crowd shouted back, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!" Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
26 So Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus to be whipped with a Roman scourge, and then turned him over to the soldiers to be crucified. Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
The Crucifixion
Study note
Roman soldiers strip, mock, and beat Jesus before leading him to Golgotha. Simon of Cyrene carries his cross. Crucified between two thieves, Jesus is taunted by passersby, religious leaders, and even the criminals beside him. The charge above his head -- 'This is Jesus the King of the Jews' -- is meant as mockery but unwittingly proclaims the truth. The casting of lots for his clothing, the vinegar offered to drink, and the mocking words all echo specific Old Testament passages about the righteous sufferer.
27 The soldiers brought Jesus inside the governor's headquarters. The whole garrison of soldiers crowded around him. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.
28 They ripped off his clothes and threw a bright red robe over him. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
29 They wove a crown out of thorny branches and shoved it onto his head. They stuck a stick in his right hand like a scepter. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him: "Long live the King of the Jews!" And when they had plaited 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!
30 They spit on him. They grabbed the stick out of his hand and used it to smack him on the head over and over. And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
31 When they had finished making fun of him, they pulled off the robe, put his own clothes back on him, and marched him out to be crucified. 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.
32 On the way out of the city, they grabbed a man from Cyrene named Simon and forced him to carry the cross. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
33 They arrived at a place called Golgotha, which means "the Place of the Skull." And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,
34 There the soldiers gave Jesus a drink of wine that had something bitter mixed in. After one taste, he pushed it away. They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.
35 After nailing him to the cross, the soldiers divided up his clothes among themselves by rolling dice. This fulfilled what the prophet had said: "They split my clothes among them and gambled for what I was wearing." 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.
36 Then they sat down nearby to keep guard over him. And sitting down they watched him there;
37 They attached a sign above his head that explained why he was being executed. It read: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
38 Two criminals were crucified at the same time — one hanging on his right and one on his left. Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
39 People walking by hurled insults at Jesus, shaking their heads at him. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
40 They shouted, "You said you could tear down the temple and build it back in three days! So save yourself! If you truly are the Son of God, climb down off that cross!" 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.
41 The chief priests, scribes, and elders joined in the mocking too. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
42 They sneered, "He rescued other people, but he cannot rescue himself. If he is truly the King of Israel, let him step down from the cross right now. Then we will believe in him. 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.
43 He said he trusted God. Well, let God come save him now — if God wants him. After all, he claimed to be God's Son." He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
44 Even the two criminals hanging next to him threw the same insults at him. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
The Death of Jesus and Its Aftermath
Study note
Darkness covers the land from noon to three o'clock, and Jesus cries out Psalm 22:1 -- 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' His death is accompanied by cataclysmic signs: the temple curtain tears from top to bottom, the earth quakes, rocks split, and saints rise from their tombs. The tearing of the curtain signifies that direct access to God is now open to all. A Roman centurion's confession -- 'Truly this was the Son of God' -- comes from the most unlikely source, fulfilling the pattern of Gentile recognition seen throughout Matthew.
45 Starting at noon, darkness covered the entire land. It stayed dark until three in the afternoon. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
46 Around three o'clock, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" That means, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" 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?
47 Some people standing nearby heard him and said, "Listen — he is calling out for Elias." Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.
48 One man ran and grabbed a sponge. He soaked it in sour wine, stuck it on a stick, and held it up to Jesus's lips. And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
49 The others said, "Leave him alone. Let's see if Elias shows up to rescue him." The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
50 Then Jesus cried out one more time with a powerful voice, and he died. Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51 At that exact moment, the heavy curtain inside the temple ripped completely in half from the very top all the way to the bottom. The ground shook violently, and boulders cracked apart. 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;
52 Tombs split open, and many godly people who had been dead came back to life. And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 After Jesus rose from the dead, these people walked out of their graves. They went into the holy city of Jerusalem and showed themselves to many people. And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
54 The Roman officer and his guards who had been watching over Jesus felt the earthquake and saw everything that happened. They were shaking with fear. They said, "This man truly was the Son of God!" 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.
55 A number of women were standing off in the distance, watching everything. They had followed Jesus all the way from Galilee to help take care of him. And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:
56 Among them were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joses. The mother of Zebedee's sons was also there. Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.
The Burial of Jesus
Study note
Joseph of Arimathaea, a wealthy disciple, asks Pilate for Jesus' body and places it in his own new tomb cut from rock. The women watch as a large stone is rolled over the entrance. The next day, the chief priests and Pharisees secure Pilate's permission to seal the tomb and post a guard, ironically concerned about the very resurrection they refuse to believe. Their precautions will serve as unwitting testimony that the empty tomb cannot be explained by theft.
57 Later that evening, a wealthy man named Joseph appeared. He was from Arimathaea and had become one of Jesus's followers. When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathæa, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:
58 Joseph went directly to Pilate and requested Jesus's body. Pilate gave the order to release it to him. He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
59 Joseph took the body, carefully wrapped it in fresh, clean linen cloth, And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
60 and placed it inside his own new tomb, which had been carved out of solid rock. He rolled a massive stone across the entrance and left. 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.
61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary stayed behind. They sat across from the tomb and watched. And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.
62 The next day — the day after the Preparation — the chief priests and Pharisees went together to see Pilate. Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
63 They said, "Sir, we remember that while that liar was still alive, he made a claim: 'After three days I will come back to life.' Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
64 So please order extra security at the tomb through the third day. Otherwise, his followers might sneak in, steal the body, and then go around telling everyone, 'He has risen from the dead!' That lie would cause even more trouble than the first one." 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.
65 Pilate told them, "I will give you a squad of guards. Go make the tomb as secure as you possibly can." Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
66 So they went to the tomb, sealed the stone shut, and posted guards to stand watch. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.