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Texts -- Matthew 27:1-25 (NET)

Context
Jesus Brought Before Pilate
27:1 When it was early in the morning , all the chief priests and the elders of the people plotted against Jesus to execute him . 27:2 They tied him up , led him away , and handed him over to Pilate the governor .
Judas’ Suicide
27:3 Now when Judas , who had betrayed him , saw that Jesus had been condemned , he regretted what he had done and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders , 27:4 saying , “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood !” But they said , “What is that to us ? You take care of it yourself!” 27:5 So Judas threw the silver coins into the temple and left . Then he went out and hanged himself . 27:6 The chief priests took the silver and said , “It is not lawful to put this into the temple treasury , since it is blood money .” 27:7 After consulting together they bought the Potter’s Field with it , as a burial place for foreigners . 27:8 For this reason that field has been called the “Field of Blood ” to this day . 27:9 Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled : “They took the thirty silver coins , the price of the one whose price had been set by the people of Israel , 27:10 and they gave them for the potter’s field , as the Lord commanded me .”
Jesus and Pilate
27:11 Then Jesus stood before the governor , and the governor asked him , “Are you the king of the Jews ?” Jesus said , “You say so.” 27:12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and the elders , he did not respond . 27:13 Then Pilate said to him , “Don’t you hear how many charges they are bringing against you ?” 27:14 But he did not answer even one accusation , so that the governor was quite amazed . 27:15 During the feast the governor was accustomed to release one prisoner to the crowd , whomever they wanted . 27:16 At that time they had in custody a notorious prisoner named Jesus Barabbas . 27:17 So after they had assembled , Pilate said to them , “Whom do you want me to release for you , Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Christ ?” 27:18 (For he knew that they had handed him over because of envy .) 27:19 As he was sitting on the judgment seat , his wife sent a message to him : “Have nothing to do with that innocent man ; I have suffered greatly as a result of a dream about him today .” 27:20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed . 27:21 The governor asked them , “Which of the two do you want me to release for you ?” And they said , “Barabbas !” 27:22 Pilate said to them , “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Christ ?” They all said , “Crucify him!” 27:23 He asked , “Why? What wrong has he done ?” But they shouted more insistently , “Crucify him!”
Jesus is Condemned and Mocked
27:24 When Pilate saw that he could do nothing , but that instead a riot was starting , he took some water , washed his hands before the crowd and said , “I am innocent of this man’s blood . You take care of it yourselves !” 27:25 In reply all the people said , “Let his blood be on us and on our children !”

Pericope

NET

Bible Dictionary

  • Pilate, Pontius

    [ebd] probably connected with the Roman family of the Pontii, and called "Pilate" from the Latin pileatus, i.e., "wearing the pileus", which was the "cap or badge of a manumitted slave," as indicating that he was a "freedman," or ...
    [nave] PILATE, PONTIUS Roman governor of Judaea, Matt. 27:2; Luke 3:1. Causes slaughter of certain Galileans, Luke 13:1. Tries Jesus and orders his crucifixion, Matt. 27; Mark 15; Luke 23; John 18:28-40; 19; Acts 3:13; 4:27; 13:2...

  • Jesus, The Christ

    [nave] JESUS, THE CHRIST. Index of Sub-topics History of; Miscellaneous Facts Concerning; Unclassified Scriptures Relating to; Ascension of; Atonement by; Attributes of; Compassion of; Confessing; Creator; Death of; Design of His...

  • JESUS CHRIST, 4E2

    [isbe] JESUS CHRIST, 4E2 - II. From the Last Supper till the Cross. 1. The Chronology: A question of admitted difficulty arises in the comparison of the Synoptics and John as to the dates of the Last Supper and of the crucifixion. ...

  • Prisoners

    [nave] PRISONERS Joseph, Gen. 39:20-23; 40; 41:1-44. Jeremiah, Jer. 38:6-28; 39:14. John the Baptist, Matt. 11:2; 14:3-12; Mark 6:17; Luke 3:20. Jesus, Matt. 26:47-75; 27; Mark 14:43-72; 15; Luke 22:47-71; 23; John 18:3-40; 19. ...

  • Month

    [nave] MONTH Ancient use of, Gen. 7:11; 8:4. Twelve months reckoned to a year, 1 Chr. 27:1-15. 1. Abib (April). The Jewish calendar began with, Ex. 12:2; 13:4; Deut. 16:1. Passover instituted and celebrated in, Ex. 12:1-28; 23:1...

  • Prayer

    [nave] PRAYER. Index of Sub-topics Miscellany of Minor Sub-Topics; Unclassified Scriptures Relating to; Answer to, Promised; Answered, Instances of Answered; Confession in; Importunity in, Instances of Importunity in; Intercessor...

  • Homicide

    [nave] HOMICIDE. Accidental Ex. 21:13, 28-32; Num. 35:11-15, 22-28, 32 Deut. 4:41-43; 19:1-10. Josh. 20:1-9 Felonious or Murder: Gen. 4:9-11 v. 12.; Gen. 9:5, 6; Gen. 49:7; Ex. 20:13 Deut. 5:17; Rom. 13:9. Ex. 21:29-32; Num. 35...

  • Barabbas

    [ebd] i.e., son of Abba or of a father, a notorious robber whom Pilate proposed to condemn to death instead of Jesus, whom he wished to release, in accordance with the Roman custom (John 18:40; Mark 15:7; Luke 23:19). But the Jews...
    [isbe] BARABBAS - ba-rab'-as (Barabbas): For Aramaic Bar-abba = literally, "son of the father," i.e. of the master or teacher. Abba in the time of Jesus was perhaps a title of honor (Mt 23:9), but became later a proper name. The va...
    [nave] BARABBAS, a prisoner released by Pilate, Matt. 27:16-26; Mark 15:7-15; Luke 23:18-25; John 18:40; Acts 3:14.

  • JUDAS ISCARIOT

    [isbe] JUDAS ISCARIOT - is-kar'-i-ot (Ioudas Iskariotes, i.e. 'ish qeriyoth, "Judas, man of Kerioth"): One of the twelve apostles and the betrayer of Jesus; for etymology, etc., see JUDAS. I. Life. Judas was, as his second name ind...
    [smith] (Judas of Kerioth). He is sometimes called "the son of Simon," (John 6:71; 13:2,26) but more commonly ISCARIOTES. (Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:19; Luke 6:16) etc. The name Iscariot has received many interpretations more of less conj...

  • Rulers

    [nave] RULERS Appointed and removed by God. See: Government, God in. Chastised, Dan. 4. See: Nation. Monarchical, See: Kings. Patriarchal, Gen. 27:29, 37. Instances of Nimrod, Gen. 10:8-10. Abraham, Gen. 14:13-24; 17:6; 21:2...

  • Judge

    [nave] JUDGE Appointed by Persians, Ezra 7:25. Kings and other rulers as, 2 Sam. 8:15; 15:2; 1 Kin. 3:16-28; 10:9; 2 Kin. 8:1-6; Psa. 72:1-4; Matt. 27:11-26; Acts 23:34, 35; 24; 25:11, 12. Priests and Levites as, Deut. 17:9; 2 Ch...

  • PILATE; PONTIUS

    [isbe] PILATE; PONTIUS - pi'-lat, pi'-lat, pon'-shi-us (Pontios Peilatos): 1. Name and Office 2. Pilate's Procuratorship 3. Pilate and Jesus Christ 4. Pilate in Tradition and Legend 5. Character of Pilate LITERATURE 1. Name and Off...

  • Demagogism

    [nave] DEMAGOGISM. Instances of Absalom, 2 Sam. 15:2-6. Pilate, Matt. 27:17-26; Mark 15:15; Luke 23:13-24; John 18:38-40; 19:6-13. Felix, Acts 24:27. Herod, Acts 12:3.

  • Judas

    [ebd] the Graecized form of Judah. (1.) The patriarch (Matt. 1:2, 3). (2.) Son of Simon (John 6:71; 13:2, 26), surnamed Iscariot, i.e., a man of Kerioth (Josh. 15:25). His name is uniformly the last in the list of the apostles, as...
    [nave] JUDAS 1. Surnamed Iscariot. Chosen as an apostle, Matt. 10:4; Mark 3:19; Luke 6:16; Acts 1:17. Treasurer of the disciples, John 12:6; 13:29. His covetousness exemplified by his protest against the breaking of the box of oi...

  • Complicity

    [nave] COMPLICITY. Psa. 50:18; Prov. 29:24; Rom. 1:32; 2 John 10, 11 Instances of The daughter of Herodias, in asking for the head of John the Baptist, Matt. 14:8; Mark 6:25. Pilate, in the death of Jesus, Matt. 27:17-26; Mark ...

  • Court

    [nave] COURT. Ecclesiastical 1 Chr. 26:29-32; 2 Chr. 19:8-11; Matt. 18:15-18; John 20:23 See: Church, Rules of Discipline in, Mosaic and Christian. Civil Held at the tabernacle, Num. 27:2; the gates of cities, Deut. 21:19; 22:1...

  • Bribery

    [nave] BRIBERY. Ex. 23:8; Deut. 16:18, 19; Deut. 27:25; 1 Sam. 8:1, 3; Job 15:34; Psa. 26:9, 10; Prov. 15:27; Prov. 17:8, 23; Prov. 18:16; Prov. 21:14; Prov. 25:14; Prov. 28:21; Prov. 29:4; Eccl. 7:7; Isa. 1:23; Isa. 5:22, 23; Isa...

  • PIECE OF SILVER

    [isbe] PIECE OF SILVER - Two words are thus rendered in the Old Testament (ratstse-khaceph, and qesiTah) and two in the New Testament argurion, and drachme). The first expression means pieces of silver broken off from bars or large...

  • GOVERNOR

    [ebd] (1.) Heb. nagid, a prominent, conspicuous person, whatever his capacity: as, chief of the royal palace (2 Chr. 28:7; comp. 1 Kings 4:6), chief of the temple (1 Chr. 9:11; Jer. 20:1), the leader of the Aaronites (1 Chr. 12:27...
    [isbe] GOVERNOR - guv'-er-ner: The word "governor" is employed in English Versions of the Bible in rendering a great variety of Hebrew and Greek words. In certain cases strict consistency is neither observed nor possible. 1. In the...

  • PROCURATOR

    [isbe] PROCURATOR - prok'-u-ra-ter (epitropos): This word signified in a general sense a steward or bailiff of a private estate, or a financial agent with power of attorney, and the development of the special usage of the word to d...
    [smith] The Greek agemon , rendered "governor" in the Authorized Version, is applied in the New Testament to the officer who presided over the imperial province of Judea. It is used of Pontius Pilate, (Matthew 27:1) ... of Felix, Act...
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Arts

Hymns

(Note: In "active" or "on" condition, the hymns music will be played automatically when mouse hover on a hymns title)
  • Yesus, Tuhanku, Apakah Dosaku [KJ.167]
  • [Mat 27:22] What Will You Do With Jesus? (1)
  • [Mat 27:22] What Will You Do With Jesus? (2)

Questions

  • Several explanations of the apparent discrepancy between Matt. 27:3-10 and Acts 1:18,19 have been offered. The first, with relation to the death of Judas, is that the word translated as "hanged" in Matt. 27:5 is capable of a ...
  • He was altogether lovely, Song of Solomon 5:16; holy, righteous, good, faithful, true, just, guileless and sinless, spotless, innocent, harmless (Luke 1:35; Acts 4:27; Is. 53:11; Matt. 19:16; Is. 11:5; John 1:14; John 7:18; Z...

Sermon Illustrations

Jesus Is King; Trials; The Trials of Jesus; Matthew 21:9; Triumphal Entry; Seven Suicides in the Bible; Revelation 12:11

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • Isaiah continued the sheep metaphor but applied it to the Servant to contrast sinful people and their innocent substitute. Here it is not the sheep's tendency to get lost but its nondefensive nature that is the characteristic...
  • 38:1-3 Four prominent men in Jerusalem heard Jeremiah preaching that anyone who remained in Jerusalem would die but those who surrendered to the Chaldeans would live. He prophesied, apparently at this time from the court of t...
  • The book is the second to the last of the Minor Prophets in the second (Prophets) division of the Hebrew Bible. Neither Jews nor Christians seriously challenged its canonicity. One reason for this is the fact that the New Tes...
  • The reason for the devastation of the people and the land just described now becomes apparent. It is the people's rejection of the messianic Shepherd-King (cf. Isa. 42; 49; 50; 53). The Lord would graciously give His people a...
  • Dating Matthew's Gospel is difficult for many reasons even if one believes in Matthean priority. The first extra-biblical reference to it occurs in the writings of Ignatius (c. 110-115 A.D.).14However Matthew's references to ...
  • Matthew often grouped his material into sections so that three, five, six, or seven events, miracles, sayings, or parables appear together.27Jewish writers typically did this to help their readers remember what they had writt...
  • I. The introduction of the King 1:1-4:11A. The King's genealogy 1:1-17B. The King's birth 1:18-25C. The King's childhood 2:1-231. The prophecy about Bethlehem 2:1-122. The prophecies about Egypt 2:13-183. The prophecies about...
  • Matthew began his Gospel with a record of Jesus' genealogy because the Christians claimed that Jesus was the Messiah promised in the Old Testament. To qualify as such He had to be a Jew from the royal line of David (Isa. 9:6-...
  • The first sentence in this pericope (section) serves as a title for the section, as the sentence in verse 1 did for 1:1-17. Matthew recorded the supernatural birth of Jesus to demonstrate further His qualification as Israel's...
  • Matthew continued to stress God's predictions about and His protection of His Messiah to help his readers recognize Jesus as the promised King.2:13 For the second time in two chapters we read that an angel from the Lord appea...
  • Comparison of John's Gospel and Matthew's shows that Jesus ministered for about a year before John the Baptist's arrest. John had criticized Herod Antipas for having an adulterous relationship with his brother Philip's wife (...
  • Jesus proceeded to clarify the way of discipleship. In view of Jesus' death His disciples, as well as He, would have to die to self. However, they could rejoice in the assurance that the kingdom would come eventually. Glory w...
  • There is a theological connection between this section and the former one. The death of Jesus provided the basis for God's gracious dealings with believers in His Son. This connection is clear to Matthew's readers because Mat...
  • Jesus came to Jerusalem to present Himself formally to the leaders of Israel as the nation's Messiah. He did this when He entered Jerusalem as Isaiah and Zechariah predicted Messiah would appear."Jesus entered Jerusalem for t...
  • The key phrase in Matthew's Gospel "And it came about that when Jesus had finished"(26:1) indicates another major transition (cf. 7:28; 11:1; 13:53; 19:1). As usual, it occurs at the end of a major address. In this case it in...
  • Here the word "then"probably identifies a logical connection with what preceded.977Evidently Judas made these plans the same day that Jesus predicted His crucifixion in two days, namely on Wednesday (vv. 1-5). None of the eva...
  • Matthew stressed Jesus' righteousness for his readers by highlighting the injustice of His trials."The breaches in law are so numerous as to be unbelievable . . ."1026". . . even the ordinary legal rules were disregarded in t...
  • 27:3 Judas evidently felt remorse because he realized that he had condemned an innocent man to death. His remorse (Gr. metamelomai) resulted in a kind of repentance (Gr. metanoeo), but it was not complete enough. The first of...
  • Pilate was a cruel ruler who made little attempt to understand the Jews whom he hated.1047He had treated them unfairly and brutally on many occasions, but recently Caesar had rebuked him severely.1048This probably accounts fo...
  • Matthew's emphasis in his account of Jesus' crucifixion was on the mocking of the onlookers.27:32 Jesus was able to carry the crosspiece of His cross until He passed through the city gate (cf. Mark 15:21 John 19:17). Normally...
  • Abbott-Smith, G. A. A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1937.Albright, W. F. and Mann, C. S. Matthew. The Anchor Bible series. Garden City: Doubleday, 1971.Alford, Henry. The Greek Testa...
  • Jesus' sufferings until now had been anticipatory. Now He began to experience pain resulting from His trials and crucifixion. As the faithful Servant of the Lord who came to do His Father's will, His sufferings continued to i...
  • 15:2 Pilate had absolute authority over Jesus' fate under Roman law. Customarily trials such as this one took place in public.375First, the plaintiffs or accusers made their charges against the defendant. Then the prosecutor,...
  • Mark's brief account of Jesus' arraignment and sentencing concentrates on Pilate's offer to release Jesus or Barabbas.15:6 Evidently this custom served to improve relations between the Roman ruler and his subjects. Dictatoria...
  • The overall impression that Luke presented with this part of his narrative is that Jesus' condemnation was a terrible travesty of justice. Pilate condemned an innocent man. This decision comes across as specially heinous sinc...
  • John began his version of this civil trial by narrating the initial public meeting of Pilate and Jesus' accusers.54318:28 "They"(NASB) refers to all the Jewish authorities (cf. Matt. 27:1-2; Mark 15:1; Luke 23:1). They led Je...
  • Having heard the Jews' charges, Pilate returned to the inside of his headquarters and began interrogating Jesus. His questioning centered on the issue of Jesus' kingship.18:33 The Jews' accusations motivated Pilate's question...
  • John condensed the scene in which Pilate declared Jesus innocent, the Jews accused Jesus further, Jesus replied nothing, and Pilate marvelled at Jesus' silence (Matt. 27:12-14; Mark 15:3-5; Luke 23:4-6). He simply related Pil...
  • There is quite a bit of unique material in this pericope. This includes the details of the Roman soldiers' abuse of Jesus (vv. 1-5) and the situation that Pilate's learning that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God instigated (...
  • 1:15 In view of Peter's leadership gifts, so obvious in the Gospels, it is no surprise that he is the one who took the initiative on this occasion."Undoubtedly, the key disciple in Luke's writings is Peter. He was the represe...
  • The popularity and effectiveness of the apostles riled the Sadducees just as Jesus' popularity and effectiveness had earlier.5:17-18 The high priest "rose up"(Gr. anastas, cf. v. 34) taking official action as leader of the Sa...
  • 18:12 An inscription found at Delphi in Central Greece has enabled scholars to date the beginning of Gallio's term as proconsul to July 1, 51 A.D.740Gallio was a remarkable Roman citizen from Spain. His brother, the Stoic phi...
  • "The irregular structure of Luke's account of Paul's defense before the Sanhedrin evidently reflects the tumultuous character of the session itself. Three matters pertaining to Luke's apologetic purpose come to the fore: (1) ...
  • Peter now reminded his readers of the consequences of Jesus' response to unjustified persecution. He did so to strengthen their resolve to rededicate themselves to follow God's will wholeheartedly and confidently. He also wan...

Expositions Of Holy Scripture (Maclaren)

  • Matthew 9-28
  • I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? See thou to that. 24. I am innocent of the blood of this just Person: see ye to it.'--Matt. 27:4-24.So, what the priests said to Jud...
  • 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. And when He was accused of the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing. 1...
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