Matthew 27

I am innocent of this man’s blood

1Now when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus to put Him to death; 2and they bound Him, and led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate the governor.

3Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!” 5And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself. 6The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the temple treasury, since it is the price of blood.” 7And they conferred together and with the money bought the Potter's Field as a burial place for strangers. 8For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “AND THEY TOOK THE THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER, THE PRICE OF THE ONE WHOSE PRICE HAD BEEN SET by the sons of Israel; 10AND THEY GAVE THEM FOR THE POTTER's FIELD, AS THE LORD DIRECTED ME.”

11Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” 12And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer. 13Then Pilate *said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” 14And He did not answer him with regard to even a single charge, so the governor was quite amazed.

15Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. 17So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18For he knew that because of envy they had handed Him over.

19While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.” 20But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death. 21But the governor said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.”22Pilate *said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all *said, “Crucify Him!” 23And he said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they kept shouting all the more, saying, “Crucify Him!”

24When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man's blood; see to that yourselves.” 25And all the people said, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” 26Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

27Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around Him. 28They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 29And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30They spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head. 31After they had mocked Him, they took the scarlet robe off Him and put His own garments back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.

32As they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they pressed into service to bear His cross.

33And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, 34they gave Him wine to drink mixed with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink.

35And when they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments among themselves by casting lots. 36And sitting down, they began to keep watch over Him there. 37And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

38At that time two robbers *were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. 39And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads 40and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, 42“He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. 43“HE TRUSTS IN GOD; LET GOD RESCUE Him now, IF HE DELIGHTS IN HIM; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words.

45Now from the *sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the*ninth hour. 46About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?” 47And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, “This man is calling for Elijah.” 48Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink. 49But the rest of them said, “Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him*.” 50And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 51And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. 52The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. 54Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

55Many women were there looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee while ministering to Him. 56Among them was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

57When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus.58This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away. 61And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the grave.

62Now on the next day, the day after the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together with Pilate, 63and said, “Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I am to rise again.’ 64“Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day, otherwise His disciples may come and steal Him away and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” 65Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.”66And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone.

MATTHEW 27:1-10

Delivered Him to Pilate the governor

My other Gospels (Luke and Matthew) spent more time on the historic and cultural aspects of Jesus’ crucifixion, I have decided to use this gospel to focus more on comments and insights about those involved in the event.

The Jewish priests did not have the authority to put Jesus to death, they had to have Roman approval and the local authority was Pontius Pilate. Pilate was incompetent at best, bordering on mentally unstable. He seemed to hate the Jewish people as much as they hated him. His fits of rage nearly caused his recall to Rome multiple times. by the time of this event hide position was precarious, he couldn't afford one more riot under his rule. As a result, he really had no long term plan for ruling the region, he bounced from crisis to crisis, his decisions based more on the moment than any specific strategy.

How often we tend to promote people for their ability to "keep the crisis at bay," as opposed to pursuing a long-term strategy. Similarly, how infrequent is it that we create plans that will outlast us rather than be dependent upon us, thinkin at best a year ahead rather than a generation ahead.

“What is that to us? See to that yourself!”

How quickly Judas’ new friends abandoned him. When he ceased being any use to them they ceased having any interest in him. Are my friendships utilitarian or unconditional?

Some people spend their entire adult lives focusing on their utilitarian friendships then once their “usefulness” is gone they have so neglected their unconditional friendships that they’ve dried up too and find themselves utterly alone. It is so easy to take our unconditional relationships for granted simply because we rely on their unconditionally.

MATTHEW 27:11-26

For he knew that because of envy they had handed Him over

Pilate was not used to silence in response to the outcries of the crowd. He would have preferred Jesus cower and rebut the charges against. What Pontius really wanted was a great religious debate he could observe. He obviously had no way to categorize his own religion and this would have given him a front row seat to the greatest debaters of his time.

He must have been sorely disappointed to see that Jesus was not going to play into the Religious Leaders hands.

Matthew tells us that Pilate could see through the veil of the Religious Leaders, they were afraid of the authentic and effective leadership of Jesus because it revealed their incompetency and impotence.

How often do we see outliers leave systems because they can’t be effective inside of them. Perhaps this is one of the greatest challengers of any large institution today; “How do I turn my ENTREprenuers—those who leave the company because we lack the ability to change—into INTRApreneurs—those empowered by the company to start their endeavors within the institution rather than take it out on the street and grow a new competitor?”

“Why, what evil has He done?”

Having no inner guidelines, Pilate is guided by his wife’s dream. His responses are lukewarm at best. He knows that Jesus is innocent and that the leaders are acting out of envy. But instead of taking a valiant stance on the side of the innocent, he hedges his bets by saying, “What evil has he done?”

Then, he has Jesus beaten and tortured.

It wouldn’t have mattered if Pilate had been a strong advocate for what was right. This was a time of tepid leadership and he fit the part. The moment in time needed a wishy-washy, lukewarm leader and Pilate was perfect for the position.

What will keep us from being lukewarm about justice? Look what John tells the church of Lacedonia in Revelations.

Revelations 3:15-16

15‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.

It would be better that Jesus finds us passionate about either side, committed in our belief or not, than pandering to others in the middle.

MATTHEW 27:27-31

“Hail, King of the Jews!”

MATTHEW 27:32-37

32As they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they pressed into service to bear His cross.

33And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, 34they gave Him wine to drink mixed with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink.

He was unwilling to drink

MATTHEW 27:38-44

He cannot save Himself

MATTHEW 27:45-54

Yielded up His spirit

We have looked in other studies how Jesus’ cry in Hebrew was really the beginning of Psalm 22. The Psalmist begins with mourning at the pain of death, but ends in exaltation over the joy of unity with God’s way. Gawkers thought Jesus was calling for Elijah of whom it was believed had ascended into heaven [2 Kings 2:11] and promised to return to rescue those suffering innocent pain [Malachi 4:5]. They continue to torment Jesus throughout the extent of his death.

Most people died from slipping into a coma from exhaustion on the cross. It was excruciating, for Jesus the pain lasted six hours with no relief until he finally “yielded up his spirit.”

The term, yielded [G863 Aphiēmi] means to give up, to forgive and/or to yield. Death did not take Jesus he decided to yield up his spirit after singing his death song (Psalm 22).

Immediately, Matthew—ever the Instructor—teaches us three prophetic events occurred.

1. The curtains in the Temple ripped

The curtains stood between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. Only once a year a high priest was allowed to enter into this area to clean the temple. Almost 35 years before this crucifixion, Zechariah (high priest and father of John the Baptist), had entered this area on the Day of Atonement [Leviticus 16:1-34] and heard the news of his son’s conception. No longer would anything or anyone stand in between God and sinners.

2. Tombs opened and the dead began to rise

This showed Jesus had the power to conquer death.

3. The sky darkened at noon and the whole area was turned from day to night

It seems that the entire universe understood the horror that was occurring and even the sun didn’t want to shine on this moment.

“Truly this was the Son of God!”

The Centurion overseeing this detail had to be one of the most battle-hardened men in history. The mercenaries paid to defend Rome at their outer borders were tough people at the onset. This man’s task was to oversee the thousands that would be put to death in this province under the cruel oversight of Pontius Pilate.

Of all the testimonials to the deity of Jesus, this one had to come from some of the most hardened lips in history. Surely he had put to death many insurrectionists and self-proclaimed prophets. The time was replete with them. What was it about the way that Jesus died that brought such compassionate words to his lips?

Was it Jesus’ refusal to condemn those who were condemning him? In fact, he pleads with the Father for their forgiveness. Was it Christ’s refusal to soften the pain and concurrently to remain softened by love to those who persecuted him? Was it the dignity Jesus maintained during one of the most savage tortures invented by humanity?

Whatever it was, it led this hardened soldier of fortune to proclaim, “Truly this man was the Son of God.”

Can I say that my words in times of persecution inspire and motivate others to recognize Jesus in me?

MATTHEW 27:55-66

Many women were there looking on from a distance

Here we find the people that loved Jesus unconditionally. His life was not just focused on utilitarian relationships and ours must grow in a similar manner. Who will be there for us when we seem of no earthly use? We have Mary of Magdala whom Jesus rescued from demon possession, there is another Mary here distinguished by her sons, James and Joseph, finally there is Salome whose children are James and John—the sons of thunder. Tradition tells us that she was also the sister of Jesus’ mother [Matthew 20:20-21]. John who was also a first-hand observer, tells us that Jesus’ mother was present and that Jesus spoke to John and her directly [John 19:25-27].

Many times I have stood at the graveside or the death knell of people I have known and have had people stand next to me in my grieving as well. I’ve always appreciated those people (and have tried to be one myself), that was respectful enough not to advise, but to simply be available.

Frequently, we seek the right words and there really are none at those times. Often, we try to solve the other person’s feelings with our supposed wisdom. I remember being told by multiple persons how lucky I was that my brother—who died of cancer—was fortunate because he didn’t have to live longer with the disease. I know they were trying to be comforting, but the best comfort were those who didn’t try to take away my grieving with their condolences.

Do we have the courage to be available in silence? Do we stand by the grieving when all the words run out and all the “advisors” have gone home?

We need to spend more time studying the “Theology of Availability” and less time based upon the “Impulse to Advise” based upon what these women offered Jesus in his last torturous moments.

A rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph

Joseph is an interesting study as well. Nicodemus and he were both wealthy members of the Jewish Council, whether they were included in the Kangaroo Court called together by Caiaphas, is not readily known.

At times, Joseph had been reticent to stand up to the Council [John 19:38], but after the death of Jesus, he goes right to Pilate and asks for Jesus’ body. Our Lord died around 3pm [Matthew 27:46], it was about three hours before sunset on the Sabbath. It would be illegal to bury the body of Jesus once the Sabbath began, but also illegal to leave his dead body out overnight [Deuteronomy 21:23], he would be hurried to prepare the body and entomb it but he had help from another member of the council, Nicodemus [John 3:1, 19:38].

What is interesting is that Jesus never asked Joseph or Nicodemus to give their money to the poor and follow him as our Lord did with the Rich Young Prince [Mark 10:20-22].

Once again, we must recall that Jesus offers no “cookie-cutter conversion model.” He knows exactly what it is that I must let go of in order to make him Lord and that’s what he calls me to do. If we “walk in his truth,” we will know it in our hearts as well.

Psalm 27:11-12

11Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name.

12I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and will glorify Your name forever.

In fact, we are even told that God will shape the desires of our heart if we delight in him.

Psalm 37:4-6

4Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart.

5Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it.

6He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noonday.

There is our truth and there is God’s truth. It is so tempting to shroud ourselves in our truth and miss the presence of the Holy Spirit guiding our life. This could easily have happened to Joseph and Nicodemus, they could have given in to the pressures of Caiaphas and the Council. However, obviously this wasn’t their issue so Jesus didn’t tell them to “give all you have to the poor.”

Following the truth in their lives meant putting everything on the line and walking into the jaws of the despised Roman leader all the while risking their positions as counselors with the religious leaders of Jerusalem. Their money or their position did not bind them. They risked it all to bury Jesus and take care of his dead body.

Laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock

There are many limestone caves in the area surrounding Jerusalem. It is worth noting that in some of those limestone caves barely seven kilometers away, Jesus had come into the world unable to find any decent sleeping quarters.

Our Lord comes into the world as a pauper within seven kilometers of the town where he was born. He had made a trek to Egypt as a child and frequent forays into neighboring regions despised by the religious leaders of his time.

What is clear is that, to change the world, you don’t always have to be a world traveller. Find a place of deep discontent and make a persistent impact there.

Almost all of our cities and towns have places where Jesus would go to care for the “least of these.” Will I ask the critical question, “Where Would Jesus Be?” and go to those places to make a lasting difference?

The Pharisees gathered together with Pilate

The religious leaders were hedging their bets. They didn’t believe Jesus would rise but they were afraid his body would be stolen and someone would say he rose. Asking Pilate to seal it met putting guards at the stone and running a cord from one side to the other, complete with a clay seal on each end. It is estimated the stone would have weighed 1.5 to 2 tons (1,361 to 1,814 Kilograms).

What does it look like to “hedge my bets” with Jesus? Would I risk power and prestige as did Joseph and Nicodemus or am I a follower when it is most convenient, popular and safe?