MATTHEW LESSON 58

     We will begin this lesson in Matthew 27:1 "When the morning was
come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel
against Jesus to put him to death:"  Matthew 27:2 "And when they had
bound him, they led [him] away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate
the governor."

     They had already decided to kill Jesus. This is not just one
person, but the general council. This was the beginning of Friday, the
fourteenth day of Nisan. We call it good Friday. This was passover and
Jesus was the Passover Lamb, so He must be killed today to fulfill the
Scriptures. They had made their decision, and now they had bound Him
and led Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

     Matthew 27:3  "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,"  Matthew 27:4
"Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And
they said, What [is that] to us? see thou [to that]."

     Suddenly, Judas felt remorse when he saw that they had
condemned Jesus to die. His greed for money had caused him to do this
terrible thing, but he had never dreamed that they would kill Him. He,
probably, did not even consider what they would do to Jesus. Here, we
see someone who had done a terrible sin, who had repented. This Judas
had repented to the extent that he would repay the blood money. Whether
Judas was forgiven of God or not was between him and God. I have learned
a long time ago, that what Jesus decides to do with people on
judgement day is none of my business.

     Matthew 27:5 "And he cast down the pieces of silver in the
temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself."

     We read in the Bible in Galatians 3:13 "Christ hath redeemed us
from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is
written, Cursed [is] every one that hangeth on a tree:"

     Here, we see Judas, who hangeth on a tree. Probably, Judas was
making a statement about how evil he felt he was, when he did this. He no
longer wanted this silver and threw it on the temple floor.

     Matthew 27:6 "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."

     This one statement should tell us something about not accepting
every offering in the church. If the church knows for sure that it is
an ill gotten gain, they should not accept the offering. Look at Deut.
23:18. You cannot cover up a sin with money. A repentant heart is the
only thing that God will accept.

     Matthew 27:7 "And they took counsel, and bought with them the
Potter's field, to bury strangers in."  Matthew 27:8 "Wherefore that
field was called, The field of blood, unto this day."  Matthew 27:9
"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;"
Matthew 27:10 "And gave them for the Potter's field, as the Lord
appointed me."

     The 30 pieces of silver, as we said before, was the price of a
young male slave. It, also, had the symbolic meaning of God redeeming us
from world government. Three times ten; plus silver. (Three-God; ten
world government; silver redemption). This detail of the betrayal is
very important. It shows the "men of God" had no problem convicting
Jesus, with really no evidence, and condemning Him to death. However,
they were sticking to the letter of the law; they would not use blood
money to purchase anything for the church. Jesus had rightly accused
them when He said they swallow a camel and strain at a gnat, ye
hypocrites.

     Matthew 27:11 "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."

     I do not believe that Pontius Pilate meant this in a way that
would trap Jesus. I believe he truly wanted to know if Jesus truly was
the king of the Jews. Jesus, here again, did not give him an answer
that would settle the matter. He just said, you say I am.

     Matthew 27:12 "And when he was accused of the chief priests and
elders, he answered nothing."  Matthew 27:13 "Then said Pilate unto
him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?"
Matthew 27:14 "And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the
governor marvelled greatly."

     Jesus would not defend Himself. Just one word from Jesus and all
of this would stop, but He was determined to carry it through.
Criminals who were brought before the governor, and knew their
terrible fate would be a cruel death on the cross, would be begging
for mercy about now; but Jesus never said a word. No wonder Pilate
marvelled.

     Matthew 27:15 "Now at [that] feast the governor was wont to
release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would." Matthew 27:16
"And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas."  Matthew
27:17 "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?" Matthew 27:18 "For he knew that for envy they had
delivered him."

     It appears very clear to me that Pilate wanted to release Jesus.
Pilate could not understand why his people would want to kill this
innocent man. Since it was a custom to release a prisoner at passover,
what better prisoner to release than Jesus? Pilate even reminded the
people that Jesus was called Christ (the Anointed One). Barabbas on the
other hand, fully deserved to be in prison. His crimes were many and
terrible. He was a menace to society. I believe Pilate's reason for
choosing Barabbas was because he was so bad, and Pilate just knew the
people would not want him released. Therefore, Pilate would get his
wish and release Jesus. Jealousy and envy had driven these so called
"religious" men to seek the death of Jesus.

     Matthew 27:19  "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."

     Here, we see a dream from God given to Pilate's wife. God speaks
to us many times in dreams. Not every dream has a message for us in
it, but many times dreams are a warning to us of impending danger.
Sometimes dreams are to encourage us. We certainly should heed
messages that we get from God in dreams. Here too, we see that God
speaks to women, as well as men. She sent a message to her husband to
warn him. Some women would have been afraid that he would laugh at
them, and would not have sent the message. This woman had done what God
intended her to do. Now, her husband had to heed the message.

     Matthew 27:20 "But the chief priests and elders persuaded the
multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus."

     These chief priests were so determined to kill Jesus, that they
would go to any lengths to see this done, even to release this terrible
criminal.

     Matthew 27:21 "The governor answered and said unto them, Whether
of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas."
Matthew 27:22 "Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus
which is called Christ? [They] all say unto him, Let him be
crucified."

     Pilate reminded them, again, that Jesus was Christ. They chose this
criminal over the Saviour of the world. Pilate still wanted to release
Jesus; but these men, who were supposed to be pillars of the church,
said crucify Him.

     Matthew 27:23 "And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he
done?  But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified."
Matthew 27:24  "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]."  Matthew 27:25 "Then answered all the people,
and said, His blood [be] on us, and on our children."

     These religious people were still completely determined to kill
Jesus. Pilate wanted no part of any of this and washed his hands of the
whole matter. Pilate said publicly that Jesus was a just man, guilty of
no crime. He said he would have nothing to do with this murder of an
innocent man. These people (scribes, high priest, and multitude) spoke
a terrible curse on their descendents, when they said, "His blood be on
us, and on our children".

     Matthew 27:26  "Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he
had scourged Jesus, he delivered [him] to be crucified."

     Pilate released Barabbas and turned Jesus over to the soldiers to
Crucify Him.

     Matthew 27:27 "Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into
the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band [of soldiers]."
Matthew 27:28 "And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe."

     Little did the soldiers know that even in the color of the robe,
they had proclaimed Him as king.

     Matthew 27:29  "And when they had platted 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!"

     These people were not truly worshipping Jesus. They were
ridiculing Him. It was if they were saying, "So you say you think you
are the King of the Jews."

     Matthew 27:30 "And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and
smote him on the head."  Matthew 27:31 "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]."

     It was bad enough to kill Him, but to humiliate Him is
unthinkable.


























                    Matthew 58 Questions

1.  At what time did the chief priests and scribes take council to
    kill Him?
2.  Who did they deliver Him to?
3.  What day and month was this?
4.  What celebration day was this?
5.  Why did Jesus have to be killed this specific day?
6.  Who was Pilate?
7.  What did Judas do with the 30 pieces of silver?
8.  What did Judas say when he repented?
9.  How did Judas kill himself?
10. Why could the chief priest not put this money in the treasure?
11. What did they decide to do with it?
12. What proved so well that these "men of God" were hypocrites to the
    core?
13. What did the governor ask Jesus?
14. What did Jesus answer?
15. Why did Pilate marvel at Him?
16. At the feast of the passover, it was a custom for the governor to
    do what?
17. What was the wicked prisoner's name?
18. Pilate knew that for ________ , they had delivered Him.
19. Who had a terrible dream the night before?
20. What two things should we take note of about the dream?
21. Who persuaded the multitude to choose Barabbas?
22. Who decided the punishment of Jesus?
23. Who said, "Let His blood be on us and our children".
24. Name five things the soldiers did to Jesus?