Today's Bible Study, Authored by Arthur Cincotti. 03/06/2022
Listen to our Bible Study Discussion at: Matthew 27:1-31 Podcast
Matthew 27:1-31
“For I determined not to know anything among
you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
I Cor. 2:2
Cut right to the climax!
vs. 1) “When morning came.”
Jesus is about to be dragged off to His fourth trial, this
time before Pontius Pilate. It’s already been a long night for Jesus. He first
stood before Annas, the high priests father-in-law, then before Caiaphas and
the Sanhedrin. (Jn. 3:19 says, “men loved darkness rather than light,
because their deeds were evil”
Pilate was governor from
26-37 AD by some accounts. His existence was confirmed by an archaeological dig
conducted in Caesarea Maritima, by the Italian archaeologist Dr Antonio Frova,
in 1961. He is mentioned in all four gospels. He alone held the authority to
carry out the death penalty.
vr. 3-10) In a small segue we follow up on Judas and his
affairs. He shows up at the gathering of the chief priests shortly after they
had sent Jesus to Pilate.
Seeing the outcome of
his actions Judas demonstrates a measure of regret, saying, “I have sinned
by betraying innocent blood.” The lack of compassion he receives from the
religious leaders is noteworthy. “What is that to us? You see to it!”
It’s unclear what they were suggesting he do. There is actually an appropriate
sacrifice for what he did in Lev. 5:4. The chief priest and elders response
echos Gen. 4:9, when Cain says, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Their silly
obsession not to take the money because it was, “the price of blood” demonstrates
their selective righteousness.
The purchase of the
potter’s field was prophesied in Zech 11:12 and Jer. 32:6-9, further evidence
of God’s meticulous authorship.
It’s worthy to note that
any time the Mormon’s or Jehovah Witnesses insist that Jesus never claimed to
be God, it was the primary charge of blasphemy that was brought against Him by
the chief priests and elders. Jn. 5:18, “Therefore the Jews sought all the
more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God
was His Father, making Himself equal with God.”
The Sanhedrin’s charge
of blasphemy was meaningless to Pilate, however, so they accused Jesus of
sedition by claiming to be a king.
vr. 11) Pilate asks Jesus, “Are you the King of the
Jews?” John’s gospel gives us more details. Apparently Pilate asked Him
that several times. In Jn. 18:34 Jesus amazingly puts Pilate on trial by
asking, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you
this concerning Me?” At this juncture Jesus powerfully goes silent on
Pilate. Jn. 19:10-11 fills in a gap. Pilate says, “’Do You not know that I
have power to crucify You, and power to release You?’ Jesus answered, ‘You
could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from
above.’” Rev. 13:8 speaks of, “the Lamb slain from the foundations of
the world.” again indicating the prophetic vision of God and the Divine authorship.
vr. 15-26. This segment about Barabbas has conjured up an
ecclesiastical heap of mystery. Does Barabbas represent the scapegoat of Lev.
16.7-10? Does he represent every man who, though clearly deserving death, is
serendipitously pardoned in Jesus place. This account is found in all four
gospels. Interestingly, early transcripts of Matthews
gospel give the full name as, “Jesus Barabbas” which translated means, “Jesus, Son of the Father”.
Matt. 27:24 says, “When Pilate saw that he could not
prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising…” Mk. 15:15 puts it a bit
differently, “So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd…”
vr. 27-31The account of Jesus treatment by the Roman
soldiers is an ugly word picture of the depravity of man. Jn. 2:24,25 says,
“But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no
need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.” Jer. 17:9
hauntingly reveals us, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and
desperately wicked who can know it?”
How it must have grieved
the Creator of all that is seen an unseen to experience what His highest
creation had degenerated into. This degree of depravity is what, only, Christ
atoning death on the cross could rescue us from. How much richer does Rom. 5:8
resound for us, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we
were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
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