Study of Matthew

Matthew Chapter 27

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:

No matter how much men take counsel together to plot against the Lord or those that follow the Lord and that take counsel against those that are walking in the Lord's will, their plans have no power to become possible without God standing aside and allowing it to happen. This, though is exactly what Jesus came to do. He came to die for our sins and complete the Old Testament sacrificial law where a spotless lamb had to be killed to atone for the sins of the one bringing the sacrifice.

The Old Testament sacrifice had to be done over and over because mankind could not stop sinning. Jesus came to die once and for all so that there is no need to offer sacrifices that could never remove the sins of anyone. Those sacrifices only pointed to the one to come that had the power to take away sins and pay the penalty for past sins when one would believe and accept the new and living way. He came solely for this purpose at His first coming.

Yet think about it. People standing around planning to kill the one who had come to save them and give them eternal life with a new body that can never die. They were plotting the death of the one who loved them enough to hang for hours on a cross or an execution stake of some kind in torment and agony just to save them from their sins.

Matthew 27:2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
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,

It's like we do something crazy in our greed, our anger, or in our stupidity and then when the deed is done, we realize what a mistake we made and it is too late to rectify it. For some reason Judas suffered agony when he realized what he did. Perhaps he was in such a state that he didn't ask forgiveness. It didn't save him from being lost when one reads other scriptures that foretell of this event. Peter denied the Lord, repented and was forgiven. Perhaps one repented but it didn't change his life. He still was a sinner. Peter on other hand allowed God to forgive him and he went on to serve the Lord. Judas gave up on himself and committed suicide.

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.

They didn't care whether Judas made a mistake or not, they didn't want to reverse what was done.

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

The money he received for the dirty deed brought no satisfaction now that he could see the results of his sin. He was in despair. Even today if we lie, cheat and steal from someone else to make money, that money is never going to bring us joy and peace. When we die and face our maker, the money will do us no good. It is left for someone else to fight and war over.

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.

Notice that they wouldn't break the law according to their interpretation of it even after having an innocent person arrested because they were jealous and wanted Him out of the way.

They were real Pharisees who strained at a gnat but would swallow a camel. They were nit picky about trivial points of the law but to put a man to death was no big deal. This is a perfect picture of religion without compassion or love. It is judgment without mercy. Most false religions are exactly that way. Without the Holy Spirit shedding the love of God into our lives, we cannot have the right kind of love and compassion.

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

Zechariah wrote of this and Jeremiah spoke it.

Zechariah 11:12 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.
13 And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

They thought they would just get rid of Him and that His passing would solve all the problems at the time. So little they knew, they were just about to crucify the Son of God.

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.

Jesus did not deny who He was. He of course was not presently the king of anyone at that time but in reality, He was God so He literally was king of the universe. He will become king of kings and lord of lords at His second coming.

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

Evidently it was a custom to release a prisoner during the feast. Notice what a great lesson this teaches. A thief who was also a murderer goes free when an innocent man is put to death. That is exactly what Jesus' death did for all of us. He died for the sins that we committed so that we would not have to pay for our own sins but have eternal life. The only catch to this is that we believe what He did for us and receive it. When we truly believe in the sacrifice He did for us and turn away from the sin He died to save us from, we inherit eternal life.

Matthew 27:16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
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?
18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.

Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent. He could see clearly that the Jewish leaders just envied Jesus and was jealous of the great following of people He attracted. They felt threatened and feared the loss of their own position and religious authority. So much evil is done over jealousy, love of money, and fear of losing power over the people.

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.

It is strange how God will reveal even to unbelievers and sinners things in dreams in warning. Even though the death and sacrifice of Jesus was in the plan of God to save us from sin, He still warned those involved in His Son's death so that they would be without excuse if they went ahead and did what was in their hearts to do.

Judas was warned, Peter was warned that he would deny Christ, and Pilate was warned by his own wife.

I remember someone telling me that God warned him not to marry the person who later became his wife because she was going to depart from living for the Lord. He ignored it and she later did exactly that leaving him for another man. God warns but we can sometimes be too spiritually asleep from lack of prayer or fellowship with Him that we either ignore Him or are not in a place to fully understand His warning.

Matthew 27:20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.
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.
23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.

They same crowd that was praising Jesus only days before, were stirred up by just a few people to turn against Jesus. It just takes a few trouble makers and agitators to cause rioting and mob violence.

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.
25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

This was actually a prophecy without them knowing it. They suffered much throughout the following centuries because of what happened here. It was actually their rejection of Jesus that caused them to suffer and the suffering was inherited by their children on down through the centuries.

This is no excuse for anti-Semitism. Even though nations such as Israel has suffered because of their ancestors' rejection of Jesus Christ, God severely judges the nations or people who do the oppressing or the persecuting of His people whether those people are Jews or believers in Jesus Christ.

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

I'm thinking that Pilate had Jesus whipped hoping the people would be satisfied with that and not want His death. In our modern thinking, it's hard to understand why someone is beaten first and then killed but that's how they did things. Respect for human rights and human lives is a result of the coming of Jesus the first time around. Respect for human lives is a result of true Christianity. That is why we have the Sarmaritan's Purse, Haven of Rest and many other charities of compassion that help the poor and homeless.

Matthew 27:27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.
28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
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!
30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
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.
32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,

Traditions says that this is the place where Adam's skull was buried. Some have called Jesus, the second Adam. Christ who came to reverse the curse the first Adam caused.

1Corinthains 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

The plan of salvation for the lost, the plan to reconcile the lost back to their creator, and the plan to give us power to overcome sin and live in holiness is about to take place and they were too blind to see it.

Matthew 27:34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.
35 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.

I don't know if that drink was some kind of drug or if they were trying to trick Him into thinking it was water as a joke, I don't know.

Psalms 22:18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

We see that in parting His garments and casting lots to see who would get His vestor was another fulfillment of scripture, this one in the Psalms.

Matthew 27:36 And sitting down they watched him there;
37 And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
40 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 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
42 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 trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

They still looked for immediate salvation. They did not understand Jesus dying for sin. They did not understand that they needed a savior from sin. Even many today to not understand that. Many try to accept Christ without turning from sin. They do not see themselves as sinners that need a savior.

Matthew 27:44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.

In Luke it is recorded that one thief repented and was promised to enter paradise with Jesus. It is really not contradicting anything. One writer heard of the repentant thief while Matthew might not have heard it at the time He recorded His remembrance of the accounts in the life of Christ. I notice that all four gospels are alike in many things but different in other areas proving it was written by different men who wrote what they saw and heard. The main message of the gospel is the same in all of them.

Matthew 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
46 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?

Some say that it was at this point that God had to look away when He saw the sins of all mankind coming upon Jesus and He being killed for those sins we committed.

Matthew 27:47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.
48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51 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 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Jesus was the first one to be resurrected in a new body. Others came out of graves also after Jesus was resurrected. They must have went to heaven with Jesus. This is sort of a preview of the rapture which is to come later. It was saints that arose, not the ungodly. So these must have been Old Testament saints that looked forward to the coming of Christ. If these had been just raised from the dead in their natural bodies to die later, then they could have come out before the resurrection of Jesus but it states here that they arose after Jesus did so I assume that they were raised in new bodies and later taken to heaven with Jesus. The bible really is silent on this issue so I'm just speculating.

Matthew 27:54 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.

Truly He was who He said He was.

Matthew 27:55 And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:
56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.

Women always had a place among the early Christians. They were not left out. In fact it was a women that God used to bring His own Son into the world in the first place.

Matthew 27:57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:
58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
60 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 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.
62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
64 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.

This actually helped to prove the resurrection of Jesus. They had guards watch the tomb to make sure that no one could take away the body and claim His resurrection. When He was resurrected, they had to fabricate a story that the disciples came and took the body but if that was the case the guards would have been put to death. They didn't put to death the guards proving that there was a resurrection. In those days you didn't sleep on the job. You paid with your life if you failed guard duty. DC

Matthew 27:65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

Matthew 28