In Matthew chapter 27 we read about the staged “trial”, torture, humiliation, and crucifixion of Jesus. Salvation is made possible through the events covered in this chapter. There would be no hope for us if it were not for the willingness of Jesus to do his Father’s will, and die in our place as the perfect and final sacrifice. From Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane, we know that this is the only way that the justice of God can be satisfied, while at the same time showing mercy to the people who deserve the punishment.
Chapter 27 opens with yet another example of the heartless legalism of the Pharisees. Verses 1-10:
Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death. They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.
When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”
“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty silver coins, the price set on him by the people of Israel, and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”
First notice that even Judas, who betrayed Jesus admitted that Jesus was innocent. Upon Judas’ confession, the Pharisees tell Judas that his sin is his problem, not theirs. In their self righteousness they condemn Judas while still seeing themselves as innocent of wrong doing. Then we see another example of the Pharisees “straining out a gnat, but swallowing a camel” (Matthew 23:24). They are in the process of murdering an innocent man, but want to make sure they don’t break the law by putting blood money into the temple treasury.
Jesus Before Pilate
Starting in verse 11 is a short account of Jesus being accused before the governor, Pilate. Jesus makes no response to the accusations against him by the Pharisees. Pilate makes a few attempts at satisfying the crowd because as verse 18 tells us, he know Jesus was innocent and that “it was out of envy that they handed Jesus over to him.”
But the mob did not want justice for Jesus, they wanted blood.
Verses 22-26:
What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked.
They all answered, “Crucify him!”“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
All the people answered, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!”
Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.