Death of Judas… vs. 1-10

• 1^st – Third Trial… vs. 1-2
  • Six Trials…
    • In all there are SIX trials that Jesus went through before His crucifixion!
    • FIRST – He stood before Annas [father in law of Caiaphas] – John 18:12-24
    • SECOND – He was tried at NIGHT before the Sanhedrin [Jewish Counsel] – Matthew 26:57-68
    • THIRD – He was tried in the MORNING before the Sanhedrin – Matthew 27:1
    • FOURTH – He was tried before Pontius Pilate – Matthew 27:2-14
    • FIFTH – He was tried before Herod Antipas [son of Herod the Great] – Luke 23:6-12
    • SIXTH – He was finally sentenced to death by Pilate – Matthew 27:15-26
    • Only FOUR of these TRIALS are recorded in the book of Matthew!
  • The morning… vs. 1
    • When morning came!
    • This is the THIRD trial of Jesus just before DAWN [around 4am]
    • The decision to put Jesus to death had already been made [666] – Matthew 26:66
    • But the SANHEDRIN needed to make the TRIAL look LEGAL…
    • So they held a MOCK court in the morning to VALIDATE their conviction!
  • Death penalty… vs. 1
    • All the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death.
    • The SANHEDRIN was united [πᾶς] – but they had to figure out HOW to kill Jesus…
    • The problem was the Jews did NOT have the authority to carry out the DEATH penalty…
    • Around the time of Jesus birth – Rome had taken away the Jewish right of Capital Punishment!
    • John 18:31 – “The Jews said: It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.”
  • Pontius Pilate… vs. 2
    • When they had bound Him they led Him away – delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor!
    • The solution the SANHEDRIN came up with was give [παραδίδωμι] Jesus to GENTILES…
    • This is EXACTLY what Jesus had told His DISCIPLES would happen – Mark 10:33
    • The Jews brought Jesus to PONTIUS [of the sea] Pilate [with a spear]
    • He was the FIFTH [or sixth] governor from Rome over the province of JUDEA [AD 26-36]
    • Little is known about him outside of the account in the Gospels…
    • The lack of evidence outside the Bible – led many to question his existence…
    • Until 1961 – when a stone tablet found in Caesarea was found with his inscription!
  • 2^nd – Regret… vs. 3-5
    • Innocent blood… vs. 3-4
      • Then Judas – His betrayer – seeing that He had been condemned.
      • Was remorseful – brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders saying:
      • I have sinned by betraying innocent blood. And they said: What is that to us? You see to it!
      • When JUDAS saw that Jesus had been CONDEMNED to death…
      • He REGRETTED [μεταμέλομαι] his choice to BETRAY Him – brought back the MONEY…
      • He admitted he SINNED [indicative] – because he BETRAYED an INNOCENT [ἀθῷος] man…
      • But the PRIESTS had no compassion – they responded that is YOUR [σύ] problem!
      • We do NOT know what caused Judas to have a change of heart [seeing Jesus beaten]
      • But we do KNOW – he did NOT go to Jesus and repent – or to God for forgiveness!
      • II Corinthians 7:10 – “Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation not to be regretted. But the sorrow of the world produces death.”
      • It is easy to be REGRET the CONSEQUENCES of our actions…
      • But being sorry for our CONSEQUENCES [worldly sorrow] is NOT repentance….
      • True REPENTANCE is realizing we have SINNED against God – Psalm 51:4
      • True REPENTANCE is turning away from SIN – and coming back to Jesus!
    • Wrong answer… vs. 5
      • Then he threw down the silver in the temple and departed – went and hanged himself!
      • Judas took the MONEY he received for BETRAYING Jesus – and threw it down in the Temple…
      • Then in a final act of selfishness – he hung himself – and took his own life…
      • But apparently the noose did NOT hold – and snapped under Judas weight…
      • So he fell down to the ground – burst open – and his intestines spilled out – Acts 1:18
      • A heartbreaking end for a man who had walked with Jesus!
      • SUICIDE is a SELFISH act – it is the EASY way out of difficult times…
      • One that leaves behind everyone else [loved ones] to suffer through the consequences…
      • The Bible does NOT directly address what happens to those who commit SUICIDE…
      • For a devastated family I would say – no SIN can keep us out of heaven – Romans 5:20
      • A momentary foolish decision – does NOT undo the Grace of God…
      • But to anyone considering SUICIDE – do NOT leave this life with a QUESTION mark!
  • 3^rd – Field of blood… vs. 6-8
    • Blood money… vs. 6-7
      • The chief priests took the silver pieces and said:
      • It is not lawful to put them into the treasury because they are the price of blood.
      • They consulted together and bought with them the potters field to bury strangers in!
      • Judas left the Priests with a problem – the THIRTY pieces of silver… 
      • They could NOT just put it into the OFFERING [קָרְבָּן] – it was the price [τιμή] of BLOOD…
      • So they purchased a potters field to bury strangers [ξένος] who died in Jerusalem!
      • Jerusalem would get THOUSANDS of visitors every year for the FEASTS – Leviticus 23
      • And if someone happened to DIE while visiting they had to be BURIED…
      • This provided a placed for the local government to BURRY them in!
    • Hinnom valley… vs. 8
      • Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day!
      • The field lies on a narrow terrace on the south side of the valley of Hinnom!
      • The valley of Hinnom [γέεννα] is south side of Jerusalem…
      • Where King Manasseh sacrificed children to the God Molech…
      • Therefore his grandson Josiah turned it into a DUMP [Topheth] – II Kings 23:10
      • Jesus used this DUMP as a word picture for HELL [γέεννα] – Matthew 10:28
      • Judas reward for his BETRAYAL of Jesus – was he bought a place in HELL…
      • NOT that Judas was worse than any other sinner – we are NO better…
      • We have ALL purchased our place in eternity with the REWARD of our sin….
      • Our hope [if we will believe] is that Jesus died for us so that we go instead to heaven…
      • God does NOT send GOOD people to HELL – there are NONE…
      • What is amazing is that because of Jesus – God sends SINNERS to HEAVEN!
  • 4^th – The Prophecy… vs. 9-10
    • Jeremiah… vs. 9
      • Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet saying:
      • There is a PROBLEM – this prophecy is NOT found in the book of Jeremiah…
      • Matthew is quoting from – Zechariah 11:12-13
      • The Hebrew Bible [תַּנַ״ךְ‎] has THREE sections: Law [תּוֹרָה] – Prophets [נְבִיאִים] – Writings [כְּתוּבִים‎]
      • Matthew is likely referring to the PROPHET [נְבִיאִים] scroll where Jeremiah comes first!
    • Sovereign God… vs. 9-10
      • And they took the thirty pieces of silver the value of Him who was priced.
      • Whom they of the children of Israel priced and gave them for the potters field.
      • As the LORD [κύριος] directed me!
      • FOUR hundred years earlier – God had given Zechariah ALL the details…
      • Israel [not just Judas] only thought Jesus was worth [τιμή] THIRTY shekels…
      • And that price [τιμή] of blood – would be used to buy a POTTERS field [γέεννα]
      • Emphasizing the LORD [יְהוָה] was always the one in CONTROL!
      • When life seems CHAOTIC – and everything is OUT of control…
      • It is comforting for us to remember – NOTHING happens by accident…
      • The Lord is the one who is SOVEREIGN over EVERYTHING!
      • Ephesians 1:11 – “He makes everything work out according to his plan.” [NLT]

• 2^nd – Not Guilty… vs. 11-26
  • 1^st – Fourth Trial… vs. 11-14
    • King of the Jews… vs. 11
      • Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him saying:
      • Are You the King of the Jews? Jesus said to him: It is as you say!
      • This is the FOURTH trial of Jesus at DAWN [around 5am]
      • The accusation of the Jews against Jesus was that He claimed to be the KING of the Jews…
      • This was a SERIOUS accusation [sedition] – and would incur the death penalty…
      • Therefore PILATE asked Jesus if He is [present] the KING [ὁ βασιλεὺς]
      • Matthew records for us the SHORT answer: Jesus said [imperfect] so you SAY…
      • The Gospel of John gives us more details about His response!
      • John 18:37 – “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born – and for this cause I have come into the world – that I should bear witness to the truth.”
      • Jesus is the KING [ὁ βασιλεὺς] – but He did NOT come the FIRST time to CONQUER Rome…
      • He came to show the world the TRUTH – we are all SINNERS…
      • And ONLY by faith in Him can we be saved from DEATH – Acts 4:12
      • But Pilate was quick to answer Jesus: What is TRUTH – John 18:38
        
      • The world today is working overtime to try and convince us there is NO truth [just opinions]
      • They want us to embrace the idea that ALL roads lead to heaven…
      • But if ALL roads lead to heaven – then Jesus suffered and died for NO reason!
      • Galatians 2:21 – “If we could be saved [another way] there was no need for Christ to die.”
    • Silent… vs. 12-14
      • While He was being accused by the chief priests and elders [Jesus] answered nothing.
      • Then Pilate said to Him: Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?
      • But He answered him not one word so that the governor marveled greatly!
      • The Jewish leaders continued to make ACCUSATIONS against Jesus…
      • ACCUSATIONS [κατήγορος] – one of the names given to SATAN – Revelation 12:10
      • FIRST – they accused Jesus of telling people NOT to pay their taxes [lie] – Luke 23:2
      • SECOND – they accused Jesus of being the Son of God [true] – John 19:7
      • But Jesus said NOTHING – He did NOT defend Himself – NOT [οὐδέ] even a WORD [ῥῆμα]
      • Which really [λίαν] AMAZED Pilate – he ADMIRED [θαυμάζω] Jesus!
      • I Timothy 6:13 – “Jesus… witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate.”
      • The church has a bit of bad reputation in the world…
      • It is known for people who SAY the right things – but do NOT live them!
      • Jesus WITNESS was not in His words – it was in His actions…
      • Likewise as believers in Jesus – we are NOT to be known by our WORDS…
      • We are to be known by our FRUIT – how we live our lives – showing our FAITH…
      • If we want the world to MARVEL – it is NOT about what we SAY – it comes from what we DO!
    • Herod Antipas…
      • The Jewish leaders insisted Jesus caused trouble beginning in the Galilee – Luke 23:5
      • Pilate thought he might have an easy way out – Galilee was NOT his jurisdiction…
      • So he sent Jesus to Herod Antipas [who happened to be in Jerusalem]
      • This was the FIFTH trial of Jesus – but He said NOTHING – and was sent back to Pilate!
  • 2^nd – Sixth Trial… vs. 15-19
    • The Criminal… vs. 15-18
      • Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing one prisoner whom they wished.
      • And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.
      • Therefore when they had gathered together Pilate said to them:
      • Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas – or Jesus who is called Christ?
      • For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy!
      • This is the SIXTH and FINAL trial of Jesus [around 6am]
      • PILATE had a custom to set ONE prisoner FREE [ἀπολύω] at the PASSOVER…
      • PILATE asked the people who did they WANT [θέλω] – Barabbas or Jesus Christ [Χριστός]
      • Barabbas – also called Jesus Barabbas [MGNT] – was [imperfect] an INFAMOUS prisoner…
      • He had been convicted of ROBBERY – INSURRECTION – MURDER – Luke 23:19 – John 18:40
      • Pilate was TESTING them – he SAW [εἴδω] they BETRAYED [παραδίδωμι] Jesus out of ENVY!
    • The Just man… vs. 19
      • While he was sitting on the judgment seat his wife sent to him saying:
      • Have nothing to do with that just Man. I suffered many things in a dream because of Him!
      • As PILATE was sitting on the JUDGEMENT [βῆμα] seat – his wife sent a WARNING…
      • Have NOT one [μηδείς] thing to do with this JUST [δίκαιος] man….
      • Because she had NIGHTMARES that day because of Him…
      • PILATE thought he was SITTING in JUDGMENT of Jesus…
      • What he could not see – but his wife did [dream] – he was the one who would be JUDGED!
      • The fate of Pilate is somewhat is uncertain…
      • He was known to be a CRUEL man – who murdered innocent Jews – Luke 13:1
      • A career politician – he was ONLY interested in his own self-promotion…
      • But he would ultimately be removed as Governor [ἡγεμών] of Judea [AD 36]
      • The church historian Eusebius said in the end he took his own life [Ecclesiastical History 2.7]
      • We live in a world that things they are the ones in CONTROL…
      • They can do whatever they want – and there will be NO consequences for their actions…
      • We are called to WARN them – tell them they are already on TRIAL!
      • I Peter 4:5 – “They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.”
  • 3^rd – The Choice… vs.  20-23
    • Crucify… vs. 20-22
      • The chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes [to] ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.
      • The governor answered and said to them:
      • Which of the two do you want me to release to you? They said: Barabbas!
      • Pilate said to them: What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?
      • They all said to him: Let Him be crucified!
      • The Jewish leaders STIRRED the crowd against Jesus – Mark 15:11
      • STIRRED [ἀνασείω] – like little tremors that lead to an earthquake [σείω]
      • They were whispering LIES into the crowd – poisoning them…
      • Therefore when PILATE asked who they wanted [θέλω] set FREE – they said BARABBAS…
      • When he asked what they wanted him to do with Jesus – called the Christ [Χριστός]
      • ALL [πᾶς] the people demanded [imperative] – CRUCIFY [σταυρόω] Him!
    • The crowd… vs. 23
      • Then the governor said: Why – what evil has He done?
      • But they cried out all the more saying: Let Him be crucified!
      • PILATE was genuinely shocked – he asked them WHAT evil [κακός] had he done…
      • He did NOT just ask this once – he KEPT on asking them [imperfect]
      • But all the louder they KEPT [imperfect] crying [κράζω] – He MUST [imperative] be crucified!
      • The crowd whom FOUR days earlier had cried out HOSANNA – now wanted Jesus dead…
      • Because they were just following the crowd – NO matter where it led!
      • Matthew 15:14 – “If the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”
      • We often do what others do – just because everyone else is doing the same thing…
      • But it is always a wise question to ask – whom am I following – where are they going…
      • When we follow the crowd – we can easily be led the wrong way…
      • Following Jesus means that we do NOT go with the flow – we stand out…
      • If no one else wants to do what is right – we still stand up for the truth!
  • 4^th – Washing hands… vs. 24-26
    • Not innocent… vs. 24
      • When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all – but rather that a tumult was rising.
      • He took water and washed his hands before the multitude saying:
      • I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it!
      • PILATE saw no matter he said – it was NOT helping [ὠφελέω]
      • It was having the OPPOSITE effect – the people were about to RIOT [θόρυβος]
      • So he took WATER – and ceremonially washed his hands…
      • Claiming he was INNOCENT [ἀθῷος] of the blood of this JUST [δίκαιος] man…
      • He turned to the CROWD – and told them they would [future] have to DO [ὀπτάνομαι] this!
        
      • Symbolic – but not true – Pilate was accountable for his actions
      • He chose to PLEASE the crowds – rather than do what he knew was RIGHT!
      • Galatians 1:10 – “If I still [please] men I [am] not a bondservant of Christ.”
      • NO difference between the one who rejects – or the one who stands by and does nothing…
      • There is NO middle ground – we either stand for Jesus – or stand for this world…
      • If we are NOT willing to stand up for Jesus – be bold for the Lord!
      • Luke 12:8 – “He who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.”
    • His blood… vs. 25
      • All the people answered and said: His blood be on us and on our children!
      • ALL [πᾶς] the people answered – His blood is on US and our CHILDREN!
      • This is a phrase that has caused MANY problems for thousands of years…
      • For millennia the Jew have been blamed for the death of Jesus…
      • Martin Luther – the protestant reformer – hated Jews because they were Christ killers…
      • Adolph Hitler would infamously quote from Luther in his hatred of the Jews!
      • We need to remember THREE things as it pertains to the role of the Jews in the crucifixion…
      • FRIST – Children are not responsible for the sins of their parents – Ezekiel 18:20
      • What a group of Jews did TWO thousand years ago – does NOT define their people today…
      • SECOND – it was NOT the Jews or Pilate that put Jesus on the cross – it was our SIN…
      • THIRD – if Jesus had not died – then there would be NO forgiveness of SIN!
    • Scourged … vs. 26
      • Then he released Barabbas to them and when he had scourged Jesus.
      • He delivered Him to be crucified!
      • PILATE set a MURDERER [Barabbas] free – and had Jesus SCOURGED [φραγελλόω]
      • Then he was given [παραδίδωμι] to the soldiers to be CRUCIFIED!