Matthew 27:1-26
Before Pilate
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1When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people conspired against Jesus to put Him to death.
2They bound Him, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate the governor.
3When Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was filled with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders.
4“I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.”
5So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
6The chief priests picked up the pieces of silver and said, “It is unlawful to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.”
7After conferring together, they used the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners.
8That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day.
9Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on Him by the people of Israel,
10and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord had commanded me.”
11Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, who questioned Him: “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.
12And when He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He gave no answer.
13Then Pilate asked Him, “Do You not hear how many charges they are bringing against You?”
14But Jesus gave no answer, not even to a single charge, much to the governor’s amazement.
15Now it was the governor’s custom at the feast to release to the crowd a prisoner of their choosing.
16At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner named Barabbas.
17So when the crowd had assembled, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”
18For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.
19While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered terribly in a dream today because of Him.”
20But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus put to death.
21“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they replied.
22“What then should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify Him!”
23“Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!”
24When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “You bear the responsibility.”
25All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”
26So Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
The leaders bind Jesus and hand Him over to Pilate. When Judas sees that Jesus is condemned, he returns the thirty pieces of silver and confesses that he has betrayed innocent blood. The priests refuse responsibility. Judas throws the money into the temple, leaves and takes his own life.
The priests will not put blood money into the treasury, so they buy a potter’s field for the burial of foreigners. Matthew identifies this as fulfillment of words spoken through Jeremiah. Their care over the use of the money stands beside their refusal to reckon with the innocent blood it purchased.
Pilate asks Jesus whether He is the King of the Jews. Jesus answers, but remains silent before the accusations. Pilate is amazed. He knows envy lies behind the charges, and his wife sends a warning about this innocent man after a troubling dream.
At the feast, Pilate offers to release either Jesus or the prisoner Barabbas. Persuaded by the leaders, the crowd chooses Barabbas and demands crucifixion for Jesus. Pilate asks what evil Jesus has done, but the shouting grows. Seeing a riot begin, he washes his hands and declares himself innocent of the bloodshed. The crowd accepts responsibility, including for their children. That cry describes this crowd’s words; it gives no warrant to blame Jewish people across generations.
Pilate releases Barabbas, has Jesus flogged and hands Him over to be crucified. Water cannot remove the governor’s responsibility. The innocent King is condemned while a guilty prisoner goes free, as Jesus continues toward the death He has said will bring forgiveness.
How We Know
Matthew names Jeremiah in his fulfillment statement. The thirty pieces of silver and the potter closely recall Zechariah 11, while Jeremiah 19 joins a potter’s vessel with God’s judgment on innocent bloodshed. These connections help explain the prophetic background without pretending that Matthew quotes one matching sentence from Jeremiah.
Questions
1 What does Judas acknowledge when he returns the money?
AnswerHe confesses that he has sinned by betraying innocent blood. The priests refuse to help or accept responsibility, and his attempt to return the money cannot undo the betrayal.
2 What reasons does Pilate have to resist condemning Jesus?
AnswerHe knows the leaders acted out of envy, receives his wife’s warning about Jesus’ innocence and gets no answer when he asks what evil Jesus has done.
3 Why does washing his hands fail to clear Pilate?
AnswerHe still uses his authority to have Jesus flogged and handed over for crucifixion. Announcing that others are responsible does not cancel the decision he makes.
4 Where do we need to accept responsibility rather than pass it on?
AnswerWe can admit a decision we made under pressure, name its harm and seek help to put it right. Other people’s influence does not remove our own need for truth and mercy.
What This Means for Us
Pilate sees enough to know that the case is unjust, yet protecting himself from the crowd becomes more important than protecting the innocent prisoner. We can face a smaller version of that choice when joining a group feels easier than objecting to a lie or unfair treatment.
His hand-washing cannot undo his order. An apology that only explains what others made us feel leaves our own action unnamed. We can speak more honestly: say what we chose, acknowledge who was harmed and take responsibility for the repair we can make.
Judas’s death is grievous. Remorse need not end in isolation or despair; someone overwhelmed by guilt needs people who will stay close and help them seek care. The One Judas betrayed is going to the cross for the forgiveness of sins. His mercy is reason to turn toward Him with our guilt, not to conclude that hiding or self-destruction is our only way forward.
Prayer
Father, forgive us for protecting ourselves at another person’s expense. Give us courage to accept responsibility and oppose injustice. Draw those overwhelmed by guilt toward help and toward the mercy of Your innocent Son. Amen.