The man of St Matthew

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

THE PASSION

Chief Priests: Mt 27,1-10

As we saw in the overview, we are reading these verses as the last time in which the chief priests and elders are controlling events. Once Jesus has been handed over to the Romans, his fate is no longer in their hands.

The opening verses, 27,1-2, may be best read as completing the events in the house of Caiaphas from 26,57. Note the group which is not mentioned in 27,1.
Note how 27,1 concludes 26,59.

Verse 2, see 20,19. See also 26,15 and verse 3. For the governor see 27,11.

Blood money: 27,3-10

See Acts 1,18-19 for a somewhat different version of events.

Compare translations for Judas's feeling in verse 3 (and see 4,17). Check 26,15 again.

Verse 4 - see 27,24. See also 2,18. What do you make of the reply?

Verse 5 recalls a similar situation in 2 Sam 17,23.

For the money in verses 6-8: see Dt 27,25.

This scene comes to a climax with the last fulfillment quotation. For Jeremiah, see 2,17-18 which was mentioned for verse 4.

For the quotation in verse 9, the best fit seems to be Zechariah 11,12-13 (See 26,15).

As for the potter's field in verse 10, there may be an allusion to Jeremiah: Jeremiah 18,2-4 or 32,7-9.

Given that this is the final scene about the Jewish leaders, what might be its purpose?

See now my response.

We continue with Jesus standing before Pilate, 27,11-26.