Matthew 27:1-10 | Ezekiel 22:26-27 | Gospels in Lent Track: Matthew 17-18
“That’s your problem.” Other versions say, “See to it yourself.”
Judas’ story is tragic. But it’s not all his fault. His religious leaders fail him at this point. He tries to repent, but is denied. It’s no wonder he ends up where he did.
It’s just a major failure all around for these chief priests and elders.
In the end, on the cross, Jesus will make our problems his own. What a difference between his response to sin and these religious leaders’ response!
Matthew 27:1-10
Early in the morning all the chief priests and the elders of the people reached the decision to have Jesus put to death. They bound him, led him away, and turned him over to Pilate the governor.
When Judas, who betrayed Jesus, saw that Jesus was condemned to die, he felt deep regret. He returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, and said, “I did wrong because I betrayed an innocent man.”
But they said, “What is that to us? That’s your problem.” Judas threw the silver pieces into the temple and left. Then he went and hanged himself.
The chief priests picked up the silver pieces and said, “According to the Law it’s not right to put this money in the treasury. Since it was used to pay for someone’s life, it’s unclean.” So they decided to use it to buy the potter’s field where strangers could be buried. That’s why that field is called “Field of Blood” to this very day. This fulfilled the words of Jeremiah the prophet: And I took the thirty pieces of silver, the price for the one whose price had been set by some of the Israelites, and I gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.
Ezekiel 22:26-27
Her priests have done violence to my instructions and made my holy things impure. They have not clearly separated the holy from the ordinary, and they have not taught the difference between unclean and clean things. They’ve disregarded my sabbaths. So I’ve been degraded among them. The officials in her are like wolves ripping up prey. They shed blood and destroy lives for unjust riches.
Prayer
God,
I know it’s easy for me to look back and condemn Judas. And frankly, what he did was terrible, indeed.
But God, I know that I betray Jesus any time I go against your Word, even in small ways. Lord, help me to run fully into the way of Christ. May Peter’s denial, Judas’ betrayal, and the disciples’ desertion be lessons learned for us all that we might avoid their folly.
Thank you for making my problems yours by the cross of Christ. Help me this day as I seek to do the same for others to the best of my ability.
By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.