Daily Word - 30 Pieces of Silver - Matthew 27:1-10

Sripture:
Matthew 27:1-10 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
Matthew 27
Jesus Handed Over to Pilate
1 When daybreak came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. (A) 2 After tying Him up, they led Him away and handed Him over to Pilate, [a] the governor. (B)
Judas Hangs Himself
3 Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was full of remorse and returned the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. (C) 4 "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood," he said.
"What's that to us?" they said. "See to it yourself!"
5 So he threw the silver into the sanctuary (D) and departed. Then he went and hanged himself.
6 The chief priests took the silver and said, "It's not lawful (E) to put it into the temple treasury, [b] since it is blood money." [c] 7 So they conferred together and bought the potter's field with it as a burial place for foreigners. 8 Therefore that field has been called "Blood Field" to this day. 9 Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
They took the 30 pieces of silver, the price of Him whose price was set by the sons of Israel, 10 and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me. (F) (G)
Footnotes:
Matthew 27:2 Other mss read Pontius Pilate
Matthew 27:6 See [Mk 7:11] where the same Gk word used here (Corban) means a gift (pledged to the temple).
Matthew 27:6 Lit the price of blood
Cross references:
Matthew 27:1 : Mk 15:1; Lk 22:66; Jn 18:28;
Matthew 27:2 : Mt 20:19; Lk 13:1; Ac 3:13; 1Tm 6:13;
Matthew 27:3 : Mt 21:29; 26:14-15;
Matthew 27:5 : 2Sm 17:23; Lk 1:19;, 21; Ac 1:18;
Matthew 27:6 : Mk 2:24; Jn 18:31;
Matthew 27:10 : Jr 32:6-9; Zch 11:12-13; Mt 1:22;
Matthew 27:10 : Jr 32:6-9; Zch 11:12-13;

Reflection:
Why did Judas end his life in tragedy? When Judas betrayed his Master, he very likely did not intend to cause him bodily harm. He may have thought that Jesus' arrest would be the catalyst that would make Jesus "wake up" and use his divine power to liberate Palestine from Roman rule. He must have been bitterly disappointed that Jesus refused to use his favor with the people for leading an uprising against Rome. Now Judas is bitterly disappointed with himself because his betrayal has resulted in Jesus' condemnation by the chief religious authorities. His "repentance" however contains no trust in forgiveness nor mercy. He recognizes the horror of his deed and how much evil it has caused. And he knows that it is impossible to undo what he has done. That is always the way with sin. We mostly choose sin because we think it will somehow make us happy. But after we recognize the consequences of our choice, we regret the wrong and wish it could be undone.
Judas returned the ransom, a small sum of money for such a deed, to the Temple priests. Their refusal to take it back makes Judas violently throw it into the Temple. Judas publicly admitted his guilt: "I have sinned in betraying innocent blood." And his next act is to publicly condemn himself by committing violent suicide. Judas took matters into his own hands by handing Jesus over to his enemies. Now he takes matters into his own hands again by handing himself over to despair and the destruction of his body. Perhaps he thought that self-inflicted death would put an end to living with a guilty conscience.
Unlike Peter, who also denied his Master, but then repents and seeks forgiveness, Judas regrets his sin but closes the door to seeking peace and pardon with God. Despair is an ally of pride. It cannot see beyond the misery, pain, and grief of self to the possibility of pardon, peace, and restoration of friendship with God and neighbor. Judas could have chosen to not end his life in despair. He would have found his Risen Master ready to give him peace and pardon. And he would have likely died a martyr's death as did most of the other apostles who shed their blood for their Master. When you are tempted to doubt and despair, do you turn to the Lord for his help and grace?

Prayer For The Day:
Lord, may I never despair of your merciful love and forgiveness. Whenever I stumble or fail to do your will, give me the courage to call on your name and receive your pardon and grace to change.