1. The Traitor’s Suicide Matthew 27:1-10 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and elders... Then he went away and hanged himself. (27:3, 5b)

2. Introduction Matthew 27:1-10 – Brief interruption of Jesus’ trial for the account of Judas’ suicide Purpose of presenting Judas’ final hours – Show by contrasts the beauty, purity, and majesty of Jesus Contrasts – Wicked leaders and sinless Christ – Guilty Judas and innocent Jesus – Hypocrisy of men and prophecy of God

3. Contrast Between Wicked Leaders and Sinless Christ (vv. 1-2) Decision had been made by the Jewish leaders to execute Jesus Jewish leaders had to make their decision appear legal – Reconvened the Sanhedrin in its legitimate council chamber (Luke 22:66) – Trials involving the death penalty had to be conducted in the daytime and in the Temple court Jews could not administer the death penalty (John 18:31) – Had to convince the Roman governor to give permission for Jesus’ execution – Hearing before Pilate was first phase of Jesus’ secular, Roman trial Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death. They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate, the governor. (Matt. 27:1-2))

4. Contrast Between Guilty Judas and Innocent Jesus (vv. 3-5) Judas followed the crowd to Caiaphas’ house and watched; perhaps in the courtyard where Peter was Chief priests and elders wanted nothing more to do with him – He had fulfilled his usefulness to them – He was now a rejected outcast; to: Jewish leaders Disciples Jewish society in general When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and elders. “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. (Matt. 27:3-5)

5. Contrast Between Guilty Judas and Innocent Jesus (vv. 3-5) Guilt set in when Judas watched Jesus being carried away to Pilate – Enormity of his treachery dawned on him – Experienced intense, excruciating pain unique to profound guilt Guilt reminds men of their sin and warns them of its consequences Guilt is an intrinsic warning of spiritual danger More than he could deal with

6. Contrast Between Guilty Judas and Innocent Jesus (vv. 3-5) Remorse followed guilt – Judas’ remorse was not repentance of sin Metamelomai – grief or sorrow Not Metanoeo – genuine change of mind and will – Judas confronted Jewish leaders still at Caiaphas’ house and confessed “I have sinned for I have betrayed innocent blood” But Judas did not come to Christ’s defense or seek his forgiveness Callous response from the Jewish leaders - “What is that to us?” “That’s your responsibility.”

7. Contrast Between Guilty Judas and Innocent Jesus (vv. 3-5) Judas chooses to take the wrong action – Judas defiantly threw the money into the temple and left – Then he went away and hanged himself Reasoned that death was the only escape Hanging was a fitting death – “He who is hanged is accursed of God” (Deut. 21:23) Suicide was an act of ultimate self-punishment Death does not relieve guilt; it makes it permanent – Hell is a place of eternal torment, of weeping and gnashing of teeth

8. Contrast Between Hypocrisy of Men and the Prophecy of God (vv. 6-10) Chief priests had to devise a way to get rid of the thirty pieces of silver which were blood money – It was against the law for the Temple treasury to have blood money – Blood money – illegitimately paid and received to falsely convict a man of a crime that lead to his execution Bought a field where potters had collected clay for use – Helped their consciences – Good will gesture to the public – Used as burial ground for poor and foreigners The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty silver coins, the price set on him by the people of Israel, and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.” (Matt. 27:6-10)

9. Conclusion Actions surrounding Judas’ suicide was fulfillment of specific prophecy in God’s omniscient plan Even is Judas’ death, God’s word was honored and the Lord Jesus Christ was glorified