Matthewchapter 27

The Crucifixion — Gustave Doré (engraving), public domain

A.Judas' Remorse and the Potter's Fieldvv. 1-10

1 When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people conspired against Jesus to put Him to death. 2 They bound Him, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate the governor. 3 When 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.” 5 So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. 6 The chief priests picked up the pieces of silver and said, “It is unlawful to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7 After conferring together, they used the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. 8 That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then 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, 10 and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord had commanded me.”

B.Before Pilate; Barabbas Set Freevv. 11-26

11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, who questioned Him: “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. 12 And when He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked Him, “Do You not hear how many charges they are bringing against You?” 14 But Jesus gave no answer, not even to a single charge, much to the governor’s amazement. 15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the feast to release to the crowd a prisoner of their choosing. 16 At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner named Barabbas. 17 So 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?” 18 For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him. 19 While 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.” 20 But 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!” 24 When 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.” 25 All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 So Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.

C.Mocked and Crowned With Thornsvv. 27-31

27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company around Him. 28 They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 29 And they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand and knelt down before Him to mock Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 Then they spit on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head repeatedly. 31 After they had mocked Him, they removed the robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him away to crucify Him.

D.Crucified Between Two Robbersvv. 32-44

32 Along the way they found a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross of Jesus. 33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means The Place of the Skull, 34 they offered Him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, He refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. 37 Above His head they posted the written charge against Him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 38 Two robbers were crucified with Him, one on His right hand and the other on His left. 39 And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!” 41 In the same way, the chief priests, scribes, and elders mocked Him, saying, 42 “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God deliver Him now if He wants Him. For He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way, even the robbers who were crucified with Him berated Him.

E.Darkness, the Loud Cry, and the Torn Veilvv. 45-56

45 From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. 46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” 47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He is calling Elijah.” 48 One of them quickly ran and brought a sponge. He filled it with sour wine, put it on a reed, and held it up for Jesus to drink. 49 But the others said, “Leave Him alone. Let us see if Elijah comes to save Him.” 50 When Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He yielded up His spirit. 51 At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. 53 After Jesus’ resurrection, when they had come out of the tombs, they entered the holy city and appeared to many people. 54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.” 55 And many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to minister to Him. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

F.Buried in Joseph's Tomb, Sealed and Guardedvv. 57-66

57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who himself was a disciple of Jesus. 58 He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut into the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb. 62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and Pharisees assembled before Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while He was alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give the order that the tomb be secured until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples may come and steal Him away and tell the people He has risen from the dead. And this last deception would be worse than the first.” 65 “You have a guard,” Pilate said. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and secured the tomb by sealing the stone and posting the guard.

Commentary on this chapter: read the Exposition

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Chapter summary

Judas hangs himself; the potter's field bought with his silver.

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Judas hangs himself; the potter's field bought with his silver. Jesus before Pilate; Barabbas released; scourging; mockery; crucifixion between two thieves. Darkness over the land; the cry 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani'; the veil rent; graves opened; the centurion's confession: 'truly this was the Son of God.' Joseph of Arimathea seals the tomb.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.

Context

Gospel · Matthew — Matthew overview

A. 1–10 Judas' Remorse and the Potter's Field
B. 11–26 Before Pilate; Barabbas Set Free
C. 27–31 Mocked and Crowned With Thorns
D. 32–44 Crucified Between Two Robbers
E. 45–56 Darkness, the Loud Cry, and the Torn Veil
F. 57–66 Buried in Joseph's Tomb, Sealed and Guarded

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

Mark 1521 verses
- Mark 15:1Early in the morning, the chief priests, elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin devised a plan. They bound Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate.
- Mark 15:2So Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.
- Mark 15:7And a man named Barabbas was imprisoned with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection.
- Mark 15:10For he knew it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over.
- Mark 15:12So Pilate asked them again, “What then do you want me to do with the One you call the King of the Jews?”
- Mark 15:15And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.
- Read Mark 15: 15 more there →
John 1915 verses
- John 19:1Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged.
- John 19:2The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns, set it on His head, and dressed Him in a purple robe.
- John 19:14It was the day of Preparation for the Passover, about the sixth hour. And Pilate said to the Jews, “Here is your King!”
- John 19:15At this, they shouted, “Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him!” “Shall I crucify your King?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” replied the chief priests.
- John 19:16Then Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified, and the soldiers took Him away.
- John 19:17Carrying His own cross, He went out to The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha.
- Read John 19: 9 more there →
Matthew 2712 verses
- Matthew 27:4“I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.”
- Matthew 27:14But Jesus gave no answer, not even to a single charge, much to the governor’s amazement.
- Matthew 27:19While 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.”
- Matthew 27:36And sitting down, they kept watch over Him there.
- Matthew 27:37Above His head they posted the written charge against Him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
- Matthew 27:38Two robbers were crucified with Him, one on His right hand and the other on His left.
- Read Matthew 27: 6 more there →
Luke 2311 verses
- Luke 23:2And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding payment of taxes to Caesar, and proclaiming Himself to be Christ, a King.”
- Luke 23:11And even Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked Him. Dressing Him in a fine robe, they sent Him back to Pilate.
- Luke 23:26As the soldiers led Him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him to carry behind Jesus.
- Luke 23:35The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”
- Luke 23:36The soldiers also mocked Him and came up to offer Him sour wine.
- Luke 23:38Above Him was posted an inscription: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
- Read Luke 23: 5 more there →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

Isaiah 536 verses
- Isaiah 53:2He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him.
- Isaiah 53:3He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.
- Isaiah 53:5But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
- Isaiah 53:7He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.
- Isaiah 53:9He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.
- Isaiah 53:10Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.
- Read Isaiah 53 →
Matthew 266 verses
- Matthew 26:5“But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”
- Matthew 26:25Then Judas, who would betray Him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said it yourself.”
- Matthew 26:61and declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”
- Matthew 26:62So the high priest stood up and asked Him, “Have You no answer? What are these men testifying against You?”
- Matthew 26:63But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to Him, “I charge You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.”
- Matthew 26:67Then they spit in His face and struck Him. Others slapped Him
- Read Matthew 26 →
Matthew 285 verses
- Matthew 28:1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.
- Matthew 28:2Suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled away the stone, and sat on it.
- Matthew 28:11While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened.
- Matthew 28:13and instructed them: “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’
- Matthew 28:15So the guards took the money and did as they were instructed. And this account has been circulated among the Jews to this very day.
- Read Matthew 28 →
John 184 verses
- John 18:28Then they led Jesus away from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. By now it was early morning, and the Jews did not enter the Praetorium, to avoid being defiled and unable to eat the Passover.
- John 18:33Pilate went back into the Praetorium, summoned Jesus, and asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
- John 18:35“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done?”
- John 18:40“Not this man,” they shouted, “but Barabbas!” (Now Barabbas was an insurrectionist.)
- Read John 18 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.