What Jesus Did : Matthew 27:1-2 - A Simple Little Execution
by Phil Ware
A Simple Little Execution - Matthew 27:1-2
Early the next morning, all the leading priests and older leaders of the people decided to kill Jesus. They tied Jesus with chains. Then they led him to Pilate the governor. They gave Jesus to Pilate. (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
The religious leaders were looking for a simple little execution done behind the scenes so they could get Jesus out of their hair and keep things the same. He was a disruptive problem that had to be taken care of as soon as possible. So after their mock trial, they confirmed what they had decided long ago and had been plotting for months: "Jesus must die!" Where their reasons were many, they were all selfish and ungodly. But like most cowardly deeds done in darkness, they would not finish the deal. They could turn to Pilate and have the Romans do their dirty work. What am I blind about in my religious arrogance and hard-headedness? What injustice could I do to protect my power and the predictability of my "faith"? Could I have sided with these leaders and rejected Jesus so I could keep my place in the religious leadership? Mmmm!
Today's Prayer
Holy and Almighty God, forgive me when my own arrogance and religious pride get in the way of your truth and those who seek it. Please keep my heart soft to your will and open to your Spirit's work. I never want to become like the religious leaders who killed Jesus to protect themselves and their positions. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
Early the next morning, all the leading priests and older leaders of the people decided to kill Jesus. They tied Jesus with chains. Then they led him to Pilate the governor. They gave Jesus to Pilate. Judas saw that they had decided to kill Jesus. Judas was the one that gave Jesus {to his enemies}. When Judas saw what happened, he was very sorry for what he did. So he took the 30 silver coins back to the priests and the leaders. Judas said, "I sinned. I gave you an innocent man to be killed." The Jewish leaders answered, "We don't care! That's a problem for you, not us." So Judas threw the money into the temple. Then Judas left that place and hanged himself. The leading priests picked up the silver coins in the temple. They said, "Our law does not allow us to keep this money with the temple money, because this money has paid for a man's death." So they decided to use the money to buy a field called Potter's Field. This field would be a place to bury people that died while visiting {in Jerusalem}. That is why that field is still called the Field of Blood. So the thing happened that Jeremiah the prophet said: "They took 30 silver coins. That was how much the Jewish people decided to pay for his life. They used those 30 silver coins to buy the potter's field, like the Lord commanded me."-- Matthew 27:1-10 (ERV)
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