Why did Judas return the thirty pieces of silver and then hang himself?

Judas realized that Jesus had been condemned and felt deep horror over what he had done. He admitted, “I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood,” and tried to give the money back. But instead of turning to God for mercy, he sank into despair. His sorrow was real, but it was not the kind of repentance that seeks forgiveness. Overwhelmed by guilt and without hope, he went away and hanged himself. His story warns us about trying to carry our sin alone instead of bringing it to God.

What is the meaning of the priests buying the potter’s field, the Field of Blood?

The chief priests refused to put the thirty pieces of silver back into the temple treasury, calling it “the price of blood.” Yet they still used that same money to buy a potter’s field as a burial place for strangers. This showed their hypocrisy: they worried about a rule on money, but not about killing an innocent man. The field came to be called the Field of Blood, reminding people of Judas’s betrayal and the leaders’ guilt. It also matched what God had spoken beforehand about this money and its use.

Why did the crowd choose Barabbas and call for Jesus to be crucified?

Pilate offered the people a choice between Jesus and Barabbas, a well-known prisoner. He could see that the leaders had handed Jesus over out of envy and that Jesus had done no evil. But the chief priests and elders stirred up the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to demand Jesus’ death. When Pilate questioned them, they only shouted louder, “Let him be crucified.” This shows how easily people can be led into great sin, and how Jesus, the righteous one, was willingly given up in the place of the guilty.

What does Pilate washing his hands and the people saying, “His blood be on us,” mean?

When Pilate saw that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying he was innocent of Jesus’ blood and that they must see to it. The people answered, “His blood be on us, and on our children.” Pilate’s act was an attempt to shift blame, but he still gave the order to crucify Jesus. The crowd’s words showed how lightly they took the guilt of killing an innocent man. They took responsibility for his death, not realizing the weight of what they were saying.

What is the significance of the darkness and Jesus crying, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

From the sixth hour to the ninth hour, there was darkness over the land while Jesus hung on the cross. In those hours he suffered not only in body but also in soul. When he cried, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” he was feeling the horror of bearing the punishment our sins deserve. He was truly trusting God, yet tasting the pain of being under God’s wrath. The darkness and his cry show how deep his suffering went as he took the place of guilty people.

Why was the veil of the temple torn in two when Jesus died?

At the moment Jesus died, the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom. That veil separated the most holy place from the rest of the temple. Its tearing showed that something powerful had happened in his death. God himself opened the way into his presence, not by priestly rituals, but through the death of his Son. The earthquake, the splitting rocks, and opened graves around that time also showed that God was acting and that death and separation from God were being dealt with in a new way.

Why did the centurion say, “Truly this was the Son of God”?

The centurion and the soldiers had been watching Jesus die. They saw the darkness, the earthquake, and all that happened when he gave up his spirit. They had also seen how he suffered without answering the insults and how he cried out at the end. Filled with fear, the centurion said, “Truly this was the Son of God.” A hardened soldier, used to executions, was shaken into confessing who Jesus really was. His words show that even those who helped kill Jesus could see that this was no ordinary man.

Who was Joseph of Arimathaea and why is his role in Jesus’ burial important?

Joseph of Arimathaea was a rich man and a disciple of Jesus. After Jesus died, Joseph went to Pilate and asked for his body. He wrapped Jesus in a clean linen cloth and laid him in his own new tomb cut in the rock, then rolled a great stone to the entrance. His actions matter because they show that Jesus was buried openly, with the governor’s permission, in a known place. This makes it clear that Jesus truly died, and it leaves no doubt about the reality of his later resurrection.

Why did the chief priests and Pharisees ask Pilate to seal the tomb and set a guard?

The day after Jesus’ death, the chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate and reminded him that Jesus had said he would rise after three days. They feared the disciples might steal the body and tell people he had risen. So they asked Pilate to secure the tomb until the third day. Pilate told them to use a guard and make it as sure as they could, so they sealed the stone and set a watch. Their actions, meant to stop any claim of resurrection, later only confirm that the tomb was truly guarded when it was found empty.

Matt.27.1

Matthew 27:1

KJV

When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:

Jesus Delivered to Pilate

1 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:

2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

Judas Hangs Himself

3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.

7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in.

8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.

9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;

10 And gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me.

Jesus before Pilate

11 And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.

12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?

14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

The Crowd Chooses Barabbas

15 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.

16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.

17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?

18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.

19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.

21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.

22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.

23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.

Pilate Washes His Hands

24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.

25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

26 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.

28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.

29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!

30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.

31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

The Crucifixion

32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.

33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,

34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.

35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.

36 And sitting down they watched him there;

37 And set up over his head his accusation written, This Is Jesus the King of the Jews.

38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.

39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,

40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,

42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.

43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.

The Death of Jesus

45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.

48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.

49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.

50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,

53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

55 And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:

56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.

The Burial of Jesus

57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple:

58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.

59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

The Guards at the Tomb

62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,

63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.

64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.

66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.