Matthew 27
COMMENTARY:
: 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. (3338 “repented” [metamellomai] means to regret, change one’s mind, feel sad about, have remorse, be sorry, or to feel repentance.)
DEVOTION: There is a difference between truly repenting of a sin and just being sorry you got caught in a sin. Here we have Judas for whatever reason taking money to betray Jesus. He might have thought this would have caused Jesus to change HIS plan to die and instead take over the kingdom. He might have been mad because he was the treasurer of the group and thought there was going to be money coming in for years when it was going to end soon and he would have no more money coming in. We can’t be sure if he even knew that Jesus knew from the beginning that he was going to betray HIM.
Now Jesus was arrested and they were going to kill HIM and Judas felt sorry for what he had done. He wanted to undo what he had done so he took the money back to the religious leaders and asked them to release Jesus. They just laughed at him. He threw the money and left. Then he went out and hung himself.
Now we want to make sure that we don’t teach that suicide is the unpardonable sin. The only unpardonable sin is rejection of Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. I have only had one funeral for someone who had committed suicide. The funeral director thought my sermon was the best he had heard regarding someone who committed suicide. I wrote the sermon for Nelson Publications and it is in their Pastor’s Manuel. We don’t condone suicide but we understand that some people struggle with it.
The second thought regarding Judas was that he was not truly remorseful. If he wanted to receive forgiveness all he had to do is ask. Peter at the same time period denied knowing Christ which was a sin too. HE went out weeping and truly wanted to change his mind about his relationship with Jesus. He wanted to be forgiven. He asked for forgiveness. His outcome was different. He confessed his sin and was forgiven. He walked in a different direction. He walked toward the LORD.
There is a difference between regret because of being caught and sorrow because of sin. Learn the difference and if you find yourself or someone else in such as situation you can explain that godly sorrow is different from regret. Read 2 Corinthians 7: 8- 10.
CHALLENGE: We all have to examine the reason behind our sorrow over our sins. We need to have godly sorrow over our sin.
: 14 And HE answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marveled greatly. (2296 “marveled” [thaumazo] means wonder, be astonished, to be amazed, to admire, to be had in admiration, or be surprised.)
DEVOTION: Silence is one of the disciples of the faith. There is a time to talk and a time to be quiet. It would seem that when you are on trial for your life you would want to say something. Jesus was standing in front of the one person who could set HIM free. HE made a choice to be quiet.
Pilate was surprised by the fact that Jesus didn’t try to defend HIMSELF. He tried to get Jesus to talk. Jesus only responded to Pilate’s comment that about HIM being the King of the Jews. Jesus simply stated “You said it.”
Pilate was also warned by his wife that she had had a dream about Jesus and that he should not have anything to do with “that just man.” It had to get Pilate thinking about what he was facing. In fact, he told the people that Jesus was a just man and he didn’t want to be held accountable for HIS death. He washed his hands of the whole thing.
There are going to be times when we need to keep silent. Remember that Jesus is our example. We might be falsely accused of something that we never did but the more we say the worse it gets. Defending yourself at times seems good but we have to look at things from the other person’s perspective. They have a tendency to always think you are guilty because you defend yourself.
Jesus didn’t defend HIMSELF because HE knew it was the plan of Father for HIM to die on the cross for the sins of the world. HE was falsely accused but didn’t say a word. We can do the same at times in our life. You can surprise people with your silence.
CHALLENGE: Let the LORD defend you. Let your life be a testimony to who you really are.
: 42 HE saved other; HIMSELF HE cannot save. If HE be the King of Israel, let HIM now come down from the cross, and we will believe HIM. (4982 “save” [sozo] means deliver, to free from harm or evil, heal, rescue, keep safe, preserve, cure, or to make healthy from an illness.)
DEVOTION: The religious leaders were lying. They saw all the miracles that Jesus had preformed. Each time they said HE did it by the power of Satan. They said that HE was a false prophet. They called HIM names.
Now they have their way with HIM. They have HIM on the cross. They think they have a victory. They think once Jesus is dead the people will come back to them. They want to be the ones they listen to. They want their praise. They love the praise of men.
Jesus never praised them. HE confronted them for their false teachings. They had the people wondering about who HE really was in relationship to God. They make statements at the cross that could have convinced them that HE was genuine.
They claimed that He saved others. They claim that they will believe HIM if HE would just come down from the cross. They were lying. If HE came down from the cross they would again accuse HIM of getting HIS power from another source rather than God.
Today we can be like the Pharisees. We can say to God if you will only do this one thing I will believe you are the only true God. We can put our fleece out like Gideon and see if the LORD will do what we want HIM to do. It is wrong but we just want to know for sure that the LORD is truly the only God of the universe.
CHALLENGE: We are lying to ourselves if we try to do what the Pharisees did. Our responsibility is to trust the LORD and let HIS Holy Spirit guide us to truth.
: 52, 53 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. (1454 “resurrection” [egersis] means a rousing, excitation, a rising up, or rising from the dead.)
DEVOTION: The trial of Jesus continues. The religious leaders brought Jesus to the political leader of the Roman Empire. Why? It is because the religious leaders could not condemn anyone to death. Once Jesus was before Pilate, he asked HIM some questions. The first one HE answered. The second one HE said nothing.
Pilate was warned of his wife regarding Jesus. He tried to have HIM released but the religious leaders stirred up the people.
Pilate gave in and the soldiers abused Jesus and then took HIM to be crucified. Once on the cross the crowd, religious leaders and thieves all mocked HIM.
Jesus cried out and they thought HE was calling Elijah but they misunderstood HIM. HE was crying out to the Father. HE was taking the sin of the world on HIS shoulders. HE was fulfilling Scripture. HIS whole purpose for coming the first time was to die on the cross for our sins. HIS blood sacrifice was made in our place. HE was our redeemer.
Now after HIS cry, HE gave up the ghost or died. Once HE died things started to happen. First Matthew tells us that the veil on the temple ripped from TOP to BOTTOM. That is unusual in itself as most things would rip from the bottom to the top. The second thing that happened was an EARTHQUAKE. The third action was the ROCKS RENT. Now the next thing was very unusual: the graves of the Old Testament saints were opened. Then three days later they walked around in the city of Jerusalem. These were dead men walking in the streets of Jerusalem!!! Many saw them walking around.
Finally, the soldiers who were watching the death of Jesus made a comment: “Truly this was the Son of God.” This shook up the soldiers. They believed that Jesus was the true Son of God.
Some people think that if the dead came back and told them that there is life after death – they would believe. Here was an opportunity for this to happen. Can we think that many became followers of Jesus because of these saints walking on the streets of Jerusalem? We don’t hear of many choosing to follow Christ because of this happening. This was just one other testimony to who Jesus was. Each of the things that happened during the crucifixion and after the resurrection of Christ were to show everyone that HE was real. Do we believe it to be real? If we do, are we sharing it with others? Please share this truth!! Jesus died on the cross for our sins. HE was in the grave three day. HE arose from the dead on the third day. We serve a RISEN SAVIOR!!!
CHALLENGE: Share this truth with one person this week. We serve a RISEN SAVIOR. No other religion can claim this fact.
DONATIONS:
Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org. Also, if you can support this ministry through your local church please use that method. Thank you.
Visit our Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.