Outline/Summary
A potter’s field, a field of blood
The Jewish leaders perceived Jesus’ teachings as threatening the Jewish religion and their credibility. After arresting Jesus (with assistance from the disciple Judas), early in the morning, the chief priests and the elders of the people planned how they could have Jesus executed. They bound him and handed him over to Pilate. When Judas saw that Jesus had been condemned, he was seized with remorse. He returned the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders and said, “I have sinned, for I have betrayed innocent blood.”
“What is that to us?” they replied. “That is your responsibility.”
So Judas threw the money into the temple. He went away and hanged himself.
The chief priest picked up the coins and said, “It is against the Law to put this money into the treasury since it is blood money.” Instead, they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. That is why the field is called the Field of Blood today. Thus, what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, and they used it to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded.”
What the story means to us today
The death of Judas
Matthew records that Judas “threw the money into the temple, left, and went away and hanged himself.” Luke (in Acts 1:18) adds to the story, telling us that Judas purchased a field, also called Blood Field, where he “fell headlong, his body bursting open and his intestines spilling out.”
Assuming both authors were accurate, it can be theorized that Judas hung himself in the Field of Blood (bought by the chief priests in Judas’ name to avoid using the blood money themselves) and was not found for some time. His rotting body eventually fell from the rope, disintegrating on the ground below.
Clearly, Satan continued his relentless attack against Jesus via Judas – and Judas paid the price for his capitulation. The tragic culmination of an unthinkable act cost Judas his life.
Deeper thoughts and additional considerations
Why did the chief priests hand Jesus over to Pontius Pilate?
When the Romans conquered new territories, they installed rules against executions (probably to keep Roman sympathizers from being killed). For Jesus to be executed, Pontius Pilate had to approve it first. The chief priests could find Jesus guilty of blasphemy, but only Pilate could sentence him to death.
The chief priests were lucky to have found Pilate in town that day. Normally, Pilate would have been at his home in Caesarea, but he was probably in Jerusalem at the time because of the Jewish festival of Passover. His availability may have influenced the chief priests’ timing for Jesus’ arrest.
The plans to have Jesus executed
The verses tell us the chief priests and elders of the people “made plans how to have Jesus executed.” This suggests that blasphemy alone was insufficient to justify his execution before Pilate. The Jewish leaders had to find a valid reason to have him killed. Treason was more likely the reason the chief priests and elders presented to Pilate, not blasphemy.
In the next verses, we learn that Pilate asked Jesus if he claimed to be the “King of the Jews.” An affirmative answer would be a crime against Rome. Not only did the chief priests wrongly convict Jesus, but they lied about what they convicted him for to ensure Pilate would grant a death sentence.
Why couldn’t the chief priests use the thirty pieces of silver for their own good?
The Temple and all associated finances were guided by strict rules based on Jewish beliefs. For instance, a suicide committed inside the Temple was considered desecration. Similarly, taking money that had been used to condemn someone to death would be considered desecration if the monies were placed into the Temple treasury. Thus the money returned by Judas could not be used for Temple business.
The fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy
The verse, “They took thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, and they used it to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded,” was written in Zechariah, not Jeremiah. Specifically, Zechariah 11:12 says,
“If you think it best, give me my pay, but if not, keep it. So they paid me thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter – the handsome price at which they valued me!’ So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter at the house of the Lord.”
Some theorize that Matthew recorded the wrong book for the prophecy. However, there are indeed similar verses in Jeremiah. Jeremiah 18:2 writes about visiting the potter. It says,
“Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message. So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands, so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.”
In addition, Jeremiah 32:6 tells about the buying of the potter’s field. It reads,
“The word of the Lord came to me: Hanamel, son of Shallum, your uncle, is going to come to you and say, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth because as nearest relative, it is your right and duty to buy it.”
The similarity between Jeremiah and Zechariah may have led Matthew to mistakenly attribute the prophecy to the wrong book. In fact, some manuscripts correct the verse as “Jeremiah,” but most keep the original wording as attested by several early versions of Matthew. It is more likely that Matthew purposely drew upon both books, and it should be read as it was recorded.
The science behind the story
Pontius Pilate
Pontius Pilate is referred to here as the “governor.” He was the fifth governor of the Roman province of Judaea. More specifically, Pilate was the prefect or procurator by Tiberius Caesar from 26 AD through 37 AD. Prefects acted under Tiberius in judicial matters, somewhat like judges do today.
A few non-Christian sources write about Pilate in ancient history books. Some portray him as a cruel leader who despised the Jews. Both the historians Josephus and Tacitus record Pilate’s conviction of the man called “Christus” and the historians Pliny the Younger and Suetonis also vaguely refer to Pilate’s sentence against Jesus.
The Field of Blood
Other verses record the Field of Blood as a burial place for “strangers”, like Gentiles who were not allowed to be buried with the Jews. This “potter’s field” is believed to be in the valley of Hinnom, where pottery makers would dig for clay.
Bible text
NIV
Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. 2 So 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 seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”
“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”
5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
6 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.” 7 So they decided to use 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 by 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 used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.
NET Bible
When it was early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people plotted against Jesus to execute him. 27:2 They tied him up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor.
27:3 Now when Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus had been condemned, he regretted what he had done and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders, 27:4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood!” But they said, “What is that to us? You take care of it yourself!” 27:5 So Judas threw the silver coins into the temple and left. Then he went out and hanged himself. 27:6 The chief priests took the silver and said, “It is not lawful to put this into the temple treasury, since it is blood money.” 27:7 After consulting together they bought the Potter’s Field with it, as a burial place for foreigners. 27:8 For this reason that field has been called the “Field of Blood” to this day. 27:9 Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty silver coins, the price of the one whose price had been set by the people of Israel, 27:10 and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”
NKJV
When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted 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.
3 Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.”
And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!”
5 Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.
6 But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood.” 7 And they consulted together and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. 8 Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.
9 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, 10 and gave them for the potter’s field, as the LORD directed me.”
The Message
In the first light of dawn, all the high priests and religious leaders met and put the finishing touches on their plot to kill Jesus. Then they tied him up and paraded him to Pilate, the governor.
3–4 Judas, the one who betrayed him, realized that Jesus was doomed. Overcome with remorse, he gave back the thirty silver coins to the high priests, saying, “I’ve sinned. I’ve betrayed an innocent man.”
They said, “What do we care? That’s your problem!”
5 Judas threw the silver coins into the Temple and left. Then he went out and hung himself.
6–10 The high priests picked up the silver pieces, but then didn’t know what to do with them. “It wouldn’t be right to give this—a payment for murder!—as an offering in the Temple.” They decided to get rid of it by buying the “Potter’s Field” and use it as a burial place for the homeless. That’s how the field got called “Murder Meadow,” a name that has stuck to this day. Then Jeremiah’s words became history:
They took the thirty silver pieces,
The price of the one priced by some sons of Israel,
And they purchased the potter’s field.
And so they unwittingly followed the divine instructions to the letter.
KJV
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.
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.
Image Credits:
• The Thirty Pieces of Silver via Hungarian National Gallery by Janos Pentelei Molnar with usage type - Public Domain, 1909
• Judas Repentant, Returning the Pieces of Silver via Wikimedia Commons by Rembrandt with usage type - Public Domain, 1629
Featured Image Credit:
• The Thirty Pieces of Silver via Hungarian National Gallery by Janos Pentelei Molnar with usage type - Public Domain, 1909
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