Judas, Pilate, Soldiers, a Reflection on Matthew 27:1-37

The Jewish authorities handed Jesus over to the Roman governor, Pilate. Judas, who had betrayed him, realized what was going to happen, was overcome by remorse. He took the money the priests had given him and threw it into the temple, then hangs himself.

The chief priests discuss what to do with this money that seems tainted to them and decide to use it to buy a field to serve as a burial place for foreigners.

Thomas Long, in his excellent commentary, Matthew, points out the contrast between Judas and the religious authorities:

The deepest tragedy about Judas is not that he is guiltier than others. His guilt is shared by all. The saddest truth about Judas is that he took his remorse to the place of death ad not to the place of life. Like all humanity, he had innocent blood on his hands. "What does innocent blood have to do with us? asked the religious authorities, and their answer to their own question is, "Nothing." Judas's answer was, "I have betrayed innocent blood and the stain can never by removed." But what Judas failed to hear was the answer that Jesus himself gave on the very night of his betrayal. "What does innocent blood have to do with us? This innocent blood, he said, is "my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:28).

Pilate, as the Roman governor, has the authority to impose the death sentence. He wants Jesus to confess that he deserves to be executed, "Do you claim to be King of the Jews?" Jesus doesn't respond in a way that makes Pilate's verdict easy.

Pilate infers their motive in handing Jesus over to him and tries to extricate himself from the problem by getting the crowds to agree to release Jesus. After all, the crowds had been so enthusiastic about him only a few days earlier. This crowd, however, is ready to see him killed. When Pilate asks them, "Why, what evil has he done?" they shout louder than they had before, "Let him be crucified!"

So Pilate gives in and hands him over to the soldiers. They mock Jesus by dressing him up like a king, putting a robe on him and a crown of thorns, and putting a reed in his hand. They then spit on him and strip him of the costume, put his own clothes back on him, and lead him away to a place called Golgotha.

When they had crucified him, they divide his clothes among themselves. Over his head they put the charge against him, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews."