Matthew 27 - Part 1
This chapter covers the end of Jesus' trial before Pilate, His execution and burial. Before that however we discover the end of Judas.
The description of Judas' death is a point of contention. Judas, racked with guilt hangs himself after returning the blood price of 30 silver coins (I'll get to the money in a moment). However, in Acts 1:18 it says "he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out." This apparent contradiction, like all apparent contradictions in Scripture evaporates upon closer inspection.
Death by hanging is an extremely humane method of execution. Although rather grisly to witness (I imagine), hanging has a 'safety net' for the hangman. When a body falls with a noose around its neck the neck should snap causing a fairly swift death, if this fails to occur then the victim will suffocate anyway which may take a few agonizing minutes. Another and less common 'safety net' while being hung was to cut across the victim's stomach. This is so the jerk of dropping with a noose around ones neck will not only likely break the victim's neck, but also the victim will be disemboweled. A far quicker death than strangulation by the noose. Judas likely opened his own stomach in fear of the noose not doing its job and it being a slow death by strangulation.
During Jesus' trial before Pilate there are couple of details I want to mention.
Firstly Jesus does not answer to any of the false charges against Him, He only replies to truths. "...the governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.
When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?" But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge..." (Matthew 27:11-14).
Secondly Jesus is not condemned of ANY crime. He is the innocent Lamb, sacrificed for the guilty. Not only were the charges false, but they were not held against Him, yet He was executed anyway. Pilate knew that the Pharisees and Sadducees had personal and not just reasons for seeking Jesus death (Matthew 27:18) and also when Pilate asked what crime Jesus had committed they did not name a charge, but simply answered "Crucify Him!". (Matthew 27: 23)
Thirdly, and perhaps the most tragic is the response of the Jewish crowd to Jesus innocence. When Pilate washed his hands and said the famous words "I am innocent of this mans blood...All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!" This is likely why the Jewish people have been so persecuted throughout history. Punishment for their total abandonment and betrayal of their Messiah.
The description of Judas' death is a point of contention. Judas, racked with guilt hangs himself after returning the blood price of 30 silver coins (I'll get to the money in a moment). However, in Acts 1:18 it says "he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out." This apparent contradiction, like all apparent contradictions in Scripture evaporates upon closer inspection.
Death by hanging is an extremely humane method of execution. Although rather grisly to witness (I imagine), hanging has a 'safety net' for the hangman. When a body falls with a noose around its neck the neck should snap causing a fairly swift death, if this fails to occur then the victim will suffocate anyway which may take a few agonizing minutes. Another and less common 'safety net' while being hung was to cut across the victim's stomach. This is so the jerk of dropping with a noose around ones neck will not only likely break the victim's neck, but also the victim will be disemboweled. A far quicker death than strangulation by the noose. Judas likely opened his own stomach in fear of the noose not doing its job and it being a slow death by strangulation.
During Jesus' trial before Pilate there are couple of details I want to mention.
Firstly Jesus does not answer to any of the false charges against Him, He only replies to truths. "...the governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.
When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?" But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge..." (Matthew 27:11-14).
Secondly Jesus is not condemned of ANY crime. He is the innocent Lamb, sacrificed for the guilty. Not only were the charges false, but they were not held against Him, yet He was executed anyway. Pilate knew that the Pharisees and Sadducees had personal and not just reasons for seeking Jesus death (Matthew 27:18) and also when Pilate asked what crime Jesus had committed they did not name a charge, but simply answered "Crucify Him!". (Matthew 27: 23)
Thirdly, and perhaps the most tragic is the response of the Jewish crowd to Jesus innocence. When Pilate washed his hands and said the famous words "I am innocent of this mans blood...All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!" This is likely why the Jewish people have been so persecuted throughout history. Punishment for their total abandonment and betrayal of their Messiah.
posted by Modern Day Magi @ 9:48 am
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