The King of the Jews

Matthew 27:1-66

Key verse 27:11

Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"  "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.

Verses 1-10. Judas had several opportunities to repent before Jesus was condemned (Mtt 26:1-2, 23-25, 47-50), so why do you think he was seized with remorse now? What did he do in his remorse? How can we avoid suffering an end like Judas's? What was the blood money ultimately used for? What is the significance that these events were foretold by God through the prophet Jeremiah (Jer 32:9; Zec 11:12-13)?  

*Judas probably was so blinded by his sinful desire. Very often, people are consumed by a sinful desire and stubbornly refuse to consider what the result will be. After betraying Jesus, however, and seeing the consequence, he was seized with remorse. 

*First, he tried to return the money--as if he could somehow undo what he had done. Second, once he realized that he couldn't undo what he had done, he hanged himself. 

*Judas didn't know the love of God. This is probably why he betrayed Jesus--he could not understand Jesus' sacrificial love for sinners. When Judas saw his sin, he was full of remorse, but he did not come to God. Why not? Because he didn't know the love of God. Remorse is different from repentance: remorse is a feeling that can lead us to either repentance or despair. Only if we know that God is love and that God sent his Son to save us from our sins can we have hope to repent and come back to God. Without knowing this love, however, many people despair like Judas--thinking that there is no hope for them.  

*The money was used to buy some land that became a graveyard--a place of death. 

*The fact that these events were foretold by God through Jeremiah gives us confidence that these events are not just some story made up by men--it is the fulfillment of God's promise. This also gives us confidence that God is ultimately in control.  

Verses 11-14. How did Jesus answer Pilate when he asked him if he was the king of the Jews? How did Jesus respond to the charges brought against him? What does this show about Jesus?  

*"Yes, it is as you say." Jesus confessed to the truth. Jesus is the king of the Jews.  Of course, Pilate didn't believe this. In fact, this answer seemed to confirm the claims of the Jewish leaders that Jesus was setting himself up against Caesar.  

*Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge. He was like a lamb to the slaughter that does not open its mouth. Isaiah 53:7: "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; 

he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth." 

*Jesus did not try to defend himself against he charges because he was there not to save himself but to save his people. This is what a real king (and shepherd) does--he lays down his life for his people (flock).  

Verses 15-26. Based on what Pilate knew, what would have been the right thing to do (18-19, 23-24)? Yet what did Pilate do instead? Pilate proclaimed himself innocent of Jesus' blood. Was he?  

*Pilate knew that Jesus was an innocent man, so he should have let him go.  

*He tried various ways to appease the people. He offered Barabas to them, thinking that the people would surely not choose Barabas over Jesus. Yet, when they did, he gave into them because he was afraid that there would be trouble.  

*Pilate never wanted to crucify Jesus; he knew it was wrong, too. Yet he gave into the request of the people and tried to put the blame on them. The fact is, however, that it was his decision to make. Sometimes we find ourselves in situations we don't want to be in where we have to make a choice we don't want to make. We may try to make excuses, but we are still responsible for the decisions we make. On the day of judgement, Pilate will be held accountable for his decision and he will not be able to make excuses or justify himself before God.  

Verses 27-44. How did the Roman soldiers abuse and mock Jesus before and after nailing him to the cross (27-36)? What was the official charge against Jesus (37)?  What theme(s) do you find in the way Jesus was mocked by the soldiers, crowds, and religious leaders? What does it show about Jesus that he allowed all these things to be done to him?  

*They mocked his kingship with a purple robe, a crown of thorns, and a staff, which they used to hit him on the head again and again.  

*The King of the Jews 

*Everyone mocked Jesus' kingship. They reasoned that a king would not let such things happen to him.  

*Jesus showed himself to be the truth king through these events. Anyone can save themselves if they have the power. It doesn't take a noble person to fight back or run away. Yet who can bear such suffering willingly even though they have the ability to fight back if they want to? Jesus showed his true dignity, strength, and kingly love for his people by willingly suffering physical pain and mocking at the hands of sinful men.  

Verses 45-46. What did Jesus cry out in the ninth hour (46)? What was the significance of this cry (see Psalm 22)?   

*This is the same cry we find in Pslam 22. 

*One thing this shows is that Jesus was not a pain-bearing machine. He suffered greatly. He cried out, and if we look at Psalm 22 we can find insight into what he was really going through. His suffering was great. Another things we see from this is that everything was happening according to God's plan.  

Verses 47-56. What happened in Jesus' last moments? What happened after he breathed his last? What did these things reveal about Jesus and the significance of his death?  

*When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling Elijah." Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him." 

*Several things:  

-At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.  

-The earth shook and the rocks split. 

-The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

-When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!" 

*These events showed several things: 

-First, Jesus' death opened a way for mankind to be restored to a perfect relationship with God. The curtain in the temple represented the separation between God, who is Holy, and man, who is sinful. By offering himself as the ultimate and final sacrifice, the barrier was removed. Now, anyone who puts their faith in Jesus can receive the forgiveness of sins and be united with God.  

-Second, Jesus' death opened the way of life. 

-Third, the events surrounding Jesus' death revealed that he was no ordinary man--as the guards confessed, Jesus is the Son of God.  

Verses 57-66. What was done with Jesus' body? What did the religious leaders fear would happen?  

*Jesus' body was wrapped and placed in a new tomb, and a guard was set around it. 

*They feared that Jesus' disciples would steal the body and claim that Jesus had risen from the dead. They made the tomb secure so that this couldn't happen. Yet, in doing so, they only helped prove that Jesus' resurrection was real.