# 119 From Roman Trial to Crucifixion - Matthew 27:1-26
# 119 5/17/2026
Introduction: In our last message from Matthew, we looked at Jesus’ trial before the Sanhedrin and Peter’s three denials. Our time concluded with us looking at the brokenness of Peter – “he went out and wept bitterly” (Matthew 26:75). We will hear more about this a little later. Because Peter repented, following the resurrection of Jesus he is restored and becomes a pillar in the early church.
What do we have here in Matthew 27? The first thing we see is that a new morning has come—it’s now morning.
Dr. David Jeremiah writes the following about Matthew 27: “This passage captures the harrowing morning after Jesus' arrest, leading to His trial before Pontius Pilate. This passage unfolds the tragic convergence of human sin, divine sovereignty, and the unstoppable march toward the cross. It's a pivotal moment where betrayal, injustice, and prophecy intersect, reminding us that God's redemptive plan prevails even amid chaos. As we study this, we'll see the depths of rejection Jesus faced—and the heights of love He displayed.”[1]
Now, keep in mind that everything that we will consider in this chapter – everything Jesus faced from the religious powers to the political powers, He did so for you, and for me, and for all who will put their trust in Him.
Let’s get into this Friday chapter together…
Jesus away to Pontius Pilate – 27:1-2
1 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.
What do we have in this verse?
- It’s a new – 27:1a
When morning came,
It’s now Friday morning (the NLT reads, Very early in the morning…). This day on the Passion calendar is called Good Friday. Why is it called ? Good Friday is a solemn Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and His death at Calvary, observed on the Friday before Resurrection Sunday. It is a day of reflection on sacrifice, sin, and redemption, marking the climax of Holy Week. Despite the tragedy, it is called “good” because it represents the ultimate sacrifice that allowed for the forgiveness of sins.
- It’s the same – 27:1b
all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death.
Have you ever heard the words, “Next stanza— a little bit louder and a little bit worse”? This is what I see here with the repeated word “plotted.” They plotted with trickery and tenacity. They were determined to get what they wanted: a dead Jesus.
Some people have the idea that people by nature are , and that it is their environment that makes them do bad things. But here we have religious people in a good environment doing something terribly wicked. By nature, people are evil, and self-protecting.
The Bible says,
- “There is none who does good, no, not one” (Romans 3:12).
- “For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin” (Ecclesiastes 7:20).
All people have an evilness about them, and it is seen clearly among these religious leaders.
- It’s a trial – 27:2
And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
The religious leaders “bound Him, led Him, and delivered Him” to Pontius Pilate because they lacked the ability to put Jesus to death (John 18:31). They needed authority, so they pivot from a religious accusation, blasphemy: Jesus claiming deity, to a political one, sedition: Jesus claiming to be a king. They were presenting Jesus as a threat to Caesar and to Rome.
The bottom line is that these religious leaders wanted Jesus . But they didn’t want Him dead by just any method, no, they wanted Jesus crucified. Why? Because they believed that being suspended on a tree brought a curse from God (see Deuteronomy 21:23).1
It is now Friday morning, and they are plotting to have Jesus stand before Pontius Pilate. But before we get there, we are given some additional information about Jesus’ betrayer – Judas Iscariot. We are going to learn how he died.
Judas Iscariot himself – 27:3
- Judas was – 27:3-4
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!”
Make sure you hear what I am about to say:
- is a fleeting emotional regret over the consequences of sin, such as shame, fear of punishment, or loss of reputation, but it lacks a transformative turning to God. It is self-focused and doesn’t produce lasting change.
- is a profound change of mind that results in a radical reorientation of life. True repentance entails confession of sin, forsaking it, and turning to God in faith (see Acts 3:19).
Judas was remorseful, but he never repented – he never had a true turning around. He expressed regret, but not repentance.
- Judas threw down the , and then he went and killed himself – 27:5
5 Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.
Judas took the thirty pieces of silver that he received for betraying Jesus, and he threw it down onto the temple floor (fulfilling the words found in Zechariah 11:12-13). And in his despair, he went and hanged himself.
We get a fuller picture of what he did in Acts 1:15-20:
15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said, 16 “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; 17 for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. 19 And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’
This Acts passage deals with finding a for Judas, but it also provides us with additional details into Judas’ death. Judas evidently hanged himself, and in the process, it appears that the rope he used broke and he fell to the rocks below and burst open and his entrails gushed out.
Judas’ end was awful and tragic. If only he would have repented. God help us not to have any “If only I would have repented moments in our lives.”
- There is the sorrow of the – I got caught.
- There is a sorrow – that leads to repentance.
When we sin against God may we experience a godly sorrow that leads us to repentance. I challenge all of us to keep short accounts with God. Confessed up and ready to go up at any given moment.
- Judas’ coins were used to purchase a field – 27:6-8
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.
These sanctimonious religious leaders deemed the thirty pieces of money as “ money” and therefore unclean, and they use it to buy a potter’s field for burying foreigners.
Archaeologists have uncovered remains of the Potter’s Field. Today it is called (“Field of Blood”; Acts 1:19). Tradition places Akeldama south of Jerusalem, at the junction of the Valley of Hinnom and the Kidron Valley.[3]
Debbie and I saw that area when we toured Israel in 1994. The Hinnom Valley is also known as the Valley of Gehenna. It became a visual picture of hell. It was where trash was burned, and corpses of criminals and unclean animals were incinerated. I can remember how sad it was to drive past this area on our way to Gethsemane.
- Judas’ betrayal fulfilled – 27:9-10
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.”
Once again Matthew clearly reminds us that even the thirty pieces of silver that Judas betrayed Jesus for was a part of biblical prophecy. Get this – everything and I mean everything that surrounded the Passion Week was a part of biblically . Scripture foretold what the Messiah would go through – from betrayal to unjust trails, to abuse, and eventually the crucifixion.
The words, “that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled” are important words (Matthew 26:56).
Jesus stands before Pilate – 27:11-26
- Pilate seeks to discover Jesus’ – 27:1-14
11 Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” 12 And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing. 13 Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” 14 But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.
Since Jesus was now being accused of , Pilate begins there. Pilate asked Jesus about the title “King of the Jews.” Jesus answered him, “It is as you say.” Jesus clearly identifies Himself as the King of the Jews.
Are you aware that the Bible pictures Jesus Christ as a Sevenfold King:
- King of the Jews – Matthew 2:2
- King of Israel – John 1:49, 12:13
He is an ethnic King.
- King of Righteousness – Hebrews 7:2 (see Psalm 110:4)
- King of Peace – Hebrews 7:2 (Isaiah 9:6-7; Ephesians 2:14)
He is a moral King.
- King of Glory – Psalm 24:8; 1 Corinthians 2:8
He is a majestic King.
- King of Saints (or nations) – Revelation 15:3
He is a covenantal King.
- King of Kings – 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 19:16
He is a sovereign King.
Next, we read that the religious leaders hurl against Him, and Pilate asks Him if He hears how many things they testify against Him. He answered him not one word. This caused Pilate to marvel greatly. We read about these other accusations in Luke 23:1-5. I have read that the Jewish leaders had to fabricate new accusations against Jesus when they brought Him before Pilate. The charge of blasphemy would mean nothing to the Roman governor, so they accused Jesus of three other crimes: (1) encouraging the people not to pay their taxes to Rome; (2) claiming He was a king—“the King of the Jews”; and (3) causing riots all over the countryside. Tax evasion, treason, and terrorism—these would cause Pilate to be concerned. These accusations were false, but the religious leaders were determined to have Jesus killed. [4]" style="width: 13.5ch;" autocomplete="off">
In all these accusations Jesus doesn’t seek to defend Himself. This is so unlike us as people. If this was anyone of us, we would be seeking to defend ourselves. We would be red faced, screaming at the top of our lungs. But not Jesus. Jesus knew where all of this was going. He knew that His time had come.
- Pilate seeks to the crowd – 27:15
15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. 16 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.
Pilate sought to refocus the attention of the crowd. He offered to release a notorious criminal by the name of in the place of Jesus who is the Christ. Pilate knew that they had handed Jesus over out of envy.
The Websters dictionary defines “envy” as a painful or longing, often accompanied by resentment, aroused by another person's better possessions, qualities, or success. It is the desire to have for oneself something possessed by another and is sometimes characterized by a malicious wish to see the other person deprived of that advantage.2
Pilate knew that it was “envy” that led the religious leaders to want Jesus dead. Pilate also knew that Jesus had not done anything worthy of death.
There is another wrench in the trial. This time it comes from Pilate’s wife.
- Pilate’s offers her advice – 27:19
19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”
What would have happened if Pilate would have listened to his wife? Well, since we know that prophecy was being fulfilled, we would end up exactly where we are in this text. Jesus would end up being crucified.
I do find this a very interesting verse. Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent, and now his wife also testifies that Jesus was a “ Man”.
You must wonder what she suffered from the dream she had about Jesus. Did she receive a dream that showed her the future—her eternal destiny? Whatever she dreamed, it bothered her enough that she had to share it with her husband right at the peak of Jesus’ trial.
- Pilate receives his from the crowd – 27:20-21
20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!”
Pilate thought that among the crowd that sound minds would prevail, but that wasn’t the case. The religious leaders roused up the audience and persuaded them to ask for Barabbas and to crucify Jesus.
It has been said that the people who cried out (Save us we pray) on Sunday (Matthew 21) are now crying out, Barabbas on Friday (Matthew 27). How very fickle people are.
- Pilate asks what they wanted him to do with – 27:22
22 Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!” 23 Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!”
Pilate believed that if he released Barabbas that they would have him release Jesus, but that is not the case. No, they cry out,
“Let Him be crucified!”
Pilate asked, “Why, what evil has He done?” And they provide no answer but got louder in their call to have Jesus crucified. Their words,
“Let Him be crucified!”
- Pilate to the crowd – 27:24-25
24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” 25 And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.”
When Pilate saw the crowd’s reaction to his words, he was afraid that they would turn on him, and so he took water and washed his hands before the people saying,
“I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it,”
One man penned: Washing your hands doesn’t cleanse a conscience; it reveals cowardice.
Scripture says, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17).
Pilate was an accessory to the of Jesus Christ. He had the authority to make a just decision, and he chose not to. He is just as guilty.
- Pilate delivered Jesus to be – 27:26
26 Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.
In this verse we see two things: A criminal goes (Barabbas) and an innocent man (Jesus Christ) is condemned to .
This final decision by Pilate is his signature on the death certificate of Jesus Christ. It is as if Pilate melted some wax on a legal crucifixion document and pressed into it his signet ring.
Don’t miss the words,
he delivered Him to be crucified.
The “he” is Pontius Pilate.
The “Him” is Jesus Christ.
What is coming next for Jesus is seen in the final word found in verse 26. The word,
crucified.
Conclusion: Using this section of Scripture, what spiritual lessons do we walk away with? There are six clear-cut lessons:
- falls right in line with bad decision making. Don’t be on the side of religion.
- It is never good enough to feel ; you must be willing to repent (to have a change of mind and direction).
- Be on guard against as it will always sacrifice others. Instead seek to develop a heart of gratitude and humility.
- Stand up for what is – even when it is hard. Pilate caved into pressure. Don’t let fear of people override obedience to God.
- Don’t let the crowd decide your . People are fickle – don’t follow the crowd, follow Jesus Christ. Anchor your life in truth, not trends.
- Jesus faced everything, so that we could be . Everything He went through He went through for each one of us.
2 Websters dictionary definition for envy.
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