←
Explanation for:
Matthew
27
:
4
Saying: I have sinned in betraying innocent blood. But they said: What is that to us? look thou to it.
10
more explanations
& daily audio-books
spoken by
– enjoy in Theosis App –
Start your
Bible-journey
with explanations
& daily audio-books
only 4$* per month
{"arr":[{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Refer to the commentary on Matthew 27:3. The anguish of conscience was not endured by them. Likewise, the Jews are in a similar predicament; despite their suffering, they hasten to compound their wrongdoing. The betrayal committed by Judas is already a done deed, yet their own transgression remains unactualized. Now that they have completed their dreadful task and executed Jesus, confusion overtakes them. They protest: ‘Do not write: this is the king of the Jews’ (John 19:2); yet, what fear is there, what confusion surrounds them, when the lifeless body is affixed to the cross? They worry instead that ‘lest His disciples, coming by night, steal Him away and say to the people, “He is risen from the dead”; and the last deception will be worse than the first’ (Matthew 27:64). If the disciples do make such a claim, it would certainly be uncovered as false. How could they abduct someone they had deserted at His capture, who lacked the courage to stand with Him, denying Him three times even under the threat of a servant girl? The reality is, as previously noted, they are already flustered. Their acknowledgment of the situation as legitimate is evident in their words, ‘See for yourselves.’ Observe how now, rather than confront their nefarious intent, they urge ‘see for yourself,’ which further amplifies their guilt. These words reveal their own culpability and malice, while they remain engulfed in their fervor, unwilling to recognize their complicity in Satan’s scheme, hiding behind a façade of willful ignorance. If these statements were made post-crucifixion, even then they would bear no weight to exonerate them; however, now, when He is still alive and you possess the authority to release Him, how can you utter such a thing? This justification serves mainly to condemn you. Why? Because you place all accountability on the traitor (you say, ‘see for yourself’), while you have the option to distance yourselves from the murder of Christ and let Him go. Yet still, they compete with Judas in their wickedness, binding their treachery to the cross. Indeed, what prevented those proclaiming ‘See for yourself’ from breaking from their malevolence? Instead, they exacerbate the situation—they multiply their sins with bloodshed, entangling themselves in the inescapable chains of evil through their actions and words. Later, when Pilate offered them a choice, they opted to free a robber rather than Jesus, executing the one who had harmed no one and had performed countless acts of kindness!"},{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The seriousness of malevolence surpasses that of greed: Judas, witnessing the Lord's condemnation to death, returned the payment to the priests, as though he had the ability to alter the decision of his accusers. Even though he shifted his intentions, he could not modify the outcome or the repercussions of his initial choice. If Judas sinned in delivering the innocent blood, how much greater was the sin of those who purchased the innocent blood and, by providing the payment, prompted the disciple's betrayal? Those who attempt to argue that there are varying natures and claim that Judas, the betrayer, was inherently evil and unable to maintain his election as an apostle must explain how a corrupt nature could lead to genuine repentance."},{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"An act of repentance holds little value if it cannot amend wrongdoing. When an individual sins against another in a manner where the harm inflicted can be rectified, forgiveness is attainable. However, if the repercussions of that sin endure, attempting to seek forgiveness becomes futile. This reality is reflected in the words of the Psalmist, who proclaims, “And his prayer shall be for sin” (Psalms 108:7). Judas was not only incapable of mending the harm caused by his betrayal but compounded his initial sin through the act of taking his own life. The apostle shares a similar sentiment in 2 Corinthians: “lest he be consumed with excessive sorrow” (2 Cor. 2:7)."},{"author-name":"Ambrose of Milan","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88871ceef8c96e0998cd0_Ambrose%20of%20Milan.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"\\"I have sinned,\\" declares Judas, \\"by delivering up innocent blood.\\" Although the remorse of the betrayer serves no purpose, as his sin is one against the Holy Spirit, he still does not deny the gravity of his actions. While he may not receive forgiveness, his admission reveals the arrogance of the Jewish leaders. The acknowledgment from the one who betrayed Christ exposes their culpability, yet they brazenly defend their involvement in this egregious act and proclaim their innocence, saying, \\"What do we care? See for yourself.\\" Deluded, they believe they are absolved and not condemned alongside the traitor. In transactions involving money, the return of funds can relieve a person from financial obligation; they accept the money without retracting their sacrilegious act and obstinately recognize the heinous sale of blood when the betrayer returns to them the price of their transgression."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"In stating, ‘We have sinned by betraying the innocent blood,’ Judas affirmed the innocence of Jesus Christ's death, while the Jews, claiming, ‘that which is ours; thou shalt see,’ concurred with his assertion; thus, the veracity of the matter was acknowledged even by their adversaries. However, driven by rage, they shifted all culpability onto Judas, and, consumed by their fervor, rushed toward the act of murder."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"\\"Having surrendered innocent blood\\": this refers to killing an innocent person. This serves as a profound affirmation of the Lord's purity. Judas, who had been the Lord's most devoted disciple for three years, switched from being a follower to an adversary and now testifies that he betrayed an innocent man. However, in acknowledging the Lord's innocence, Judas’s declaration before the Jewish authorities only exacerbates both his own guilt and that of the religious leaders. His guilt arises from his failure to repent, or from repenting too late, as he ultimately brought condemnation upon himself by admitting to his betrayal (albeit in vain). The leaders’ guilt intensifies because, despite having the opportunity to turn from their wicked ways, they chose not to repent (Chrysostom). - “What shall we care,\\" etc.? What is it to us about your tortured conscience or the purity of Jesus? This heartless, disdainful, and mocking response to Judas's turmoil and the affirmation of Jesus’s innocence reveals their profound moral insensitivity and lack of contrition."},{"author-name":"Philaret (Gumilevski)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c896f4b6fd32caa244b5d7_Philaret%20(Gumilevski).png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Declaring, “We have transgressed by betraying the blood of the righteous.” See v. 3. And they responded, \\"What is that to us? You will see. What is it to us? Judge for yourself; if you have sinned, it is your own matter; it does not concern us,\\" replied the leaders. Their words are spoken with a cold detachment: yet is the heart truly at peace? Indeed, the heart must be seething with resentment towards the advocate of Jesus. Poor souls! They claim it does not affect them. But how can this be? If Judas wronged by trading innocent blood, can those who purchased that blood be deemed righteous? If Jesus is innocent, pure, and holy, then are not the judges who condemn Him truly wicked? To these appointed guardians of the people, a man arrives, heart heavy with grief, soul tormented by guilt, yet his plight leaves them unfazed! Who else should be the ones to offer the balm of comfort and healing to the troubled spirit? O wretched protectors, what a terrible judgment you are bringing upon yourselves!"},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Judas Iscariot, the son destined for destruction, observed with a disturbed heart the events unfolding in Caiaphas' palace on that fateful night of the Lord’s passion. In his betrayal of the Lord, he may have believed that the situation would not culminate in the condemnation of Christ; perhaps the guards would hesitate to seize the Miracle Worker, or He would somehow evade capture. But suddenly, it became clear to all that He was condemned. Conscience surged within him with relentless force. All his plans and passions vanished as if driven away by a malevolent spirit; only the weight of remorse and anguish remained. This profound agony of conscience plunged him into despair. Feeling hopeless, he decided on an audacious course of action—he approached the chief priests to return the cursed silver coins, which had once dazzled him but now felt repulsive and scalded his hands. He sought to return them and publicly confess his grave sin of betraying the innocent blood. \\"Then Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He was condemned; and repenting, he returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned greatly in betraying innocent blood.\\" The compassionate intervention of a priest or a virtuous individual in this dire moment could have potentially redirected a soul heading towards destruction. Everything hinged on a matter of minutes. What did the self-accused traitor hear? \\"They said to him: What is that to us? If you believe you are guilty, that is your concern.\\" Such cold detachment greeted Judas’ repentance and his acknowledgment of Jesus' innocence, reflecting the indifference of those who, while adhering to the law, are too preoccupied to heed the stirrings of a troubled spirit."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The arrival of Judas, his contrition, and demise. As soon as they exited the courtroom, Judas, the betrayer, made his way in. Upon witnessing Jesus, condemned and bound, guilt overwhelmed him, and he earnestly proclaimed to the chief priests and elders, 'I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.' One might expect that Judas's repentance would have prompted the judges to reconsider and recognize their judicial misstep in the sentence they had just declared; however, they, in agreement with Judas regarding their intent to spill innocent blood, were eager to proceed with the execution. Thus, in response to this unexpected acknowledgment of Jesus's innocence, which contradicted their unanimous condemnation of Him, they greeted Judas's confession with icy disdain, saying, 'What do we care about your sin? You have sinned, and you will be held accountable. What is it to us? Look for yourself.'"},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Judas had fulfilled the role they required of him, and he had lost all significance in their eyes. In the midst of his torment and desperation, he entered the very chamber of the priests, a place where no one uninitiated would dare tread. Trembling, he returned the sack filled with the price of an innocent man's blood, babbling confused accusations and pleas. Yet, he was more likely to stir a sentiment of mercy in the unyielding stone of the temple than to penetrate the hearts of those who were steeped in their zealous cruelty. “What is it to us? Look for yourself,” was the reply he received, cold and devoid of compassion."}]}
Support this project and get full access for only 4$/month
Commentarie text can’t be scrolled on PC at the moment. Please use your phone. We’re working on a fix.
