Matthew 27:4

My Notes

What Does Matthew 27:4 Mean?

Judas returns to the chief priests with a confession that meets cold indifference: saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

I have sinned — Judas confesses. The words are correct: I have sinned (hemarton — I missed the mark, I did wrong). The confession is specific: in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. Judas identifies both the nature of his sin (betrayal) and the character of his victim (innocent — athoon, without guilt). The theological content of the confession is accurate: Jesus is innocent. The betrayal was sin.

The innocent blood — Judas testifies to Jesus's innocence. The one who knew Jesus most intimately (three years as a disciple, present at every teaching, witness to every miracle) declares under the weight of guilt: the blood is innocent. Judas's testimony — from inside the circle of betrayers — confirms what the Gospels declare: Jesus was without guilt.

And they said, What is that to us? — The response of the chief priests is devastating in its indifference. What is that to us? The blood does not concern them. The innocence does not disturb them. The sin of a remorseful betrayer does not interest them. They used Judas for their purpose. His guilt is his problem. The cold dismissal reveals the priests' true character: they wanted Jesus dead and Judas was merely the tool. The tool's feelings are irrelevant.

See thou to that — handle it yourself. The religious leaders who should have been spiritual shepherds — who should have guided a confessing sinner toward repentance and restoration — tell him to deal with his own guilt. The institution that claimed to mediate between God and humanity refuses to mediate for a man drowning in guilt.

Verse 5: Judas threw the silver in the temple, departed, and went and hanged himself. The confession without absolution led to despair. The sin was acknowledged. The forgiveness was not offered. The priests could not help because they did not care. And Judas, carrying guilt no human institution would address, destroyed himself.

The tragedy: Judas confessed to the wrong people. The priests could not forgive. Only Jesus could — and Judas went to everyone except him.

Reflection Questions

• 1.What does Judas's confession — theologically accurate but misdirected — reveal about the difference between remorse and repentance?
• 2.What does the priests' response ('what is that to us?') expose about institutional religion that uses people without caring for them?
• 3.How does the contrast between Judas (who confessed to the wrong people) and Peter (who was restored by Jesus) illustrate where guilt should be taken?
• 4.Where are you carrying guilt to people or systems that cannot absolve it — when Christ is the one who can?

Devotional

I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. Judas knows. The remorse is real. The confession is accurate. He sinned. He betrayed. The blood was innocent. Everything about the statement is theologically correct. And it changes nothing — because he is confessing to the wrong people.

What is that to us? See thou to that. The coldest response in Scripture. The chief priests used Judas. They needed a betrayer, and he volunteered. They needed information, and he provided it. And now that the tool is broken — now that Judas is drowning in guilt — they have no use for him. What is that to us? Your guilt is your problem. We got what we wanted.

The religious leaders who should have been shepherds — who should have guided a guilty man toward the God who forgives — tell him to handle it himself. The institution built on the premise of mediating between sinners and God refuses to mediate for the sinner standing in front of them. The cruelty is institutional: they represent God to the people, and they say 'what is that to us?' to a man who is dying of guilt.

Judas departed, and went and hanged himself (v.5). The confession led nowhere because the confession was misdirected. Judas brought his guilt to people who could not absolve it. He went to the priests when he needed the Christ. He sought institutional remedy when he needed personal forgiveness. And the priests, who should have pointed him to God, pointed him to himself.

The tragedy is not that Judas sinned. Peter sinned too — and was restored. The tragedy is that Judas took his guilt to the wrong place. He confessed to the institution that used him instead of the Savior who could have forgiven him. The right confession to the wrong audience produces despair. The same confession directed to Christ produces restoration.

Where are you taking your guilt? To people who cannot absolve it? To institutions that say 'what is that to us?' The one who can actually forgive is not indifferent to your confession. He is waiting for it.

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture