“Worship the King” Part 4 “Mea Culpa” Matthew 27:1-26

Judas’ final scene Scene one: Judas meets with the officials and makes a deal to betray Jesus. (Matt. 26:47-50)

Judas’ final scene Scene two: Jesus confronts Judas as the betrayer (Matt 26:20-25)

Judas’ final scene Scene two: Jesus confronts Judas as the betrayer (Matt 26:20-25)

Judas’ final scene

Scene three: Judas greeted Jesus and then kissed Him (Matt 26:47- 50)

Judas’ final scene Scene four: Judas doesn’t want responsibility for Jesus death, tries to return the money and kills himself. (Matthew 27:1-5)

Judas’ final scene Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death. They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.

Judas’ final scene Judas’s pain of guilt produces an act of restitution but does not produce true repentance.

Judas’ final scene When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders.

Judas’ final scene "I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood." "What is that to us?" they replied. "That's your responsibility."

Judas’ final scene Judas inability to rid himself of his guilty conscience drives him to “anger and despair”. So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

The chief priests react The chief priests picked up the coins and said, "It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money."

The chief priests react So they decided to use the money to buy the potter's field as a burial place for foreigners. That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day.

The chief priests react Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: "They took the thirty silver coins, the price set on him by the people of Israel,

The chief priests react and they used them to buy the potter's field, as the Lord commanded me."

The chief priests react Deut. 23:18. “They were more concerned about religious technicalities”.

Pilate does not want responsibility for Jesus 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.

Pilate does not want responsibility for Jesus 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?"

Pilate does not want responsibility for Jesus But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.

Pilate does not want responsibility for Jesus Now it was the governor's custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas.

Pilate does not want responsibility for Jesus So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?"

Pilate does not want responsibility for Jesus For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.

Pilate does not want responsibility for Jesus While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him."

Pilate does not want responsibility for Jesus But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

Pilate does not want responsibility for Jesus "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" asked the governor. "Barabbas," they answered.

Pilate does not want responsibility for Jesus "What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked. They all answered, "Crucify him!" "Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate.

Pilate does not want responsibility for Jesus They all answered, "Crucify him!" "Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!"

Pilate does not want responsibility for Jesus When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd.

Pilate does not want responsibility for Jesus "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!"

Pilate does not want responsibility for Jesus “The goal of the Jewish leaders was to convince Pilate that Jesus was guilty of a crime that Pilate would consider worthy of death”.

Pilate does not want responsibility for Jesus For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him. Pilate is really trying to “evade his official responsibility”.

The response of the crowd All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!" Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

The response of the crowd The crowd accepts responsibility for the death of Jesus.

The response of the crowd Mea Culpa –through my own fault.

Bottom Line: If we can recognize our guilt, we can receive God's grace.

Bottom Line:

The urge to make some restitution because we feel “remorse” is not the same as repentance. Becoming an expert in religious technicalities does not remove the guilt of our sin.

Bottom Line: A public “washing of my hands” doesn’t change my heart!

Bottom Line:

Jesus has a better way for us to deal with all that junk in our lives: repentance which is the doorway to His healing grace!