LUKE 23:6-12  (Review)
JESUS FACES HEROD ANTIPAS
6 When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a Galilean.
- Pilate placed into leadership by Sejanus.

• Sejanus lost the trust of Tiberius.
• Tiberius devised a plan to rid Sejanus of his evil ways.
• Sejanus was arrested, tried and executed all in the same day.

7 Finding that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days. 8 Herod was very glad to see Jesus; for a long time, he had wanted to see him because he had heard about him and was hoping to see some miracle performed by him. 9 So he kept asking him questions, but Jesus did not answer him. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod, with his soldiers, treated him with contempt, mocked him, dressed him in bright clothing, and sent him back to Pilate. 12 That very day Herod and Pilate became friends. Previously, they had been enemies.[1]

• Any time a person values their job more than they value their integrity, they will always compromise their decisions.
• Any time a leader lacks integrity then the people that support the leader will lack integrity and history has proven that nation will not stand.
• (Refer to Luke 23:13)

 
MATTHEW 27:15-26
JESUS OR BARABBAS
15 At the festival the governor’s custom was to release to the crowd a prisoner they wanted. 16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Who is it you want me to release for you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew it was because of envy that they had handed him over.
19 While he was sitting on the judge’s bench, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I’ve suffered terribly in a dream because of him.”
20 The chief priests and the elders, however, persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to execute Jesus.

• Pilate’s wife confirmed that Jesus was innocent.

21 The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?”
“Barabbas!” they answered.

• Barabbas = Bar-abba = “son of the father”
• Some ancient manuscripts of Matthew have his full name, Jesus Barabbas – “Jesus, son of the father”
• Coincidence?
• (Refer to Luke 23:18)

22 Pilate asked them, “What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Christ?”
They all answered, “Crucify him!”
23 Then he said, “Why? What has he done wrong?”
But they kept shouting all the more, “Crucify him!”
24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was starting instead, he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. See to it yourselves!”
25 All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas to them and, after having Jesus flogged, handed him over to be crucified.[2]
 
MARK 15:6-15
JESUS OR BARABBAS
6 At the festival Pilate used to release for the people a prisoner whom they requested. 7 There was one named Barabbas, who was in prison with rebels who had committed murder during the rebellion.

• Charge against Barabbas was sedition against Rome.
• Conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch.

8 The crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do for them as was his custom. 9 Pilate answered them, “Do you want me to release the King of the Jews for you?” 10 For he knew it was because of envy that the chief priests had handed him over.

• (Refer to Matthew 27:19)

11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd so that he would release Barabbas to them instead. 12 Pilate asked them again, “Then what do you want me to do with the one you call the King of the Jews?”
13 Again they shouted, “Crucify him!”
14 Pilate said to them, “Why? What has he done wrong?”
But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him!”
15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them; and after having Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified. [3]
 
LUKE 23:13-25
JESUS OR BARABBAS
13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, 14 and said to them, “You have brought me this man as one who misleads the people. But in fact, after examining him in your presence, I have found no grounds to charge this man with those things you accuse him of.

• No civil charges had been brought to Pilate
• They did refer to Jesus as “a king”

15 Neither has Herod, because he sent him back to us. Clearly, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will have him whipped and then release him.”

• (Refer to John 18:39)

18 Then they all cried out together, “Take this man away! Release Barabbas to us!” 19 (He had been thrown into prison for a rebellion that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)

• Barabbas convicted of murder
• Jesus was innocent
• “Well, that’s not fair.”
• Jesus died unfairly for the unfair.
• Life here on earth is not fair.
• Our kids drop that line all the time.
•  (Refer to John 19:1)

20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate addressed them again, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify! Crucify him!”
22 A third time he said to them, “Why? What has this man done wrong? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore, I will have him whipped and then release him.”
23 But they kept up the pressure, demanding with loud voices that he be crucified, and their voices won out. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand 25 and released the one they were asking for, who had been thrown into prison for rebellion and murder. But he handed Jesus over to their will.[4]
 
JOHN 18:39 – 19:16
39 You have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at the Passover. So, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

• Jewish custom
•  - (Refer to Mark 15:6)

40 They shouted back, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.
 
JESUS FLOGGED AND MOCKED
19 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.

• Scourged with whip (Pieces of bone & glass)
• There was an artistry to scourging.
• Eusebius – Ecclesiastical History, IV, 15)
  “For… those standing around were struck with amazement, at seeing them lacerated with scourges to their very blood and arteries, so that now the flesh concealed in the very inmost parts of the body and bowels themselves were exposed to view.” These blows would have also been directed toward the face, fulfilling Isaiah 52:14 – ‘So His appearance was marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men.’”

2 The soldiers also twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on his head, and clothed him in a purple robe.

• Mocking him.

3 And they kept coming up to him and saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and were slapping his face.
4 Pilate went outside again and said to them, “Look, I’m bringing him out to you to let you know I find no grounds for charging him.”

• 3rd time Pilate states that Jesus is innocent.

5 Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”

• “Behold the man!”
• No slang name… no corrupt name.
• Pilate saw something in Jesus that he respected Him at his own sentencing.
• Pilate… who hated the Jews, respected Jesus.
• “Behold the Man.”

 
PILATE SENTENCES JESUS TO DEATH
6 When the chief priests and the temple servants saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”
Pilate responded, “Take him and crucify him yourselves, since I find no grounds for charging him.”
7 “We have a law,” the Jews replied to him, “and according to that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.”

• Pilate freaked out at this point.
• His wife’s voice was in his head.

8 When Pilate heard this statement, he was more afraid than ever. 9 He went back into the headquarters and asked Jesus, “Where are you from?”

• Inflection… demanding? curiosity? For real?
• Pilate is fascinated with Jesus’ life

But Jesus did not give him an answer. 10 So Pilate said to him, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Don’t you know that I have the authority to release you and the authority to crucify you?”

• Pilate had no idea this was the Trinity’s plan from eternity past.
• Pilate had no idea that Jesus preferred to go to the cross rather than be released.

11 “You would have no authority over me at all,” Jesus answered him, “if it hadn’t been given you from above. This is why the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”

• Did God hand Jesus over to Pilate? No…
• Jesus is referring to Caiaphas (the Roman High Priest), indicting both the Jews and the Romans.

12 From that moment Pilate kept trying to release him. But the Jews shouted, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Anyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar!”

• Remember what happened to Sejanus?

13 When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside. He sat down on the judge’s seat in a place called the Stone Pavement (but in Aramaic, Gabbatha). 14 It was the preparation day for the Passover (Friday), and it was about noon (6th hour – Roman time - 12/12).

• Day of preparation for the Chagigah sacrifice.
• Can’t possibly be Noon because then it would contradict Mark 15:25)
• Mark 15:25 - 25 Now it was nine in the morning (3rd hour – Jewish time – 6 to 6 – Sunrise/Sundown)  when they crucified him.[5]

Then he told the Jews, “Here is your king!”
15 They shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”
Pilate said to them, “Should I crucify your king?”
“We have no king but Caesar!” the chief priests answered.

• Are you kidding me?
• The Jews are going to recognize Caesar as their sovereign leader?
• They have just blasphemed.
• The same crime they were convicting Jesus of.
• They just freed up Pilate…
• Roman officials recorded their response and sent it back to Caesar.
• Pilate just won.
• Pilate had washed his hands of Jesus.
• The Jewish leaders will be responsible for Jesus’ death.
• And Pilate looks good in the eyes of Roman leadership.

16 Then he handed him over to be crucified.[6]

[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Lk 23:6–12). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mt 27:15–26). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mk 15:6–15). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Lk 23:13–25). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mk 15:25). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Jn 18:39–19:16). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

JOHN 18:28-32 (Review)
JESUS BEFORE PILATE
28 Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They did not enter the headquarters themselves; otherwise they would be defiled and unable to eat the Passover. (Chagigah)
29 So Pilate came out to them and said, “What charge do you bring against this man?”
30 They answered him, “If this man weren’t a criminal, we wouldn’t have handed him over to you.” (no charge because their primary witness, Judas, was dead)
31 Pilate told them, “You take him and judge him according to your law.” (Pilate was actually giving them permission to override the law the Romans had implemented that year.)
“It’s not legal for us to put anyone to death,” the Jews declared. (They were afraid the multitudes would revolt and cause them to lose their system/jobs.)
32 They said this so that Jesus’s words might be fulfilled indicating what kind of death he was going to die. [1]
 
John 8
3 Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, making her stand in the center. 4 “Teacher,” they said to him, “this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery. 5 In the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 They asked this to trap him, in order that they might have evidence to accuse him.
Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with his finger. 7 When they persisted in questioning him, he stood up and said to them, “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Then he stooped down again and continued writing on the ground. 9 When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only he was left, with the woman in the center. 10 When Jesus stood up, he said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11 “No one, Lord,” she answered.
“Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”] [2]

• This was 30 AD… the same year that Romans had removed the authority of the Jews to administer capital punishment.
• It was a trap because the Law given to Moses said she had to be stoned but the Roma ns wouldn’t allow it (otherwise Jesus would have been crucified then).
• Jewish Law wouldn’t allow anyone to participate in stoning if they had committed the same sin.
• Jesus, “somehow knew”, that all those who came to stone this woman had committed the same sin.
• Refer to Luke 23:1

 
MATTHEW 27:11-14
JESUS FACES THE GOVERNOR
11 Now Jesus stood before the governor. “Are you the King of the Jews?” the governor asked him.
Jesus answered, “You say so.” 12 While he was being accused by the chief priests and elders, he didn’t answer.
13 Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear how much they are testifying against you?” 14 But he didn’t answer him on even one charge, so that the governor was quite amazed.[3]

• Who wins? The man who never opens his mouth.
• I said this week that I am posting less and less on Facebook… One of the comments was “why?”
• I could spend the rest of my life defending myself in what I believe, what I do and what I teach.
• No one has time for that.
• If I don’t reply or comment back… I’m rude.
• It’s just easier to keep quiet and deliver truth for those who actually want to hear rather than pick it apart.
• People will always talk about you and accuse you.
• Keep walking by the Spirit.
• Would you rather have yourself or Jesus defending you?
• Then stick to what you know is true.
• Refer to Luke 23:4

 
JESUS FACES PILATE
Mark 15:1-5
1 As soon as it was morning, having held a meeting with the elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin, the chief priests tied Jesus up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate.
2 So Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
He answered him, “You say so.”
3 And the chief priests accused him of many things. 4 Pilate questioned him again, “Aren’t you going to answer? Look how many things they are accusing you of!” 5 But Jesus still did not answer, and so Pilate was amazed. [4]
 
JESUS BEFORE PILATE
John 18:33-38
33 Then Pilate went back into the headquarters, summoned Jesus, and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

• Nothing mentioned about taxes
• “Are you a king?”
• “Are you a competitor to Caesar?”

34 Jesus answered, “Are you asking this on your own, or have others told you about me?”

• “Are you asking me as a Roman or as from the Jewish leaders?”

35 “I’m not a Jew, am I?”

• “Are you a competitor of my king?”

Pilate replied. “Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?”
36 “My kingdom is not of this world,” said Jesus.

• Yes, He admitted that He is a King;
• but His kingdom (reign) does not come from the authority of the world.
• The Jews were under Roman authority, and Pilate was under the authority of the emperor; but Jesus derived His authority from God.
• His kingdom is spiritual, in the hearts of His followers; and He does not depend on worldly or fleshly means to advance His cause.
• If His kingdom were from the world, by now His followers would have assembled an army and fought to release Him.[5]
• Jesus came to be the king and establish His kingdom on the earth but He was rejected by His own people.
• That would have made John the Baptist… Elijah
• But it didn’t happen and Jesus is declaring His kingdom is NOT NOW.

“If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”
37 “You are a king then?” Pilate asked.

• Pilate is processing this statement in light of Sejanus.

“You say that I’m a king,” Jesus replied. “I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

• Everyone who is “of the truth” – Who is this?
• Believers
• Does intellectualism cause you to understand the truth?
• Pilate was very intellectual.
• Jesus just said, “I am the King of the Truth.”

38 “What is truth?” said Pilate. [6]

• Pilate was not of the Truth therefore he could not recognize the truth.
• Pilate is looking at the source of truth and asking what is truth?
• Those who are “of the truth” are clued in to what we are teaching.
• Look… when crisis occurs… and it will… I am always going to give the same instruction:
• 1) Keep your mouth shut and seek the wisdom of a small circle of friends you absolutely trust.
• Quit telling everyone your story, trying to get sympathy or someone who will be in agreement with your selfish/fleshly opinion.
• JUST STOP!!!
• 2) Go to the King of Truth (prayer & Word)
• He will tell you everything you need to know.
• Pilate doesn’t want Jesus to win
• Both He and the Jews are going to lose.
• Refer to Matthew 27:12

 
JESUS FACES PILATE
Luke 23:1-12
1 Then their whole assembly rose up and brought him before Pilate. 2 They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation, opposing payment of taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.”

• Charge: Sedition against Rome
• Pilate hated the Jews
• "...Sejanus, who was then in great favor with Tiberius, had made every effort to destroy the whole nation of the Jews from the foundation, and that in Pontius Pilate under whom the crimes were committed against our Savior, having attempted everything contrary to what was lawful among the Jews respecting the Temple at Jerusalem, which was then yet standing, excited them to the greatest tumults." (Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History ii, V.)
• On another occasion, Pilate used money from the Temple treasury to construct an aqueduct. When the Jews assembled outside his quarters to protest, he ordered soldiers to dress like the Jews and mingle among the crowd. On his signal, the soldiers drew clubs hidden in their clothes and beat and killed many of the Jews. (Josephus Ant. XVIII, 3.2.)
• Pilate hated the Jews… why would he be OK with one declaring himself “a king”?
• Refer to John 18:33

3 So Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered him, “You say so.”
4 Pilate then told the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no grounds for charging this man.”
5 But they kept insisting, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he started even to here.” [7]

• Galilee – that was Herod’s territory!

 
JESUS FACES HEROD ANTIPAS
6 When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a Galilean.

• Pilate doesn’t want to be the bad guy here!

7 Finding that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days.

• It’s the Passover – Herod was not a Jew.

8 Herod (Antipas) was very glad to see Jesus; for a long time, he had wanted to see him because he had heard about him and was hoping to see some miracle performed by him.

• Herod wanted to see a magic show!
• Luke 9:7-9 - HEROD’S DESIRE TO SEE JESUS
• Herod the tetrarch heard about everything that was going on. He was perplexed, because some said that John had been raised from the dead, 8 some that Elijah had appeared, and others that one of the ancient prophets had risen. 9 “I beheaded John,” Herod said, “but who is this I hear such things about?” And he wanted to see him.[8]
• Herod is not “of the truth”.
• He was wanting to see some amazing things!

9 So he kept asking him questions, but Jesus did not answer him.

• Again, Jesus used no words to defend Himself.
• Jesus won by not saying anything.
• My flesh would have gone off on Herod.

10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod, with his soldiers, treated him with contempt, mocked him, dressed him in bright clothing, and sent him back to Pilate.

• Abused Him.
• Bullied
• Jesus said… nothing.

12 That very day Herod and Pilate became friends. Previously, they had been enemies. [9]

• Herod sensed that Pilate was affirming Herod’s leadership.
• Pilate just didn’t want anything to do with it.
• Herod was ruthless.
• In 39 AD – Herodias, Herod’s wife, suggested that Herod go to Rome to be king.
• Herod listened to her and went to Rome, where they exiled him to France and he died a pauper.

It would benefit you to marry a wise person.

[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Jn 18:28–32). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Jn 8:3–11). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mt 27:11–14). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mk 15:1–5). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 378). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[6] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Jn 18:33–38). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Lk 23:1–5). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[8] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Lk 9:7–9). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[9] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Lk 23:6–12). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

Review
 - Jeremiah 7 & 19 – The Scribes purchased the exact land that had been cursed by Jeremiah.
​
Matthew 27:2, 11-14
JESUS HANDED OVER TO PILATE
1 When daybreak came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put him to death. 2 After tying him up, they led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.[1]

• Refer to John 18:28

 
JESUS FACES PILATE
Mark 15:1-5
1 As soon as it was morning, having held a meeting with the elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin, the chief priests tied Jesus up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate.[2]
 
JESUS FACES PILATE
Luke 23:1-5
1 Then their whole assembly rose up and brought him before Pilate. 2 They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation, opposing payment of taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.”[3]
 
JESUS BEFORE PILATE
John 18:28-38
28 Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters (praetorium).
 - Probably previously built by Herod the Great in Jerusalem at the northwest corner of the city walls in the Upper City.
 - Pilate was Governor over the Jews from 26-36 AD.
 - Pilate hated the Jews.
 - Luke 13:1 - Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.[4]
It was early morning. They did not enter the headquarters themselves; otherwise they would be defiled and unable to eat the Passover.

• Jesus had previously eaten the Paschal meal with His disciple
• Feast of the Unleavened Bread is also referred to as the Passover.
• Luke 22:1 - Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching.[5]
• Leviticus 23 – Rules for the 7/8 Feasts

1) Sabbath
2) Passover
3) Unleavened Bread
4) First Fruits
5) Pentecost
6) Atonement
7) Tabernacle (Booths)

• The Feast of the Unleavened Bread lasted 7 days.
• Passover was seven days.
• So when referred to in the Scripture it could be talking about anytime during the 7 days and it we have to fit the moment into a timeline that works.
• Jesus had already eaten the Pashcal meal with His Disciples on Thursday.
• This passage has to refer to the Chagigah Meal eaten on Friday at 9 AM.
• Deuteronomy 16:2-3 - 2 Sacrifice to the Lord your God a Passover animal from the herd or flock in the place where the Lord chooses to have his name dwell. 3 Do not eat leavened bread with it. For seven days you are to eat unleavened bread with it, the bread of hardship—because you left the land of Egypt in a hurry—so that you may remember for the rest of your life the day you left the land of Egypt.[6]
• “It” is in reference to the Chagigah sacrifice.
  
  

The Three Things (Edersheim)
We have already explained that according to the Rabbis, As specially applied to the Passover, This burnt-offering was to be taken only from ‘Cholin’ (or profane substance), that is, from such as did not otherwise belong to the Lord, either as tithes, firstlings, or things devoted, etc. might be twofold. The first Chagigah was offered on the 14th of Nisan, the day of the Paschal sacrifice, and formed afterwards part of the Paschal Supper. The second Chagigah was offered on the 15th of Nisan, or the first day of the feast of unleavened bread. It is this second Chagigah which the Jews were afraid they might be unable to eat, if they contracted defilement in the judgment-hall of Pilate. In reference to the first Chagigah, the Mishanah lays down the rule, that As in the case of all other peace-offerings, part of this Chagigah might be kept, though not for longer than one night and two days from its sacrifice. Being a voluntary offering, it was lawful to bring it from sacred things (such as tithes of the flock). But the Chagigah for the 15th of Nisan was obligatory, and had therefore to be brought from ‘Cholin.’ As stated in a previous chapter, all the twenty-four courses, into which the priests were arranged, ministered in the Temple on this, as on the other great festivals, and they distributed among themselves alike what fell to them of the festive sacrifices and the shewbread. But the course which, in its proper order, was on duty for the week, alone offered all votive, and voluntary, and the public sacrifices for the whole congregation, such as those of the morning and the evening.[7]
 

• They had already been cleansed for the Paschal sacrifice the night before.
• Now they are concerned about being cleansed for another sacrifice… the Chagigah sacrifice.
• Mishnah – “Dwelling places of gentiles [in the Land of Israel] are unclean.”[8]
• Leviticus 22:6 - 6 the man who touches any of these will remain unclean until evening and is not to eat from the holy offerings unless he has bathed his body with water.[9]
• Mishnah - 6:3       A. When does one [also] bring a [free will] festal offering with it [over and above the Passover offering]?
•    B. When [the Passover offering] is offered on an ordinary day, [with most people] in a state of cleanness, and [meat of the Passover offering] is not sufficient [for all registered for it].
•    C. But when it is offered on the Sabbath, and [meat] is abundant, and [most people are] in a state of uncleanness,
•    D. they do not bring with it a [free will] festal offering.[10]
• From a Jewish perspective, they had to remain cleansed for the next sacrificial offering that was to take place at 9 AM on Friday.
• It is the only way we can reconcile John 18:28

 
29 So Pilate came out to them and said, “What charge do you bring against this man?”

• Roman law demanded that a formal charge be brought before trial.
• Judas was dead.
• The charge during the “religious trial” was blasphemy.

30 They answered him, “If this man weren’t a criminal, we wouldn’t have handed him over to you.”

• They didn’t have a civil charge against Jesus.

31 Pilate told them, “You take him and judge him according to your law.”

• Pilate didn’t care for the Jews.

“It’s not legal for us to put anyone to death,” the Jews declared. 32 They said this so that Jesus’ words might be fulfilled indicating what kind of death he was going to die.

• Galatians – 3:13 -  13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree. (Deuteronomy 21:23) [11]
• Babylonian Talmud -     If we should proposed that it is R. Yohanan ben Zakkai, did he ever sit in a sanhedrin [that tried a murder case]? And has it not been taught on Tannaite authority: The lifetime of R. Yohanan ben Zakkai was a hundred and twenty years. For forty years he engaged in trade, for forty years he studied [Torah], and for forty years he taught. And it has been taught on Tannaite authority: Forty years before the destruction of the Temple the sanhedrin went into exile and conducted its sessions in Hanut. And said R. Isaac bar Abodimi, “That is to say that the sanhedrin did not judge cases involving penalties.”[12]
• What about the fact that to fulfill the prophecy that Jesus was to be crucified, God took away the ability for the Jewish Sanhedrin to try capital cases?
• The exact same year that Jesus was to die.
• If the Jews would have tried and convicted Jesus, He would have been stoned.
• The only way he could be crucified on the cross was if the Romans convicted Him because that is how they put their criminals to death.[13]

[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mt 27:1–2). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mk 15:1). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Lk 23:1–2). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Lk 13:1–2). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[5] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Lk 22:1). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[6] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Dt 16:2–3). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] Edersheim, A. (1959). The Temple, its ministry and services as they were at the time of Jesus Christ. (pp. 218–219). London: James Clarke & Co.
[8] Neusner, J. (1988). The Mishnah : A new translation (p. 980). New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
[9] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Le 22:6). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[10] Neusner, J. (1988). The Mishnah : A new translation (p. 240). New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
[11] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ga 3:13). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[12] Neusner, J. (2011). The Babylonian Talmud: A Translation and Commentary (Vol. 16, p. 207). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.
[13] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Jn 18:28–32). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

Mark 15:1
JESUS FACES PILATE
1 As soon as it was morning, having held a meeting with the elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin, the chief priests tied Jesus up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate.[1]
 
Matthew 27:3-10
JUDAS HANGS HIMSELF
3 Then Judas, his betrayer, seeing that Jesus had been condemned,

• Jesus’ religious trial before the Sanhedrin

was full of remorse (regret – metamelomai vs repent - metanoia) and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders.

• “What have I done?”

4 “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said.

• Remorse… not repentance.

“What’s that to us?” they said. “See to it yourself!”

• The seduced is rejected by the seducer.

5 So he threw the silver into the temple and departed. Then he went and hanged himself.
Acts 1:15-19

• In those days Peter stood up among the brothers and sisters—the number of people who were together was about a hundred and twenty—and said: 16 “Brothers and sisters, it was necessary that the Scripture be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit through the mouth of David foretold about Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was one of our number and shared in this ministry.” 18 Now this man acquired a field with his unrighteous wages. He fell headfirst, his body burst open and his intestines spilled out. 19 This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that in their own language that field is called Hakeldama (that is, Field of Blood).[2]

• Arnold Fruchtenbaum has this to say about Judas’ death in his Life of Christ series:
  “According to Jewish law, if there was a dead body in Jerusalem, the city was considered defiled and the morning Passover sacrifice could not be offered and could not be celebrated. However, Jewish law goes on to say that if the body is taken and cast into the valley of Hinnom, a place of burning… then the city is reckoned as cleansed and the Passover can be partaken of, and then later they can return and bury the body.”

 
6 The chief priests took the silver and said, “It’s not permitted to put it into the temple treasury, since it is blood money.”

• They only had two options to deal with this money:
• 1) Return it to the owner… but Judas was now dead.
• 2) Do something for the public.
• Alfred Edersheim (Book 5, page 575)
• “It was not lawful to take into the Temple treasury, for the purchase of sacred things, money that had been unlawfully gained (blood money). In such cases the Jewish Law provided that the money was to be restored to the donor, and, if he insisted on giving it, that he should be induced to spend it for something for the public weal.”

 
7 They conferred together and bought the potter’s field with it as a burial place for foreigners (strangers).

• Made themselves look good.
• This apparently contradicts Acts 1:18 that says, “Now this man acquired a field with his unrighteous wages.”
• Who actually bought the field?
• The Sanhedrin did, with the money that was Judas’ so it was purchased in Judas’ name.
• Contradiction solved.

8 Therefore that field has been called “Blood Field” to this day.
9 Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him whose price was set by the Israelites, 10 and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.[3]

• Matthew quoted Zechariah as prophecy fulfilled. (not Jeremiah)

Zechariah 11:12-13

• Then I said to them, “If it seems right to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” So they weighed my wages, thirty pieces of silver.
• “Throw it to the potter,” the Lord said to me—this magnificent price I was valued by them. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw it into the house of the Lord, to the potter.[4]

 

• 30 pieces of silver = The value of one dead slave.
• What did they buy? The Potter’s Field
• 600 years before Jesus was Jeremiah
• Matthew knew when the elders & chief priests bought the Potter’s Field… the very same field that Jeremiah had cursed 60 years before.

 
Jeremiah 7:27-34
27 “When you speak all these things to them, they will not listen to you. When you call to them, they will not answer you. 28 Therefore, declare to them, ‘This is the nation that would not listen to the Lord their God and would not accept discipline. Truth has perished—it has disappeared from their mouths. 29 Cut off the hair of your sacred vow and throw it away. Raise up a dirge on the barren heights, for the Lord has rejected and abandoned the generation under his wrath.’

• “For the Judeans have done what is evil in my sight.” This is the Lord’s declaration. “They have set up their abhorrent things in the house that bears my name in order to defile it. 31 They have built the high places of Topheth in Ben Hinnom Valley in order to burn their sons and daughters in the fire, a thing I did not command; I never entertained the thought.

• 32 “Therefore, look, the days are coming”—the Lord’s declaration—“when this place will no longer be called Topheth and Ben Hinnom Valley, but the Valley of Slaughter. Topheth will become a cemetery, because there will be no other burial place. 33 The corpses of these people will become food for the birds of the sky and for the wild animals of the land, with no one to scare them away. 34 I will remove from the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem the sound of joy and gladness and the voices of the groom and the bride, for the land will become a desolate waste.[5]

 

• A curse was placed on this piece of property 600 years before Jesus died.

 

• Jeremiah 19:1-15
• This is what the Lord says: “Go, buy a potter’s clay jar. Take some of the elders of the people and some of the leading priests 2 and go out to Ben Hinnom Valley near the entrance of the Potsherd Gate. Proclaim there the words I speak to you. 3 Say, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, kings of Judah and residents of Jerusalem. This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: I am going to bring such disaster on this place that everyone who hears about it will shudder 4 because they have abandoned me and made this a foreign place. They have burned incense in it to other gods that they, their fathers, and the kings of Judah have never known. They have filled this place with the blood of the innocent. 5 They have built high places to Baal on which to burn their children in the fire as burnt offerings to Baal, something I have never commanded or mentioned; I never entertained the thought.
• “‘Therefore, look, the days are coming—this is the Lord’s declaration—when this place will no longer be called Topheth and Ben Hinnom Valley, but Slaughter Valley. 7 I will spoil the plans of Judah and Jerusalem in this place. I will make them fall by the sword before their enemies, by the hand of those who intend to take their life. I will provide their corpses as food for the birds of the sky and for the wild animals of the land. 8 I will make this city desolate, an object of scorn. Everyone who passes by it will be appalled and scoff because of all its wounds. 9 I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and their daughters, and they will eat each other’s flesh in the distressing siege inflicted on them by their enemies who intend to take their life.’
• “Then you are to shatter the jar in the presence of the people going with you, 11 and you are to proclaim to them, ‘This is what the Lord of Armies says: I will shatter these people and this city, like one shatters a potter’s jar that can never again be mended. They will bury the dead in Topheth because there is no other place for burials. 12 That is what I will do to this place—this is the declaration of the Lord—and to its residents, making this city like Topheth. 13 The houses of Jerusalem and the houses of the kings of Judah will become impure like that place Topheth—all the houses on whose rooftops they have burned incense to all the stars in the sky and poured out drink offerings to other gods.’”
• Jeremiah returned from Topheth, where the Lord had sent him to prophesy, stood in the courtyard of the Lord’s temple, and proclaimed to all the people, 15 “This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘I am about to bring on this city—and on all its cities—every disaster that I spoke against it, for they have become obstinate, not obeying my words.’”[6]

[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mk 14:66–15:1). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ac 1:15–19). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mt 26:69–27:10). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Zec 11:12–13). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Je 7:27–34). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Je 19:1–15). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.