Every commentator on Matthew notes the connection between Pilate’s handwashing and the ritual of Deuteronomy 21. Elders of a city where there is an unsolved crime - unappeased innocent blood - break the neck of a “virgin” heifer (never yoked) in a valley with living water, . . . . Continue Reading »
A Girardian take on the dream of Pilate’s wife in Matthew 27:19. As noted in an earlier post, 27:17-21 is a chiasm, with the dream at the center. Verse 18 corresponds with verse 20, since both are about the chief priests and elders. But there is also a deeper link: verse 18 says . . . . Continue Reading »
Davies and Allison point to numerous links between Matthew 2 and 27: the phrase “king of the Jews” (2:2; 27:11); chief priests (2:4; 27:12, 20); the Christ (2:2; 27:17, 22); “all Jerusalem” and “all the people” (2:3; 27:25); warning to Gentiles in a dream (2:12; . . . . Continue Reading »
Within the inclusio described in the last post, there are three sections: the episode of Judas and the thirty pieces of silver (27:3-10), Pilate’s interrogation of Jesus (27:11-14), and the offer to the Jews of a prisoner release (27:15-26). The last two sections are, roughly, . . . . Continue Reading »
Matthew tells us that the Jews delivered Jesus to PIlate the governor (27:2), but then interrupts his story of Jesus’ trial before Pilate with the episode of Judas’ remorse (27:3-10) before getting back to Jesus before the governor. Why? The structure of the passage helps to . . . . Continue Reading »
At the feast, Pilate offers to release ( apoluo ) a prisoner to the people. Earlier in Matthew, the verb is used with some frequency to describe the release of a wife, a divorce (Matthew 1:19; 5:31-34; 19:3, 7-8). In other passages, it means “send away,” as when the . . . . Continue Reading »
When Judas returns the thirty shekels of silver, the chief priests and elders tell him (in the NASB) “see to that yourself” (Matthew 27:4). Pilate says virtually the same thing to the Jews during the trial of Jesus: As he tries to wash off the stain of Jesus’ blood, . . . . Continue Reading »
INTRODUCTION Jesus predicted that His disciples would be “delivered” to Gentile kings and governors, and testify to them (Matthew 10:17-20). But it happens to Jesus first. The disciple is not above His master. Jesus the King goes first before the Gentiles. THE TEXT . . . . Continue Reading »
A gloss on my comments on Matthew 27 earlier today: Judas is indeed an ironic version shepherd of Zechariah 11. He is hired by the merchant-shepherds for thirty pieces of silver (drawing again on Sweeney on Zechariah). Judas delivers up a lamb, the Lamb, to the priests to slaughter. . . . . Continue Reading »
Jesus’ condemnation of the temple as a “den of brigands” is drawn from Jeremiah’s temple speech. Because of the idolatries, injustices, and bloodthirstiness of the temple authorities, the temple is going to be destroyed. But the text might also hold a fainter allusion . . . . Continue Reading »
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