Thirty pieces of silver

When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put him to death. And when they had bound him, they led him away and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

Then Judas, his betrayer, seeing that he had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." And they said, "What is that to us? You see to it!" Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself. But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood." And they consulted together and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, "and gave them for the potter's field, as the LORD directed me."

- Matthew 27:1-10

In yesterday's reading (see Surely you are also one of them), we read of Peter's denial of Christ three times, and his bitter weeping when he realized that he had failed - just as Jesus had predicted he would. Today, we revisit Judas, in the aftermath of his betrayal.

When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put him to death. And when they had bound him, they led him away and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Night trials were not allowed by law, so Jesus has been tried illegally. The leadership meets again in the morning in order to justify what has gone on the night before. My study bible has a note here that reads, "Under Roman law, only the governor had authority to pronounce the death sentence." We must remember that, for the temple leadership, the charge they have decided that Jesus is guilty of is blasphemy - for which the penalty is death. But for the Roman governor, there will have to be a different charge in order to bring about a death sentence.

Then Judas, his betrayer, seeing that he had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." And they said, "What is that to us? You see to it!" My study bible says, "Judas is remorseful but not repentant -- a sharp contrast to Peter's sorrow after his denials. Two accounts of Judas's death are given, here and in Acts 1:16-19." I think these issues of remorse and repentance are very important. We realize Peter's bitter weeping in yesterday's reading to be that of repentance. He realizes that he has failed; his own strength of character and sworn allegiance have failed him. But Judas has a kind of guilt here that is different from repentance. In some sense, it seems to me that it is a guilt brought about by violation of law. We remember that Jesus had offered several opportunities for Judas to repent, to change his mind (which is what the Greek word metanoia - translated as "repentance" - means). He held out the Eucharist to all the apostles, including Judas, at the Last Supper. Before that, when Jesus predicted his own betrayal, Judas had an opportunity to speak to Jesus and change his mind (see Rabbi, is it I?). And even in the garden at the moment of betrayal with a kiss, Judas had the opportunity to repent, when Jesus greeted him with the words, "Friend, why have you come?" Here, Judas turns to the chief priests and elders, those who wish to put Jesus to death, rather than to Christ or the Father in prayer - or to the apostles. He cannot undo what he has done.

Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself. By the law, Judas is condemned. He remains guilty. By returning the silver, he sought to undo what he had done. But this is not possible. The ones who wish to bring about Jesus' death will not help him resolve his guilt. Instead, they claim it has nothing to do with them - it is just Judas' problem. In the note in my study bible on yesterday's reading, regarding Peter's repentance, it remarked on "the process of repentance, confession, forgiveness, reconciliation and renewal." This is the way out of what ails us. But Judas does not begin that process. He does not return to the group or turn to the Father in prayer. To remain in guilt - condemned - is something quite different from repentance. He does not seek reconciliation where he needs to. His faith is in his guilt at this point.

But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood." And they consulted together and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, "and gave them for the potter's field, as the LORD directed me." The chief priests, on the other hand, know the law and justify themselves in accordance with it. Technically, they reason, it is Judas who has committed the betrayal. Their problem is simply what to do with the blood money. And, as Matthew's gospel notes, this is in fact another fulfillment of the scriptures. For reference see both Jeremiah 32:6-9 and Zechariah 11:12-13.

For me, the significance in this story is what it teaches us about the process of repentance, of change, and of guilt. We get this great contrast between Peter and Judas in this sense. There seem to be differing versions of Judas' death, and scholarly controversy regarding ancient documents and theories. But I think this story teaches us something far more important than debating historical fact. It teaches us about the vast difference between forgiveness of sins and guilt under the law. How are we justified? How are we reconciled? Where does grace come into any of this, and the possibility of change and transformation? Jesus, we are told, will die a death that will be the ransom for sins. How is this possible? Is it a mere technical fact, a kind of prisoner exchange? Or is it, in fact, opening up a spiritual door of liberation - something that gives us hope, a change, a redemption far beyond worldly laws of exchange? Is that "ransom" about creating a relationship with us which we turn to, with which we live? Consider the difference, then, between Judas and Peter. Peter will return to the apostles. His loyalty and relationship is to them and Christ. But Judas does not. He does not take heart in that relationship. He wants the temple leadership to redeem his guilt, to take it away by taking back the price he has been paid. But their interest is neither in justice nor mercy. By this act, Judas betrays the fact that his faith was not in Christ - for Jesus' preaching condemned the manipulation of the law for the purposes of gain and greed, allowing heart to remain far from God. And that, if you ask me, is the crux of this story and why it is here for all of us. Peter will become a leader of the apostles, a great orator, an exemplary servant and martyr. But Judas had taken it upon himself to be justified, upon himself to be condemned, upon himself to return the silver to the temple authorities. He must go to a different authority, which he does not acknowledge - for mercy and not sacrifices. We recall Judas' condemnation of the woman who anointed Jesus with oil, and the lack of understanding of mercy there (see Why do you trouble the woman?). It is a betrayal of a harsh character, penurious, that follows the law and "the rules" but does not understand mercy. Let us understand, then, that a morbid or malignant guilt is not what our Lord asks of us - and that it can be as problematic and self-centered as any form of arrogance. "The process of repentance, confession, forgiveness, reconciliation and renewal" is what our Lord asks of us, a relationship of the heart, wherein we are loved. We must accept his mercy, and receive the understanding of mercy. Let this be our example and our understanding, and not the way of perdition, guilt, and death.