Mt. 26:14-16; 27:3-10; Zech. 11:12-13; Thirty Pieces of Silver

(We have, in the normal process of working through a list of prophetic passages from Matthew, come to this prophecy concerning the betrayal of Judas, an event that happened on the original "Maundy Thursday" which is being celebrated this day in some Western Churches.  Being non-denominational evangelicals, we don't pay much attention to this day.  In Ukraine the Baptist churches meet on Thursday evening before Easter for a service around the Lord's Table.)

Matthew speaks of Judas, the silver and the field of blood that was bought with it as fulfillment of prophecy.  Who penned the prophecy: Jeremiah (27:9) or Zechariah?  Also, the Zechariah passage seems to be speaking to the Shepherd (Messiah) as the One who throws the money to the temple; how do we understand that?

·        Who wrote the OT prophecy?  John Gill (JG) notes several answers that fail to answer.  For example, some manuscripts omit any name at all; just what “a prophet” said.  Some attribute it to an apocryphal book written by Jeremiah.  Another claims Jeremiah wrote the last several chapters of Zechariah’s prophecy.  Some Jewish writers have spoken of “the spirit of Jeremiah being in Zechariah,” not so much to answer a question from Matthew as simply to be a Jewish idea.  The most likely answer to this issue is that, in the Hebrew Bible, Jeremiah was the first of the books of the prophets.  Thus, as a group, they could be and were referred to by the “group name” if you will.  That is the only answer that satisfies me.  Certainly the passage of note is Zechariah 11:12-13.

·        Who throws the money to the temple floor?  It is interesting that many Jewish writers saw Zech. 11:12-13 as Messianic.  The context is what is often called, “the prophecy of the shepherds.”  It speaks of shepherds, leaders, that do not truly care for the flock of Israel (v4-5).  Thus, the LORD says He will not pity them and will feed the flock for slaughter (v6-11).  This speaks of their rejection of the Christ and the subsequent abandonment of the Nation by God (the temporary, partial blindness of Rom. 11:25).  It is at that point that we have the prophecy of thirty pieces of silver (v12-13).  In other words, it is connected with the rejection of the Christ.  

The Jewish writers seem most often to take the silver as symbolic.  One writers says “thirty mighty men” and another “thirty commandments.”  Matthew takes it literally, of the money given to Judas.  In my way of thinking it would not be odd if this were one of those cases where a passage was not fully understood until the event of fulfillment actually took place.  The Jewish writers at least tended to understand it in the context of the rejection of Messiah.  When the event actually unfolded that night, at the hall of the Sanhedrin, the priests should not have missed the connection between Zechariah and what happened before their eyes. 

As for the question about the prophecy being attributed to the Messiah rather than the one who betrayed Him, Gill believes the translation should be “give my price,” not “give me my price.”  Perhaps.  But I see a lot of sense in this commentary by Jameson/ Faucett/Brown (JFB) and I share it with you to consider it’s explanation as well as the powerful picture, that thirty pieces of silver are cheap wages for the Messiah.

My price--my reward for pastoral care, both during the whole of Israel's history from the Exodus, and especially the three and a half years of Messiah's ministry. He speaks as their "servant," which He was to them in order to fulfil the Father's will (Php 2:7).

thirty pieces of silver--thirty shekels. They not only refused Him His due, but added insult to injury by giving for Him the price of a gored bond-servant (Ex 21:32; Mt 26:15). A freeman was rated at twice that sum.

13. Cast it unto the potter--proverbial: Throw it to the temple potter, the most suitable person to whom to cast the despicable sum, plying his trade as he did in the polluted valley (2Ki 23:10) of Hinnom, because it furnished him with the most suitable clay. This same valley, and the potter's shop, were made the scene of symbolic actions by Jeremiah (Jer 18:1-19:15) when prophesying of this very period of Jewish history.

With all this consideration of the meaning, step away for a moment and consider the Savior being betrayed in such a manner.  And that this degradation was prophesied as well.  Jesus knew it was coming (John 6:70; 13:11), and still set His face steadfastly to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51).