King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Chapters: Matthew Chapters 27-28
Message: One Soul Offered
Hello My Friend,
As I was reading the chapters for today, this passage came to mind, [Isaiah 53:10-12 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.]
Jesus, went through the most horrible pain and death so that all mankind could escape the fiery pit of eternal death and hell awaiting their souls, but He will only save true believers. Now, we who accept that truth await the day that we will suffer no longer but until then we are sent out into the world to teach the truth to as many as we can while we still have time to do that, [Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.]
As we continue in the reading of the Gospels, Matthew gives his account of Christ being sentenced to death by crucifixion and of His burial and resurrection. First, we learn that Judas Iscariot was not feeling too happy about himself after he realize that the chief priests sent Jesus to the governor to be executed.
[Matthew 27:1-4 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: 2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. 3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.]
[I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.] At this point, Judas was not feeling convicted because he realized that Jesus is the Christ, it was because he knew that He was an innocent man. The men did not care if Judah suddenly developed a conscience, all they cared about was that they finally captured the man that gave them a conscience and He would soon be out of their lives. They did not even want the money back so Judas threw the sack on the ground and literally killed himself.
[Matthew 27:5-10 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. 6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. 7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. 8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. 9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; 10 And gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me.]
[that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet,] Wow! There really was nothing that took place from the virgin birth to the resurrection that was not already foretold before the foundation of the world began, [1 Peter 1:19-21 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.]
Matthew, was referring to this passage, [Zechariah 11:12-13 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. 13 And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.]
Why he said that it was Jeremiah who said that is something that we can all question, which many try to discredit the infallibility of the Bible, but it is not an error as Jeremiah did purchase a field or I should say land as evidence that the children of Israel will one day return to Israel having accepted Christ, [Jeremiah 32:14-15 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Take these evidences, this evidence of the purchase, both which is sealed, and this evidence which is open; and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may continue many days. 15 For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.]
Now, Jesus stands before Pilate, Matthew, does not go deep into the conversation that Jesus had with him as John did. Again, Pilate had no knowledge of who Jesus is whatsoever, but even he knew that these men were convicting an innocent man solely for envy.
[Matthew 27:13-19 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? 14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. 15 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. 16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. 17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? 18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. 19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.]
[For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.] I never thought about it from this perspective before, but of course they envied Jesus, while they thought themselves as gods, Jesus, proved that He is God. It does not matter what religion or what life we lived, Jesus, will either convict the sinner to repentance or rejection and since most people are self righteous and proud, very few will repent. It is like Jesus said, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for self righteous egos to repent, [Luke 18:25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.]
[Have thou nothing to do with that just man:] I can imagine how Pilate must have felt in his own conscience after hearing that, but I am sure that if he was anything like my husband, he did not want to hear that coming from a woman, but took heed to is once he realized that she was correct. Nevertheless, Pilate did try to convince the people that Jesus should be pardoned, but they would not have it. In fact, it was the chief priests and elders that persuaded the crowd to execute Jesus by crucifixion.
[Matthew 27:20-25 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. 22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. 23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. 24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. 25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.]
[What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?] Exactly what are any of us to do with Jesus? Many people still today fear coming to Christ because of their religion or lives being in danger if it got out that they actually believed in Him. We must remember what Jesus said, [Luke 12:4-5 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.]
There really is nothing that man can do to the body of a saved soul because their body is just the shell to their soul, when it leaves the body it will be with Jesus. Now, none of this would be possible if it were not for Jesus giving His life for us. Now, Pilate, may not have fully understood what Jesus was all about, but wanted nothing to do with convicting an innocent man. In fact, he knew that nothing good would come out of it so he literally washed his hands of anything to do with His crucifixion. However, he still sent him to the Roman soldiers where they had no problem convicting an innocent man.
[Matthew 27:27-31 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. 28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. 29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! 30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. 31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.]
[And when they had platted a crown of thorns,] Those thorns that they used to make the crown they put on His head were six inches long and about a half in thick. So, anytime that you think that you are having a rough day, nothing can compare to what Jesus went through for us even before He was crucified, [Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.]
Since Matthew’s account of the Gospel is addressed toward the Jews, he gives an overview of what happened. While Matthew’s account does not tell us how badly Jesus was beaten, it is evident that it was pretty bad as He was too weak to carry the cross.
[Matthew 27:32-36 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. 33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, 34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. 35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. 36 And sitting down they watched him there;]
[And sitting down they watched him there;] These fools were basking in all their pride and short glory as they thought that they were not only doing God a favor by destroying Jesus, but ridding themselves of the man that caused so much trouble for them for three and a half years. Then came the chief priests mocking every word He said as they passed by, began tempting Him.
[Matthew 27:39-43 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. 41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.]
[If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down] Did they honestly think that they would have believed Him to be the Christ even if He did come down? So, here is Jesus, watching all this, is such serve pain, and I am sure very thirsty, all He could do is cry out to His Father.
[Matthew 27:46-50 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? 47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. 48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. 49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. 50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.]
[Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice,] What do you think was more painful for Jesus, hanging there in pain feeling all alone or watching just how faithless those fools were that He was dying for? These reprobates never believed in any of the miracles He performed in front of their faces, why would they believe if the Father Himself had spoken. Now, if the miracles did not convince them that Jesus is the Christ, His death should have, as soon as He died there was an earthquake, graves were opened and the veil that had separated the holy place from the most holy place was ripped in half, from the to top down.
[Matthew 27:51-54 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. 54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.]
[and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,] Can you imagine this sight! These are those who died in their faith prior to Christ’s passion, who were actually in what was called paradise, resurrecting and from the sound of it walked the earth as Jesus did after His resurrection until He ascended back into heaven, [Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.]
[Now when the centurion, and they that were with him,] Finally, the soldiers went from being fools to believers, they were just convicted of everything they did to Jesus all the way up to the cross and received Him right then and there, however, the Jews there were still not convinced, but they sure remembered what Jesus said.
[Matthew 27:62-65 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, 63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. 65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.]
[we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive,] The deceiver? Were they serious? Of course, they were, these were the chief priests and Pharisees, the ones who refused to believe anything about Jesus, and they knew they were wrong, they were just too proud to admit that everything Jesus said was true. In fact, three days later, Jesus came out of that tomb.
[Matthew 28:1-6 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.]
[And for fear of him the keepers did shake,] Those soldiers were so scared of what was going on that they fainted. You see, the wicked know they are the true deceivers, but that does not stop them from using people to lie and make it appear that they themselves are the ones being deceived. It did not matter though, they could have put a thousand guards in front of that tomb, Jesus would have still arose, and He did. Did that make them believers? No. They made up some story and paid the guards to say that the disciples stole His body.
[Matthew 28:11-15 Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. 12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, 13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. 14 And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. 15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.]
[So they took the money, and did as they were taught:] The wicked will do anything to discredit Jesus still today, and there is always someone willing to be paid off in order to keep their secrets hid. Remember, those who sin in secret will be exposed in the worse way, [Luke 8:17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Matthew 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. Matthew 28:6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.]
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, To the world, everything I believe in and stand for about You is a joke and untrue, I am so glad that I am not a part of them. I understand that I am not saved by my works of righteousness, but by my believing and accepting that Your work on the cross is all I need to save me. I am trusting only in You Jesus, to keep me out of hell and know that no matter what I have done or will do, it is all over now, I am forgiven and You will never leave nor forsake me. To show my appreciation and love for You, I want to live my life with You in it. Lord, Lead me and guide me, help me to be that faithful witness and a testimony to the amazing life that I now live with You, even when I am suffering, and let me be bold to speak the truth when others want to tear me down for my faith. I love You, Lord, and pray in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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