Matthew 27 is one of the most profound and sorrowful chapters in the Bible, detailing the final hours of Jesus' life, His trial before Pilate, His crucifixion, and His burial. It is a chapter filled with injustice, suffering, mockery, but also the fulfillment of prophecy and the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of humanity.
The chapter begins with the religious leaders, including the chief priests and elders, plotting how to have Jesus put to death. Since they lacked the authority to execute Him, they bound Him and led Him to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. Meanwhile, Judas Iscariot, seeing that Jesus had been condemned, is filled with remorse. He returns the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests, saying, "I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood." But they coldly reply, "What is that to us? You see to it." Overcome with guilt, Judas throws the money into the temple and goes out to hang himself.
The chief priests, unwilling to put the blood money into the temple treasury, use it to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for strangers. This fulfills the prophecy spoken by Jeremiah about the thirty pieces of silver being used to buy the potter’s field.
Jesus is brought before Pilate, who asks Him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus responds, "So you say." The chief priests and elders accuse Him, but He remains silent, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy that the Messiah would be led like a lamb to the slaughter and would not open His mouth. Pilate marvels at His silence.
It was customary for the governor to release a prisoner during the Passover feast. Pilate offers the crowd a choice: Jesus or Barabbas, a notorious criminal. Pilate knows that Jesus was handed over out of envy, and his wife even sends him a message, warning him to have nothing to do with Jesus because she suffered in a dream about Him. However, the chief priests persuade the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas and the crucifixion of Jesus. When Pilate asks what should be done with Jesus, the crowd shouts, "Let him be crucified!" Pilate protests, "Why? What evil has he done?" But they only shout louder, "Let him be crucified!"
Seeing that he could not change their minds and fearing a riot, Pilate takes water and washes his hands before the crowd, declaring, "I am innocent of the blood of this righteous person. You see to it." The people respond, "His blood be on us and on our children!" Pilate releases Barabbas and has Jesus scourged before handing Him over to be crucified.
The soldiers take Jesus into the governor’s palace, where they mock Him. They strip Him, place a scarlet robe on Him, twist a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and give Him a reed as a scepter. They kneel before Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" They spit on Him, take the reed, and strike Him on the head. After mocking Him, they remove the robe, put His own clothes back on Him, and lead Him away to be crucified.
On the way, they force a man named Simon of Cyrene to carry Jesus' cross. When they arrive at Golgotha, meaning "Place of a Skull," they offer Him wine mixed with gall, but He refuses to drink it. They crucify Him and divide His garments by casting lots, fulfilling prophecy. A sign is placed above His head that reads, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews."
Two robbers are crucified alongside Him, one on His right and one on His left. Passersby mock Him, saying, "You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!" The chief priests, scribes, and elders also mock Him, saying, "He saved others, but he can’t save himself. If he is the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him."
From noon until three in the afternoon, darkness covers the land. At about three o’clock, Jesus cries out with a loud voice, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Some bystanders think He is calling for Elijah. One of them runs to give Him vinegar on a sponge, but others say, "Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him." Jesus cries out again with a loud voice and yields up His spirit.
At that moment, the temple veil is torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quakes, rocks split, and tombs open. Many bodies of the saints who had died are raised and appear to many in Jerusalem. The centurion and those guarding Jesus are terrified and say, "Truly this was the Son of God."
Many women who followed Jesus from Galilee watch from a distance, including Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
In the evening, Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy disciple of Jesus, asks Pilate for Jesus’ body. Pilate grants his request, and Joseph wraps Jesus in clean linen and lays Him in his own new tomb. He rolls a great stone in front of the entrance and leaves.
The next day, the chief priests and Pharisees go to Pilate, saying, "Sir, we remember that that deceiver said while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise again.’" They ask Pilate to secure the tomb so that the disciples do not steal the body and claim He has risen. Pilate agrees and orders the tomb to be sealed and guarded.
Matthew 27 is a chapter of betrayal, injustice, suffering, and divine fulfillment. Judas' remorse highlights the tragedy of rejecting Christ, while Pilate’s indecision shows the weakness of worldly authority. The people’s choice of Barabbas over Jesus reflects humanity’s tendency to reject truth in favor of sin. Jesus' suffering fulfills Old Testament prophecies, and His death is marked by supernatural events, demonstrating His divine nature. The tearing of the temple veil signifies that His sacrifice has opened the way for all to come to God.
This chapter forces us to consider our response to Jesus. Will we reject Him like the religious leaders, remain indifferent like Pilate, mock Him like the crowds, or recognize His kingship like the centurion? His death was not the end, but the fulfillment of God’s plan to bring salvation to the world.