Introduction

Matthew 27 recounts the trial, crucifixion, and burial of Jesus, marking the culmination of His earthly suffering in fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. The chapter begins with Jesus being formally handed over to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, after the religious leaders decide to have Him executed. Judas, overwhelmed with guilt over betraying Jesus, returns the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests, but finding no relief from his remorse, he takes his own life, fulfilling prophetic imagery regarding betrayal and its tragic consequences.

Before Pilate, Jesus remains largely silent regarding the accusations against Him, astonishing the governor with His composed response. Pilate, recognizing Jesus’ innocence, attempts to release Him by offering the crowd a choice between Jesus and a notorious criminal named Barabbas. Influenced by the religious leaders, the crowd demands Barabbas’ release and calls for Jesus’ crucifixion. Despite his reluctance and awareness of Jesus’ innocence, Pilate ultimately yields to the crowd’s pressure, symbolically washing his hands to distance himself from responsibility, yet still ordering Jesus’ crucifixion.

Roman soldiers mock and physically abuse Jesus, dressing Him in a scarlet robe, placing a crown of thorns on His head, and ridiculing His claim to kingship before leading Him to Golgotha for crucifixion. Jesus is crucified alongside two criminals, enduring mockery from onlookers, religious leaders, and even those crucified beside Him. During His crucifixion, darkness covers the land, and Jesus cries out, expressing profound anguish as He bears the weight of humanity’s sin, ultimately breathing His last breath.

At the moment of Jesus’ death, significant supernatural events occur, including the temple curtain tearing from top to bottom, an earthquake, and the opening of tombs, symbolizing the profound spiritual significance of Christ’s sacrificial death. Witnessing these events, a Roman centurion acknowledges Jesus as truly the Son of God. Following Jesus’ death, Joseph of Arimathea requests His body from Pilate, wrapping it in a clean linen cloth and placing it in a new tomb. The religious leaders, fearing rumors of resurrection, request Roman guards to secure the tomb.

Chapter 27

1 Now when it was morning, all the chief priests and those in authority took thought together with the purpose of putting Jesus to death.

2 And they put cords on him and took him away, and gave him up to Pilate, the ruler.

3 Then Judas, who was false to him, seeing that he was to be put to death, in his regret took back the thirty bits of silver to the chief priests and those in authority,

4 Saying, I have done wrong in giving into your hands an upright man. But they said, What is that to us? it is your business.

5 And he put down the silver in the Temple and went out, and put himself to death by hanging.

6 And the chief priests took the silver and said, It is not right to put it in the Temple store for it is the price of blood.

7 And they made a decision to get with the silver the potter’s field, as a place for the dead of other countries.

8 For this cause that field was named, The field of blood, to this day.

9 Then came true that which was said by Jeremiah the prophet, And they took the thirty bits of silver, the price of him who was valued by the children of Israel;

10 And they gave them for the potter’s field, as I had word from the Lord.

11 And Jesus was before the ruler, who put a question to him, Are you the King of the Jews? And Jesus said to him, You say so.

12 But when the chief priests and those in authority made statements against him, he gave no answer.

13 Then says Pilate to him, Do you give no attention to what their witnesses say against you?

14 And he gave him no answer, not even a word: so that the ruler was greatly surprised.

15 Now at the feast it was the way for the ruler to let free to the people one prisoner, at their selection.

16 And they had then an important prisoner, whose name was Barabbas.

17 So when they came together, Pilate said to them, Which of the two would you like me to let go free to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is named Christ?

18 For he saw that they had given him up because they were against Jesus.

19 And while he was seated where causes were judged, his wife sent to him, saying, Have nothing to do with that upright man; for I have had a bad dream about him.

20 Now the chief priests and those in authority got the people to make a request for the freeing of Barabbas, and the death of Jesus.

21 But the ruler said to them, Which of the two would you have me let go free to you? And they said, Barabbas.

22 Pilate said to them, What then am I to do to Jesus who is named Christ? They all said, To the cross with him.

23 And he said, Why, what evil has he done? But they went on crying out all the more, To the cross with him.

24 So when Pilate saw that he was unable to do anything, but that the people were even more violent than before, he took water and washed his hands before them, saying, I have no part in the death of this upright man: let it be on your heads.

25 And all the people made answer, Let his blood be on us and on our children.

26 Then he let Barabbas go free: but Jesus he gave up to be whipped and put to death on the cross.

27 Then Pilate’s men took Jesus into the Praetorium, and got together all the band of men.

28 And they took off his clothing, and put on him a robe of red.

29 And they made a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and put a rod in his right hand; and they went down on their knees before him, honouring him in a jesting way.

30 And they put shame on him and, taking the rod, gave blows on his head.

31 And when they had made sport of him, they took the robe off him, and put on him his own clothes, and sent him away to be put to death on the cross.

32 And on the way out, they saw a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, and they made him go with them, so that he might take up his cross.

33 And when they came to the place named Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a skull,

34 They gave him wine to drink, mixed with something bitter; and after tasting it, he would not have it.

35 And when they had put him on the cross, they made a division of his clothing among them by the use of chance.

36 And they were seated there watching him.

37 And they put up over his head, in writing, the cause of his death, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

38 Then two robbers were put on crosses with him, one on the right and one on the left.

39 And those who went by made sport of him, shaking their heads,

40 And saying, You who said that you would give the Temple to destruction and put it up again in three days, keep yourself safe. If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.

41 And in the same way the chief priests and the scribes and those in authority, laughing at him, said,

42 He was able to give salvation to others; he is not able to give salvation to himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will have faith in him.

43 He had faith in God; let God be his saviour now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

44 And the thieves who were on the crosses with him said evil things against him.

45 Now from the sixth hour it was dark over all the land till the ninth hour.

46 And about the ninth hour Jesus gave a loud cry, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is, My God, my God, why have you let me be?

47 And some of those who were near, when they heard it, said, He is calling Elijah.

48 And straight away one of them went quickly, and taking a sponge, made it full of vinegar, and put it on a rod, and gave him drink.

49 And the rest said, Let him be; let us see if Elijah comes to his help.

50 And Jesus gave a loud cry, and gave up his spirit.

51 And the veil of the Temple was parted in two from the top to the bottom; and the earth was shaking; and the rocks were broken;

52 And the resting-places of the dead were open; and the bodies of a number of sleeping saints came to life;

53 And coming out of their resting-places, after he had come again from the dead, they went into the holy city and were seen by a number of people.

54 Now when the captain, and those who were with him keeping watch over Jesus, saw the shaking of the earth, and the things which were done, they were in great fear and said, Truly this was a son of God.

55 And a number of women were there, watching from a distance, who had come with Jesus from Galilee, waiting on him.

56 Among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

57 And when it was evening, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, Joseph by name, who himself was a disciple of Jesus:

58 He went to Pilate and made a request for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate gave orders for it to be given to him.

59 And Joseph took the body, and put clean linen round it,

60 And put it in the resting-place which had been cut out of the rock for himself; and after rolling a great stone to the door of it he went away.

61 And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, seated by the place of the dead.

62 Now on the day after the getting ready of the Passover, the chief priests and Pharisees came together to Pilate,

63 Saying, Sir, we have in mind how that false man said, while he was still living, After three days I will come again from the dead.

64 Give orders, then, that the place where his body is may be made safe till the third day, for fear that his disciples come and take him away secretly and say to the people, He has come back from the dead: and the last error will be worse than the first.

65 Pilate said to them, You have watchmen; go and make it as safe as you are able.

66 So they went, and made safe the place where his body was, putting a stamp on the stone, and the watchmen were with them.

Important Verses

• Matthew 27:46 “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is, My God, my God, why have you let me be?” This reveals the depth of Jesus’ suffering as He bears the weight of human sin, fulfilling messianic prophecy from Psalm 22.
• Matthew 27:51 “And the veil of the Temple was parted in two from the top to the bottom.” This symbolizes the removal of the barrier between God and humanity through Christ’s atoning sacrifice.
• Matthew 27:54 “Truly this was a son of God.” This centurion’s declaration highlights the powerful testimony of Christ’s identity, even from an unexpected witness.