Matthew 26,14-27,66.
Matthew’s Passion Narrative, like the others, consists of four main parts : (1) the Preliminaries – Jesus’ betrayal by Judas, the Last Supper preparations, the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper, Jesus foretells his betrayal, the Agony in Gethsemane; (2) Jesus’ arrest, trial by the Jewish Sanhedrin, his denial by Peter; (3) Jesus before Pilate; Judas’s remorse and suicide; Jesus is tried by Pilate, rejected in favour of Barabbas, sentenced to be scourged and crucified, crowned with thorns; (4) Jesus carries his cross to Calvary, is crucified, mocked, dies and is buried.
There are four incidents found only in Matthew. The first concerns Judas’ repentance for betraying Jesus and his attempt to return the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and scribes indicating regret for what he has done and acknowledging, indirectly, Jesus’ innocence. They are indifferent to his remorse or Jesus’ innocence. Judas responds to their hostile attitude with two violent actions; he flings the 300 pieces onto the sanctuary floor and goes off and hangs himself, (27,3-10), copying Ahithophel who betrayed king David – a similar end for two traitors.
The second incident, concerning the innocence of Jesus, comes from a most unlikely source, Pilate’s wife. As Pilate was about to give a verdict on Jesus, she sent him a message warning him to have nothing to do with Jesus because of a dream she had about him which disturbed her greatly. (27, 19). Dreams are a favourite medium of revelation for Matthew in Jesus’ birth story, as here.
Unique to Matthew also is Pilates’ washing his hands “of innocent blood” immediately after the crowds call to liberate Barabbas instead of Jesus. Pilate abdicates responsibility for Jesus’ death, but cowardly acceding to the people’s pleas, he unjustly, hands him over to be scourged and crucified (27,20-26). The people and their children accept responsibility for shedding Jesus ‘innocent blood (27,26).
Only in Matthew (27,52-53) is the death of Jesus accompanied an earthquake, rocks being split, tombs being opened and the saintly dead arising and appearing to many. For Matthew a star marked the birth of Jesus, and these apocalyptic phenomena mark his death, implying that something awesome is happening.
Jesus is framed, falsely accused by the religious authorities; betrayed by one of his disciples; abandoned by the other ten; denied by Peter his team-leader; rejected by the crowds; unjustly condemned to death by Pilate; helped to carry his cross by Simon of Cyrene; crucified by the Roman soldiers; mocked by the bystanders and a co-crucified; suspended on the cross in darkness for three hours; expresses his sense of abandonment by God in the words of Psalm 22; is given vinegar to drink by a bystander; yields up his spirit and dies; is acclaimed Son of God by the Roman centurion; is watched on the cross from afar by Mary Magdalene and women friends; is taken down from the cross by Joseph of Arimathea; is wrapped in a linen shroud and buried in new tomb opposite where Mary Magdalene and the other Mary sit. They watch and wonder and wait and pray as we are invited to do this Holy Week.
Jesus’ death is costly love for our sake, to forgive our sins, to vanquish sin and evil in the world, to restore us to our true dignity as children of God, and to prepare a place for us in heaven.
Jesus’ love for us cost him dearly. How much does your love for him cost you?
Lord, by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free. You are the Saviour of the world.
Fr Geoff O’Grady