Lesson 27 – The King’s Trial and Sentence
Read Matthew 27 – www.bible.com/bible/59/mat.27.esv

Matthew chapter 27 describes Jesus in front of the Roman authorities for sentencing. But starting in verse 3 we read an interesting description of what happened to Judas. Why would Judas kill himself when just hours before he had boldly betrayed Jesus to the Jewish leaders? From the description in these verses it is easy to see that he was dismayed by what was happening. Had he perhaps thought Jesus would overthrow the Roman government if He was just pushed into a corner? We can’t know for sure, but this we can know – Satan is a master liar. Judas, as well as all of Jesus’ disciples, hoped Jesus was the Messiah who would deliver them from Roman rule. And one day He will do just what they expected – He will destroy all earthly government and set up His Kingdom. But Judas didn’t understand this, and because he was unwilling to repent, he felt he had no other choice than to take his own life.

Let’s look at another man in this story, beginning in verse 15. He was a man without choices in what was happening – everything was decided for him. Pilate chose him to stand opposite Jesus in a terrible choice he made the people make – which man would go free? Jesus or Barabbas? The innocent man or the murderer?


The last two men of interest in this chapter are two more criminals, each of them to be crucified with Jesus. They share in mocking Jesus as the three are led away to their place of death (verse 44). Even while they were hanging on those crosses, bearing the same physical pain He was bearing, they continued to yell their obscenities at Him. But in Luke 23:39-43 we are told how one of these two robbers finally recognized how different Jesus was from himself and the others around Him that day.

Five men faced death that day. Judas, out of hopelessness, took his own life. Barabbas was set free, but we don’t know if he recognized the gift he had been given and turned to Jesus afterwards. Three were sentenced to die together – two guilty and one innocent. Judas tried to save his society by probably trying to force Jesus to do what he wanted Him to do. He failed. Barabbas didn’t care about society but was set free anyway. The two thieves received justice by their own admission. But only Jesus’ death could and did change the world forever. His death paid the price for every sin ever committed in the past or would ever be committed in the future. But just as those other four men – all of us must choose whether or not we accept Christ’s death as payment for OUR sin.

*How about you – have you accepted His price as payment in full for YOUR sin?