blood money

Good morning brothers and sisters,
First, tonight we are not having Supper and Scripture, but we are meeting at the Boulevard at 8 to continue our ongoing discussion of The Shack. For this week we are discussing up through chapter 15. Tomorrow night we are having a potluck supper at 6:15 with worship to follow to remember Jesus' last supper with his disciples. I hope to see you there.

Earlier in Holy Week Jesus criticized the religious leaders for scrupulously following the details of the law while missing the big picture. In this passage we see a striking example of this behavior. The leaders are careful to avoid putting Judas's returned money in the treasury because it is blood money and would pollute the temple treasury. At the same time, they don't seem at all disturbed at having spent the money to get someone arrested, not do they seem bothered by Judas's remorse and recognition that Jesus is innocent.

Before we condemn the religious leaders, this passage invites us to look at ourselves. How do we shift blame to others? How do we focus on purity in minor details while missing major areas of injustice in our lives? How do we condemn the innocent? I'm so grateful Jesus always welcomes and forgives us.
May this week take you deeper into Christ's love,
Sam

Matthew 27:1-14

When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order to bring about his death. 2They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor.


3When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4He said, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” 5Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. 6But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money.” 7After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter’s field as a place to bury foreigners. 8For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one on whom a price had been set, on whom some of the people of Israel had set a price, 10and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”


11Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” 12But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. 13Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?” 14But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.