Matthew 27:1

¶ When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:

When {G1161} the morning {G4405} was come {G1096}, all {G3956} the chief priests {G749} and {G2532} elders {G4245} of the people {G2992} took {G2983} counsel {G4824} against {G2596} Jesus {G2424} to {G5620} put {G2289} him {G846} to death {G2289}:

Early in the morning, all the head cohanim and elders met to plan how to bring about Yeshua's death.

When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people conspired against Jesus to put Him to death.

Now when morning was come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:

Commentary

Matthew 27:1 marks the somber dawn of the day leading to Jesus' crucifixion, illustrating the unwavering resolve of the religious authorities to bring about His death.

Context

The phrase "When the morning was come" signifies the break of dawn after a night of intense and illegal proceedings. This verse immediately follows Peter's denial of Jesus and Jesus' night trial before the Sanhedrin. Throughout the night, Jesus had been arrested after Judas Iscariot's betrayal, subjected to questioning by Annas and Caiaphas, and falsely condemned by the entire council. The "chief priests and elders of the people" were the most influential members of the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish judicial and religious body. Their morning meeting was essential because, under Roman occupation, they did not have the authority to carry out a death sentence. Their objective was to formalize their decision and find a way to secure Roman approval for Jesus' execution, effectively handing Him over to Pilate.

Key Themes

  • Resolved Malice: This verse starkly highlights the deep-seated and unwavering determination of the Jewish religious leadership to see Jesus dead. Their "counsel against Jesus" was not a search for truth or justice but a deliberate plot to eliminate Him.
  • Conspiracy and Injustice: It underscores the profound conspiracy against Jesus, driven by envy, fear of His growing influence, and a desire to maintain their own power. The "counsel" was a calculated move to orchestrate His demise, cementing the injustice of His situation.
  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: Despite the human evil at play, this event was a crucial step in the unfolding of God's sovereign plan. Jesus Himself had prophesied He would be delivered to the Gentiles to be mocked, scourged, and crucified, showing these events were part of a divine purpose.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "took counsel against Jesus" translates the Greek symboulion elabon (συμβούλιον ἔλαβον), which means "they held a consultation" or "they made a decision together." This indicates a formal and deliberate gathering, emphasizing that the action was not spontaneous but a premeditated and unanimous resolution by the highest religious authorities to secure Jesus' death. It underscores the gravity and intentionality of their condemnation.

Practical Application

Matthew 27:1 serves as a powerful reminder of how religious authority can be corrupted and how human institutions can be used to oppose divine truth. It challenges us to:

  • Examine Our Motives: The leaders' actions stemmed from envy and a desire to protect their own status, not from a genuine pursuit of righteousness. We are called to reflect on the purity of our own motives in our spiritual lives.
  • Recognize Injustice: The verse highlights the tragic reality of injustice, even within structures meant to uphold righteousness. It encourages believers to be discerning and to stand for truth, even when it is unpopular or costly.
  • Trust in God's Sovereignty: Despite the malevolent intentions of men, this verse points to the overarching truth that God's ultimate plan of salvation was being accomplished. Even through such profound injustice, God was working to bring about the redemption of humanity.
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Cross-References

  • Mark 15:1

    ¶ And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried [him] away, and delivered [him] to Pilate.

  • John 18:28

    ¶ Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.

  • Luke 22:66

    And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,

  • Psalms 2:2

    The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, [saying],

  • Micah 2:1

    ¶ Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.

  • Matthew 26:3

    Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,

  • Matthew 26:4

    And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill [him].