Matthew 27:5

And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

And {G2532} he cast down {G4496} the pieces of silver {G694} in {G1722} the temple {G3485}, and departed {G402}, and {G2532} went {G565} and hanged himself {G519}.

Hurling the pieces of silver into the sanctuary, he left; then he went off and hanged himself.

So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

And he cast down the pieces of silver into the sanctuary, and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.

Context

Matthew 27:5 details the tragic culmination of Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Jesus. After witnessing Jesus' condemnation by the Sanhedrin, Judas is seized by overwhelming remorse (Matthew 27:3). He attempts to return the "pieces of silver"—the thirty shekels he received for betraying Jesus (Matthew 26:15)—to the chief priests and elders in the temple. When they refuse to take the money back, dismissing his confession of having "betrayed innocent blood," Judas is left in utter despair, leading to his desperate act.

Key Themes

  • Remorse and Despair: Judas's actions highlight a profound regret for his sin. However, this is a worldly sorrow that leads to death, distinct from the godly sorrow that produces true repentance and leads to salvation (2 Corinthians 7:10). His despair, unchecked by hope in God's mercy, becomes a destructive force.
  • Consequences of Sin: The verse powerfully illustrates the devastating personal consequences of sin, particularly the betrayal of divine trust. The thirty pieces of silver, initially seen as gain, become a heavy burden of guilt, ultimately leading to self-destruction.
  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: While not explicitly stated in this verse, Judas's fate, including the use of the silver, is a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy concerning the betrayer (e.g., Psalm 41:9, Zechariah 11:12-13). The silver he cast down was later used to buy the potter's field, known as the "Field of Blood" (Matthew 27:7-8 and Acts 1:18-19).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "hanged himself" translates the Greek word apēgxato (ἀπήγξατο), which directly means "to hang oneself" or "to strangle oneself." This clearly indicates an act of suicide. While the account in Acts 1:18 provides additional, gruesome details about the physical outcome of Judas's death (falling headlong and bursting open), Matthew focuses on the intentional act of self-destruction driven by his overwhelming guilt and despair.

Reflection and Application

Matthew 27:5 serves as a stark and sobering warning about the perils of unchecked guilt and despair. Judas's story stands in sharp contrast to Peter's denial of Christ; both sinned grievously, but Peter found repentance and restoration through Christ's grace (John 21:15-19), while Judas succumbed to hopelessness. This verse underscores the critical importance of seeking God's forgiveness and mercy, even in the face of profound sin. It reminds believers that true repentance involves turning to God for grace, understanding that no sin is beyond God's capacity to forgive when met with genuine contrition and faith in Christ's atoning sacrifice.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Acts 1:18

    Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.

  • Acts 1:19

    And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.

  • 2 Samuel 17:23

    And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled [his] ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.

  • Luke 1:9

    According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

  • Job 7:15

    So that my soul chooseth strangling, [and] death rather than my life.

  • Psalms 55:23

    But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.

  • Luke 1:21

    And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
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