Matthew 27:6

KJV

And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G1161} the chief priests {G749} took {G2983} the silver pieces {G694}, and said {G2036}, It is {G1832} not {G3756} lawful {G1832} for to put {G906} them {G846} into {G1519} the treasury {G2878}, because {G1893} it is {G2076} the price {G5092} of blood {G129}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The head cohanim took the silver coins and said, "It is prohibited to put this into the Temple treasury, because it is blood money."

Berean Standard Bible

The chief priests picked up the pieces of silver and said, “It is unlawful to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.”

American Standard Version

And the chief priests took the pieces of silver, and said, It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 27:6 records the chief priests' dilemma after Judas Iscariot returned the thirty pieces of silver he received for betraying Jesus. Confronted with the blood money, they declared it unlawful to deposit into the temple treasury, recognizing its defiled nature as "the price of blood" even as they themselves had orchestrated the unjust condemnation of an innocent man. This verse starkly highlights their meticulous adherence to ritual purity laws while simultaneously demonstrating profound moral and spiritual blindness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows Judas's profound remorse and desperate act of throwing the thirty pieces of silver into the temple (Matthew 27:3-5 "Matthew 27:3-5 - Judas's Remorse and Suicide"). His actions present the chief priests with a practical problem: what to do with the returned money. The narrative then proceeds to describe their decision to use the money to purchase the Potter's Field, fulfilling an ancient prophecy (Matthew 27:7-10 "Matthew 27:7-10 - The Purchase of the Potter's Field"). This sequence underscores the unfolding divine plan, even amidst human treachery and religious hypocrisy, leading directly to Jesus's crucifixion.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The temple treasury, known in Greek as *korbanas* (κορβανᾶς), was a sacred fund used for temple maintenance, sacrifices, and other religious expenses. Jewish law and tradition, particularly as interpreted by the Pharisees and Sadducees, placed great emphasis on ritual purity. Money obtained through illicit means, such as murder or betrayal, was considered "blood money" (*timē haimatos*) and was deemed ritually unclean. Such funds could not be consecrated or used for sacred purposes, as they would defile the holy treasury. This strict adherence to ritual law, even in the context of their profound moral failure in condemning Jesus, reveals the legalistic mindset prevalent among the religious leaders of the time.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Matthew's Gospel. It highlights the **religious hypocrisy** of the chief priests, who meticulously observe external ritual purity while perpetrating the gravest injustice against God's Son, a theme consistently critiqued by Jesus (e.g., [Matthew 23:23-28](/matthew/23-23-28 "Matthew 23:23-28 - Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees")). The concept of "the price of blood" underscores the **defilement of ill-gotten gain** and its inability to be sanctified for holy purposes. Furthermore, the handling of the silver pieces, initially paid for betrayal (Matthew 26:15 "Matthew 26:15 - The Betrayal Agreement"), then returned, and finally used to buy the Potter's Field, serves as a poignant illustration of **divine sovereignty** working through human sin to fulfill prophetic scripture (Zechariah 11:12-13 "Zechariah 11:12-13 - The Thirty Pieces of Silver").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **chief priests (Greek, _archiereús'_):** Refers to the leading priestly families, often Sadducees, who held significant religious and political power in Jerusalem. They were responsible for the temple operations and were key figures in the Sanhedrin, the Jewish high court. Their decision here reflects their collective authority and legalistic interpretation of the Mosaic Law.
* **lawful (Greek, _éxesti'_):** Impersonally, "it is right" or "it is permitted." This word indicates a legal or moral permissibility. The chief priests are appealing to a principle of religious law, specifically regarding the proper handling of funds designated for the temple treasury. Their declaration emphasizes that, according to their understanding of purity laws, the money was forbidden from entering the sacred coffers.
* **treasury (Greek, _korbân'_):** Derived from a Hebrew/Chaldee word meaning "a votive offering" or "a consecrated present." In this context, it refers to the sacred temple fund or the specific room where these contributions were kept. The chief priests' concern was preventing the defilement of this holy fund by money obtained through a morally illicit act, specifically the betrayal and condemnation of an innocent life.
* **price (Greek, _timḗ'_):** Denotes a value, money paid, or valuables. Here, it specifically refers to the monetary value exchanged for a life, particularly one unjustly taken. The phrase "price of blood" emphasizes that the money is tainted by its association with a life that was unlawfully taken, rendering it ritually impure and unsuitable for sacred use.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the chief priests took the silver pieces,"**: This clause describes the immediate action of the religious leaders after Judas cast the money into the temple. They physically retrieved the coins, acknowledging their responsibility for them and the dilemma they presented.
* **"and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury,"**: This is the chief priests' collective declaration and decision. They immediately recognize the ritual impurity of the money. Their concern is not the moral culpability of their actions in condemning Jesus, but the legalistic adherence to temple purity laws. The word "lawful" (ἔξεστιν) highlights their appeal to religious statutes.
* **"because it is the price of blood."**: This final clause provides the justification for their decision. The money is deemed "the price of blood" (τιμὴ αἵματος), signifying that it was gained through an act that resulted in the shedding of innocent blood. This designation made the money ritually defiled and therefore unsuitable for the sacred temple treasury.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Irony** is powerfully present: the religious leaders, who have just orchestrated the unjust condemnation of Jesus, meticulously adhere to a ritual purity law concerning the money used for the betrayal. Their concern for the temple treasury's purity stands in stark contrast to their profound moral impurity in shedding innocent blood. This highlights their **hypocrisy**, a recurring theme in Matthew's Gospel. The phrase "price of blood" functions as a potent **metaphor**, vividly conveying the defilement and moral stain associated with the money. It is not merely money, but money inextricably linked to a heinous act. This also serves as **foreshadowing**, as the subsequent use of this "blood money" to purchase the Potter's Field will fulfill ancient prophecy, demonstrating God's sovereign hand even in human sin.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 27:6 profoundly illustrates the tragic irony of religious legalism divorced from true righteousness and justice. The chief priests' scrupulous adherence to ritual purity laws regarding "blood money" stands in stark contrast to their profound moral culpability in orchestrating the unjust execution of Jesus. This highlights a recurring biblical theme: God values internal righteousness and mercy over external religious observance. Their actions expose a spiritual blindness that prioritizes ceremonial cleanliness over the sanctity of human life and divine truth. The defilement of the money also underscores the principle that ill-gotten gain, especially that stained with injustice, cannot be sanctified or used for truly holy purposes.

* [Deuteronomy 23:18](/deuteronomy/23-18 "Deuteronomy 23:18 - Abominable Offerings"): "Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the Lord thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the Lord thy God." This Old Testament law establishes a precedent for money obtained through illicit means being unacceptable for temple offerings.
* [Matthew 23:23](/matthew/23-23 "Matthew 23:23 - Woe to the Scribes and Pharisees"): "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." Jesus's condemnation of the Pharisees for prioritizing minor laws over justice and mercy directly applies to the chief priests' actions here.
* [Proverbs 1:19](/proverbs/1-19 "Proverbs 1:19 - The End of Ill-Gotten Gain"): "So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof." This proverb speaks to the destructive nature of ill-gotten gain, connecting it to the taking of life, a concept echoed in "the price of blood."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 27:6 serves as a powerful and sobering mirror for all who claim religious devotion. The chief priests, meticulous in their external adherence to ritual law, were utterly blind to the profound moral depravity of their actions against Jesus. Their concern for the "price of blood" in the temple treasury, while their hands were stained with the blood of the innocent Messiah, exposes a dangerous spiritual disconnect. This challenges us to examine our own lives: Are we more concerned with outward appearances, religious rituals, or the letter of the law, while neglecting the "weightier matters" of justice, mercy, and genuine love for God and neighbor? The verse reminds us that true holiness begins in the heart and manifests in righteous actions, not merely in avoiding ritual impurity. It also prompts us to consider the source of our resources and the integrity of our dealings. Money obtained through unethical means, even if given to a good cause, carries a spiritual defilement that cannot be easily washed away. We are called to live lives of integrity, where our outward practices align with an inward transformation that prioritizes God's heart over mere rules.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be prioritizing external religious observance over genuine righteousness and mercy?**
* **How does the concept of "the price of blood" challenge my understanding of how resources are acquired and used, even for seemingly good purposes?**
* **What are the "weightier matters of the law" (justice, mercy, faith) that Jesus emphasized, and how can I ensure I am not neglecting them in favor of lesser concerns?**
* **How can I cultivate a heart that is truly aligned with God's will, rather than merely adhering to a set of rules?**

### FAQ

**Why was the money considered "the price of blood" and therefore unlawful to put into the treasury?**

Answer: The money was considered "the price of blood" because it was the payment for the betrayal and subsequent condemnation of an innocent man, Jesus. According to Jewish law and tradition, money obtained through illicit or violent means, particularly through the shedding of blood or taking a life, was deemed ritually impure. This concept is rooted in Old Testament principles that prohibit bringing defiled offerings into the temple. For example, [Deuteronomy 23:18](/deuteronomy/23-18 "Deuteronomy 23:18 - Abominable Offerings") forbids bringing the "hire of a whore" or "price of a dog" into the house of the Lord, establishing a precedent that certain types of gain are an "abomination." The chief priests, despite their moral culpability in Jesus's death, meticulously applied this legalistic interpretation to the silver, preventing it from defiling the sacred temple treasury (known as the *korbanas*).

**What does this verse reveal about the chief priests' character and priorities?**

Answer: This verse reveals a profound and tragic hypocrisy in the character and priorities of the chief priests. While they were scrupulous about adhering to the letter of the law regarding ritual purity for the temple treasury, they had just orchestrated the unjust condemnation and death of an innocent man, Jesus. Their concern was not for justice, truth, or the sanctity of life, but for external religious formalities. This highlights their legalistic mindset, where outward observance superseded genuine righteousness, mercy, and faith—the "weightier matters of the law" that Jesus often critiqued (e.g., [Matthew 23:23](/matthew/23-23 "Matthew 23:23 - Woe to the Scribes and Pharisees")). Their actions demonstrate a spiritual blindness that prioritized ceremonial cleanliness over moral integrity and divine truth.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 27:6, while exposing the profound hypocrisy of the religious leaders, ultimately serves to highlight the perfect, unblemished sacrifice of Christ. The chief priests' rejection of the "price of blood" for the temple treasury ironically underscores the very real blood that was about to be shed—the innocent blood of Jesus, which would, unlike the defiled silver, truly cleanse and redeem. Their meticulous concern for ritual purity regarding money stands in stark contrast to God's ultimate concern for the purity of heart and the atoning sacrifice of His Son. The "price of blood" in this verse is a perversion, a payment for betrayal and death; yet, in God's divine economy, it foreshadows the infinitely valuable "blood of the Lamb" (Revelation 7:14 "Revelation 7:14 - Washed in the Blood of the Lamb") that truly washes away sin and purifies not just a treasury, but human souls. Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God (John 1:29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), became the ultimate "price of blood," not as a defiled payment, but as a perfect, substitutionary atonement, making reconciliation possible where human legalism and sin had only brought defilement and death (Hebrews 9:12-14 "Hebrews 9:12-14 - Christ's Superior Sacrifice"). His blood, unlike Judas's silver, was not rejected by God, but accepted as the perfect offering, establishing a new covenant (Luke 22:20 "Luke 22:20 - The New Covenant in Christ's Blood") that truly purifies and brings life.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 6:7

And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.

Luke 6:9

Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy [it]?

Deuteronomy 23:18

Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these [are] abomination unto the LORD thy God.

Isaiah 61:8

For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

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.

Matthew 23:24

[Ye] blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.