Matthew 27:7
And they tooke counsell, and bought with them the potters field, to burie strangers in. Matthew 27:7 (KJV)
Context: Let’s delve into a Bible study on Matthew 27:7 in the King James Version (KJV).
This verse is part of the Gospel of Matthew, which provides an account of the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. To understand the context of this verse, we need to look at the preceding verses. Matthew 27:1-6 describes the events following Jesus’ trial before Pilate and his condemnation to death by crucifixion. Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ disciples, had betrayed Him for thirty pieces of silver and later regretted his actions. He returned the money to the chief priests and elders, acknowledging his betrayal. In Matthew 27:7, it states that the chief priests and elders took counsel together after receiving the returned money from Judas. They decided to use the money to buy a potter’s field. A potter’s field was a plot of land used by potters to extract clay and shape pottery. The specific purpose of buying the potter’s field was to provide a burial place for strangers, or foreigners, who died in Jerusalem.
This verse is significant for a few reasons:
Fulfillment of Prophecy: The purchase of the potter’s field with the thirty pieces of silver fulfilled a prophecy from the Old Testament. Zechariah 11:12-13 prophesied that the price of thirty pieces of silver would be paid to the potter. Matthew highlights this prophecy to show that even in the betrayal of Jesus, the Scriptures were being fulfilled.
The Consequence of Betrayal: The purchase of the potter’s field serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of Judas’ betrayal. The chief priests and elders used the money he returned to them to buy the burial ground, indirectly linking his betrayal to the final resting place of strangers.
Care for Strangers: By purchasing the potter’s field to bury strangers, the chief priests and elders demonstrated an act of benevolence. In the biblical context, caring for strangers and foreigners was seen as a righteous act and emphasized the importance of compassion and dignity in death.
