The great tragedy in this story is not so much Judas’s lack of repentance, rather his unbelief. Judas made a choice. He sinned. He knew it and confesses to it. But look where he goes to find reconciliation. He has a choice. He can go to Christ (whom he’s walked with for a few years) or he can go to the Temple and the Jewish leaders. Judas picks the Temple and its cultic response. 

In Matthew’s Gospel he interrupts the trial narrative to highlight a conversation between the religious leaders and Judas (Matt 27:3-10). This passage often provokes the question, “Did Judas really repent?” But, from the beginning, a reader should note, this paragraph is not about Judas. It’s about the religious leaders.

I cannot blame people for focusing on Judas. Even the publishers of the NASB Bible title this section, “Judas’s Remorse.” But read through the discourse taking note of who Matthew highlights. Judas is the instigator in this conversation, but Matthew wants us to note the religious leaders’ responses.

Here is a basic outline:

1. Judas observes Jesus’s condemnation and returns the silver to the chief priest and elders. (27:3)
   1. Judas confesses to his sinful involvement (4a)
   2. Religious Leaders’ respond, “What is that to us? (4b)
   3. Judas throws the silver into the temple sanctuary (5)
2. The chief priest acknowledges the guilt in this money (6)
   1. This is the price of blood.
   2. They buy the Potter’s Field as a burial place for strangers (7)
   3. They call the “Field of Blood.” (8)
3. This fulfills Jeremiah’s prophecy (9-10)

Judas’s dilemma:

We can certainly sympathize with the discussion and focus on Judas here. His sin against Christ was vile and he responds with remorse. Every Christian should hope Judas can find salvation while also be comforted in the reality that our sovereign Lord acts justly and right towards Judas.

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