Mat 27:3-6 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Matt 27:3-10: 27:3-10 There are two accounts of Judas’s death—this one and Acts 1:18-19 . There are differences between the two: (1) Matthew states that the priests bought the field (Matt 27:6-7 ), while Acts seems to suggest that Judas bought it (Acts 1:18 ); (2) Matthew reports that Judas committed suicide by hanging himself (Matt 27:5 ), while Acts enigmatically refers to a fall and an abdominal rupture (Acts 1:18 ); (3) Matthew implies that the field of blood was so named because it became a place of burial (Matt 27:7-8 ), while Acts suggests that it was because of Judas’s violent death there (Acts 1:19 ). The two accounts are compatible if one takes the account in Acts as describing the effects of the actions described in Matthew. 27:3 Judas was filled with remorse (Greek metamelomai ), but he did not repent (Greek metanoeō ), which would have changed his heart and resulted in obedience and a relationship with God based on faith.

Summary for Matt 27:3-10: 27:3-10 ^a There are two accounts of Judas’s death—this one and Acts 1:18-19 ^b. There are differences between the two: (1) Matthew states that the priests bought the field (Matt 27:6-7 ^c), while Acts seems to suggest that Judas bought it (Acts 1:18 ^d); (2) Matthew reports that Judas committed suicide by hanging himself (Matt 27:5 ^e), while Acts enigmatically refers to a fall and an abdominal rupture (Acts 1:18 ^f); (3) Matthew implies that the field of blood was so named because it became a place of burial (Matt 27:7-8 ^g), while Acts suggests that it was because of Judas’s violent death there (Acts 1:19 ^h). The two accounts are compatible if one takes the account in Acts as describing the effects of the actions described in Matthew. 27:3 ⁱ Judas was filled with remorse (Greek metamelomai), but he did not repent (Greek metanoeō), which would have changed his heart and resulted in obedience and a relationship with God based on faith.
27:4 ^j an innocent man: Jesus’ innocence is a dominant theme in the narrative of his suffering (see 23:35 ^k; 26:55-56 ^l, 59-60 ^m; 27:18-19 ⁿ, 24 ^o; see also Luke 23:47 ^p).
27:5 ^q hanged himself: Judas’s suicide resulted from a guilt-stricken, unrepentant conscience. His death satisfied Old Testament law regarding the punishment of a false witness (see Deut 19:16-21 ^r).