Matthew: Blood Money Buy Potter’s Field
on Friday, November 20, 2015Matthew 27:5-8 Money Quote saying Judas laments over betraying Jesus to priests and discards the blood money in the temple. Matthew 27:5-8 said:
“Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. The chief priests picked up the coins and said, ‘It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money’ So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day” — Matthew 27:5-8
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This passage from Matthew describes how Judas, filled with remorse for betraying Jesus, threw the money he received back at the temple. The priests refused to accept it because it was seen as “blood money” paid for killing an innocent man. They used the coins instead to purchase a field for burying foreigners.
The best interpretation is that this story illustrates how even money associated with grave sins can ultimately be used for something good, like providing burial grounds. It also shows Judas facing earthly consequences for his betrayal by committing suicide. More broadly, the passage reinforces the seriousness of betraying an innocent person for monetary gain, as Judas did to Jesus.