Friday, March 05, 2004
Thirty Pieces of Silver
I sat down to lunch and opened my Bible quite randomly and it fell open to the book of Amos. The first chapters are listings of judgements from God, through Amos against Israels neighbors, Judah, and Israel. I was caught by Amos 2:6
I have recently wanted to learn about the messianic prophecies, and this seemed to link to the betrayal by Judas. Mark states that Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests to betray Jesus and they promised him money (Mark 10:11).
Matthew states that Judas began looking for a way to betray Jesus and went to the chief priests, who gave him thirty pieces of silver. (Matthew 26:15, cross referenced to Zech 11.12). Luke (22:2-5) says that Satan entered Judas and plotted against Jesus, and the chief priests of the temple agreed to pay him money. In the Gospel of John, the only reference is "Judas, who betrayed Jesus" (John 18:2).
Only Matthew tells us that Judas returned the thirty pieces of silver and left to hang himself. The priests could not put the money back into the treasury, so they bought a field from a potter with it. (27:3-8). This also references Zech 11:12,13. The book of Acts, which is a follow up to the Gospel of Luke, states that Judas used the money to buy the field and he fell and met his death.
So turning back to Zechariah, I see that it is full of prophecies about the messiah, and it even prophecies about horsemen in something that sounds like the Revelation of John. I'll have to come back to that for further study. Zechariah is full of symbolism. The referenced passage has him tending the flock of sheep that are doomed, and he has two staves, Favor and Unity. He breaks Favor, symbolic (I suppose) of God removing favor from the flock and no longer caring for the people. Then he tells the sheep merchants (I don't know what they stand for) "If it seems right, pay me my wages, otherwise, keep them." The merchants pay him 30 pieces of silver which the Lord tells him to throw into the treasury. There is a footnote that says "or to the potter." After this he breaks the staff Unity, severing the ties between Judah and Israel.
There's a lot there. More than I think I can digest right now. I am surprised that none of this came back to Amos. All I can think of is that silver was special as a coinage metal, or there is some symbolism to it. I don't know what shekels were made out of in Amos' time or in Jesus' time. ¶ 1:02 PM
Thus says the Lord: For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; because they sell the righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals
I have recently wanted to learn about the messianic prophecies, and this seemed to link to the betrayal by Judas. Mark states that Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests to betray Jesus and they promised him money (Mark 10:11).
Matthew states that Judas began looking for a way to betray Jesus and went to the chief priests, who gave him thirty pieces of silver. (Matthew 26:15, cross referenced to Zech 11.12). Luke (22:2-5) says that Satan entered Judas and plotted against Jesus, and the chief priests of the temple agreed to pay him money. In the Gospel of John, the only reference is "Judas, who betrayed Jesus" (John 18:2).
Only Matthew tells us that Judas returned the thirty pieces of silver and left to hang himself. The priests could not put the money back into the treasury, so they bought a field from a potter with it. (27:3-8). This also references Zech 11:12,13. The book of Acts, which is a follow up to the Gospel of Luke, states that Judas used the money to buy the field and he fell and met his death.
So turning back to Zechariah, I see that it is full of prophecies about the messiah, and it even prophecies about horsemen in something that sounds like the Revelation of John. I'll have to come back to that for further study. Zechariah is full of symbolism. The referenced passage has him tending the flock of sheep that are doomed, and he has two staves, Favor and Unity. He breaks Favor, symbolic (I suppose) of God removing favor from the flock and no longer caring for the people. Then he tells the sheep merchants (I don't know what they stand for) "If it seems right, pay me my wages, otherwise, keep them." The merchants pay him 30 pieces of silver which the Lord tells him to throw into the treasury. There is a footnote that says "or to the potter." After this he breaks the staff Unity, severing the ties between Judah and Israel.
There's a lot there. More than I think I can digest right now. I am surprised that none of this came back to Amos. All I can think of is that silver was special as a coinage metal, or there is some symbolism to it. I don't know what shekels were made out of in Amos' time or in Jesus' time. ¶ 1:02 PM
