Matthew 27:4 kjv
Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
Matthew 27:4 nkjv
saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." And they said, "What is that to us? You see to it!"
Matthew 27:4 niv
"I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood." "What is that to us?" they replied. "That's your responsibility."
Matthew 27:4 esv
saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." They said, "What is that to us? See to it yourself."
Matthew 27:4 nlt
"I have sinned," he declared, "for I have betrayed an innocent man." "What do we care?" they retorted. "That's your problem."
Matthew 27 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Innocent Blood/Righteous Suffering | ||
| Gen 4:10 | "The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground." | Blood crying out, consequences of shed innocent blood. |
| Deut 27:25 | "Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person." | Curse on those harming the innocent. |
| 1 Sam 19:5 | "He did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine... why then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?" | Questioning shedding of innocent blood. |
| 2 Kgs 24:4 | "...for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood." | Judgment for filling city with innocent blood. |
| Ps 94:21 | "They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood." | The wicked conspiring against righteous, innocent blood. |
| Prov 6:17 | "A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood," | An abomination to the Lord. |
| Isa 53:7 | "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth:" | Prophecy of the innocent Suffering Servant. |
| Jer 2:34 | "Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents:" | Finding innocent blood on clothing, indicating guilt. |
| Lam 4:13 | "For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her," | Priests/prophets shedding blood of the just. |
| Joel 3:19 | "Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, for that they have shed innocent blood in their land." | Consequences for shedding innocent blood. |
| Mt 23:35 | "That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel..." | God's justice on those shedding righteous blood. |
| Acts 5:28 | "Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us." | Attempt to avoid responsibility for Jesus's blood. |
| 1 Pet 2:22 | "Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:" | Affirmation of Jesus's sinlessness. |
| Betrayal/Rejection | ||
| Mt 26:15 | "And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver." | Judas's initial bargain to betray. |
| Mk 14:10 | "And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them." | Judas's deliberate action. |
| Lk 22:3-6 | "Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot... And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them." | Satan's influence and Judas's plotting. |
| Jn 6:70-71 | "Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him..." | Jesus's foresight of the betrayer. |
| Responsibility/Lack of Remorse | ||
| Gen 4:13 | "And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear." | Guilt acknowledged, but not repentance to God. |
| Josh 2:19 | "And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head," | Responsibility for one's own fate/actions. |
| 1 Kgs 2:32-33 | "The LORD shall return his blood upon his own head, who fell upon two men more righteous..." | Divine judgment for shed innocent blood. |
| Mt 27:24-25 | "When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it." | Pilate washing hands and shifting responsibility, echoing the priests. |
| 2 Cor 7:10 | "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." | Contrast between two kinds of sorrow, Judas's being worldly. |
Matthew 27 verses
Matthew 27 4 Meaning
This verse captures the tragic confession of Judas Iscariot and the hardened response of the chief priests and elders. Judas, consumed by guilt, openly admits his transgression, stating that he has "sinned" by "betraying the innocent blood" of Jesus. This declaration is a direct acknowledgment of Jesus's blamelessness in the eyes of the one who handed Him over. In stark contrast, the religious leaders reject any shared responsibility for Judas's remorse or for the shedding of innocent blood, dismissively stating, "What is that to us? see thou to that," thereby casting all the burden and consequences back onto Judas alone.
Matthew 27 4 Context
This verse follows Judas Iscariot's deep remorse (Matt 27:3) after seeing Jesus condemned. Overwhelmed by the gravity of his act, he returns the thirty pieces of silver—the price of betrayal—to the chief priests and elders in the temple. This specific interaction in verse 4 highlights a critical moment of moral confrontation. Judas, the betrayer, confesses Jesus's innocence to those who actively condemned Him. The context of Matthew chapter 27 is Jesus's trial and eventual crucifixion, orchestrated by these very religious leaders. Their cold, dismissive response underscores their hardened hearts and profound spiritual blindness, demonstrating a concern for religious custom (not accepting blood money into the treasury, Matt 27:6) over the grave sin of judicial murder and the spilling of innocent blood.
Matthew 27 4 Word analysis
- Saying: Judas's spoken confession. This is not merely an internal thought but an open declaration.
- I have sinned: Greek: hēmarton (ἥμαρτον). A direct, unreserved confession of personal guilt and moral failure. It means "to miss the mark," indicating a deviation from divine or moral standards. It signifies that Judas recognizes his action as a transgression against God.
- in that I have betrayed: Greek: paradidonai (παραδιδόναι), meaning "to hand over," "to deliver up," or "to betray." It points directly to Judas's specific action of delivering Jesus into the hands of His enemies.
- the innocent blood: Greek: haima athōon (αἷμα ἀθῷον).
- haima (αἷμα): "blood," symbolizing life itself, but here representing the life unjustly taken. It points to violent death.
- athōon (ἀθῷον): "innocent," "guiltless," "blameless." This is a profound and unsolicited affirmation of Jesus's absolute blamelessness, coming from the one person with the most intimate knowledge of the betrayal's consequences and perhaps an inner understanding of Jesus's character.
- And they said: Refers to the chief priests and elders (Matt 27:3). Their collective, authoritative, and utterly unmerciful response.
- What is that to us?: Greek: Ti pros hēmas? (Τί πρὸς ἡμᾶς;) Literally, "What to us?" This is an idiom expressing utter indifference, a complete rejection of responsibility, and a cold dismissal. They want no part in Judas's guilt or his consequences.
- see thou to that: Greek: su opsē (σὺ ὄψῃ). Literally, "you will see [to it]." This is an emphatic personal pronoun and future tense verb, strongly placing the burden of the situation solely on Judas. It means, "That's your problem," or "You handle it."
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood": This entire phrase is a powerful confession. Judas clearly articulates the object of his sin: the unjust betrayal of one who was completely without fault. This validates Jesus's righteousness from the lips of His betrayer, serving as an important testimony to Jesus's innocence amidst the unjust trials. It contrasts sharply with his remorse leading to self-destruction rather than seeking forgiveness from God.
- "What is that to us? see thou to that.": This two-part phrase encapsulates the chilling indifference and judicial cruelty of the religious leaders. Their concern is not for justice, truth, or the life of the innocent, nor for the moral anguish of a man in despair. Instead, they deny any culpability and externalize all responsibility, demonstrating their profound moral decay and spiritual bankruptcy. This is a rejection of both the truth about Jesus and of compassion.
Matthew 27 4 Bonus section
The "innocent blood" confessed by Judas provides a powerful theological validation from an unlikely, even hostile, witness. This corroborates Pilate's own attempts to declare Jesus innocent (Matt 27:24) and his wife's warning (Matt 27:19), as well as the later declaration of the centurion (Matt 27:54). The very person who initiated Jesus's delivery into the hands of His accusers testifies to His purity, strengthening the truth of Jesus's sacrificial lamb status (Jn 1:29). The Jewish leaders' response is particularly damning; their callous dismissal is a conscious rejection of the truth presented before them. It exposes their primary concern not for divine justice or moral rectitude, but for their own perceived religious and political authority. Their refusal to acknowledge guilt in shedding "innocent blood" ties back to long-standing Old Testament themes of unjust violence and the call for divine retribution, highlighting the severe consequences that would eventually fall upon them.
Matthew 27 4 Commentary
Matthew 27:4 presents a profound scene where guilt and hardened hearts collide. Judas's confession, "I have sinned, for I have betrayed innocent blood," serves as an unexpected, yet powerful, testimony to Jesus's blamelessness. His remorse (Matt 27:3), however, differs from genuine repentance. His sorrow leads to despair and ultimately death (Matt 27:5), illustrating the sorrow of the world that works death (2 Cor 7:10), contrasting sharply with Peter's transformative sorrow (Lk 22:61-62). The chief priests and elders, confronted with this truth, remain utterly unmoved. Their dismissive response, "What is that to us? see thou to that," highlights their moral corruption and legalistic hypocrisy. They desired the execution of Jesus but wanted no personal culpability, echoing their later attempt to shift responsibility to Pilate (Matt 27:11-26). This chilling indifference to justice and human suffering underscores their profound spiritual blindness and commitment to their malicious intent against the Lord's Anointed One.