Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Matthew: Chapter 27].
in Jer 32:6ff. of the purchase of a field. It is in Zechariah
that the thirty pieces of silver are mentioned. Many theories are
offered for the combination of Zechariah and Jeremiah and
attributing it all to Jeremiah as in Mr 1:2f. the quotation
from Isaiah and Malachi is referred wholly to Isaiah as the more
prominent of the two. Broadus and McNeile give a full discussion
of the various theories from a mere mechanical slip to the one
just given above. Matthew has here (27:10) "the field of the
potter" (\eis ton agron tou kerame•s\) for "the potter the house
of the Lord" in Zec 11:13. That makes it more parallel with the
language of Mt 27:7.
27:11 {Now Jesus stood before the governor} (\ho de I•sous
estath• emprosthen tou h•gemonos\). Here is one of the dramatic
episodes of history. Jesus stood face to face with the Roman
governor. The verb \estath•\, not \est•\ (second aorist active),
is first aorist passive and can mean "was placed" there, but he
stood, not sat. The term \h•gem•n\ (from \h•geomai\, to lead) was
technically a _legatus Caesaris_, an officer of the Emperor, more
exactly procurator, ruler under the Emperor of a less important
province than propraetor (as over Syria). The senatorial
provinces like Achaia were governed by proconsuls. Pilate
represented Roman law. {Art thou the King of the Jews?} (\Su ei
ho basileus t•n Ioudai•n;\). This is what really mattered.
Matthew does not give the charges made by the Sanhedrin (Lu
23:2) nor the private interview with Pilate (Joh 18:28-32). He
could not ignore the accusation that Jesus claimed to be King of
the Jews. Else he could be himself accused to Caesar for
disloyalty. Rivals and pretenders were common all over the
empire. So here was one more. By his answer ({thou sayest}) Jesus
confesses that he is. So Pilate has a problem on his hands. What
sort of a king does this one claim to be? {Thou} (\su\) the King
of the Jews?
27:14 {And he gave him no answer, not even to one word} (\kai ouk
apekrith• aut•i pros oude hen rh•ma\). Jesus refused to answer
the charges of the Jews (verse 12). Now he continued silent
under the direct question of Pilate. The Greek is very precise
besides the double negative. "He did not reply to him up to not
even one word." This silent dignity amazed Pilate and yet he was
strangely impressed.
27:17 {Barabbas or Jesus which is called Christ?} (\Barabb•n •
I•soun ton legomenon Christon;\). Pilate was catching at straws
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