1st Coming - Understand Prophecy - Yamartino
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Chapter 50 of  60

30 Pieces of Silver (50:1)

The next occurrence in Matthew of a stated prophecy fulfilled is the following: (50:2)

Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, (50:3)

Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that (50:4)

And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself (50:5)

And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood (50:6)

And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in (50:7)

Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day (50:8)

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; (50:9)

And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me. (mat 27:3-10) (50:10) see

Although Matthew here states that "Jeremy the prophet" has given a prophecy regarding the thirty pieces of silver, no such prophecy can be found in the book of Jeremiah. What is the reason for this discrepancy? Many questions may arise, and there may be a definitive explanation, but I am not aware of one. In any case, as in the prophecy regarding "Nazarene" (mat 2:23) above, we cannot comment on the prophetic reference referred to by Matthew, because we are not sure what it is. (50:11) see

There is however a prophecy in the book of Zechariah which we can consider. Although not the one referred to by Matthew , it refers to the thirty pieces of silver. One thing to note regarding this prophecy and its fulfillment, is that whereas Matthew states that the Old Testament prophetic reference (Jeremiah's words) refers to the purchase of a field with the silver coins, the words of Zechariah say nothing of this (50:12)

Verses from Old Testament (50:13)

And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver (50:14)

And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces or silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord. (zec 11:12-13) (50:15) see

Commentary (50:16)

The incident of Judas' betrayal of Christ for the price of thirty pieces of silver could not have been either predicted or led one to the Christ. Consider the words of Zechariah above. These verses present nothing that could have been taken as reference to a future event. I personally do not see what one could have predicted from this (50:17)

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