Repentance and Rejection: A Contrast Between Two "Peoples of God"

Scripture Reading: Matthew 27:1-10

Opening Prayer

Introduction

Review

Last Week … Peter’s denial

Several weeks ago… Judas’s betrayal

Last week… 2 Corinthians 7:8-10

2 Corinthians 7:8–10 ESV

8 For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. 9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. 10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

Pursuing holiness involves sorrowing over sin

Exposition

Matthew 27:1 ESV

1 When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death.

Matthew 27:2 ESV

2 And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor.

I. National Israel formally rejected Jesus as Messiah

Matthew 27:3 ESV

3 Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders,

Matthew 27:4 ESV

4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.”

Matthew 27:5 ESV

5 And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself.

Matthew 27:6 ESV

6 But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money.”

Matthew 27:7 ESV

7 So they took counsel and bought with them the potter’s field as a burial place for strangers.

Matthew 27:8 ESV

8 Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.

Matthew 27:9 ESV

9 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel,

Matthew 27:10 ESV

10 and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.”

II. As a result of their rejection, Israel as a nation, has been removed from their privileged place.

I want to bring you back to this idea of repentance

Both Peter and Judas desired the best for their people

What was the difference?

One recognized the need of their people for spiritual salvation, one did not.

III. Be sure that you are not numbered with National Israel but, rather, be numbered with God’s people.