New Testament in a Year – Matthew 27

Judas Hangs Himself - Matthew 27:1-10

• Understand It
• When did the religious leaders decide to put Jesus to death? (27:1)
• What did the religious leaders do with Christ? (27:2)
• Where did the religious leaders take Jesus? (27:2)
• Why was it significant that Jesus was taken to Pilate? (27:2)
• How did Judas feel when he saw that Jesus had been condemned to die? (27:3)
• What action did Judas take in an attempt to undo his crime? (27:3)
• What did Judas say to the religious leaders? (27:4)
• How did the religious leaders act when they heard Judas express second thoughts? (27:4)
• What did Judas do when the leaders rejected his offer to return the money? (27:5)
• What did the leaders do with the bounty they had paid Judas? (27:6-8)
• Why was Judas’s suicide significant? (27:9-10)

Apply It

• What big decision do you need to pray about this week so that you do not end up making a choice you will later regret?
• What can you do today or tomorrow to encourage a friend who is feeling especially low because of a bad or sinful choice?

Jesus Before Pilate - Matthew 27:11-26

Understand It

• What title and position did Pilate have? (27:11)
• What question did Pilate ask Jesus? (27:11)
• How did Jesus answer the Roman authority? (27:11)
• How did Jesus answer the Jews when they made accusations against Him? (27:12)
• What did Pilate think of Christ’s silence? (27:13-14)
• What custom did the governor follow at this particular time of year? (27:15)
• Who was in prison at the time? (27:16)
• What choice did Pilate put before the crowd? (27:17-18)
• What message did Pilate’s wife send him? (27:19)
• How did the religious leaders influence the crowd? (27:20)
• What choice did the crowd make? (27:21)
• What did the crowd ask Pilate to do to Christ? (27:22)
• How did Pilate attempt to evade any responsibility in the condemnation of Jesus? (27:24)
• What ironic statement did the crowd make about Jesus’ blood? (27:25)
• What happened to the two prisoners—Barabbas and Jesus? (27:26)

Apply It

• How can you prepare yourself for the next time you have an opportunity to defend an innocent person?
• What decision do you need to make today and then take responsibility for?

The Soldiers Mock Jesus - Matthew 27:27-31

Understand It

• Who took charge of the flogging and crucifixion of Jesus? (27:26-27)
• How many people were involved in torturing Jesus? (27:27)
• Where did the guards take Jesus? Why? (27:27-28)
• Once they had Jesus inside, what did the guards do? (27:27-31)
• What did the guards make Jesus wear? (27:28-29)
• What did the soldiers put on Jesus’ head? Why? (27:29)
• In what way did these soldiers mock Jesus? (27:29)
• With what did the soldiers ridicule Christ? (27:29)
• What types of emotional and physical abuse did the guards inflict on Christ? (27:30)
• After mocking Jesus, what did the soldiers do? (27:31)

Apply It

• Whom can you encourage this week who has been facing persecution?
• What can you do or say to speak out against an evil that is being accepted as normal?
• In what way can you be a peacemaker this week at home, at work, or among your neighbors?

The Crucifixion - Matthew 27:32-44

Understand It

• When did these events take place? (27:32)
• Whom did Jesus and his executioners meet as they were making their way to the site of the crucifixion? (27:32)
• What was Simon forced to do? For whom? (27:32)
• Where did the group take Jesus? (27:33)
• What is the meaning of "Golgotha"? (27:33)
• What was offered to Jesus? (27:34)
• After nailing Jesus to the cross, what did the soldiers do? (27:35-36)
• What did the soldiers place above Jesus’ head? (27:37)
• Who was executed that day? (27:38)
• What did onlookers shout at Jesus? (27:39-40)
• What was the behavior of the religious leaders like as they watched Jesus die? (27:41-43)
• How did the robbers act toward Jesus? (27:44)

Apply It

• What "cross" (burden, problem, difficulty, grief) can you unselfishly agree to bear for someone else today?
• In what way can you show your gratitude to Jesus today in light of all He suffered for you?
• What steps can you take this week to help you overlook insults and verbal taunts?

The Death of Jesus - Matthew 27:45-56

Understand It

• What happened from the sixth to the ninth hour (from 12 noon until 3 p.m.)? (27:45)
• What did Jesus cry out at the ninth hour? Why? (27:46)
• What did Jesus’ last words mean? (27:46)
• What did some of the bystanders think Christ had yelled? (27:47)
• What did one man in particular try to do for Jesus? (27:48)
• How did the rest in the crowd respond to the gesture of kindness toward Jesus? (27:49)
• What happened the next time Jesus cried out in a loud voice? (27:50)
• What supernatural event took place inside the temple when Jesus died? (27:51)
• How were things in Jerusalem at that time? (27:51)
• How did the death of Jesus affect activity in some of the area’s cemeteries? (27:52-53)
• How did a Roman centurion react to the way Jesus died? (27:54)
• Who else was in the crowd watching the crucifixion? (27:55)
• Who in the crowd was most prominent at Jesus’ death? (27:56)

Apply It

• What steps can you take this week to allow the profound truth of this passage to sink in?
• In the near future, with whom can you share the good news of Christ’s payment for sin on the cross?

The Burial of Jesus - Matthew 27:57-61

Understand It

• Who came to the execution site? When? (27:57)
• What was true about Joseph of Arimathea? (27:57)
• What did Joseph think about Jesus and His message? (27:57)
• What kind of help did Jesus receive at His death? (27:57-58)
• How did Joseph ask for the body of Jesus? (27:58)
• How did Pilate respond to Joseph’s request? (27:58)
• What did Joseph do with Jesus’ body? (27:59-60)
• Where did Joseph put Jesus’ body? (27:60)
• How did Joseph seal the tomb? (27:60)
• Who watched Joseph bury Jesus? (27:61)

Apply It

• What gift (of time, money, effort, possession, etc.) can you give this week out of love and devotion to God?
• In what setting today, tomorrow, or over the next week do you need to let it be known—maybe for the very first time—that you are a follower of Jesus Christ?

The Guard at the Tomb - Matthew 27:62-66

Understand It

• When did the chief priests go to Pilate? (27:62)
• Who went to Pilate the day after Christ was buried? Why? (27:62-63)
• What words of Jesus did the chief priests remember and report to Pilate? (27:63)
• What did the religious leaders call Jesus? (27:63)
• What did the religious leaders want Pilate to do? (27:64)
• For how long did the religious leaders want help from Pilate? Why? (27:64)
• What were the Jewish leaders afraid would happen if Pilate refused their request? (27:64)
• What were the chief priests afraid would happen if Jesus’ body disappeared? (27:64)
• What command did Pilate give? (27:65)
• What did the religious leaders do to secure the tomb where Jesus was buried? (27:65-66)

Apply It

• What truth do you need to face today?
• What foolish, fleshly attempts to control God and your own life do you need to repent of today?