Matthew 26:15
and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The text highlights that Judas didn't just receive a lump sum; the priests "weighed out" the silver to him. This detail emphasizes the cold, transactional nature of the deal, reducing the Son of God to a commodity whose worth was literally measured out. It's a chilling picture of a bargain struck with precise, almost clinical, calculation.
Just before Jesus institutes the Lord's Supper, Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, secretly meets with the chief priests. He offers to betray Jesus to them and they agree on a price: thirty pieces of silver. This grim bargain is set in motion as Jesus prepares to share his final Passover meal with his disciples, unaware of Judas's imminent betrayal.
It wasn't a sudden impulse, but a calculated deal. Judas didn't just stumble into betrayal; he negotiated it.
Look closely at Judas's question: "What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?" This isn't an innocent inquiry; it's a negotiation. The ancient scholars point out the 'chaffering aspect' – he was haggling for a price. This reveals a heart hardened by greed, where the immense value of Jesus was reduced to a monetary sum. He wasn't just betraying a friend; he was selling a life, his Lord's life, for a profit.
A Bargain for Betrayal
The price paid to Judas wasn't random. It carried a heavy meaning, a profound insult to both Jesus and His followers.
The thirty pieces of silver Judas received were not just a monetary sum; they were a deeply symbolic insult. Scholars note this was the exact price for a slave according to Mosaic Law (Exodus 21:32). This wasn't just about paying Judas; it was about how the religious leaders valued Jesus. They considered Him less than a free man, worth no more than chattel.
The Cost of Contempt
Understand the original words
paradidomi · Greek Verb
The act of turning someone over to authorities, often involving betrayal. In a theological context, it points to Christ's voluntary submission to the divine plan to suffer and die for the sins of the world.
argyrion · Greek Noun
A standard monetary unit, specifically referring to silver coins (often associated with the price of a slave in the Old Testament). In this context, it represents the corrupt price paid for the betrayal of Jesus.
The thirty pieces of silver paid to Judas were not just a random sum; they echoed a prophecy in Zechariah and represented the price of a slave according to Mosaic law. This detail highlights the profound contempt the religious leaders held for Jesus and the shocking devaluation of the Son of God.
c. 950 BC
Solomon's Temple Completed
The First Temple in Jerusalem, a central hub for worship and national identity, is completed under King Solomon. This magnificent structure would stand for centuries, a symbol of God's presence among His people.
c. 700-600 BC
Book of Zechariah Written
The prophet Zechariah receives visions, including one where he is offered thirty pieces of silver for his flock, a prophecy that later becomes a significant reference point for Judas's betrayal.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon begins deporting Jewish captives, including Daniel and his friends, to Babylon. This marks the start of the Babylonian exile, a period of immense suffering and reflection for the Jewish people.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
The Babylonians conquer Jerusalem and utterly destroy Solomon's Temple. This event plunges the Jewish people into profound grief and a spiritual crisis, scattering them across the empire.
This Old Testament prophecy directly foretells the betrayal and explicitly names the price: thirty pieces of silver, highlighting the fulfillment of Scripture in Judas's actions.
Exodus 21:32The price of thirty pieces of silver is explicitly stated in the Mosaic Law as the compensation for goring a male or female slave, revealing how Jesus, the precious Son of God, was valued as less than a common slave.
Psalm 41:9Jesus quotes this psalm, 'Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me,' to describe Judas's betrayal, showing the deep personal hurt and the prophetic nature of the act.
Acts 1:18This passage describes Judas purchasing a field with the reward money for his betrayal, confirming the transaction and the tragic end of Judas's life, all foreseen and recorded.
calvinMatthew 26:14-20: "Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,"
- Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, 15. And said to them, What will you give me, and I will deliver him to you? And they appointed to him thirty pieces of silver. 16. And from that time he sought an opportunity to betray him. 17. Now on the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, Where dost thou wish us to prepare fo…
henryMatthew 26:14-16: "Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,"
26:14-16 There were but twelve called apostles, and one of them was like a devil; surely we must never expect any society to be quite pure on this side heaven. The greater profession men make of religion, the greater opportunity they have of doing mischief, if their hearts be not right with God. Observe, that Christ's own disciple, who knew so well his doctrine and manner of his life, and was false t…
The text highlights that Judas didn't just receive a lump sum; the priests "weighed out" the silver to him. This detail emphasizes the cold, transactional nature of the deal, reducing the Son of God to a commodity whose worth was literally measured out. It's a chilling picture of a bargain struck with precise, almost clinical, calculation.
Just before Jesus institutes the Lord's Supper, Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, secretly meets with the chief priests. He offers to betray Jesus to them and they agree on a price: thirty pieces of silver. This grim bargain is set in motion as Jesus prepares to share his final Passover meal with his disciples, unaware of Judas's imminent betrayal.
Just before Jesus institutes the Lord's Supper, Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, secretly meets with the chief priests. He offers to betray Jesus to them and they agree on a price: thirty pieces of silver. This grim bargain is set in motion as Jesus prepares to share his final Passover meal with his disciples, unaware of Judas's imminent betrayal.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Matthew 26:15 is available in the Sola app.
538 BC
Return from Exile Begins
Under the decree of Cyrus the Great of Persia, Jewish exiles are permitted to return to Jerusalem and begin rebuilding the Temple. This marked a new era of hope and restoration.
c. AD 25-36
Jesus' Public Ministry
Jesus begins his public ministry, gathering disciples and teaching about the Kingdom of God. His growing popularity and claims cause increasing consternation among the religious authorities.
c. AD 30— this verse
Judas Iscariot's Betrayal
Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' twelve closest followers, secretly meets with the chief priests and agrees to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. This act sets in motion the final events leading to Jesus' crucifixion.
"and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver." — The text highlights that Judas didn't just receive a lump sum; the priests "weighed out" the silver to him. This detail emphasizes the cold, transactional nature of the deal, reducing the Son of God…
