Matthew 27:4

“Saying, I have sinned, etc.] Here was a confession, and yet no true repentance; for he confessed, but not to the right persons; not to God, nor Christ, but to the chief priests and elders; nor over the head of the antitypical scape goat, not seeking to Christ for pardon and cleansing, nor did he confess and forsake sin, but went on adding sin to sin, and so found no mercy. The same confession was made by a like hardened wretch, Pharaoh, (<020927>Exodus 9:27). He proceeds and points out the evil he had committed: in that I have betrayed innocent blood, or “righteous blood”; so the Vulgate Latin, and Syriac versions, and Munster’s Hebrew Gospel read, and some copies; that is, have betrayed an…”

“Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood--What a testimony this to Jesus! Judas had been with Him in all circumstances for three years; his post, as treasurer to Him and the Twelve (Joh 12:6), gave him peculiar opportunity of watching the spirit, disposition, and habits of his Master; while his covetous nature and thievish practices would incline him to dark and suspicious, rather than frank and generous, interpretations of all that He said and did. If, then, he could have fastened on one questionable feature in all that he had so long witnessed, we may be sure that no such speech as this would ever have escaped his lips, nor would he have been so stung with remorse…”

“I have sinned - I have been guilty. I have done wrong. In that I have betrayed the innocent blood - That is, in betraying an innocent being to death. Blood is put here for “life,” or for the “man.” The meaning is, that he knew and felt that Jesus was innocent. This confession is a remarkable proof that Jesus was innocent. Judas had been with him for three years. He had seen him in public and private; he had heard his public teaching and his private views; he had seen him in all circumstances; and if he had done anything evil, or advanced anything against the Roman emperor, Judas was competent to testify it. Had he known any such thing he would have stated it. His testimony, being a disciple…”

“They said, what is that to us? - How easily could they digest innocent blood! And yet they had a conscience! It is not lawful (say they) to put it into the treasury - But very lawful to slay the innocent! Matthew 27:5”

“27:4 an innocent man: Jesus’ innocence is a dominant theme in the narrative of his suffering (see 23:35; 26:55-56, 59-60; 27:18-19, 24; see also Luke 23:47).”

“I have sinned: Gen 42:21, Gen 42:22; Exo 9:27, Exo 10:16, Exo 10:17, Exo 12:31; Sa1 15:24, Sa1 15:30; Kg1 21:27; Rom 3:19 the innocent: Mat 27:19, Mat 27:23, Mat 27:24, Mat 27:54; Kg2 24:4; Jer 26:15; Jon 1:14; Luk 23:22, Luk 23:41, Luk 23:47; Joh 19:7; Act 13:28; Heb 7:26; Pe1 1:19 What: Mat 27:25; Act 18:15-17; Ti1 4:2; Tit 1:16; Jo1 3:12; Rev 11:10 see: Sa1 28:16-20; Job 13:4, Job 16:2; Luk 16:25, Luk 16:26 Matthew 27:5”