Matthew 27:7

7 So they decided to use the coins to buy Potter's Field as a place to bury strangers who died in Jerusalem.

Matthew 27:7 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 27:7

And they took counsel
With one another, considered of the matter, and deliberated about it a while; and at last came to a resolution,

and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in:
a field of no great value, or it could not have been bought so near Jerusalem for so small a sum as thirty pieces of silver. Grotius's conjecture seems to be a good one, that it was a field the potter had dug up for his use, and had made the most of it; so that it was good for nothing, but for the purpose for which these men bought it, "to bury strangers in": either such as were not of their own nation, as the Roman soldiers, many of which were among them, and who they did not suffer to be buried among them; or proselytes, or such as came from distant parts, at their three festivals, many of whom may be supposed to die at such times: now by this act of humanity in providing for the interment of strangers, they designed, and hoped to have covered their wickedness in bargaining with Judas to betray innocent blood, for this sure of money; but it was so ordered by divine providence, that this became a public and lasting memorial of their sin and infamy: for it follows,

Matthew 27:7 In-Context

5 So Judas threw the money into the Temple. Then he went off and hanged himself.

6 The leading priests picked up the silver coins in the Temple and said, "Our law does not allow us to keep this money with the Temple money, because it has paid for a man's death."

7 So they decided to use the coins to buy Potter's Field as a place to bury strangers who died in Jerusalem.

8 That is why that field is still called the Field of Blood.

9 So what Jeremiah the prophet had said came true: "They took thirty silver coins. That is how little the Israelites thought he was worth.