Topical Encyclopedia
Herod the Great's Temple, often referred to as the Second Temple, was a grand reconstruction of the original temple built by Zerubbabel. Herod's ambitious project began around 20-19 BC and was not fully completed until decades after his death. This temple stood as a central place of worship and a symbol of Jewish identity until its destruction in AD 70 by the Romans.
The Temple was not only a place of religious significance but also a backdrop for pivotal events in the New Testament. One such event involves Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus Christ. This act of betrayal is recorded in the Gospels and is a critical moment in the Passion narrative.
According to the Gospel of Matthew, after realizing the gravity of his betrayal, Judas was filled with remorse. He attempted to return the thirty pieces of silver, the price for which he had agreed to betray Jesus, to the chief priests and elders. The account in
Matthew 27:3-5 states: "When Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was filled with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. 'I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,' he said. 'What is that to us?' they replied. 'You bear the responsibility.' So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself."
The act of casting down the pieces of silver in the temple is significant. It symbolizes Judas's rejection of the blood money and his acknowledgment of his sin. The temple, a place meant for worship and reconciliation with God, becomes the setting for Judas's despair and ultimate rejection of the path he had chosen. The chief priests, bound by their own legalistic interpretations, refused to accept the money back into the temple treasury, as it was considered "blood money." Instead, they used it to buy the potter's field, as a burial place for foreigners, fulfilling the prophecy found in
Zechariah 11:12-13.
Herod's Temple, therefore, serves as a silent witness to the unfolding of God's redemptive plan through Jesus Christ. The actions of Judas within its courts highlight the tension between human sinfulness and divine sovereignty, a theme that resonates throughout the biblical narrative.
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Matthew 27:5And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
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Resources
Was it God's desire for Israel to worship Him in a temple in Jerusalem? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the meaning and significance of the Temple Mount? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the significance of Ezekiel's temple? | GotQuestions.orgTemple: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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