Matthew 27:7-10
From time to time, I will hear the
statement that two interpretations of Scripture are equally valid. This usually
comes from someone who feels rather comfortable in their own “interpretation”
of Scripture, which usually does not match the historic/orthodox
interpretation. One example of this is marriage.
The biblical definition of marriage is a
legally binding relationship between a man and a woman for life. There are some
who consider themselves married, and yet they are not. Their claim is that they
“do not need a piece of paper to keep them faithful.” Be that as it may, they
must be legally married in the eyes of the government, or they are not legally
married in the eyes of God and the Bible. Peter reminds us that “… no
prophecy of Scripture is [a matter] of one's own interpretation, for no
prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy
Spirit spoke from God” (II
Peter 1:20,21). You cannot make the Bible say what you want it to say. You must
study to discover what it originally intended to say!
As we travel through our study of the
record of our Lord’s sacrifice for our sins, we land today in the Potter’s
Field. There are more than a few things to consider concerning the Potter’s
Field. Last week, we saw how “careful” the religious leaders were to not
misspend the coins found rolling on the sanctuary floor. Such care will never
clear them of Jesus’ cross or Judas’ rope. Innocent and unnecessary blood shall
remain on their hands until the day of judgment.
Scripture repeatedly warns us to not fall
into the trap of trivia. Paul tells Timothy not to “argue over words to no
profit” (II Timothy 2:14). In intense Bible study, there is the ever-present
danger of measuring the trees and missing the forest. We have such a temptation
in our text today. We have here an
apparent error in the text. Now, do not panic. We do believe and always shall
believe in the infallible and inerrant original text of Scripture.
The problem here is quite simple. Matthew
is quoting Zechariah and saying it is Jeremiah. The quote is nowhere found in
Jeremiah, so Matthew appears to be wrong. The fact that it does appear in
Zechariah appears to “confirm” his error. There are some simple, possible
explanations for this apparent error, and we shall look at them together with
you today. The prophet who said it is a tree in the forest of truth. The forest
of truth is the meaning behind the thirty pieces of silver and the Potter’s
Field, and that is where we shall spend the bulk of our time.
The subject before us, which shall be
made very clear, is unity vs. disunity. A house divided against itself cannot
stand. It doesn’t work in marriage; it doesn’t work in church. The coins once
clanging on the sanctuary floor and then thrown into the Potter’s Field expose
disunity in a vivid and profound way.
Matthew 27:7-10
INTRODUCTION
The authority of Scripture
INSTRUCTION
1. Where is the Potter’s field?
A.
B.
C.
II. What is the Potter’s Field?
A. The loss
B. The power
C. The uniqueness