“This fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah that says, ‘They took the thirty pieces of silver—the price at which he was valued by the people of Israel, and purchased the potter’s field, as the LORD directed.’”
Matthew 27:9-10
Thirty pieces of silver—God called them “the magnificent sum at which they valued me!” (Zechariah 11:13)
A scale of values had been written in the Law of Moses for anyone paying the value of that person in place of their life. (Lev. 27:1) Of course, teachers of the Law would know that a male between 20 and 60 years of age was valued at 50 shekels, so why did they pay only 30 pieces of silver for Jesus’ life?
Even though definitions of a “piece” of silver vary, the “number” of pieces is still significant. Essentially, in the eyes of those religious leaders, Jesus’ worth did not even equal that of other males his age! And even more shocking—according to Jewish Law, thirty silver coins was the value of a slave! (Ex. 21:3)
Can you imagine waiting 400 years for your Messiah to come, and yet when the He arrives, you treat Him as a slave? However, their actions make me wonder how I value Jesus. Do I surrender to Him as my Lord? Or do I live my own way, but then ring the bell when I want Him to serve me? Do I invite Him to dwell in my house, or do I leave Him outside in the servants’ quarters?
Where is Jesus on MY scale of values?
