Correspondence: Matthew 27:5

Narrator: Chris Genthree

Matthew 27:5 • 1 min. read • grade level: 7

Judas' Casting Down the Money in the Temple (To the Editor of the Bible Treasury.)

Dear Mr. Editor,

Allow me to draw your attention to Matt. 27:5⁵And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. (Matthew 27:5). The word employed is ναός, not ίερόv. What brought Judas in there? We can hardly suppose him to have been a priest. If not, his association and connection with the priests must have been very intimate to have him admitted there where only priests might come. There must have been an arranging of the wickedness sought to be accomplished which gave this intimacy and access to a place appropriated to the priests. I do not find ναός used for the general buildings of the temple. It may be found in a dictionary on account of this passage; but though I have no opportunity of consulting books where I write this, I do not think such a use of ναός is warranted. Can you throw any light upon it? The importance to me is as throwing light on the dealings between Judas Iscariot and the priests.

J. N. D.

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