Why Thirty Pieces Of Silver?

[tyndale1946]

Matthew 26:14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,

15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

Have you ever thought to yourself why 30 pieces of silver?... Jesus was in his 30's at the time and a price for a man at his age was 50 pieces of silver... Why 30?... In the Old Testament in Zachariah it says

Zachariah 11:12 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.

I find in studying scripture, things don't happen by happenstance but there is a reason for it but there is deeper meaning in 30 pieces of silver... So what are you thoughts?... I will give the answer later which makes perfect sense... Brother Glen

 

[kyredneck]

I find in studying scripture, things don't happen by happenstance but there is a reason for it but there is deeper meaning in 30 pieces of silver... So what are you thoughts?... I will give the answer later which makes perfect sense... Brother Glen

Well, I'm very curious as to what you see in this number 30.

More from Zechariah 11:
6 For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith Jehovah; but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbor`s hand, and into the hand of his king; and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them. Zech 11

Fulfillment:
49 I came to cast fire upon the earth (the land) and what do I desire, if it is already kindled?
50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
51 Think ye that I am come to give peace in the earth (the land)? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
52 for there shall be from henceforth five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
53 They shall be divided, father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against her mother; mother in law against her daughter in law, and daughter in law against her mother in law. Lu 12

Josephus records that there more Jews killed by Jews than by Romans during the civil war 66-70AD.

More from Zachariah 11:
7 So I fed the flock of slaughter, verily the poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock. Zech 11

Fulfillment:
10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11 And he answered and said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath.
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14 And unto them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive:
15 For this people`s heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, And I should heal them.
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.

Christ fed 'the flock of slaughter' parables/riddles/dark sayings so that they WOULD NOT understand.

Flock of slaughter:
32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
33 Ye serpents, ye offspring of vipers, how shall ye escape the judgment of hell?
34 Therefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: some of them shall ye kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city:
35 that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth (the land), from the blood of Abel the righteous unto the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom ye slew between the sanctuary and the altar.
36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killeth the prophets, and stoneth them that are sent unto her! how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. Mt 23

More from Zachariah 11:
12 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my hire; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my hire thirty pieces of silver.
13 And Jehovah said unto me, Cast it unto the potter, the goodly price that I was prized at by them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them unto the potter, in the house of Jehovah.

Fulfillment:
3 Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4 saying, I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood. But they said, What is that to us? see thou to it.
5 And he cast down the pieces of silver into the sanctuary, and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.
6 And the chief priests took the pieces of silver, and said, It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood.
7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter`s field, to bury strangers in.
8 Wherefore that field was called, the field of blood, unto this day. Mt 27

 

[tyndale1946]

Well Kentucky thanks for all the other scriptures but you don't want me to let the cat out of the bag yet, do you?... But I guarantee you when you hear the answer it will make perfect sense to you too... I never looked at it that way before, until now... Cool your jets PB... Brother Glen

 

[JonC]

In Exodus, 30 pices of silver was the worth of a slave.

 

[tyndale1946]

In Exodus, 30 pices of silver was the worth of a slave.

I appreciate your answer and it is true in a natural sense but the 30 pieces of silver paid was more precious than any slave... Thanks for playing... Anyone else?... Brother Glen

Jon don't you just love a riddle?

 

[kyredneck]

Cool your jets PB..

...sorry, my enthusiasm gets the best of me sometimes

 

[JonC]

I appreciate your answer and it is true in a natural sense but the 30 pieces of silver paid was more precious than any slave... Thanks for playing... Anyone else?... Brother Glen

Jon don't you just love a riddle?

I suspect it is because that was the price of a slave.

We are talking between $100 and $400 today.

Slaves in American history were valued at (approximately) $1,000. Or about 70 shekles of silver.

 

[tyndale1946]

I suspect it is because that was the price of a slave.

We are talking between $100 and $400 today.

Slaves in American history were valued at (approximately) $1,000. Or about 70 shekles of silver.

We are talking about 30 pieces of silver in the Bible... You are using a natural application, why did it appear in both the OT and the NT?... Like the saying goes in the OT, its concealed in the NT its revealed... Ok Kentucky, since you're chopping at the bit... What does Silver represent?... Brother Glen

 

[JonC]

We are talking about 30 pieces of silver in the Bible... You are using a natural application, why did it appear in both the OT and the NT?... Like the saying goes in the OT, its concealed in the NT its revealed... Ok Kentucky, since you're chopping at the bit... What does Silver represent?... Brother Glen

No. I am talking about 30 pieces if silver in the Bible (adjusted ...or what they would mean for us today). I'm sure an actual coin would be valued higher than an average 4 days wage today.

The Tyrian shekel (silver coins) were the only currency used by Jewish priests in the 1st century. This was also Temple currency and the Jews had to exchange their money for shekels to purchase offerings. (The shekle was appreciated because it was silver).

1st Century Jewish writing specifically lists the price of a slave to be 30 coins (and specifically the Tyrian shekel).

In the 1st Century the silver coin was valued at about 4 days labor. 1 days labor would be 1 denarius.

The Temple tax, by the way, was 1/2 a silver coin paid by all male citizens of age.

We are talking about a substantial sun, but not an extraordinary sum. Less than a weeks wage.

 

[canadyjd]

As JonC stated, thirty pieces of silver was the common price of a slave.

Think about it. The Son of God, God Himself, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, was betrayed for the price of a slave.

It just demonstrates the humiliation of Jesus in this betrayal, torture, crucifixion and death.

peace to you

 

[atpollard]

I suspect it is because that was the price of a slave.

We are talking between $100 and $400 today.

Slaves in American history were valued at (approximately) $1,000. Or about 70 shekles of silver.

Was the 30 pieces of silver for the duration of the 7 years or the 50 years? That whole “year of jubilee” and “sabbath year” thing for Hebrew slaves. I was just thinking about how the business of breeding slaves common in the US and Rome, was probably contrary to the Law of God in Israel.

 

[JonC]

Was the 30 pieces of silver for the duration of the 7 years or the 50 years? That whole “year of jubilee” and “sabbath year” thing for Hebrew slaves. I was just thinking about how the business of breeding slaves common in the US and Rome, was probably contrary to the Law of God in Israel.

It was the value of a slaves life (if your animal killed a slave then you owed the slave's master 30 shekles).

An interesting fact is that this coin was also Temple currency. It was marked with an image of Baal on one side.

The Temple charged a fee to convert other monies to this shekle, and then (of course) got the shekle back as this was the only way to purchase sacrifices the Temple deemed appropriate.



An important distinction should be made between the Jews and the Jewish priests here. Jesus often spoke against the Jewish leaders but never against the Jewish people.

The Jews knew that the Temple priests were corrupt (some, Gamaliel for example, wrote criticizing the corruption). But at the same time their religion was Temple focused.


Anyway, I just add this as a note because some confuse "the Jews" that Jesus spoke against (the Jewish political system) with "the Jews" (the Jewish people) and approach at least a degree of antisemitism foreign to Scripture.

 

[Jesus Saves!]

Philippians 2:5-8 KJVS
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: [6] Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: [7] But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: [8] And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

 

[tyndale1946]

Philippians 2:5-8 KJVS
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: [6] Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: [7] But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: [8] And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

That is a great scripture but the 30 pieces of Silver wasn't for him... Brother Glen

 

[tyndale1946]

Ok to Jon and all the rest of you here is the answer... Now you want to argue about it, you are free to but I'm satisfied and if someone has a better answer lets hear it... I didn't write it, but I borrowed it, and it makes sense to me... Brother Glen

Christ was about 33 ½ years of age when he was crucified. The value of a male servant was set at 50 shekels of silver in the book of Leviticus. Then why was he sold for 30 shekels of silver? According to the prophecy in Zechariah the Lord said that the price was a goodly price. Why was it a goodly price? The answer is that the Lord came to redeem his bride. The value of his bride in bondage as a servant would have been 30 shekels of silver and not 50 shekels of silver. Jesus did not come to redeem himself as he had no need for redemption. He came to redeem his people, his bride. She was the one who was sold into the bondage of sin and required redemption. Jesus gave his life for the redemption of his bride, the family of God.

Those who want to believe it are free to, those who don't, feel free to come up with something better.

 

[JonC]

The value of a male servant was set at 50 shekels of silver in the book of Leviticus. Then why was he sold for 30 shekels of silver?

Because the price of a slave killed was 30 shekles for a male or female as stated in Exodus and this was what was carried over in 1st Century Jewish law.


The 1st Century Temple law placed the redemption of a slave at 30 silver coins.

It was a low price, reinforcing Scripture in how they valued Jesus.

But.... @tyndale1946 .... that does not negate your solution as well.

There are often more than one reason for something. The question that you would answer here is why Exodus and the priests in the 1st century valued a male or female slaves life at 30 pieces of silver.

To look at it another way - I have been answering why the priests would have paid Judas 30 pieces of silver while you are answering why the price of a male or female slave under the Law was 30 pieces of silver.

The bottom line is that the priests valued Jesus' life as that of a slave under Temple law (a low sum.....less than a weeks wage). BUT He was infinitely more valuable and redeemed man (the priests were wrong).

 

[tyndale1946]

Because the price of a slave killed was 30 shekles for a male or female as stated in Exodus and this was what was carried over in 1st Century Jewish law.


The 1st Century Temple law placed the redemption of a slave at 30 silver coins.

It was a low price, reinforcing Scripture in how they valued Jesus.

But.... @tyndale1946 .... that does not negate your solution as well.

There are often more than one reason for something. The question that you would answer here is why Exodus and the priests in the 1st century valued a male or female slaves life at 30 pieces of silver.

To look at it another way - I have been answering why the priests would have paid Judas 30 pieces of silver while you are answering why the price of a male or female slave under the Law was 30 pieces of silver.

The bottom line is that the priests valued Jesus' life as that of a slave under Temple law (a low sum.....less than a weeks wage). BUT He was infinitely more valuable and redeemed man (the priests were wrong).

Hello Jon it was prophesied by Zechariah, the Lord is bridegroom and the ones he died for are the bride... Come to think of it, you would make an ugly bride anyway... Brother Glen

 

[JonC]

Hello Jon it was prophesied by Zechariah, the Lord is bridegroom and the ones he died for are the bride... Come to think of it, you would make an ugly bride anyway... Brother Glen

You are wrong. I'd make a beautiful bride.

I agree with your take on Jesus. I also believe that the priests chose the sum because under Temple Law (due to Exodus) The price of a make or female slave was 30 shekles.

I do not believe that the priests came up with the sum because the Lord is the bridegroom.

We see the same with Joseoh being sold into slavery. His brothers did not sell him so that he would save Israel, although that was indeed the purpose for which he was sold.

 

[atpollard]

It is quite an ironic situation when one really thinks about all of the pieces in motion ...

The PRIESTS - who were supposed to worship and serve God, but who "HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME" - made a payment in Temple Silver Coins. That payment was made to Judas - whom "Satan entered into Judas". Thus in a sense, payment was made from the Priests of God to Satan in God's own coins - to betray the Christ.

However, the whole time, Jesus had set His eye on Jerusalem and the Cross as His goal ... nothing would have stopped Him. Jesus would be that bronze snake, sin judged and condemned, "hung on a tree" and cursed [God cannot be cursed, so it was our condemned sin that would be cursed] ... just as Jesus said in John 3 about the story of Moses and the bronze snake on a pole.

With the 30 pieces of silver being the price a Priest paid for killing a slave [which is what they DID (1) and what HE was (2)] and 30 pieces of silver being the price that a Bridegroom paid to redeem a Bride that was a slave [which is what WE were (3) and what JESUS did (4)].

1. Acts of the Apostles 5:30
2. Matthew 20:28
3. John 8:34
4. Galatians 3:13

Nothing was quite what it seemed and everything was EXACTLY what it was!
Hats off to God ... HE sure has style.

Soli Deo Gloria!