Matthew 27:4 Meaning: When Confession Is Not Enough
saying, “I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? You see to it.”
Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
saying, I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood. But they said, What is that to us? see thou to it.
`I did sin, having delivered up innocent blood;' and they said, `What--to us? thou shalt see!'
saying, I have sinned [in] having delivered up guiltless blood. But they said, What is that to us? see thou [to that].
Meaning in one sentence
Judas confesses betraying innocent blood but his remorse is not repentance. The priests' cold reply reveals their moral evasion. Verse meaning explained.
Context
This verse comes near the end of Jesus's trial. Matthew interrupts his account of Jesus before Pilate to tell what happened to Judas. After seeing Jesus condemned, Judas feels remorse. He returns the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and elders and makes a public confession. He admits he delivered up innocent blood. But the priests brush him off. They got what they wanted. This moment shows two kinds of guilt: one person horrified at what he has done, and leaders who will not face their own part in it. The rest of the chapter follows the grim outcome and the priests' later attempts to handle the money cleanly.
Key Words
Three Greek words stand out here. First, I have sinned (hēmarton). The root hamartanō means to miss the mark. Judas uses the right word, he strayed from the right path, but he says it to the wrong people. He speaks to the priests, not to God. His words are true, but they go nowhere that leads to life.
Second, innocent (athōon) is a legal term meaning not guilty, not liable to punishment. Judas, who lived with Jesus for three years, declares publicly that Jesus is without blame. The priests cannot deny it; they simply ignore it.
Third, the priests reply What is that to us? and You see to it (opsē, you will see). The future tense here becomes a cold dismissal: it is your problem, not ours. The word carries the burden of looking after something, but they mean we refuse to be involved. They deliberately cut off their own responsibility.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this verse as a sharp warning. Gill (Baptist) notes that Judas confessed but not to God, he missed the only One who could forgive. Calvin (Reformed) emphasizes the priests' stubbornness: even when a traitor's remorse exposed their crime, they would not repent. Wesley (Methodist) observes how easily they could digest innocent blood. Catholics and Protestants alike agree that Judas's remorse, though real, was not the metanoia, the turning of heart and mind, that leads to forgiveness. The priests' reply is universally seen as a hardening of conscience. Both the admission and the dismissal point to the same truth: guilt must be brought to God, not shifted onto others.
A common misunderstanding
A common mistake is to think that because Judas said "I have sinned" he was genuinely repenting, and that he would have been forgiven if only the priests had helped him. In fact, his confession was directed to men, not to God. True repentance means turning to the Lord with a broken heart and seeking His mercy. Judas's remorse led to despair and death. The priests' cold response does not excuse him; his failure was that he did not go to the One who could forgive.
Living This Out
When guilt shows up this week, do not stop at the feeling. That ache in your chest is a crossroads. You can go to God with it, or you can try to fix it on your own. Judas shows us that even an honest admission of sin falls short if it stops short of God. He named the wrong, "I betrayed innocent blood", but he did not take it to the Father. So when you feel the weight of something you have done, bring it straight to the Lord. Name it to Him. He does not say, "What is that to Me?" He says, "Come to Me, and I will give you rest."
Main takeaway: Admitting sin out loud is not the same as repenting; true repentance turns from the wrong to God, who alone forgives and restores.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Judas did something very wrong. He said "I have sinned," but he didn't ask God to forgive him. When you do wrong, you can tell God about it, and He will forgive you and help you do better.
For ages 9, 12
Judas knew he had betrayed an innocent man. He even said it out loud. But he didn't take his sin to God. He went to the priests, and they just said "That's your problem." This story is a warning. Saying sorry isn't enough if you don't actually turn from your wrong and trust God for mercy. When you mess up, don't just feel bad, bring it to God. He will forgive you.
Questions People Ask
Did Judas repent or just feel remorse?
Judas said 'I have sinned' and returned the money, but the Bible describes his feeling as remorse, not the deep turning of repentance. He confessed to men, not to God, and then ended his own life in despair. True repentance leads us to God for mercy, and it changes the direction of our lives.
What does 'innocent blood' mean in Matthew 27:4?
The Greek word means not guilty, legally innocent. Judas publicly declares that Jesus has done nothing wrong. It is a powerful testimony to Christ's innocence, coming from the very person who handed Him over.
Why did the priests say 'What is that to us?'
They wanted nothing to do with Judas's guilty conscience. They had already gotten Jesus condemned, and they refused to accept any responsibility. Their cold answer shows their hard hearts and their attempt to avoid complicity, even though they paid for the betrayal.
Is Judas beyond forgiveness? Does this verse suggest his sin was unforgivable?
No. The verse does not say his sin was unforgivable. The problem is that he did not bring his sin to God for mercy. He tried to make things right by returning the money and confessing to men, but he never turned to the One who could forgive him. Anyone who turns to God in true repentance will be received, no matter how great the sin.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study