And I took my staff, Beauty, and cut it in two, that I might break the covenant which I had made with all the peoples. So it was broken on that day. Thus the poor of the flock, who were watching me, knew that it was the word of the Lord. Then I said to them, “If it is agreeable to you, give me my wages; and if not, refrain.” So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver.” Zechariah 11:10-12 NKJV
Why did you break your staff? The elders were unnerved seeing the magnificent shepherd’s rod, “Beauty,” now shattered before them. Without hesitation, the shepherd called for his wages. Conferring angrily, they gave him thirty pieces of silver!? “This is my ‘magnificent’ pay for all I have done? Cast it to the potter in the house of the Lord”, he said. And just as dramatically, he broke his other staff, the one he called “Bonds,” saying, “The unity between Judah and Israel is gone!”
What does this prophecy in the book of Zechariah truly reveal about Yeshua’s betrayal for thirty pieces of silver and His body being broken for us during Passover? This prophetic story in Zechariah, with its shattered staves, Beauty, and Bonds, foreshadowed Yeshua’s betrayal. But more than that, His broken body was the instrument to bring salvation to all people who will repent and follow Him.
As we approach this time of the year when we remember the Last Supper, we are reminded of his betrayal. The ancient words that preface our taking communion begin with, “On the same night in which He was betrayed (He) took bread.” (I Cor. 11:23)
How shocking that this word, betrayed, is appended to the Lord’s Supper – the very symbol of our salvation. We live in a time when people are abandoning the One who gave Himself for them and deconstructing their faith for far less than thirty silver coins. Yeshua spoke of His impending betrayal seven times in Mathew’s Gospel. I want to focus on three instances especially – betrayed into the hands of men, betrayed to the elders of Israel, and finally betrayed into the hands of sinners. Each of these placed a value on the Master. “What is Yeshua worth to you?”
I. Betrayed into the Hands of the Nations
“Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.” Mat. 17:22 NKJV
The dramatic episode in the book of Zechariah was fulfilled in the rejection of Yeshua, the Great Shepherd. Zechariah’s dramatic shepherd with the two staves, Beauty, and Bonds was a picture of the Lord shepherding rebellious sheep. Holding His glorious staff for all to see, he cut it before the people – in Hebrew, literally “chopping” it down.
Shepherds often carried two implements – a rod and a staff. With the rod, the shepherd defended his sheep from predators, and He guided them with his staff. The staff called “Beautiful” was symbolic of God’s covenant with “all peoples.” Some commentaries argue that “Beautiful” was the rod that kept the nations from attacking the people of Israel. The breaking of “Beauty” removed Israel’s protection, ultimately allowing the Romans to destroy Jerusalem and the Holy Temple.
This staff also represented God’s covenant (brit) with the nations, perhaps even the same covenant “cut” with Noah and his descendants after the flood. Though there will never again be a flood of water to cover the earth, with the breaking of Beauty, there is now an expectation of consuming fire and judgment. The nations will be held accountable.
The Beautiful Broken Staff and the Messiah
But I see another parallel. The breaking of beauty is a picture of Yeshua’s rejection and crucifixion. As the season approached that final Passover, Yeshua said, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.” Just as the shepherd’s rod, “Beauty,” was broken, so Yeshua was given into the hands of the nations to be killed. The Hebrew word for beauty, Noam, means pleasant. Yet, no more beautiful and pleasant gift has ever been given than Yeshua. His betrayal into the hands of the nations to be “cut off” was God’s means to save all people. In these end times, the nations must again decide what to do with Yeshua – bow before Him or rebel? When He returns, He will not be broken; He will rule the nations with a “rod of Iron.”
Now, we look to Yeshua’s betrayal by the Chief Priests and the breaking of the second staff, called Bonds.
II. Betrayed into the hands of Scribes and Chief Priests
“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death.” Mat. 20:18 NKJV
The Shepherd’s second staff in Zechariah’s prophecy was called Bonds, symbolizing the unity between Judah and Israel. Just before it was broken, the Shepherd asked the elders for His wages of separation. Conferring together, they gave a minimal price of thirty pieces of silver.
“Then I said to them, “If it is agreeable to you, give me my wages; and if not, refrain.” So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—that princely price they set on me. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord for the potter. Then I cut in two my other staff, Bonds, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.” Zech. 11:12-14 NKJV
Those same words were repeated as Judas, one of the twelve, went to the chief priest, saying, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.” Mat. 26:14-16 NKJV
Judas tailored his words to the sensitivities of those who opposed Yeshua, not even mentioning the Master by name. As one commentary noted, “When they spake of him, (they) usually said, “he,” or “that man,” or “this fellow.” And in the same rude way Judas now treats his master.” [1]
Judas’ betrayal began with compromise and theft from the treasury. It finally manifested into a bitter heart, callous even in how he offered the Lord up. We are now witnessing a great falling away. Some who once walked with the Lord are cold, while others have completely walked away. If you ever wonder where one stands with the Lord, listen closely to how they speak of Yeshua. Like Judas, their words will betray them.
Thirty Shekels for the Potter
As the shepherd in Zechariah was given the paltry pay of thirty silver coins, the minimum compensation for a servant accidentally killed (Exodus 21:32), so the chief priests agreed on the same price for Yeshua. Judas, for his part, was prepared to take any offer. And though he was conscience-stricken seeing the results of his betrayal, even the way he returned the money fulfilled Zechariah’s words. Casting the money into the House of the Lord, the priest refused to return it to the treasury and instead purchased a burial ground at the potter’s field. (Mat. 27:6-10). We all must answer the question, “How much do you and I value the Lord”? Is He beyond any price?
Now, let us examine a final betrayal statement of Yeshua – betrayal into the hands of sinners.
III. Betrayed into the Hands of Sinners
“Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.” Mat. 26:45 NKJV
Yeshua was betrayed into the hands of the nations, to the elders of Israel, and finally into the hands of sinners. Pilot’s wife begged her husband to have nothing to do with Yeshua. The Roman soldiers made sport, dressing him in royal robes and placing a crown of thorns on His head. And two thieves crucified Yeshua’s right and left also had to choose. One mocked Him, but the other pleaded, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” All have sinned and come short of the glory of God, and therefore, all must decide, “What will I do with Yeshua?”
Lord, Is it I?
On the night that Yeshua was betrayed, Matthew recorded these words:
“When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve. Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?” Matthew 26:20-22 NKJV
Each disciple mournfully looked inward and asked, “Lord, is it I?” Even Judas turned and asked the question. Nobody that night suspected Judas.
“Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “Rabbi, is it I?” He said to him, “You have said it.” Mat. 26:25 NKJV
The good news is that the Messiah came to call sinners to repent. And so, Yeshua was betrayed into the hands of all sinners for them to decide. The two thieves were condemned to die with Yeshua, and each had to decide. The Roman soldier at the foot of Yeshua had to decide. Each one of us must decide.
A Love Worth Ten Times More
I began asking what value you would place on the Lord. Something unusual happened on the night that Judas betrayed the Lord for thirty pieces of silver. A young woman, Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, came into the banqueting hall in Bethany carrying an alabaster jar. As it was cracked open, the spikenard’s overwhelming fragrance flooded the room. With extravagance, she poured the ointment upon the head of the Lord. Judas indignantly exclaimed, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” Mark 14:4b-5 NKJV
This was lavish; excessive love poured out. For Mary, no amount was too high for her devotion to the Savior. For Judas, no price was too low to betray Him! While Mary spent more than THREE HUNDRED silver denarii, Judas settled for just thirty! Her extravagance was ten times more valuable than the price for which Judas agreed to betray His Lord. As we approach the season of Good Friday and remember the resurrection, let us renew our love and commitment to the Good Shepherd, broken, betrayed, and victoriously raised to life. He is worth far more than we can ever give or receive.
[1] John Gill Commentary, (Mat. 26:15)