Only Matthew tells us what happened to Judas. His portrayal of the chief priests is quite cold. When Judas comes in complaining that he has betrayed innocent blood they as not the least interested in any question of guilt or innocence. When he throws the money down seemingly the only reason they don’t say, “Thank you for the donation,” is because it is against the law for them to accept blood money. Judas hangs himself in guilt but I have no doubt he would have found forgiveness if he could have carried that load of guilt to Jesus. Next to unbelief, guilt is the major stumbling block people have in responding to the gospel.
Matthew is also the only gospel writer to mention Pilate washing his hands of Jesus' conviction. The problem here of course is that Jesus’ conviction was in Pilate’s hands. He knew Jesus was not guilty of anything that warranted death, or even a beating. He was a weak man who caved in to the political pressure brought to bear on him. With power comes responsibility.
Finally, the irony of the people’s response to Pilate washing his hands is profound. “Let His blood be on us and our children.” Often through out history this response has been used by evil men as a pretext for persecution of the Jews. (These persecutions are often simply a pretext for seizing the property of the Jews.) I’m sure God hears this response and far from seeking vengeance hears an unintended prayer.
There is a fountain filled with blood,
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins.
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Loose all their guilt stains.
(William Cowper, 1772)
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