Thirty Pieces of Silver

Zechariah 11:12

“I told them, ‘If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.’  So they paid me thirty pieces of silver.”

Some numbers in the Bible feel meaningful right away. Seven shows up everywhere. Twelve feels important. Forty usually means someone is about to have a long, uncomfortable season.

But thirty pieces of silver? That one just feels… well, uncomfortable.

In Zechariah 11, the prophet acts out the role of a shepherd who has done his job faithfully—only to be rejected by the very people he cared for. When he finally asks for his wages, they count out thirty pieces of silver. God’s response (Zechariah 11:13) is almost painfully sarcastic:  “And the Lord said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter’—the handsome price at which they valued me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter at the house of the Lord.”

Translation:  “So that’s what you think I’m worth.”

If you are familiar with the Law, you might have caught the insult. Thirty shekels was the price of a slave (Exodus 21:32). 

It wasn’t generous. It wasn’t thoughtful. It was the bare minimum. It’s what you paid when a life didn’t seem to count for much.

And if we’re honest, that sounds uncomfortably familiar.

Now fast-forward to the New Testament, and Zechariah’s words show up again. Judas goes to the chief priests and asks a question that still stings:  “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” (Matthew 26:14). Their answer?  — Thirty pieces of silver. 

No bargaining. No awkward pause. The Son of God is priced at the same level as a slave.

That’s hard to read without wincing.

But Scripture isn’t finished with those thirty coins yet. In Hosea 3, the prophet buys back his unfaithful wife, Gomer, for what amounts to—you guessed it—about thirty shekels. Though his payment is a combination of money and grain—its the same price. But—it’s a completely different heart.

One transaction sells out the innocent. The other redeems the guilty.

That contrast says a lot about us—and even more about God.

Because if we’re being honest, we still find a form of Judas’s question creeping into our own thinking. What will this cost me (us)? Is this worth the effort? How much obedience is reasonable here? It turns out we’re pretty good at doing quiet math when faith gets inconvenient.

Thirty pieces of silver forces us to face an uncomfortable truth:  left to ourselves, we often value Christ far too cheaply. But God never returns that favor. He doesn’t negotiate our worth. He doesn’t try to get a lower price. He pays the price in full—and then gives more than we ever deserved.

And that fact should change how we live—how we love—and how we decide what truly matters.

A Simple Guide to the S.O.A.P. Method of Bible Study

Scripture  |  Observation  |  Application  |  Prayer

If you’re new to Bible study and wondering where to begin, the S.O.A.P. method is one of the simplest—and most meaningful—ways to slow down, listen to God’s Word, and let it shape your daily life. It turns reading into reflection, and reflection into growth.

The name comes from four steps:  Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Think of it as a gentle rhythm that helps you hear, understand, and live out what God is saying.

Why S.O.A.P. Works

Most of us can read a passage and forget it five minutes later. S.O.A.P. helps us linger.

It encourages you to write something down, notice something important, do something with it, and finally bring it to God. This simple structure transforms casual reading into intentional discipleship.

How to Use the S.O.A.P. Method

Grab a notebook or journal (nothing fancy required) and create four headings:  

S, O, A, P

Let's walk through each step slowly and thoughtfully:

S — Scripture:  Write It Out

Choose a verse or a short passage and write it word-for-word.

There’s something powerful about copying Scripture—it forces your mind to slow down and your heart to pay attention.

Questions to help you:

• What does the passage actually say?
• Are there repeated words, commands, or promises?

O — Observation:  What Do You Notice?

Now look carefully at the text. What stands out? What surprises you? What questions come to mind?

You’re not trying to preach a sermon—you’re simply paying attention.

Questions to guide your thinking:

• What do I learn about God?
• What do I learn about people?
• Is there a sin to avoid, a command to obey, or a truth to celebrate?
• What is happening in the passage?

If you have the time and resources available, look up complex words in a bible dictionary. Use a concordance to see other passages that mention like subjects. 

These simple observations build a bridge from the Bible’s world to yours.

A — Application:  How Should This Change Me?

This step is where the Bible moves from the page into your life.

Ask yourself how this truth should shape your choices, attitudes, and actions today.

Questions to help you apply:

• What should I start doing?
• What should I stop doing?
• What should I keep doing?
• How can I live this out in the next 24 hours?

Application doesn’t have to be dramatic—often it’s one small, faithful step.

P — Prayer:  Talk to God About It

Close your study by praying over what you’ve learned.

Ask God to open your heart, strengthen your obedience, and deepen your trust.

Your prayer can be short and simple:

“Lord, thank You for this truth. Help me live it today.”

This final step, reminds us that Bible study is not just information—it’s a conversation with the God who loves us.

An Example:  Philippians 4:6–7

Here’s what a simple S.O.A.P. entry might look like:

Scripture:  “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God…”

Observation:  Paul is teaching me to trade worry for prayer. God gives peace that circumstances can’t.

Application:  Today, when anxiety shows up, I will stop and pray instead of overthinking.

Prayer:  “Father, calm my heart. Help me trust You with whatever worries me today.”

Getting Started

You don’t need a special plan or a long checklist—just start with one verse.

Open your Bible, write it down, and move through the four steps. If you do this regularly, you will begin to notice God’s Word shaping your thoughts, renewing your mind, and strengthening your faith.

Many people find S.O.A.P. especially helpful when paired with a daily reading plan or used in a Bible class or small group. The method is simple enough for beginners but rich enough to guide lifelong Christians.

A Final Encouragement

Growing in God’s Word doesn’t require perfection—just willingness. 

If you take a few minutes each day to read, reflect, apply, and pray, you will grow.

You will hear God more clearly.

And you will find His truth becoming a steady anchor in your everyday life.

Why not start today?

Pick one verse—just one—and walk through S.O.A.P. See what God does with your quiet, honest time in His Word.

1 John 1:1 - Eyewitnesses: Seeing Is Believing

1 John 1:1

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.

Imagine watching a documentary and hearing the story told not by a narrator, but by someone who was actually there—who felt the fear, the excitement, the heartbreak firsthand. That’s what makes Ken Burns’ documentaries so compelling. He uses letters, journals, and personal memories to make history real. 

The writers of the New Testament did the same thing. They didn’t just write stories about Jesus—they shared what they personally saw, heard, and even touched.

John explains this clearly in 1 John 1:1: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled…”

He even stacks the verbs here to make a point:  this isn’t secondhand gossip—it’s eyewitness testimony. John walked with Jesus, witnessed His miracles, and even touched the risen Christ. 

Eyewitness accounts like his are invaluable. They provide reliability, so we aren’t left guessing if these events actually happened. They also humanize the story, helping us imagine what it was like to be there in those life-changing moments.

Eyewitness testimony is essential in history. Without it, stories can be exaggerated, forgotten, or distorted. The New Testament preserves these firsthand experiences, giving us confidence that Christianity isn’t built on rumor or legend—it’s built on real events, observed and recorded by people who lived them.

In short, John’s words remind us:  the gospel is grounded in truth. We can trust it, not just because it inspires, but because it was seen, heard, and handled by those who were there.