Lenten Thoughts: Matthew 26:14-16
Thursday, March 5, 2009 at 07:02AM 14 Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.
I find the way verses are constructed to be very instructive.
Then--a transitional word. It would appear that 'then' is a response to the indignation of what had just occurred at the table.
one of the twelve--one of Christ's own, chosen inner circle disciples. One who had daily been privileged not only to have been with Jesus, but to have personally been given insight into what was coming and prepared by Him to carry on the ministry of the Gospel.
whose name was Judas Iscariot--a quick search proved what I expected to find; every time the name Judas Iscariot is mentioned in the New Testament, it is with reference to his being the one who betrayed Jesus. Within a few short verses, we have the sacrificial expression of love and worship of the unnamed woman, and the unthinkable plotting of betrayal of the disciple, Judas Iscariot. Both are forever remembered for their deeds.
I don't think it's an accident that the woman's name is not mentioned in this account. Her deeds were done for the glory of God with no thought for what others would think of her.
went to the chief priests--if Judas had simply become disillusioned. as some commentators would like us to think, there would have been no need to go to the chief priests. He could have just walked away--checked out. But God had ordained that the Son of Man be denied and betrayed before He offered Himself as a sacrifice for our redemption, and the chief priests had a role to play as well.
and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?”--At this point, Judas must still have been able to fool himself into thinking that he had some control over what he was planning. If I deliver Him over to you. To have gone there and to have asked that question proved that, however he tried to couch the words, he had determined in his heart to betray him. There was no 'if' about it, either from Judas' point of view or, more importantly, from God's point of view.
and they paid him thirty pieces of silver--Judas betrayed Jesus for money, plain and simple. John tells us that the indignation he expressed about the 'waste of the ointment was "not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it."
And from that moment--the shift was not a matter of the intent of the heart, but rather a determined purpose.
John 6 records another occasion when the disciples grumbled. I invite you to read that whole chapter today and meditate upon the events of that chapter in light of Judas' betrayal.
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the Twelve, was going to betray him.
Peter got it right. Judas never did.
Reader Comments (3)
Even when the road is difficult, I say with Peter: where else can I go? He holds the words of life!
Thanks for these lenten thoughts that spur me on toward humility and awe before the cross of my Savior...
Wow. How powerful! I miss you at ABC Wednesday.
And isn't it interesting that when Peter denied Christ, he took the path of repentance and forgiveness. Judas went out and hung himself. The path of R and F always leads us back to Jesus- Judas' path just leads to the grave.