Read Reflect Respond
Context: Matthew 26
Focus: Matthew 26:14-16
“From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.”
Matthew 26: 16
Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ disciples went to meet with the leading priests to ask how much they would pay him for betraying Jesus to them? And so, they gave him thirty pieces of silver. From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray the Lord.
Although Judas was with Jesus witnessing His Truth through all that He said and did, he harbored greed in his heart. It was his plan all along to use him for his gain. He did not believe He was the Son of God, the Messiah, the one who was sent, coming from God.
It is so important to receive the truth directly from the Word instead of what a movie might represent. I find the portrayal of Judas many times is not scriptural. He is portrayed as not knowing what he was really doing, therefore our emotions are sympathetic. But it is clear throughout scripture how he was in the habit of stealing from the disciples’ purse. Even Jesus called him a devil. And let us not forget how he betrayed Jesus with a kiss. Jesus chose him because of his already hardened heart. But what was meant for evil, God accomplished for good by Jesus dying for all sin on the cross.
Judas’ remorse came from the devil’s accusations and condemnation for betraying an innocent man. For he was under the law and not the cross. After the devil uses someone, he accuses them of the very thing that he tempted them to do, which was already in their unbelieving heart. But to the believer there is always His forgiveness, because they have accepted His salvation.
Therefore, there is never any condemnation for those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. His shed blood covers the believers sins and His Holy spirit sanctifies every believer with the Truth. His Word is Truth. Those who have a repentant heart also have eyes to see and turn to the Lord for His forgiveness which they immediately, receive.
1 John 1:9
CR – Romans 8: 1-4, John 6: 68-71, John 12: 1-6, Luke 22: 1-5
Lord, thank you there is no longer any condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ, because our faith is not in ourselves, but in you, the Son of God, who’s shed blood covers all our sin. We stand before the Father justified by your sacrifice, and not by our works, but by our faith in your grace.
