Tag Archives: Judas

Matthew 27- 30 Pieces of Silver

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When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. Matthew 27:1-5

The Apostles Creed states “suffered under Pontius PIlate ” Even though Pilate tried to “wash his hands” of the death of Christ, it was under his authority that he determined Jesus was to be crucified by the Romans. The religious leaders of Israel, used the Roman government to do their dirty work in killing the Messiah. Ultimately there were alot of evil hands involved in the death of Christ, but God used it to fulfill His will and deliver us from our sins

One of the main evil participants was Judas Iscariot, who we talked about in depth previously. Now that Judas fulfilled his betrayal of Christ, it was time for him to get paid the 30 pieces of silver. If you think God is not in control, this was prophesied in Zechariah 11:10-17 

12And I said unto them, If ye think good, give [me] my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty [pieces] of silver. 13And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty [pieces] of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD. 

And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; And gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me. Matthew 27:6-10

So why did the Apostle Matthew refer to Jeremiah when the prophecy was actually foretold by Zechariah? Is there actually a contradiction in the Bible? No, during the first century the scriptures were divided into three sections The Law, The Prophets, and The Psalms, this was confirmed by Jesus (Luke 24:44) When Matthew was referring to Jeremiah, he was referring to The Prophets section, which Jeremiah was traditionally the first book on the scroll

Jesus said “What does it profit to gain the whole world and lose your soul” (Matthew 16:26) When Judas received his 30 pieces of silver, did it bring him happiness? No, he hanged himself on a tree. As Jesus foretold “It would have been better he was never born at all” (Matthew 26:24) 

Matthew 26- Never ReBorn

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Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him. Matthew 26:14-16

When you try to think of the most evil names in human history, Judas is on the top of the list. Even people who are not Christians, can associate the name of Judas, with being a great villain. Probably one of the most hated people in history is Judas Iscariot, so how did this man become an Apostle? Was Judas ever really saved? Why did Christ allow Judas in his inner circle, when he knew Judas was going to betray him?

Whenever you talk about Judas, many thoughts and theological conversations are sparked. As we often hear “God works in mysterious ways” , God actually fulfilled His will by using the evil of Judas that was meant for Christ’s harm. It’s amazing how even when Satan thinks he’s won a battle, God is always in complete control. 

And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. Zechariah 11:12

Judas loved money more than he loved God, this is why Jesus warned about the love of money through his ministry (Matthew 19:24) Money has become Judas’ god, and when the opportunity came to make 30 pieces of silver, Judas chose his god, money. The amazing thing is God already knew this was going to happen, as prophesied by Zechariah

In the gospel of Luke it says “Satan entered Judas, then he discussed ways to betray Jesus” (Luke 22:3-4) So we see a storm brewing here, Judas love for money , then Satan uses that lust to betray Christ. It’s clear that Judas had a heart issue, he didn’t love The Lord God with all his heart, mind, soul, and strength. In the gospel of Mark it says “Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus” (Mark 14:11) So this was a premeditated crime, this was not a spontaneous act by Judas, he planned this out driven by his lust for money

 Then Jesus made the statement at the Last Supper “It would be better for him if he not been born” (Matt. 26:24) ,Christ revealed someone would betray him and there would be eternal damnation.  Judas replied was “Surely, not I Rabbi” and Christ replied “ You have said it yourself” (Matthew 26:25) Jesus called Judas out on his sin , before he even committed it, and Judas still denied it, like the devil he is

Reminds me of a quote from JC Ryle “Except a man be Born Again, he will wish he was never born at all”  Judas clearly wasn’t Born Again and He now probably wishes he was never born , as he’s most likely in Hell

Even though Judas Iscariot, was one of the original Apostles, he was never saved, he never loved Christ. He attended all the meetings, even broke bread with The Lord, but he never became Born Again!

Luke 22- Kiss of Death

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And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. Luke 22:47-51

Previously we looked at Judas, and how Satan entered him to betray Christ Jesus. Now the hour has come, for the Son of Man to be glorified. Judas was going to sell his soul , to hand Jesus over to the Romans for 30 pieces of silver. However God used the evil actions of man, and turned it for our good (Romans 8:28) While Satan thought he had the perfect plan to kill the Messiah, he was actually fulfilling the prophecies of Christ defeating sin and death at the cross!

The disciples asked Jesus “Should we strike them with our swords”? The Lord told them No, why? Because the hour has come for the prophecies to be fulfilled, Jesus will be handed over to evil men and be crucified as the Lamb of God. All the evil thoughts and actions by the religious leaders, the Romans, and Judas, were still used for our good, God was always and is always in complete control

Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. Luke 22:52-53

As prophesied in Isaiah 53:7 “He was like a lamb led to the slaughter” Jesus the sinless, Lamb of God, was taken violently by an vicious army of Roman soldiers and religious leaders. The suffering servant , who was despised and rejected, took on the penalty for our sins

Jesus was pierced for our transgressions, Christ was crushed for our sins, By the stripes and wounds of the Son of God, we are eternally healed and can obtain the peace of God which is beyond all human comprehension. God has laid the sin of us all on Christ, it was the will of God to crush him and cause him to suffer

It all began with the Kiss of death, the kiss from the betrayer, the son of perdition. But God always had a redemption plan for humanity through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen!

Luke 22- Brotherhood Betrayal

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Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people. Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. Luke 22:1-4

Betrayal sometimes comes from the place you least expect it. Its hard to believe Judas was  actually an Apostle of Christ. Judas was in the inner circle of the Son of God, heard all Christ teachings, he witnessed countless miracles, yet Judas still betrayed the Son of God. Why? Because it says “Satan entered into Judas” Was this literal or metaphorical, regardless Satan influenced Judas to give up his soul for 30 pieces of silver.This is why Jesus warned his disciples to beware and stay alert, keep yourself from sin

Satan wanted to kill off the Messiah, so he deceived and used anyone he could including chief priests and Apostles, don’t think Satan can’t deceive you also. These were all men who knew the scriptures, they have all witnessed the miracles, yet they were blinded by their sin. Let this be a dire warning to all of us, don’t be deceived, cling closely to The Lord and not of this world

And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.  Luke 22:5-6

Now at a quick glance, this might have seemed like a victory for Satan. He persuaded one of Christ’s own disciples to betray him. However God is always in complete control! God took the evil plot by Satan and used it for our good, (Romans 8:28) Judas became a fulfillment of prophecy (Psalm 41:9, Zechariah 11)

This obviously brings up the interesting debate between our free will and God’s sovereignty. Did Judas even have a choice to betray Jesus?  I think so, God never told Judas he needed to betray Christ, Judas chose to follow his lust for money and listen to Satan. However God already knew Judas was going to betray Christ, and used his evil to fulfill the requirements of the Messiah’s sacrifice for the atonement of our sins.

I know this is difficult for our human minds to comprehend, but remember God is outside of time, space, and matter. God is eternal and already knows the beginning and the end, He knows the days of your life , however you still have the free will to choose the way of life or death. Its a difficult topic to comprehend , that’s why Christians have spent centuries , even still today, arguing over soteriology.

Just know this, God is in complete control, God will take what was meant for your harm and use it for your good, you are saved through Jesus Christ Amen!