Matthew 26:14-25
Then one of the twelve, the one named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me to betray him into your hands?” So they set out thirty silver coins for him. From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray him.
Now on the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near. I will observe the Passover with my disciples at your house.”’” So the disciples did as Jesus had instructed them, and they prepared the Passover. When it was evening, he took his place at the table with the twelve. And while they were eating he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.” They became greatly distressed and each one began to say to him, “Surely not I, Lord?” He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for him if he had never been born.” Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus replied, “You have said it yourself.”
The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible® http://netbible.com copyright ©1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.
COMMENT & QUESTIONS
We suddenly arrive at Thursday evening. Jesus has spent the last few days in Jerusalem settling in. The people are glad that He is there, but the leaders are angry (especially because He keeps criticising them openly). They hatch a plan to arrest Him in private and Judas agrees to lead them to Jesus. Why do you think Judas gave up on Jesus? What reason would he have had for giving up on Jesus? What made Him decide to give Jesus over to the rulers for some money?
Judas perhaps saw how powerful and mighty the leaders in Jerusalem were and he was scared. Or perhaps he was just serving money instead of serving God (Matt 6:24). Whatever the reason was, he clearly loved the world more than He loved God. There are ultimately no excuses for his choice. Even though he bitterly regretted it later (Matt 27:3-4), Judas had sinned greatly by choosing to abandon Jesus and place allegiance with the Pharisees and Romans.
PRAYERS
Pray that we will never leave Jesus and that we will always be on His side