Lessons from Judas
Matthew 27:1-10
Early in the morning, all the head cohanim (priests) and elders met to plan how to bring about Yeshua’s death. 2 Then they put him in chains, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.
3 When Y’hudah (Judas), who had betrayed him, saw that Yeshua had been condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the head cohanim and elders, 4 saying, “I sinned in betraying an innocent man to death.” “What is that to us?” they answered. “That’s your problem.” 5 Hurling the pieces of silver into the sanctuary, he left; then he went off and hanged himself.
6 The head cohanim took the silver coins and said, “It is prohibited to put this into the Temple treasury, because it is blood money.” 7 So they decided to use it to buy the potter’s field as a cemetery for foreigners. 8 This is how it came to be called the Field of Blood, a name it still bears. 9 Then what Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) the prophet spoke was fulfilled, “And they took the thirty silver coins, which was the price the people of Isra’el had agreed to pay for him, 10 and used them to buy the potter’s field, just as the Lord directed me.”
Zechariah 11:12-13
12 I said to them, “If it seems good to you, give me my wages; if not, don’t.” So they weighed out my wages, thirty silver [shekels, that is, twelve ounces]. 13 Concerning that “princely sum” at which they valued me, Adonai said, “Throw it into the treasury!” So I took the thirty silver [shekels] and threw them into the treasury in the house of Adonai.
Confusion... In this passage it says that what "Jeremiah the prophet spoke was fulfilled." However, the reference in the writings of the Prophets came from Zechariah. I was confused. I found this article to bring some clarification to this issue. Click the link for a better understanding than me trying to write it all out again.
What I want to focus on in this passage is the remorse of Judas. I don't remember being taught about this. I"m sure I have heard it several times, but it never struck me before. Judas returned to the priests and said, "I sinned in betraying an innocent man to death."
The reaction of the "religious leaders" is appalling (in my opinion). A man came to them and admitted to a sin, and they chose not to listen. They chose to rebuke him and turn from him and tell him, "That's your problem."
God forgives us when we go to Him and repent. God listens to us when we give Him all we know we have done wrong. God does not turn us away to tell us it is "our problem." In fact, He waits with open arms for us to run to Him in repentance!
We need to learn a lesson and NOT act like the religious leaders. When someone comes to us and says they have sinned, we are told to forgive them and walk with them. The LOVE of God for our neighbor will give us what we need to forgive. The LOVE of God inside of us will help us bring peace to the situation.
We also need to learn a lesson from Judas. When we have done wrong, we need to admit to it. It actually makes me a little sad to think that Judas felt so bad that he hung himself. I wonder what would have happened had the "religious leaders" of the day told Judas they understood, or at least accepted his apology. We know it wasn't part of God's plan because it was prophecies that Jesus would suffer and die, but even if they had accepted Judas' apology and then still followed through, maybe at least Judas would have lived. Part of me wonders if the condemnation Judas received from those he (probably) held in high esteem because of their "status," was the cause of his actions.
Judas should have known that forgiveness came from God, and not man. He should have understood that he didn't need their approval to live. This was where he believed wrongly and it cost him.
We do the same thing. We look for man's approval instead of God's. We want man to "forgive" us so we have peace in our soul. No, we must admit to God that we did wrong. God will forgive us. We must "release man" and walk in peace the best we can.
I realize the words above may cause a stir in some people. I am just thinking out loud as I write.
There is a lot packed in these few verses.
I pray that we all put our actions at the feet of Jesus. Take it to Him today.
Love and blessings,
Rose
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