Matthew 27:1–10 (NKJV, also appearing in Mark 15:1; Luke 22:66; 23:1; John 18:28, Acts 1:18-19)
27 When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. 2 And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
Matthew 27:1-2
After falsely condemning Jesus to death by Jewish law, the leaders of the religion had him delivered to the Roman secular governor of Judea, Pilate.
3 Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.”
And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!”
5 Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.
6 But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood.” 7 And they consulted together and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. 8 Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.
9 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, 10 and gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.”
Matthew 27:3-10
Judas’ betrayal of Jesus began to weigh heavily on his conscience, and he wanted out of the deal with the chief priests. He offered them the money back, but they could not take back the “blood money” into the treasury. He threw the money down in front of them and left, hanging himself in remorse. In the opening of the book of Acts, this act is described in further detail, stating that he burst open and his entrails gushed out. They reasoned as to what to do with the money, and bought the potter’s field, fulfilling a prophecy from Jeremiah. It’s name was identified with the money, being called the Field of Blood from that point forward.
This story demonstrates, to the most extreme limit, the potential ramifications of sin in the life of an individual. Judas sinned egregiously against his Savior, and the guilt was simply more than he felt he could handle. He allowed his greed to overtake his devotion to Christ, and it ate him up inside after the deed was done.
Guilt manifests itself in myriad ways. Not everyone will become suicidal after committing sin. Not everyone will succumb to guilt’s harsh emotions. However, guilt will make life less joyful and will effect not only the sinner, but those around him. Think about the ripples that move out into one’s circle of influence as sin creates that guilt and possibly depression and even worse. Everyone around you is touched. Sin is never an isolated incident, but rather a systemic pressure point that effects many. Think about the consequences of you sin before you sin, and perhaps the sin will not be so tempting after all. However, if you sin, repent. That is the only good and right way to respond to your own sin. Don’t let Satan pin you down in a binding squalor of guilt. The very death that Judas hastened by his betrayal of Christ was meant to effect his forgiveness. Let the death of Christ bring you new life today!
LIVE@5 – November 24, 2021
Devoted To You 