And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. Matthew 26:23–24
1. A woman anoints Jesus with expensive ointment.
2. Judas makes an arrangement with the Jewish leaders to betray Jesus.
3. Jesus celebrates the Passover with His disciples and institutes the Lord’s Supper.
4. Together, Jesus and His disciples leave for the Mount of Olives.
5. Jesus suffers and agonizes in Gethsemane.
6. Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss.
7. One of the disciples clips an ear in the confrontation with the authorities, and Jesus heals the ear.
8. Jesus’ trial commences and Peter denies Jesus three times.
Verses 14–25. We read in the beginning of this passage, how our Lord Jesus Christ was betrayed into the hands of His deadly enemies. The priests and scribes, however anxious to put Him to death, were at a loss how to effect their purpose, for fear of an uproar among the people. At this juncture a fitting instrument for carrying out their designs, offered himself to them, in the person of Judas Iscariot. That false apostle undertook to deliver his Master into their hands, for thirty pieces of silver.
There are few blacker pages in all history, than the character and conduct of Judas Iscariot. There is no more dreadful evidence of the wickedness of man. A poet of our own has said, that “sharper than a serpent’s tooth is a thankless child.” But what shall we say of a disciple who could betray his own Master—an apostle who could sell Christ? Surely this was not the least bitter part of the cup of suffering that our Lord drank.
Let us learn, in the first place, from these verses, that a man may enjoy great privileges, and make a great religious profession, and yet his heart all the time may not be right before God.
Judas Iscariot had the highest possible religious privileges. He was a chosen apostle, and companion of Christ. He was an eyewitness of our Lord’s miracles, and a hearer of His sermons. He saw what Abraham and Moses never saw, and heard what David and Isaiah never heard. He lived in the society of the eleven apostles. He was a fellow-laborer with Peter, James, and John. But for all this his heart was never changed. He clung to one darling sin.
Judas Iscariot made a reputable profession of religion. There was nothing but what was right, and proper, and becoming in his outward conduct. Like the other apostles, he appeared to believe and to give up all for Christ’s sake. Like them he was sent forth to preach and work miracles. No one of the eleven appears to have suspected him of hypocrisy. When our Lord said, “One of you shall betray me,” no one said, “Is it Judas?” Yet all this time his heart was never changed.
We ought to observe these things. They are deeply humbling and instructive. Like Lot’s wife, Judas is intended to be a beacon to the whole church. Let us often think about him, and say, as we think, “Search me, O Lord, and try my heart, and see if there be any wicked way in me.” Let us resolve, by God’s grace, that we will never be content with anything short of sound, thorough, heart conversion.
Let us learn, in the second place, from these verses, that the love of money is one of the greatest snares to a man’s soul. We cannot conceive a clearer proof of this, than the case of Judas. That wretched question, “What will you give me?” reveals the secret sin which was his ruin. He had given up much for Christ’s sake, but he had not given up his covetousness.
Let us all be on our guard against the love of money. The world is full of it in our days. The plague is abroad. We are all liable to the infection, from the least to the greatest. We may love money without having it, just as we may have money without loving it. It is an evil that works very deceitfully.
We ought frequently to call to mind the solemn words, “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” “We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” Our daily prayer should be, “give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me” (Prov. 30:8). Our constant aim should be to be rich in grace.
Let us learn, in the last place, from these verses, the hopeless condition of all who die unconverted. The words of our Lord on this subject are peculiarly solemn. He says of Judas, “It would have been better for that man, if he had not been born.” This saying admits of only one interpretation. It teaches plainly, that it is better never to live at all, than to live without faith, and to die without grace. To die in this state is to be ruined forevermore. It is a fall from which there is no rising. It is a loss which is utterly irretrievable. There is no change in hell.
Let us grasp this truth firmly, and not let it go. There are always people who dislike the reality and eternity of hell. We live in a day when a morbid charity induces many to exaggerate God’s mercy, at the expense of His justice, and when false teachers are daring to talk of a “love of God, lower even than hell.” Let us resist such teaching with a holy jealousy, and abide by the doctrine of Holy Scripture.
1. What are the themes of chapters 1 through 26?
2. Why was the religious leadership hesitant to arrest Christ in the broad daylight?
3. For how much money did Judas betray the Savior? What was the “secret” sin that lurked in the heart of this man?
4. What were the privileges of Judas Iscariot? Was he more privileged than those of us sitting here today?
1. Could any one of us turn into a Judas Iscariot? Do we have the capability of becoming like this man? How will we be protected from this horrible predicament?
2. How did Jesus feel to be betrayed by one of His disciples? Have you ever been betrayed?