Wednesday
of Holy Week
(Isaiah 50:4-9a; Matthew 26:14-25)
Of the four gospels Matthew’s gives the
most complete report of Judas’ betrayal.
As a matter of fact, he is the only witness of much of the chilling
story. Matthew shows Jesus bargaining
with the chief priests for thirty pieces of silver in exchange for Jesus. He pictures Judas defying Jesus during the
Last Supper and in Gethsemane by calling anyone “Rabbi.” Matthew shows Judas’ treachery reaching a low
point when he uses a kiss as a signal to capture Jesus. Then Matthew concludes his account of Judas by
showing him returning the money to the high priests and hanging himself.
Judas betrays Jesus out of greed. The thirty pieces of silver comprise one
hundred twenty days of wages for a skilled laborer. In the end Judas appears remorseful when he
goes back to the chief priests. But he
is not really expressing contrition for his sin. He offended Jesus, not the
chief priests. If he were truly repentant,
he would have sought Jesus’ forgiveness.
Judas was greedy, defiant, and
disloyal. We may possess these or
similar character flaws. Hopefully, we
pray every day that God will correct them.
We never want them to cause us to betray our friends. Most of all, let them never move us to betray
Jesus, the best of our friends.
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