1Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. 2So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.
3When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4“I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”
“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”
5So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
6The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. 8That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, 10and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.” (Matthew 27:1-10)
Thoughts: This passage could be labeled, "Judas's regret." Jesus had predicted that the one who betrayed Him would wish he would never be born. Judas fulfilled this in his suicide. This passage does not teach us about suicide. It does teach us about Judas. When Judas "saw he was condemned" then he regretted it. Perhaps something just clicked in his mind and woke him up to this evil. But perhaps he only wanted Jesus to be arrested, not condemned. The chief priests may have even told Judas that Jesus would not have any real harm. We do not know this. However, betrayal of a friend is a very evil thing.
Acts also speaks of this. Some get all hung up in the details- taking things too woodenly. Matthew speaks of Judas hanging himself. Acts speaks of his throwing himself down. MGM had Judas hanging over a cliff and then falling in their movie. There is some debate about the potter's field. But the basic message is Judas died a terrible self-inflicted death. It is a message for us to not deny or betray our Lord.
Acts also speaks of this. Some get all hung up in the details- taking things too woodenly. Matthew speaks of Judas hanging himself. Acts speaks of his throwing himself down. MGM had Judas hanging over a cliff and then falling in their movie. There is some debate about the potter's field. But the basic message is Judas died a terrible self-inflicted death. It is a message for us to not deny or betray our Lord.
Prayer: Lord, help me to be loyal to you, following you with all my heart.
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