We are going to explore two aspects of the historical account in Matthew 27. There is a difference between feeling remorse and asking God for forgiveness. Second, selective obedience to the laws of God.

It is interesting to reflect on the remorse of Judas and the reaction of the chief priests after they had taken Yeshua into custody. Judas felt remorse when he heard Yeshua had been condemned. What did He think was going to happen when He turned Yeshua in? The chief priests hear that Judas declares Yeshua innocent, and they don’t care a bit, but they turn to the law and refuse to put the money back in the temple treasury. They have clearly twisted their thoughts in a knot with a decision to convict Yeshua before any facts were assessed. They rationalize executing an innocent man as if it is not murder, but then refuse to break a much less significant law.

Matthew 27:1-10

Judas’s Remorse

      1Now when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus to put Him to death; 2and they bound Him, and led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate the governor.

      3Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!” 5And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself. 6The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the temple treasury, since it is the price of blood.” 7And they conferred together and with the money bought the Potter’s Field as a burial place for strangers. 8For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “AND THEY TOOK THE THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER, THE PRICE OF THE ONE WHOSE PRICE HAD BEEN SET by the sons of Israel; 10AND THEY GAVE THEM FOR THE POTTER’S FIELD, AS THE LORD DIRECTED ME.”

Notice that Judas did not repent. He did not turn to God and ask forgiveness. He simply felt guilty for what he had done. This is a very important distinction. One we should all heed carefully. If we do wrong, it is not enough to feel bad and try to fix it. We must turn to God and ask forgiveness and submit to Him.

As for the behavior of the chief priests, we must be on guard that we don’t get so focused on a certain outcome that we lose track of what is righteous and what is wicked. It is no good to reject God’s ways to accomplish what we want (e.g. murder of Yeshua in this case), and then to carefully cling to other laws and instructions as if we are righteous. We must serve Him fully, and with emphasis on the more important commands to be sure. Perhaps a silly comparison would be if a man’s son would avoid taking a cookie from a cookie jar without permission, but then steal $100 from his wallet or beat up the little boy next door. That is not righteousness.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please lead me in righteousness. Help me stay fully submitted to You. Let me not get blinded by what I want, but faithfully serve You in what You want. When I sin, help me turn to You and ask forgiveness. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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