Matthew 27:3-10 Judas Hangs Himself 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.” ************************************************* Judas teaches us how little comfort ungodliness brings a man in the end. We are told that he cast down the thirty pieces of silver, for which he had sold his Master, in the temple and went away in bitterness of soul. That money was dearly earned. It brought him no pleasure even when he had it, just as Scripture says (Prov. 10:2). Sin is, in truth, the hardest of all masters. In its service there are plenty of fair promises, but an utter dearth of performance. Its pleasures are but for a season. Its wages are sorrow, remorse, self-accusation and, too often, death. They that sow to the flesh do indeed reap corruption (Gal. 6:7-8). Are we tempted to commit sin? Let us remember the words of Scripture (Num. 32:23) and resist the temptation. Let us be sure that sooner or later, in this life or the life to come, in this world or in the Judgement Day, sin and the sinner will meet face to face and have a bitter reckoning. Let us be sure that of all trades sin is the most unprofitable. Shameful sin brings no benefits (Rom. 6:21). To what a miserable end a man may come if he has great privileges and does not use them rightly! What an awful death Judas died! (v. 5). An apostle of Christ, a former preacher of the gospel, a companion of Peter and John, commits suicide and rushes into Gods presence unprepared and unforgiven. Let us never forget that no sinners are so sinful as sinners against light and knowledge. None are so provoking to God. It is a solemn saying of Bunyans that None fall so deep into the pit as those who fall backward. Solomon teaches the same (Prov. 29:1). May we all strive to live up to our light. There is such a thing as sin against the Holy Spirit. Clear knowledge of truth in the head, combined with deliberate love of sin in the heart, go a long way towards it. For meditation:Judas has become a term for treachery. Judas betrayed Christ for money; other Judases have done so for other gods. Have you a god that is coming between you and Christ and that might lead you to desert him for it? *********************************************** Proverbs 10:2 2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, But righteousness delivers from death. Galatians 6:7-8 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. Numbers 32:23 23 But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out. Romans 6:21 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. Proverbs 29:1 29 He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
Posted on: Thu, 21 Nov 2013 22:28:37 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015