Judas' Price

 

Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him. (Matthew 26:14-16 ESV).

 

I find it very interesting that we see this side of Judas Iscariot revealed as it is in our reading today. We know that Judas betrayed Jesus. Many have sought to make the betrayal about his disillusionment with Jesus. He was a political zealot who desired that the Jews be set free from the heavy hand of the Roman empire. Undoubtedly, he saw Jesus as the promised Messiah and believed it would be this One who would restore the Davidic kingdom. However, as we see in our reading what led Judas to take this final step of betrayal was simply the money. His question is very revealing. He asks, “What will you give me if I deliver Him to you?”

 

There had been other minor betrayals before this one. In the circle of the twelve closest followers of Jesus, Judas had been appointed treasurer. As donations came in, Judas was expected to use the money for the group’s expenses or to help people in poverty (cf. John 13:29). But Judas also took some of the money for himself. Now Judas saw a better financial opportunity——a more lucrative way to take advantage of his relationship with Jesus. Judas investigated, and he learned he could collect thirty silver coins as a reward for turning Jesus over to the people who wanted him dead. So Judas sold Jesus, his master and teacher.

 

But earlier Judas had been present when Jesus asked his followers this vital question: “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Matthew 16:26). Apparently, Judas no longer valued Jesus as his master, or even as a fellow human being. When Jesus was teaching, Judas heard only the clank of silver coins; when Judas looked at Jesus, he saw only a chance to make some money. Now, before we are too hard on Judas, we must examine our own motives. Do we sell out to gain some worldly trinket or treasure? Are we willing to use the name of Jesus for our advantage? If the answer is yes, we are no better than Judas in our own betrayal.