Easy Money?

“The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” (Matthew 26:24)

I told them, “If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.” So they paid me thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the handsome price at which they valued me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter at the house of the Lord. (Zechariah 11:12-13)

“You should take warning so that when the disciples gather, it is not “eleven” with you missing.” –Rev. Dr. Sam Vassel

In Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Sam spoke about the tragic problem of small, private compromise inevitably becoming public betrayal. We learned that Judas’s downfall was rooted in his belief that he could continue in seemingly minor indiscretions while continuing his life as one of the Twelve. And, although Judas heard the same teachings and warnings as the other disciples, he continued his indiscretions.

In reviewing the details of the betrayal, our pastor indicated that Judas was being asked to betray Jesus by doing a couple of simple things that Judas did every day: identify Jesus, and greet Jesus. In agreeing to do this, Judas received thirty silver coins. It was a small amount in comparison to Mary’s extravagant offering of perfume worth a year's wages. It was a big amount in comparison to the two simple things he was being asked to do. It was a prophetic amount: Judas's agreement fulfilled the word of God that had been revealed in Old Testament scriptures.

On the surface, the betrayal of Jesus by Judas had presented itself as just another minor indiscretion. But, as we learned on Sunday, it blew up into something much greater. Pastor Sam noted that, in reading the text, we can infer that Judas’s suicide was an indicator that Judas did not really expect Jesus to be condemned to death. We see this inferred in Matthew 27:3-5:

When 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.  “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

Judas, who had expected to keep both the money and his Lord, lost both.

But, what of us today? Are we walking through our discipleship while maintaining secret devotion to selfish gain? Are we, as our pastor said of Judas, playing with “little compromises” that are preparing us for massive betrayals? Or, worse, are we justifying our indiscretions by claiming that Scripture shows that some will be lost? Pastor Sam said, and I paraphrase here, Certainly all Scripture will be fulfilled. But God has given everyone free will, and we can choose to do what is right.

You don’t have to be the Judas of your day.

Lord, You are more precious than silver;

Lord, You are more costly than gold.

Lord, You are more beautiful than diamonds,

And nothing I desire compares with You! (Lynn DeShazo, 1982)

All Scripture references are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.