Betrayal from within

Scripture Reading

Luke 22:1–6 NIV84

1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, 2 and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. 3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. 4 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. 5 They were delighted and agreed to give him money. 6 He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.

Introduction

We have all probably had an experience of betrayal in our lives, to some extent or another. Sometimes, that betrayal is from someone that was not particularly close.

You confide in them, and the next thing what you said has been broadcast to the world.

Perhaps you do something for their good, and they end up taking the good, but stabbing you in the back in the process.

When betrayal comes from a distance, it’s difficult enough. But when betrayal comes from a person that you’ve trusted, that you’ve spent time building a relationship with, that you’ve sacrificed for… that is exceedingly difficult.

I think of the account of King David, a man after God’s own heart. He was kind and considerate, but right under his nose, his own son Absalom started working to turn the hearts of people away from him, so that he could take over the throne.

Betrayal is real, and, in many respects, it is quite devastating.

But the betrayal of Jesus that we will be looking at today must certainly be the worst case of betrayal ever carried out in history! Not only was Jesus the very Son of God, but He was the one who emulated perfect self-sacrifice. He did not come to be served, but to serve. In deep humility, He served those to whom He ministered. He gave up all the glory that was His at His Father’s side, and took on flesh, and became a servant of His created.

And then He spent three years pouring His life, spending His servant-heart on the training and teaching of 12 particular disciples. One of these, would choose to betray. This is betrayal that we cannot easily comprehend.

This morning, we will consider that betrayal, and I hope that we will get a glimpse into the wickedness of the heart of man, the power of the enemy, but also the grace and mercy of our Saviour as He would ultimately willingly endure the suffering and shame that would come about as a consequence.

1. A Murderous Desire

We begin by considering this ongoing sinful desire in the hearts of the religious leaders. We’ve considered this over the course of our study in Luke, but we must recognise that the extent of the evil and murderous desires of the religious leaders was only growing stronger.

As we consider this, we are reminded in verse 1 of the time that this was taking place.

The Time

Luke 22:1 NIV84

1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching,

We know from our study that much of the past couple of chapters has taken place in Jerusalem, at the time when people had started to gather for the observance of the Passover

We are now even closer to the actual day when this Passover would be observed.

But I would like us to pause at this time, and just take stock of what this time was supposed to represent in the hearts and minds of the Jews.

The Passover had been instituted by God at the time of Israel’s deliverance from captivity and bondage in Egypt. In other words, it was a time of remembering that God, in His great mercy, had delivered this particular group of people, the Israelites, from bondage, from oppression.

But more than this, it was a time when God’s judgment and wrath were going to be poured out on the oppressors. God was going to put to death all of the first-born of Egypt. Only those who had the blood of the lamb on the doorposts of their houses would be spared from the angel of death.

This was a time when the Israelites were remembering that God had spared them from death. But as this time was approaching, all the religious leaders can think of as they approach it, is putting to death. All that they can think of is murder.

Note verse 2...

The Murderers

Luke 22:2 NIV84

2 and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people.

In this verse, Luke presents for us who the murderers were. He tells us who it was that was looking to get rid of Jesus. The group consists of none other than the chief priests and the teachers of the law. (v.2)

In the parallel account in Matthew, it says that the Elders of the people were involved in this. Matthew 26:3

Matthew 26:3 NIV84

3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,

Essentially, it was the hosts of the religious leaders of the Jews that were in on this plot to find some way to deal with Jesus. Even Caiaphas, the high priest - the chief among them.

In fact, we read in Matthew 26:57 that these religious leaders met in the house of Caiaphas the High Priest after arresting Jesus. They brought Jesus to the house of Caiaphas after arresting Jesus.

The Guile

In verse 2, we also read that they were "looking for some way to get rid of Jesus..."

We've seen this woven through the Gospel account, this opposition to Jesus and the attempts to have him put to death.

Christ himself had confronted the religious leaders on their desire to kill him. He knew what was in their hearts. If you read through John’s Gospel, you see this repeatedly. John 7 is a key example.

But again, there was a particular obstacle in their way. The obstacle was not their consciences. It was not the law of the land that was stopping them from carrying out their plots to kill Jesus.

The Obstacle

"They were afraid of the people...." (v.2)

The hindrance was the sheer number of people that followed Jesus.

We also saw this previously...

Luke 19:47–48 NIV84

47 Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. 48 Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.

A little later on in our text, in Luke 22:6, it says...

Luke 22:6 NIV84

6 He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.

If the religious leaders would try and have Jesus put to death, there would be a revolt against them. They would probably end up with a mini war on their hands. The Roman authorities would in all likelihood intervene, and this would spell trouble for the Jews.

What they really lacked at this stage was an opportunity to arrest Jesus without the consequences of a revolt. But the only time that they saw Jesus was really when the people were all around Him in the temple.

Observations.

Sin begets sin...

The initial response from the leaders when Jesus began to preach and teach was some measure of frustration. There was an element of fear - fear that Jesus would take away their own power and authority.

But eventually, that frustration and fear developed into a hatred towards Jesus. It festered and continued to grow. Their anger and hatred in their hearts had by this time grown so large, that it was about to go to its inevitable consequence… murder!!!

In Matthew 5:21-22, we read of Jesus warning that anger in the heart is effectively murder…

Matthew 5:21–22 NIV84

21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

Jesus said very much the same thing about lust in the heart. Whoever lusts commits adultery…

We need to recognise from this that sin begins with an evil thought or desire within the heart. When that evil desire or thought is not put away, it develops and grows. It festers and grows until ultimately it results in far greater sin actually being carried out.

The religious leaders had already murdered long ago in their hearts. But now it was becoming fully developed... it would lead to the logical conclusion!!

When sin is not dealt with in our lives, it will often lead to further sin developing in our lives.

Turn across to Romans 1:21 in your Bibles…

Note the passage in Romans 1... God gave over... repeatedly. Ends up in grievous sin.

We must be careful not to give place for Satan...

2. An Evil Influence

We read in verse 3…

Luke 22:3 NIV84

3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.

This is a very striking verse, and in some senses a frightening one. There are a few things that I’d like to point out from it…

The first thing I’d like us to consider is the phrase, “Satan entered Judas...”

Satan Enters Judas

The same thing is mentioned in John 13:27

John 13:27 (NIV84)

27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him....

Not necessarily Possession

Just because it says that Satan "entered" Judas, we mustn't assume that this was a case of demon-possession, Satanic possession.

It may have been a case of true Satanic possession. But I think there is a strong case to be made for the fact that this was simply a matter of Satan’s powerful influence directing and instructing the heart of Judas, and Judas giving himself over to that powerful leading and directing.

If we see this simply as possession by Satan, it may lead some Christians to think that, because they are Christians indwelt by the Spirit of God, that Satan has no power over them in such a manner.

That could lead to apathy.

Another response may be, “If Satan could possess Judas, is it possible that he could come and take control of me?!”

If we think along either of these lines of thought, I think we’re doing ourselves a disservice as Christians, and we lose sight of the general manner that Satan is at work in the world around us, and how people are led astray by Satan to do that which is evil.

With that in mind, I would like to consider briefly the work of Satan, and how he tends to work. I think that this will be a helpful reminder to us.

Satan's Work...

Essentially, the work of Satan is to turn and entice people away from God's word and ways.

Genesis 3:1 NIV84

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

Satan was immediatley seeking to A little further on in verse 4, we read…

Genesis 3:4 NIV84

4 “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman.

When you get across into the Gospel’s, and you look at the temptation of Jesus, it was again, Satan seeking to tempt Jesus through lies and the misapplication of Scripture…

But there are a couple of other instances that I think help us to see Satan’s work, and the effect that he can have on the hearts of men. One example of the account of Ananias and Sapphira.

Acts 5:1–3 NIV84

1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. 3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?

In this account, Peter speaks of Ananias’ heart being filled by Satan. Clearly, this is a reference to Ananias’ heart having been filled by Satan as he engaged in this sin.

Now, was this sin not conceived in the heart of Ananias himself? Was this not him, along with his wife Sapphira, carrying out their desires? It was indeed. Nonetheless, who was the one leading them? Who was the one placing this temptation before them? It was Satan’s work, deceiving them, turning their hearts according to their own heart’s desires to walk in the ways of Satan.

There’s another example of this that is well-known, and that is the account of Peter seeking to stand in the way of Christ going to the cross.

Matthew 16:23 NIV84

23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

Peter was called "Satan" by Jesus, not because he was possessed, but because he was under the power and influence of Satan in terms of his thinking.

There was an active element of participation on the part of Satan. But there was also a part that the heart of the person, their desires that were contrary to the ways of God, were at work.

Applied to Judas

Thus far (at least since the temptation of Jesus) Satan has been relatively inactive.

But now is the time that he will work in order to carry out his evil.

Now, take a look at how this unfolds in the life of Judas.

Firstly, we must recognise that Jesus knew that Judas was a traitor long before.

John 6:70 NIV84

70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”

Notice the phrasing… one of you “is a devil...” a deceiver and a traitor.

Then, in John 13:2, we find that already the seedling thoughts of sin were in the mind of Judas.

John 13:2 NIV84

2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.

What is so striking about that - Jesus immediately goes and washes the disciples feet. That’s the context.

In the context of Jesus’ own betrayer… he bends down and serves....

From the side of Judas… he was clearly toying with the idea of handing Jesus over. The temptation had been placed before him.

He was thinking it over… but eventually, having entertained these thoughts, the desire gave birth to sin..

John 13:27 NIV84

27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. “What you are about to do, do quickly,” Jesus told him,

Now, think about that in terms of James 1:13-15…

James 1:13–15 NIV84

13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

This is what was taking place in the life of Judas.

A further thing that I want us to note from this verse is that Judas was one of the twelve.

One of the twelve

Why did Judas do this?

Think about all that he had witnessed.

He had seen the miracles that Christ had performed.

He had gone out with the 12, and with the 72, and witnessed, and probably even performed miracles himself in the name of Jesus.

He had sat under the teaching of Jesus... every word had gone into his mind.

The teachings of humility; the condemnation of the unrighteous; the pretentious religious piety of the leaders; the judgment that would come to these religious leaders because of their pretending.

He knew these things intellectually. He understood them.

He had the parables explained to him by Jesus... the parable of the sower and the different soils upon which the seed fell.

He'd witnessed the sea being calmed; the loaves and fish being multiplied; he'd even participated in the leftovers being collected.

He had VIP privileges in the very presence of the Son of God.

And yet, he would betray the Son of God.

Observations

The deceitfulness of man's heart

Jeremiah 17:9 NIV84

9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

Ecclesiastes 9:3 NIV84

3 This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of men, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead.

Ephesians 4:22 NIV84

22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;

The reality of the spiritual battle

For anyone just looking on, it may have been said that this was purely a physical outworking of people and their desires.

But the Scriptures clearly show us the work of Satan behind the scenes to work in order to bring about his own evil intents.

3. A Willing Participant

This next section then unfolds, not with Judas being led involuntarily by Satan as his hands and mouth were moved by Satan. Rather, although being influenced and tempted by Satan, he went about doing that which he had devised in his own heart.

The plot of evil

Luke 22:4 NIV84

4 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.

Note:

“Judas went to...” He planned, and then began to carry out his plan.

Reminds of the man lacking sense in Proverbs...

Proverbs 7:8 NIV84

8 He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house

“Discussions”…

Judas is taking the plan to them.

He would have had plans conceived in his own heart. Thought through. Pondered.

Psalm 36:1–4 NIV84

1 An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes. 2 For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin. 3 The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and to do good. 4 Even on his bed he plots evil; he commits himself to a sinful course and does not reject what is wrong.

Payment for betrayal

Luke 22:5 NIV84

5 They were delighted and agreed to give him money.

Notice their delight.

Not only had Judas plotted, but they had been plotting. They were seeking ways to put him to death for long… but now, suddenly there was a real opportunity. They were delighted.

Psalm 2:2 was coming to fulfilment in a powerful way

Psalm 2:2 NIV84

2 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.

The agreement here is that they will give him money.

Matthew portrays this as Judas actually asking the religious leaders what they would give him…

Matthew 26:14–15 NIV84

14 Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty silver coins.

It’s interesting that this amount that was paid was equivalent to the amount that would be given to an owner of a slave that was killed by another person’s animal.

Exodus 21:32 NIV84

32 If the bull gores a male or female slave, the owner must pay thirty shekels of silver to the master of the slave, and the bull must be stoned.

Judas agrees to the price of a slave, when the King of kings is killed.

The Heart set on evil

Luke 22:6 NIV84

6 He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.

Again, this was a decision on the part of Judas

He was actively involved, and he followed the desires of his own heart in this case.

Crowd not present

Theological Truths

T.1. Providence

This was an act of God’s providential working.

Inasmuch as sin in the heart of man (both the religious leaders and Judas) along with the temptations of the evil one were at play, God was working to carry out His own purposes.

Genesis 3:15 NIV84

15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Psalm 41:9 NIV84

9 Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.

We see another two reference in Acts 1:20...

Acts 1:20 NIV84

20 “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the book of Psalms, “ ‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’ and, “ ‘May another take his place of leadership.’

We also read in Psalm 109:8 that one of the disciples that was to be replaced…

Psalm 109:8 NIV84

8 May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership.

Psalm 69:25 NIV84

25 May their place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in their tents.

While this was terrible treachery, thank God that He allowed this to unfold for our sake!

T.2. Self-deceit

1 Peter 5:8 - the Devil prowls around, looking to devour

We are those who are easily deceived.

We are those who are able to be led astray by Satan.

Think about being led by the Spirit, vs. led by the flesh.

Think about James 3.... wisdom that is earthly and demonic.

Practical Applications

Do you see the grace of Christ? His mercy?

Are you allowing your heart to be led by the Spirit of God, or rather, to be led astray by Satan.