What Do I Get?

Physical Preparations

Context

The time of the cross is approaching

Matthew so far has described a coming kingdom where Jesus, The Messiah, The Son of Man, will take his rightful place on the throne

No one is expecting what is about to happen

Recently we read of Jesus being anointed for what he described as his burial but looked a lot like the anointing of a king

Not everyone is impressed; Judas is not happy with what he figures is a waste of resources and perhaps this was the last straw that leads to his decision we will look at today

Jesus seems to be very clear that his path to the throne is through death

The disciples won’t understand until after the Resurrection

The

But Matthew interrupts the chain of physical preparations to describe the heart of one of the apostles

We will seek to understand God’s Word in context then apply that to our lives

English Standard Version Chapter 26

14 Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.

Matthew is careful to remind his reader that Judas was a part of the twelve

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

He was definitely on the “inside” as a trusted apostle

He makes it clear at this point that Judas initiated talks with the religious authorities

There are generally 4 ideas as to why Judas felt compelled to betray Jesus

Its important to remember that we cannot know Judas’ heart / motive

But the 4 general ideas are as follows:

1. He became disenchanted with Jesus as he discovered that he was not the going to physically overthrow the Roman oppression. That disenchantment turned into extreme disappointment and hatred.

2. His betrayal was misguided zeal. In his mind he thought he could bring about a scenario where Jesus would be forced to become the type of messiah that he envisioned. If Jesus was forced to confront his accusers he would have to defend himself.

3. He would have to protect himself. This thing was about to come crashing down and he knew the Roman authorities would not be brutal about ending it.

4. He had to prevent Jesus from squandering the whole messianic movement. This thing was gaining steam but Jesus started talking about dying not conquering.

Also important to note is that Jesus freely gave himself up. No one had to trick him into it nor “give him over.” To think in such a way would place the passion of Christ outside the will of the father. To the contrary, Jesus prayed to continue to do the will of the Father.

What will you give me if I...

A common, natural, self preserving thought

Whats in it for me, what do I get

There may be some OT significance of the 30 pieces as that is the Mosaic worth of a slave that is accidentally killed.

Opportunity meeting preparedness equals success

The Sermon on the Mount makes it pretty clear that Judas murdered Jesus long before he ever spoke to the high priests

This is very much in-line with what the rest of the Bible teaches about the progression of sin

It starts in the heart and manifests into the physical

But walking away from the group wasn’t enough; for evil nothing is ever enough

He can’t leave well enough alone; why?

Be cautious

Well maybe he couldn’t take the chance that this Jesus fellow is actually who he claims to be

Its not enough for him to just not believe; he has to make sure that others don’t have the opportunity to make a choice as to whether they believe His words or not; his words need to be silenced

Sound familiar?

After this interruption of the physical preparations for Jesus’ mission, Matthew begins to describe the ceremonial preparations

Its not enough to just not believe; we can’t have you

English Standard Version Chapter 26

17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’ ” 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.

The Festival of Unleavened Bread came about as an order from God to the Hebrew people in a series of three celebrations.

The Festival of Unleavened Bread

The Feast of the Harvest

And the Feast of Ingathering. ()

These festivals served as a way to remember the Hebrew people’s escape from bondage in Egypt.

Initially this was a separate observance from the Passover

But over time it became one of Passover’s movements

a way to kick of the Passover celebration when the pilgrims in Jerusalem would break bread with their Jerusalem hosts

Perhaps Jesus set up this event up away from his disciples in the interest of not forecasting where he would be for Judas to betray him

It does seem that this was something prearranged and in the mind of Jesus before it took place

It would be expected that Jesus and his disciples, away from home, would gather together somewhere and eat in preparation for the Passover

English Standard Version Chapter 26

20 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. 21 And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”

They would lean on the left elbow with the head toward the table and the feet away from it; the right hand was free to take the food.

They used triclinia (plural) triclinium (singular)

Jesus would be in the center couch where the host would sit

Betrayal is Consuming

Betrayal is consuming

Jes

Jesus brings this up during a time of celebration

It seems to be weighing on him

Betrayal is like that

It consumes your thoughts at any given time

Judas was on the inside

The closer the individual the more hurtful the betrayal

I’ve seen siblings rip each other apart after a parent dies

I’ve seen brothers stab each other in the back over things that seem so trivial

Our Lord has experienced deep betrayal not just from Judas

English Standard Version Chapter 26

22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?”

Jesus’ comment is enough to change the entire tone of the table to the point where the disciples are filled with sorrow.

Their response

Is is I? - Actual translation would be closer to “surely not I!?” You cannot be serious.. I would never

English Standard Version Chapter 26

23 He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

Judas was on the inside

The closer the individual the more hurtful the betrayal

I’ve seen siblings rip each other apart after a parent dies

I’ve seen brothers stab each other in the back over things that seem so trivial

Our Lord has experienced deep betrayal not just from Judas

Its easy to look at this and forget that it wasn’t Judas’ sin alone that sent Jesus to the cross

It was yours and mine

Judas physically acted out what we do every time we sin or reject what Jesus says

We betray the relationship we have with God

By predicting this betrayal Jesus indicates that even though he will be betrayed its not outside the will and knowledge of God

By being betrayed Jesus relates to your deepest, most hurtful betrayal, He knows

Judas was on the inside

The closer the individual the more hurtful the betrayal

I’ve seen siblings rip each other apart after a parent dies

I’ve seen brothers stab each other in the back over things that seem so trivial

Our Lord has experienced deep betrayal not just from Judas

English Standard Version Chapter 26

25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”

Rabbi - much different than the term the other disciples used, Lord

You have said it - or you say or as you say; This is an idiom that would be close to “if the shoe fits...”

Jesus, in a sense, is saying you are right and

What does he get?

What Do I Get?

Matthew is careful to remind his reader that Judas was a part of the twelve; he was definitely on the “inside” as a trusted apostle. Also, hr makes it clear at this point that Judas initiated talks with the religious authorities.

Judas was on the inside

What do you get when you reject the words of Jesus?

Notice that

Also important to note is that Jesus freely gave himself up. No one had to trick him into it nor “give him over.” To think in such a way would place the passion of Christ outside the will of the father. To the contrary, Jesus prayed to continue to do the will of the Father.

Betrayal is consuming

NOTE: this is a rough outline for export to PP

Different than the Lords Super