To Condemn, or not...?
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· 6 viewsMany people agree that Judas's betrayal was tragic... even horrible... but could we be seeing it wrongly? Could the failure not have been Judas's, but the Church's? His story is tragic... He lost his way... He was overcome by "greed" and the search for worldly comfort and praise... But could he also have been hoping to maneuver Jesus into fulfilling his idea of the Kingdom... into proving Himself the Messiah? Judas's story is the tragic story of -- not one person's failure -- but the failure of the Church to extend forgiveness and hope.
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What is the most tragic story in the Bible?
What is the most tragic story in the Bible?
1 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed.
2 So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.
3 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.
4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”
5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
6 The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.”
7 So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners.
8 That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day.
9 Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel,
10 and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”
This story is tragic on so many levels…
We have Judas, who obviously was not seeing the outcome he expected… Look at his words (27:4)… If we back up to 26:15, we find something interesting…
15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver.
The word “deliver” — sometimes “Betray” — is paradidomi - “to give over”
Could Judas have had something else he was trying to accomplish?
2. The Priests rejected him…
Why did Judas go back to the priests?
— They were in the line of the High Priest… They were subject to the High Priest… indicating that he was involved…
— They reject Judas… they reject his attempt at repentance…
WHY?
— They had built a box… and Christ didn’t fit in it — therefore — Judas couldn’t either…
We don’t do that… do we?!?
Yes!
(build box) [ideas about — God, scripture, language use, faith, actions, …]
We build a box.... and when “they” … don’t fit, we reject them.
Think about it — “How do we treat Judas?”
(commentaries)
Holman says:
Matthew A. The King’s Betrayer Gets His Due (27:1–10)
Judas was once again labeled as the one who had betrayed him. Judas learned of the verdict (that Jesus was condemned) and possibly watched as Jesus was led away to Pilate. This caused him to feel remorse. This did not necessarily mean that Judas came to a saving faith in the Messiah, but it certainly indicated that he wished he had not betrayed him. It also implied deep emotional distress. At the very least he realized he had been instrumental in the death of an innocent man. This was too much for Judas to bear. Messiah or not, this man had been his friend and teacher.
Because of his remorse, Judas carried out the two final actions of his life. The Sanhedrin had just sent Jesus off to Pilate, accompanied by a select contingency from their number. Others went to the temple to carry out their duties on this Passover day. There Judas met them and attempted to return the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. He confessed to them, I have sinned … for I have betrayed innocent blood. Judas’s adjective, “innocent,” is found elsewhere in the New Testament only in Pilate’s claim of innocence in regards to Jesus’ blood (27:24).
The New Bible Commentary: (Comparing Peter’s denial)
The New Bible Commentary 26:47–27:26 The Arrest and Trial of Jesus
That story of temporary failure under stress ended with Peter’s tears of repentance, and his restoration is later implied. But Judas, by contrast, had taken a clear decision against Jesus, and his remorse when he realized his mistake led not to true repentance but to despair and suicide.
Weirsbe:
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Twenty-Four: The King’s Trial (Matthew 26:57–27:26)
Judas’ response was one of remorse and regret. The Greek word translated “repented himself” in Matthew 27:3 indicates, not a sorrow for sin that leads to a change of mind and action, but a regret at being caught, a remorse that leads to despair. Peter truly repented, and Jesus restored him. But Judas did not repent, and this led him to suicide.
We deflect Judas’s repentance in the same way that we deflect the Jewish people’s guilt in Christ’s crucifixion… by placing the blame on Pilate…
Yet… When pilate said “I am innocent of this man’s blood” he spoke the truth… the Jews were to blame, he was just their weapon… no more able to do different than a computer or car can disobey our directions.
Notice — Strong’s gives us two meanings for the word translated “regret” or “remorse”…
“Metamelomai” — 1. “to feel sad, regret”
8 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while—
(some say the use is the same here)
2. “Change one’s mind, repent”
— Some say that Judas merely regretted being caught… being found out… not what he actually did… But…
If it merely means “regret”, then why did he return the money? Why did he then go and hang himself?
— That act signifies something deeper…
— Judas seems to be truly repentant and seeking forgiveness… Why else would he go to the Temple — to the Priests?
— Yet he was rejected! WHY?!?!
Because… to acknowledge his repentance would mean they had to face their own sin and guilt…
— They knew what they had done…
6 The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.”
— Rather than face it… they rejected it…
We are guilty of that…
Rather than face our own guilt, we tend to do just what they did… we condemn rather than forgive!
Think about it…
We do the same thing with Pilate.
— We condemn him, rather then acknowledge the truth… and forgive…
Yet Jesus tells us to…
“Love our neighbor as ourselves”
37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
“To care for others”
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Love our enemies and pray for them”
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
“do not judge”
1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Even Jesus didn’t judge Judas.
— Jesus chose him as a disciple, as one of the twelve…
12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.
13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:
14 Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,
15 Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot,
16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
— Jesus gave him control of His purse — his treasury — knowing his nature...
6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
— Jesus included him in the last supper…
Listen to the whole story:
6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper,
7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked.
9 “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”
10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me.
11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.
12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.
13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
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 deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver.
16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
18 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’ ”
19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.
20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.
21 And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”
22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”
23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.
24 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.”
25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said so.”
26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.
28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people.
48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.”
49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
50 Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.
51 With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.
53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?
54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me.
56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
1 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed.
2 So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.
3 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.
4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”
5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
6 The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.”
7 So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners.
8 That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day.
9 Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel,
10 and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”
Do you hear condemnation anywhere in Jesus’s words?
— Notice —
50 Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.
Jesus calls Judas “Friend”!
This is awesome!
That word literally means “companion… comrade”!
— Jesus is reminding him who he is… That he is a friend… that he is one of them… that he is chosen…
— This is the exact same thing Jesus did with Peter later.
But wait a minute pastor.... Jesus says in John 17:
12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
What about that?!
That doesn’t mean that Jesus condemned Judas… It just means that He knew what was going to happen…
He knew both what Judas was going to do, AND what the Priests were going to do…
Jesus does not condemn Judas, nor does He condemn us!
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
There is NO condemnation in Christ!
Only forgiveness…
The Church is supposed to be a place where forgiveness can be found… where freedom from guilt is discovered… that starts with us!
— What are you carrying with you?
— What is it that you have been trying to give to Christ?