scripture
Matthew 27:1 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death. 2 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 silver coins 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.
observation
We cannot know what Judas was thinking when he made a deal with the religious leaders to betray Jesus but now he is making a confession that Jesus is an innocent man.
Maybe he expected the trial to turn out different since he knew that finding a credible witness against Jesus would be completely impossible. As part of Jesus inner circle he knew that there wasn’t anything that could be said against him, especially nothing that was worthy of death.
Judas testified to the priest that he was wrong but his testimony was ignored. Were not the priests the people that you are supposed to go to when you confess your sin so that a sacrifice could be made? They did not care to do their job they were just intent on getting rid of Jesus at any cost. They didn’t even care that Judas gave the testimony that should have stopped the prosecution. Judas didn't trust in the mercy of Jesus to forgive him and took matters into his own hands.
The very coins that they probably stole out of the treasury for the use of killing Jesus now they are suddenly concerned with being sure to not put it back into the temple treasury.
Be careful and don’t play with sin because it will take you further than you want to go and keep you there longer than you want to stay.
application
Run! Do not play with sin, Judas had a love of money but the money didn’t matter later when he realized what he had done.
prayer
Keep me in your word each day Lord and keep me from evil. I want to be serious about my relationship with you and I can’t be close to you and playing with sin at the same time.
