Reading the Word

Matthew 27:3–10 (ESV)

3 Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” 5 And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. 6 But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7 So they took counsel and bought with them the potter’s field as a burial place for strangers. 8 Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, 10 and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.”

Understanding and Applying the Word

Judas, the one who had betrayed Jesus, felt regret when he saw that Jesus was condemned. He knew that he had participated in condemning an innocent man. As a result of his regret, Judas went to the priests to try to return the money and remove himself from the equation. However, it was too late. The priests brushed him off and refused to take back the blood money. Judas went out and committed suicide by hanging himself.

Judas made decisions that had eternal consequences. He had heard the teachings of Jesus and witnessed his great miracles, but Judas had rejected Jesus. He had failed to repent and turn to Jesus in faith. Instead, he saw a way to use Jesus for profit by turning him in to the Jewish authorities. We all must make a decision on what we will do with Jesus. Will we reject him or will we turn to him as our Lord and Savior? We must carefully consider our decisions because they too will have eternal consequences.

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