March 25, 2024

Matthew 27:1-14 (HCSB)
Jesus Handed Over to Pilate
27 When daybreak came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. 2 After tying Him up, they led Him away and handed Him over to Pilate the governor.
Judas Hangs Himself
 3 Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was full of remorse and returned the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. 4 “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What’s that to us?” they said. “See to it yourself!” 5 So he threw the silver into the sanctuary and departed. Then he went and hanged himself. 6 The chief priests took the silver and said, “It’s not lawful to put it into the temple treasury, since it is blood money.” 7 So they conferred together and bought the potter’s field with it as a burial place for foreigners. 8 Therefore that field has been called “Blood Field” to this day. 9 Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: They took the 30 pieces of silver, the price of Him whose price was set by the Israelites, 10 and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.
Jesus Faces the Governor
11 Now Jesus stood before the governor. “Are You the King of the Jews?” the governor asked Him. Jesus answered, “You have said it. 12 And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He didn’t answer. 13 Then Pilate said to Him, “Don’t You hear how much they are testifying against You?” 14 But He didn’t answer him on even one charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

Patrick Raley
While we don’t know a lot about Judas, we do know that he was one of those closest to Jesus, and he chose to betray him. He had been with Jesus, listened to him, seen him perform miracles, and followed him for a while. He knew Jesus was innocent of the charges against Him. So, what would bring a man to turn on one of his closest friends? Greed? We know that he was paid well for his betrayal, but that money didn’t satisfy him. Power and influence? Perhaps he wanted to find favor from the Sanhedrin. Ultimately, whatever the reasoning for his betrayal, it did not satisfy him. We see Judas’ sad end as he returned the money he was paid, and while he felt remorse for what he had done, he never sought repentance. This should serve as a good reminder to us that as followers of Christ, we should remain on guard for temptations that may pull us away from Jesus.