Even among Jesus' closest friends, one chose to betray Him for money.
“Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.”Matthew 26:14-16 (KJV)
What does “Betrayal” mean in Matthew 26:14-16?
Thirty pieces of silver was the price of a slave under the law of Moses, and it echoes a prophecy in Zechariah. Judas sold his access to Jesus for a small sum.
Going deeper
Wednesday of Holy Week is sometimes called Spy Wednesday, since it is the day Judas went to the chief priests. He asked what they would pay him to hand Jesus over, and they counted out thirty pieces of silver. From that point he watched for a good opportunity to betray Him. The story is sobering. Judas had been with Jesus for a long time, heard Him teach, and watched Him heal. Nearness alone had not changed his heart.
This is not written to make us feel superior. Every one of us can drift, for reasons that seem small at the time. It is a call to guard our hearts and to stay honest with God about what tempts us. Lent invites us to ask where our loyalty could be quietly for sale. Take a moment today to pray, Lord, keep my heart true to You. And pray for anyone you know who is drifting.
Reflect
Where could your loyalty to Jesus be quietly tested, and how can you guard your heart?
Pray
Lord, keep my heart true to You. Guard me from small compromises, and bring back those who are drifting. In Jesus' name, amen.
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