Daily Devotions

When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. He said, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. Matthew 27:3-5

When did he change his mind? What made him follow Jesus in the first place? Did he think he would get a little “success by association”? Did he really think that Jesus would change the world?

Many of us don’t spend much time examining our motives for following Jesus. Many of us seldom, if ever, think more deeply about the deepest held convictions of our lives. We see the world. One way. Period. Why would we need to repent (to change our minds, to see things differently, to turn around and turn away)?

Thirty pieces of silver. The old line “every man has his price” comes to mind. Did he think he was doing the right thing or did he know he was doing the wrong thing but he did it anyway?

All Matthew tells us is that Judas did his dirty work. And then as he saw Jesus condemned, he realized his mistake. He gave the money back. And then, he took his own life. He realized that he was guilty of condemning an innocent man.

But the chief priests and elder? They gave the whole scene nothing but a “So what?” Why would it occur to them to repent?

Let us pray: Gracious Lord, we worry far too much about proving that we are right rather than considering what it right. In that we betray our faith far more than we realize. We pray for those caught in the web of despair, anguish, anger, and hopelessness, to the point of questioning the value of their own lives. Come to them before it is too late. Help us all know that there is always hope, always another way, always a path of repentance, with you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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