April 7, 2016
JESUS KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING -- AND HE CHOSE JUDAS AND US
Matthew 26:1–16
Shawn Patton
Central Truth
God is trustworthy, even during times when we have doubts or are faced with things that are unclear or confusing.
Key Verse | Matthew 26:14–16
Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him. (Matthew 26:14-16)
Matthew 26:1–16
The Plot to Kill Jesus
1 When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, 2 “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. 5 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.”
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
6 Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, 1 26:6 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13 7 a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. 8 And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.” 10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
Judas to Betray Jesus
14 Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.
Dive Deeper | Matthew 26:1–16
Have you ever wondered if you were in Judas’ position if you could have betrayed Jesus? I have! (Read Romans 7:18 and Isaiah 53:6.) In this passage Jesus foretells His death (Matthew 26:2) and seems to place a priority on worship over serving (verses 10-13). But ultimately, I couldn’t get past how one of His “hand-selected” 12 disciples could betray our Lord (verses 14-16).
Before knowing Christ, I truly did not realize how corrupt my heart was. It wasn't until meeting Christ, and through years of introspective reflection and painful pruning of my prideful, selfish life, that I came to see the level of decay in my heart. I would like to tell you that I would have never betrayed the Man who poured into me for three years, but even the other disciples questioned themselves when Jesus announced this betrayal (verse 22). Important to note is the fact that Judas didn’t possess the renewing power of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:4-6). Without His Spirit, I wonder how far my heart would have hardened in Judas' position.
When reflecting on this, I also question why Jesus chose Judas. Does this mean Jesus could make a costly mistake in judgment? Could He make a mistake when choosing me? Through God's Word, we can conclude Jesus knew from the beginning who He was choosing (Romans 8:28-30). But, could I betray Him, even now? That's a frightening thought. But Scripture comforts because 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "I'm a new creation!" Ultimately, as we read the whole of Scripture, we see God as loving, all-knowing, and trustworthy. We must trust Him in all things—from choosing a close disciple who would ultimately betray Him; to His return to make all things new; to why He chose us as His own; and even smaller issues like our job, health, and relationships. All of this must, and can, be entrusted to Him. There was, and is, a shred of Judas in all of us. But praise God that through His blood, "the old has gone, the new has come!"
Discussion Questions
1. What are your thoughts about Judas being a disciple of Jesus and his betrayal of Jesus?
2. How are you going to protect your heart so that you do not betray your Lord and Savior?
3. God is sovereign and trustworthy. He allows things to happen on this earth like Satan entering Judas (Luke 22:3) or like Satan showing up in the Garden of Eden to tempt Eve (Genesis 3). How well do you balance perfectly understanding the Bible and fully trusting the Lord?