Theme: SERVING GOD IN SINCERITY AND IN TRUTH
Text: “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.
Comment: Judas Iscariot was the son of Simon, (John 6:71; 13:2, 26); and was surnamed Iscariot, i.e., a man of Kerioth (Joshua 15:25) – a city of Judah. He was one of the twelve apostles. The record of St. John shows he was the one who was entrusted with the gifts or donations people gave in support of the Ministry. He was thus allowed to buy those things that they needed and also to give to the poor. (John 13:29-30) However, the divine record says he did not care for the poor but “was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein”. (John 12:6. Compare 1 Corinthians 4:2) In other words, he used to convert some of the money meant for the Lord Jesus Christ and the other apostles to his personal use. He was thus an insincere person. At length he sealed his infamy by betraying the Lord Jesus Christ to the Jewish leaders for 30 pieces of silver, (said to be about $15). He even led them to a place where they could arrest him. When he realized his fault, he threw the money at the priests and went and hanged himself. The dreadful end of Judas is a warning against avarice, hypocrisy, and insincerity or unfaithfulness. “He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.” – Proverbs 15:27. Please look up Proverbs 28:22; 1 Timothy 6:6-10; Acts 1:15-20, 25