Theme: THE VOICE OF CONSCIENCE
Text: “Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? See thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.” – Matthew 27:3-5.
Comment: There is great danger in having a conscience that is not functioning properly as it cannot forewarn its owner against an evil course. Consequently, the person will always incur the anger of God. Some other people however do get warning from their conscience but simply ignore it by looking for excuses to justify their actions. Whatever the case, the fact is that the wicked man does evil without regard for God or man. Take for instance the case of Judas Iscariot, whom our Saviour had earlier spoken against and forewarned. (Matthew 26:24) Despite the lucid warnings of Jesus Christ, he went ahead to betray him into the hands of the wicked Jews, for thirty pieces of silver, which according to Matthew Henry’s Commentary, is between three pounds eight shillings to three pounds fifteen shillings. This was the worth of a slave in those days. See Exodus 21:32. Compare Zechariah 11:12, 13. By the time Judas proclaimed that he had sinned, having betrayed an innocent blood, it was too late. His so-called “repentance” is unacceptable to God in that his action was deliberate, he sinned against knowledge. (John 6:70; 13:26, 27; Matthew 26:21-25) Those whose interest in satisfying their carnal desires is higher than their regard for God and His word are likely to sin against the holy spirit, a sin committed deliberately, in spite of knowing the law of God, for which there is no forgiveness. See Matthew 12:31,32; 2 Peter 2:20-22.