Sharing Bread Matthew 26:14-16

SHARING BREAD

¹⁴ Then one of the Twelve--the one called Judas Iscariot--went to the chief priests ¹⁵ and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. ¹⁶ From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

Matt 26:14-16 (NIV)

“What are you willing to give me?”  These words - issuing from the lips of one of the twelve to the ears of our Lord’s enemies - appear to be in direct antithesis to what Jesus calls all of His followers to in each of the four Gospels.  Luke’s writing of our Lord’s command is recorded below:

²³ Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. ²⁵ What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?”   Luke 9:23-25 (NIV)

“Nothing is really lost by a life of sacrifice; everything is lost by failure to obey God’s call.”   Henry P. Liddon

There will always be the bad among the good – the tares among the wheat - in those who follow the Lord Jesus.  We must never expect a perfectly pure society this side of heaven.  Also, it does us well to remember that it is not about us – never has been – rather, it is all about Him. 

Judas Iscariot was a lover of money.  He had had no beef with the Master, no quarrel or dispute.  What made Judas a traitor was purely his love of money and nothing else.  “What are you willing to give me” was his question yet what did he have need of?  He needed no bread to eat or clothes to don or necessities or even conveniences yet he could not be content with what he had and sought further still.  Indeed, Scripture is true when it states:

⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸ But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. ⁹ People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.   1 Tim 6:6-10 (NIV)

 

Indeed, Jesus tells us in Luke we are to be on the lookout in our lives regarding greed – it can be as insidious as pride:

 

¹⁵ Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”   Luke 12:15 (NIV)

 

“Even small inconsistencies are dangerous.  Little thorns make great blisters, little moths destroy fine garments, and little frivolities and little rogueries will rob religion of a thousand joys.  O professor, too little separated from sinners, you know not what you lose by your conformity to the world.  It cuts the tendons of your strength, and makes you creep where you ought to run.  Then, for your own comforts sake, and for the sake of your growth in grace, if you be a Christian, be a Christian, and be a marked and distinct one.”   Charles H. Spurgeon

How could someone who had walked so closely with the Master, seen so many miracles by His hand, heard the Truth of heaven in His Words, choose to listen to the enemy of his soul rather than to the One who truly loved him?  Judas willingly allowed Satan access to his heart and, to be sure, the adversary will take the whole when given a sliver – beware child of the King.  I am reminded of Peter’s words to Ananias when confronting him with lying about the amount of money he had received from the sale of his land:

“What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.”  Acts 5:4 (NIV)

 

Indeed, it is hard to imagine why Judas would do such an evil thing.  Yet he listened to the wrong voice.  He exchanged the Truth of God for the lies of Satan - bad decision.  His greed for money overtook him.  We are told in John that he was not only greedy for money but a thief as well – the two are often close companions:

 

⁴ But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, ⁵ “Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages.” ⁶ He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.   John 12:4-6 (NIV)

“No matter how many pleasures Satan offers you, his ultimate purpose is to ruin you.  Your destruction is his highest priority.”    Erwin Lutzer

What I glean from this:

·       Nothing is lost by a life of sacrifice rather all is lost by my failure to obey the call of God on my life.

·       There is great gain in contentment.  Paul tells us it is a learned secret:   ¹¹I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Phil 4:11-13 (NIV)

·       Satan’s ultimate purpose on my life is to ruin me.