SHARING BREAD
1 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the
elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death. 2 They bound him, led him away and handed him over to
Pilate, the governor.
3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood."
“What is that to us?” they replied. “That's your responsibility.”
5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood."
“What is that to us?” they replied. “That's your responsibility.”
5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
Matt
27:1-5 (NIV)
Want to know what Satan’s response is to our succumbing to
his temptations? Here it is in print – it’s
our problem – it’s our responsibility. He
does not care about us – never has, never will.
The way of sin is always downhill. We should not for a nanosecond assume we will come forth victorious if we willingly and deliberately choose to deal with the devil. He is crafty and boastful, the father of lies and a murderer from the beginning, ever seeking our destruction no matter what he may whisper in our ear. Scripture tells us to watch out – be on our guard - against his evil schemes:
The way of sin is always downhill. We should not for a nanosecond assume we will come forth victorious if we willingly and deliberately choose to deal with the devil. He is crafty and boastful, the father of lies and a murderer from the beginning, ever seeking our destruction no matter what he may whisper in our ear. Scripture tells us to watch out – be on our guard - against his evil schemes:
8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil
prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you
know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of
sufferings. 1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty
power. 11 Put
on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's
schemes. 12 For
our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against
the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the
spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when
the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have
done everything, to stand. Eph 6:10-13
(NIV)
“Acknowledge
your enemy, but keep your eyes on the Lord.”
Robert J. Morgan
Contrast to God Who always has our best interest at heart –
always. We can trust Him. Our Father loves us with an everlasting love. He has engraved us on the palms of His Hands. He longs to be gracious to us and has
wonderfully great plans for us – plans to prosper us and not to harm us, to
give us hope and a future. He is
constantly with us and holds us by our right hand. He even rejoices over us with singing. Jeremiah writes:
11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the
LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jer 29:11 (NIV)
“What can be deeper than His Presence and constant
care? In a world in which multitudes
feel isolated and alienated, we have the permanent companionship of the most loving
and powerful Being in the universe.
Nothing could be more important and life shaping than that. Whatever difficulty we go through, He
nevertheless holds us by the hand.” Chris Tiegreen
“It is His love for man, His compassion for the human race, that prompts God to hate sin with such a vengeance. He gave Heaven’s finest that we might have the best; and He loathes with a holy abhorrence anything that would hinder our being reconciled to Him.” Billy Graham
In our verses for today we discover the religious elite
arriving at the dire decision of putting our Lord to death. The Romans had taken away the Jews power of
capital punishment and therefore these leaders had to deliver Him over to
Pilate so that he might execute the sentence.
Both Jews and Gentiles alike bear responsibility for nailing our Master
to the cross. Roman writers
characterized the governor as a man with a rough and haughty spirit. The Jews had a great enmity towards him yet
they used him here as a tool for their hatred against Christ. The chief priests and elders tied our Lord’s
hands behind Him and led Him forth as a convicted criminal – as a lamb to the
slaughter - to receive His sentencing.
Next we see Judas, filled with remorse over his actions,
returning the thirty coins to the religious elite. Their response was indicative of the
condition of their cold and hardened hearts.
Those who love treason usually hate the traitor. They bore neither
responsibility nor compassion for Judas’ remorse. Too bad for Judas, he chose the wrong people
to repent to. He should have come to the
Lord in full repentance Who turns no one away who willingly seeks Him. Throwing back his “Delilah” into the temple,
Judas leaves the scene and hangs himself.
He can’t take the heaviness of his remorse therefore he ends his earthly
life only to wake up in the unquenchable fires of hell. Surely our Lords Words ring true:
“But
unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
Luke 13:5 (NIV)
“Long after sin stains, it stings.” Ann Voskamp
“Serious
and sincere repentance routes us back into God’s will.” Robert
J. Morgan
What I glean from this:
· Satan does
not care about me.
· God loves
me.
· I am
always in God’s Presence and under His constant care.
