Our Place: March 2008

SHORT SERMON MATTHEW chapter 26

14: Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,

Notice how Satan always uses those closest to us whenever possible, to betray our love and trust. Judas was a disciple, not simply a stranger who was willing to turn in Jesus for financial gain. Also notice, Judas went directly to the chief priests as he knew they would do whatever it took to get rid of Jesus. The very priests who should have welcomed the Messiah, were the actually the ones plotting His destruction!

15: 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.

Judas was out for the money, and he was more than willing to betray Jesus for financial gain. The priests were more evil than Judas, as they were willing to “make a deal” to do away with the very One Who had come to die for their sins.

16: And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

Judas played the faithful disciple, waiting for the right moment to betray the Lord.

17: Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?

Jesus was a Jew, so He honored and kept the Old Testament laws and feasts etc. He was the PASSOVER, yet He partook of the Passover Himself!

18: And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.

Jesus knew what He was about to endure on the cross, and He knew about other future events too. He knows how we will respond in advance, when He sends someone our way. Hopefully, we will never say NO to those the Lord directs to us. (for any reason)

19: And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.

The disciples did what they were told in this regard, including Judas. Many believers follow Jesus to a point, but “sell Him out” for something they desire. (drugs, sex, alcohol, worldly pleasures, etc.) I saw an article stating the 30 pieces of silver were worth about $10,000.00, which is a fair sum of money. (but Jesus, and your soul are PRICELESS) Many would betray Jesus for a few moments of pleasure, or things with little or no value. Ask yourself, is anything worth selling out Jesus for? Any short term gain or temporal pleasure, will assure you a place in the lake of fire in the end.

20: Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.

Notice Jesus still included Judas as one of the twelve, and allowed him to sit at His table.

21: And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

Jesus let Judas and the other disciples know He was aware of the fact, He was being betrayed. If anyone believes their sins are a SECRET matter, they are deceiving them self.

Matthew 27:3 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,

Judas did repent for betraying Jesus, but his repentance was not followed up with trust, belief, and faith, in God. He knew he had sinned, but instead of seeking forgiveness he tried to make atonement for his sin by returning the 30 pieces of silver he had sold Jesus for.

While we should all repent and try to do right toward those we sin against, ONLY JESUS can follow up and forgive our sins. Until we are covered in His blood, our sins are present in life and will keep us under condemnation. Judas practiced a form of salvation based upon works, and lost his soul in the process. We need to repent and ask God for His GIFT of salvation, or we will remain in our sins for eternity…

Brother Charles

March 15th, 2008