Matthew 26:14-16 14Then when one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, 15he said, “What will you give me if I betray him to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. 16And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.
Something bothered Judas about what Mary did for Jesus in the previous passage. That experience was a tipping point for him. He acted on his own initiative and did not act impulsively when he went to the chief priests. A seed of bitterness and doubt had been growing in his heart for some time. The heart that is not consecrated can too easily become compromised through temptation. Judas had heard the same messge as the other apostles but turned away because of selfishness, which is usually the way inner sin reveals itself.
Judas’ motives are not clearly stated, but the implication is that he was obviously after money when he went to the chief priests because he asked about payment. The money was the way he could relieve his guilt. People act out their sin in tangible ways that they convince themselves are justifiable. Thirty pieces of silver was a substantial amount because it was later used to buy a field (Acts 1:18). The confirmation of the payment sent Judas off to look for an opportunity for betrayal. Sin that is left to grow unconfessed will lead to much pain and sorrow. Judas acted immediately on his plans; his mind was already made up. He had crossed the line of walking away from the light into the darkness.
We might wonder why all the secrecy and why could not the religious leaders just go find Jesus? There are several possible reasons for this method of finding and arresting Jesus. One was simply that Jerusalem was full of people. Jesus no longer spent time teaching in the temple courts, and so it was nearly impossible to find him. A second reason was that the religious leaders had to act discreetly and carefully so as not to make a big scene and cause a riot. The Romans were watching the activities very closely. The chief priests and Sanhedrin wanted to keep the machine running smoothly. The arrest of a great teacher, miracle worker, and prophet could cause much chaos and lead the Romans to respond in force. Betraying Jesus required Judas to reject all he had heard and experienced over the past three years. There are too many stories of people who once believed in Jesus but turn their backs on him and fall away into sin. The story of Judas is a strong warning to us of what can happen when we compromise with sin.
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