Matthew 26:14-25 Betrayal

Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me to betray Him to you?” And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him. From then on he began looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus. Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near; I am to keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.”’” The disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover. Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples. As they were eating, He said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.” Being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?” And He answered, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. “The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself.” [Matthew 26:14-25 NASB]

The chief priests and leaders of the people were plotting to kill Jesus, as they had been for quite some time. They finally got their opportunity when Jesus was betrayed by one of His own.

It is a mark of the disciples humility that that each of them asked whether he would be the one to betray Him. Excluding Judas Iscariot, they were devoted to Jesus, they had no intention of betraying Him, and had done nothing to indicate betrayal, yet each of them was able to see the capacity for betrayal within himself.

Judas, who had already made arrangements to betray Jesus was able to blend in and avoid suspicion. The other disciples said, "Surely not I, Lord." So Judas did nothing more or less that what they did. That is why they didn't immediately recognize that he was the betrayer. 

This wasn't a spontaneous action on the part of Judas. He planned it. When Mary broke the alabaster bottle and anointed Jesus, that seems to have been the catalyst causing him to finally act. When the time came, he sought out the priests. They didn't come looking for him.

No one knows the true motivation behind Judas' betrayal. It wasn't mere greed. The 30 pieces of silver were only the equivalent of $25.00. Had it been about money, he would have negotiated with them for a higher reward.

I think that's the way it is with betrayal. Something brews within the heart over time. 

Perhaps it's some perceived slight. It is thought that Judas was the only Judean in a group of Galileans. As such, it is possible that he felt excluded.

Sometimes people fail to meet our expectations. All of the disciples were expecting the Messiah to overthrow the Romans and establish an earthly kingdom. With Jesus talking about His own impeding death, it was clear that that this was not going to happen. All the disciples hopes were dashed when Jesus died. Unlike the other eleven, Judas didn't remain loyal. It's true that Peter denied Him, but only Judas betrayed Him.

Maybe there's an opportunity to gain power over someone. When Judas betrayed Jesus, he gained power (or so he thought) over Jesus. Jesus' life was in his hands. I have heard it speculated that Judas wanted to gain control in order to force Jesus to step up and establish His earthly kingdom. Whether that was the case or not, for the first time, Judas seemed to be the one who was in control.

Before you can betray a person, there has to be a level of trust. The chief priests plotted to kill Jesus, but the didn't betray Him because they never had a position of trust. 

Just like the eleven disciples, I think we should acknowledge the capacity for betrayal within us. And like them, we should ask the Lord, "Could I betray someone?" If you continually seek the Lord, He will keep your paths straight, and you will never have to know if you could. If you have already betrayed someone in your life, then seek forgiveness. The Lord forgives all of our sins.

If you are the one who has been betrayed by someone, then you need to forgive the one who betrayed you. Don't wait for them to apologize or ask forgiveness, but give it freely. Holding on to unforgiveness will only hurt you and not the one who betrayed you.