Be True to Christ

KEY VERSE: “Judas, which betrayed him [Jesus], answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.” —Matthew 26:25

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Matthew 26:14-16, 20-25, 47-50; 27:1-5

JUDAS HAD BEEN especially selected by Jesus as one of his twelve apostles, and sent forth by him to heal the sick, to cast out devils, and to carry out many other works in connection with his earthly ministry. He had been a witness to Jesus’ miracle-working powers, and had learned firsthand from his teaching of the Scriptures. No doubt he began his ministry with sincere motives and desires to be a true follower of the Master.

Evidently, however, Judas allowed the selfish tendencies of his earthly nature to hold sway over his actions. Instead of appreciating the principles of truth and righteousness as illustrated by our Lord’s life and teachings, he was gradually consumed by pride and greed. He failed to develop the noble qualities of justice, love, and mercy as shown in Jesus’ life, and, instead, went on to cultivate earthly characteristics of his own base nature.

Judas had become attracted to the glorious prospects of the kingdom which had been set forth by Jesus to his close followers. He had heard the Master’s teachings concerning the throne of glory, and the honors attached to it. He probably misunderstood the reality of the situation as well as the ultimate prospect. The opportunity of judging the twelve tribes of Israel interested his ego, but he was not prepared to lay his life down in sacrifice to obtain the blessing.

As worldly wisdom overtook his mind, apparently he became offended at Jesus’ actions as being foolish, and began to be more critical of him. The multitudes desired to make Jesus a king, so why, from his perspective, should he refuse them and withdraw himself from such an honor? Instead of speaking to the people in parables, why not explain them so that they could understand? Furthermore, Judas may have reasoned that Jesus could have worked with the religious leaders of Israel rather than to constantly reprove them, and to refuse to cooperate with them.

Judas’ selfish attitude was revealed in connection with the anointing of Jesus’ feet by Mary of Bethany a few days before the Master’s betrayal and crucifixion. Mary had procured very expensive and precious perfume for the occasion. Her actions offended Judas who considered the matter as wasteful extravagance. He remarked that the money should have been spent on behalf of the poor; whereas, he, no doubt, had little interest in their welfare.

This ambitious spirit led him to plot with the chief priests of Israel in Jesus’ betrayal and death. Finding them eager to conspire against the Master, “[He] 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. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.”—Matt. 26:15,16

Jesus, of course, was aware of the deceitful conspiracy that was being formulated against him. He knew that Judas, one of the twelve who shared with him in the Last Supper around the table that final night of his life on earth, would be the one who would ultimately betray him. The Lord’s eloquent teachings, healing of the sick and afflicted, and even the miracles of raising the dead to life, had been disregarded. Jesus said: “Woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It had been good for that man if he had not been born.”—vs 24

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