Resurrection Life of Jesus Church
THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
PART 75: JUDAS ISCARIOT
RLJ-1978
JOHN S. TORELL
SEPTEMBER 1, 2024
THE FARCE CONTINUES
The kangaroo court of the Sanhedrin tried and condemned Jesus after the late-night arrest, but they needed to make their murderous intentions appear legal because capital offense trials could only be invoked during the day. This is why they reconvened at six o’clock in the morning under the pretense of acting righteously. However, it was simply a continuation of the same garbage. There wasn’t even a mock trial this time. The meeting served as a formality to issue yet another death sentence. Matthew 27:1
The Mosaic law called for stoning in the case of blasphemy. But they did not dare put Jesus to death in such a manner because they feared the people more than the Romans. This was not the case with Stephen, whom they killed immediately just a couple of months later. Acts 7:57-59
The Sanhedrin knew that they could not deliver Jesus to Pilate and accuse the God- man of blasphemy because the Romans were polytheistic and Pilate would never do their bidding with such an allegation. The irony is that Jesus would be killed on a different fabricated charge. Matthew 27:2
THE ORIGINAL JUDAS
But we are getting ahead of ourselves in the story as Matthew focuses on the unfortunate wretch named Judas Iscariot. He was personally chosen by Jesus to be an apostle, witnessed countless supernatural wonders, and even performed healing miracles by the authority vested in him by the God-man. Luke 10:1,17-19
The betrayal of Judas was foreknown by Jesus. John 6:70-71
Matthew does not state that Judas was present at the bogus trial of Jesus. Given the wording, more than likely he was standing outside Caiaphas’s palace and saw the beat- up Jesus led away in bonds. At that point he realized the God-man would not supernaturally to resist the death sentence and felt absolutely horrible about his betrayal. Matthew 27:3a
My personal belief is that Judas Iscariot held the Kabbalistic view of the messiah and thought his betrayal would force Jesus to reveal His full powers as the Messiah and re- establish the Kingdom of Israel. This is predicated upon the words of the apostles after the resurrection. Acts 1:6
This is also based upon the event that ensued after the feeding of the five thousand. Men waiting for the Kabbalistic messiah witnessed the notable miracle and thought to take Jesus by force because they viewed the God-man as unambitious; if they could proclaim Him king, it would compel Him to fulfil their messianic ambitions of driving out the hated Romans and reinstating the golden age of Israel. John 6:14-15
Judas never followed the crowd who went to Pilate; instead, he made his way to the temple ground to confront the chief priests and elders to return the blood money. This indicates that he did not betray Jesus for the money, but under pretense, to fool the religious leadership into arresting the God-man for the reason previously stated. Matthew 27:3b
Judas acknowledged his wrongdoing in turning Jesus over to the murderous Sanhedrin. He knew that Jesus was innocent and desperately tried to reverse the treason and spare His life. Innocence didn’t matter to these religious vermin; they had secured what they wanted and felt no remorse about the matter. verse 4
Judas threw the silver coins to the floor because the ungodly men standing before him more than likely refused to take it back. They knew it was blood money and wanted no part of it.
The temple was the ideal place for Judas Iscariot to confess his sins to the Lord. But it did not occur to him to ask God to pardon him. It is highly likely that Judas felt his sin was too great and could not be atoned. This would explain why he hung himself a short time later. verse 5
Peter offers further details about Judas’ suicide. Evidently, the violent act of the hanging caused his intestines to spill out. One theory is that Judas fell from a great height to snap his neck, but it wrenched his body and produced a gory death; regardless, the event was retold throughout Jerusalem. Acts 1:18-19
THE POTTER’S FIELD
Meanwhile, the chief priests picked up the silver and had the audacity to state that the coins could not be returned to the temple treasury because it was cursed blood money and God would reject it. Matthew 27:6; Deuteronomy 23:18
The irony is that the thirty silver coins originated from the temple (God’s possession) and they were used to purchase the murder of the God-man, the incarnated Lamb of God. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
After a discussion, they decided to buy a cheap plot of land that was good for nothing and use it as a cemetery for strangers. The covenant of betrayal lead to the purchase of a field in which the bodies of strangers could be laid to rest. This did little to cover their wickedness in bargaining with Judas to betray an innocent man. This plot of land became a public and monument of their sin. verse 7
The field became known in Jerusalem as the “field of blood.” This wasn’t a name given by the ungodly religious leadership, but by the common people, who knew the origin of the money used to buy the land.
1. It wasn’t named after the priests who purchased the plot of land.
2. It wasn’t named for the strangers who would be buried there.
3. It was named after the price of the blood an innocent man when Matthew wrote his gospel account – nearly 30 years later! verse 8
A MYSTERY
This now brings us to a mystery that is difficult to explain when Matthew refers to the purchase of the potter’s field as a fulfillment of Jeremy (Jeremiah). The problem is that the text is not found in the writing of Jeremiah, but with the prophet Zechariah. verses 9-10
And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.
And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD. (Zechariah 11:12-13)
Scholars have a few theories:
1. The Jews divided the Old Testament into three parts.
a. The first beginning with the Mosaic law
b. The second started with Psalms
c. The third started with Jeremiah
Since Jeremiah was considered first among the prophets, his writing was placed at the beginning of the prophetic writings, lumped collectively as the Book of the Prophets. So, even though the words were Zechariah’s, they are quoted as the Book of the Prophets with Jeremiah listed first and receiving the credit. Luke 24:44
2. There was a mistake made by ancient transcribers, writing the name Jeremiah instead of Zechariah.
3. The words were “spoken by Jeremiah,” but Zechariah recorded them, and Matthew quoted them as they were the words of Jeremiah.
In the end, all that matters is that the messianic prophecy took place exactly as described.
WHY NO REPENTANCE?
Why did Judas not repent? Peter denied Jesus three times and felt terrible about his actions. He repented and was reinstated as an apostle. Mark 16:7
Judas also deeply regretted his action, but he never sought God’s forgiveness; instead, he tried to atone for his sin by taking his own life. Such an action was never going to work and he obviously wasn’t thinking clearly.
Betraying the God-man and taking his own life afterwards would certainly not make amends for the crime committed. Matthew 26:24
1. The Godhead did not force Judas into betrayal; he acted of his own free will.
2. It was impossible for Judas to justify his sin as result of God’s foreknowledge.
Acts 2:23
3. This is why Jesus stated it would have been better for Judas never to have been born.
Judas had a Kabbalistic view of the messiah and tried to make Jesus conform with this concept. He never placed his trust in Jesus as the Savior because the Kabbalistic messiah has no salvation plan. Jews believe they are going to heaven simply because they are Jews. Judas was never born again.
We should take note of Judas’ fate because the Mark of the Beast is going to be introduced in the future. It will be a mandatory part of the Beast system. Revelation 13:16-18
This is an act of betrayal for any human because we are made in the image of God. Anyone who takes the mark of loyalty will cast into the Lake of Fire. Christians are not exempt from this punishment. Revelation 14:9-11
Remember, it’s not so important how you begin your life after salvation, but how you finish it!
Do you have an ear to hear with?
