Matthew 26:14-16: “Choose Wisely”

“What will you give me if I deliver Him over to you?” Judas to the chief priests, Matthew 26:14

I’m in love with Judas…Judas! Judaas Judas! When he comes to me I am ready.  I’ll wash his feet with my hair if he needs… I’m just a Holy Fool, oh baby he’s so cruel.   But I’m still in love with Judas, baby.   (Lady Gaga)

Matthew follows up one of the greatest acts of worship (see vv. 6-13) with the greatest act of treason.   Probably not in chronological order (Jesus’ anointing fits better chronologically after 21:17), I believe Matthew purposely put these two stories together for contrast, as a jeweler displays a diamond against a black cloth.  

It was one of the twelve (v. 14) that betrayed Jesus.  It wasn’t one from the crowd that followed Him in Galilee (13:2; 14:13; 15:30; 19:2) or who listened to Him in the temple (21:46; 22:33).  It wasn’t one of the 72 sent out to preach (Luke 10:1).  It was one of the twelve whom He chose after a night of prayer (Luke 6:12-13); it was one into whom He poured three years of His life!  This was who sought an opportunity to betray Him (v. 16).    

The chief priests and elders had gathered in the palace of the high priest Caiaphas and schemed together how to arrest Jesus and kill him (see vv. 3-4).  Suddenly there is a knock at the door.   It is one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, (v. 14).   Out of breath with his hands on his knees, he heaves, “What will you give me if I deliver Him over to you?” (v. 15).  The prayers of the religious demons are answered.  So it seems.

Why did Judas betray Jesus?   Maybe it was political.   Judas hitched his wagon to the one that the people wanted to make king (see John 6:15), one who would overthrow Rome’s occupation and “restore the kingdom to Israel” (Acts 1:6).  But lately Judas had only heard Jesus talk about His death.  And at dinner when Jesus once again spoke of His death (v. 12)…well, that was the last straw.  “Enough of this death talk, Jesus!  Are you or are you not the Israel’s political messiah?”  Maybe Judas thought his betrayal would force Jesus to act.

Maybe Judas’ motive was financial.  After all, Judas had been stealing from the disciples’ money bag (see John 12:6).  “If this guy is really going to be crucified, then I’m getting something out of my three years with Him,” Judas maybe reasoned.   Ultimately we don’t know his motive.  Scripture is silent on this.  But we know that Jesus called Judas “a devil” (John 6:70) and a “son of perdition” (John 17:12, NASB). 

Judas, along with the Twelve, was sent out by Jesus.  He was given authority over demons and disease (10:1).  Judas likely performed miracles.   But Judas repeatedly allowed his sin to go unchallenged and unconfessed.    Therefore he became a pawn of Satan; “Satan entered into Judas” (Luke 22:3; see also John 13:27). 

Lady Gaga has chosen a loser.   Judas is a loser; Satan is a loser.  He lost on Easter morning.  His eternal destiny is the lake of fire.   Lady Gaga uses acts of worship done to Jesus to express her love for Judas.   That is blasphemy!  To quote the grail knight from one of the Indiana Jones movies, she “chose… poorly.”  Gaga has sold off the Lover of her soul so she can obtain “the accuser of our brethren,” (Revelation 12:10). 

Who do you choose?    The One that created the universe, humbled Himself, assumed our death penalty and rose again?   Will you follow Him wherever He leads?  Or only if it benefits you politically or financially?  Or do you choose him who sold his soul for thirty pieces of silver (v. 15)?  “You must choose.  But choose wisely.”