The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 26 Part 3 God Used Judas' Betrayal For His Glory And Purposes

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Now we come to Judas' plot to betray Jesua.

Matthew 26:14-15  Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, 15  And 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. 16  And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him. 

We now come to a pivotal moment in Jesus ministry because everything will move rapidly from this point until Jesus' death on the cross.

Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees were the enemies of Christ and they were waiting for an opportunity to arrest Jesus away from the multitudes who followed Him.

Matthew's gospel is straightforward. 

Judas Iscariot functioned as their treasurer, but was really stealing funds, and he reached a point where he had enough.

He thought Christ would come and overthrow Roman rule and establish Israel and the Messianic kingdom.

When it became clear that Jesus was not going to do this, and was committed to the cross, Judas decided to betray Christ.

He entered into an agreement where Jewish religious leaders would pay him a sum of thirty pieces of silver, a fitting amount for a thief like Judas.

From that moment, Judas was like a spy in their midst, seeking to find out a time when he could betray Christ.

Mark 14:10-11  And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them. 11  And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him. 

Mark's gospel adds that the chief priests "were glad" which is a Greek word normally translated "rejoice", "gladness" or "joy." 

It is a word that describes the countenance of a child of God who follows Christ.

It is a word connected with gladness of heart, a joyful spirit and a rejoicing, worshipful heart.

Thus, it is an oxymoron to think of chief priests being filled with joy at the prospect of killing their own Messiah.

Their hearts were full of hateful madness, such that they did not care if they violated God's commandment against murder.

Luke 22:3-6  Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. 4  And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. 5  And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. 6  And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude. 

Both Luke and John's gospels add a startling detail about Judas decision to betray the Lord Jesus Christ.

Satan, the evil arch enemy of God, "entered" into Judas.

This is the same word often used to tell us about demons taking possession of someone.

Therefore, behind the cast of characters we know of so far, was spiritual warfare.

Satan was waiting for a moment where he could orchestrate the death of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

If he could accomplish that goal, Satan imagined that all the world would be his to do with as he pleased.

He would become a dark lord and master over each person when they died, because with Christ dead, there could be no Savior.

What he did not know because he is also a created being, is that God's plan set in motion in eternity past, was that His Son Jesus, would live a perfect life and then suffer and die for our sins.

He would rise from the grave after three days as proof that death could not hold the sinless Son of God. 

The grave could not retain His body and the Devil was exposed as the big loser.

The very next event that happened while Judas was seeking a time to betray Christ, is that Jesus and His disciples celebrated Passover.

Matthew 26:17-19  Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover? 18  And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples. 19  And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.

Once more, Jesus provided clear evidence that He was indeed, God manifest in the flesh.

He told them to go into Jerusalem and find a man carrying a large pitcher of water, and to follow that man into the home where he entered.

They were to tell the homeowner that Christ had need of using his home for Passover. 

Jesus said that this man would show them an upper room already prepared for observing the Passover, and it happened exactly as Jesus prophesied.

Passover was a perpetual observance God commanded the Hebrew people to keep.

It was to remind them that Jehovah redeemed them out of Egyptian slavery. 

It was a reminder that an innocent lamb had to suffer and die, and that it's blood had to be applied to their doors, or else the angel of death would kill them.

The requirements for the Passover lamb all pointed to Jesus Christ, whom John introduced as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (See John 1:29-37).

Matthew 26:20-25  Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. 21  And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. 22  And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? 23  And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. 24  The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but 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. 25  Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said. 

At the appointed time, Jesus sat down with the twelve disciples and told them that one of them would betray Him.

Eleven disciples were genuinely sorrowful and asked Christ "is it I?"

Jesus told His disciples that the traitor would dip his hand in the dish, which refers to dipping Passover bread into a sauce made of bitter herbs, in accord with God's commands (See Exodus 12).

Also, we must listen to what Jesus said next.

He said that He will go to His death as it is written in the scriptures, but there will be a heavy "Woe" upon Judas the traitor.

Psalm 22 is a Messianic Psalm containing the very words Jesus would cry out as He hung on the cross, many centuries after the Psalm was recorded.

Psalm 69:1-21 records more unique details of Jesus sufferings on the cross.

Isaiah 53:1-12 is yet another chapter that speaks specifically to Christ's sufferings and death for us.

Psalm 41:7-10  All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt. 8  An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more. 9  Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. 10  But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them. 

This section of Psalm 41 is Messianic and looks forward to Christ's betrayal and sufferings.

Judas secretly conspired to betray Jesus into the hands of His enemies.

The words "Mine own familiar friend" refers specifically to Judas Iscariot.

His chief mission was to lift up his heel against Jesus, which corresponds to betraying Him.

Psalm 55:12-14  For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: 13  But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. 14  We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. 

This text from Psalm 55 is also Messianic (Applied to Messiah). 

It foretells Jesus saying that if the enemy had directly reproached Him, He could have endured such an act.

However, Judas, here call "a man mine equal" was one of the twelve disciples Jesus originally called to follow Him.

For a period of 3 1/2 years, Jesus said they took sweet counsel together, meaning spending time speaking about the kingdom of God.

They went into the Temple to worship together.

John 6:70-71  Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? 71  He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve. 

After Jesus declared "I am the bread of life" and after Peter's Spirit guided confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, Jesus said these words.

The apostle John wanted us to know that Jesus knew beforehand that Judas would betray Him.

John 13 to 17 contains the last teaching of Jesus before His crucifixion.

John tells us that Satan put the plot to betray Jesus into the heart of Judas Iscariot (See John 13:2).

Later in the same passage, John tells us that Satan entered into Judas, taking possession of him in order to carry out his foul scheme of betrayal.

Thus, Jesus said "the Son of man goeth as it is written of Him."

Then, as now, God was in control and His plan of mankind's redemption from sin, was going to unfold exactly as He decreed in eternity past.

Satan thought Jesus' death would give him ultimate victory, but the death of Christ was the centerpiece of God's redemptive plan. 

Thus, the Devil could not derail Christ completing His mission to save us.

Rebellious religious leaders thought killing Jesus would guarantee them power, status and wealth, but Jesus' death, burial and resurrection undid all their hopes.

Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.

All that happened in the life of Jesus Christ, from His virgin birth to His betrayal happened in perfect harmony with the Father's plan for our salvation.

Adam and Eve were two people who walked with God, and who received His commands.

They chose to sin, and sin entered the world, and every man dies because the wages of sin is death (See Romans 3:23; Ezekiel 18:4; 18:20).

No one has to teach our children how to lie or how to disobey, because it is built into all of us.

Thus, each baby is born with a sin nature. The only exception in all of history is Jesus Christ, who was born of a virgin, meaning that God is His Father.

Therefore, Jesus did not inherit the sin nature from Adam like you and I did.

Christ came into this world as the second Adam. He perfectly obeyed God's will on our behalf.

As the perfect Passover Lamb of God, Christ suffered in our place, and died the death that rightfully should be ours.

As the risen Son of God, the second Adam offers eternal life to all who repent and trust Him.

Adam and Eve chose to individually to sin against God.

You and I must individually choose to repent of our sins and turn to Christ with faith that He will save us.

God will not make you be born again, but He will gladly give spiritual life to all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (See John 3:1-18).

When a sinner is converted to Christ there is joy in heaven.

The key points for us to remember is that God has spoken and His Word is true and will come to pass as He said.

God planned for the death of His Son in eternity past and Jesus chose the cross death for the joy of saving sinners (See Hebrews 10:1-18; 12:1-2).

God's promises are true and give us great hope.

As we push forward in the details leading to Jesus' death for you and me, let us remember, this is God's plan.

There is no other name whereby man must be saved (See Acts 4:12).

There is only One, True God and we can trust Him fully.

Bob