Judas Repents - Matthew 27:3

Matthew the apostle wrote how the “religious leaders” tried Jesus and found Him “guilty of death”. Matthew also wrote about Peter “denying” Jesus three times, and continued, “When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor”, and in chapter twenty-seven and verse three of his book, Matthew wrote, “Judas … repented himself” where we read:

Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

The verse reads, “Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, ...” Matthew began words, “then Judas” which means “at that time and moment Judas who was one of Jesus' disciples whose name means he shall be praised”, “which had betrayed him” or “who had delivered up Jesus treacherously and committed Him to the chief priests”, “when he saw that he was condemned” which means “at the time and moment Judas perceived, noticed and discerned that Jesus was judged worthy of punishment”, “repented himself” or “Judas regretted and cared afterward”. Matthew shared how “Judas” “regretted” “betraying” Jesus when he saw that Jesus was “judged worthy of punishment”.

The verse goes on to say, “... and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,” Matthew continued with the words, “and brought again” or “and carried, turned back and returned” “the thirty pieces of silver” which means “the thirty silver coins or shekels” “to the chief priests” or “to the high priests” “and elders” which refers to “the advanced in age, seniors and members of the great council or Sanhedrin”. Matthew shared how Judas “returned” to the “religious leaders” the “thirty silver coins” he received from them for “betraying” Jesus.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we can imagine the “regret” and “anguish” that Judas felt as he knew Jesus was “condemned” by the “religious leaders”. Perhaps Judas thought there would be a different outcome when he “betrayed” Jesus, but nonetheless, Jesus was “judged to be worthy of the punishment of death”, and it was “Judas'” fault. The “fault” for Jesus going through these things is the “sin” every person has within their lives, and all are “guilty” of “betraying” Jesus in some form or another. Though Judas “regretted” what He did, the outcome did not change. Only when a person yields their life to Jesus Christ is their eternal fate altered, and though “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” and “the wages of sin is death”, God promised “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. (See Romans 3:23 and 6:23).

Next time Matthew shares how Judas says, “I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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