“Blood Money”

When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order to bring about his death. They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor.

When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. He said, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money.” After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter’s field as a place to bury foreigners. For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one on whom a price had been set, on whom some of the people of Israel had set a price, and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”

Matthew 27:1-10

Judas had been a trusted disciple. Some say he was the treasurer. But he betrayed Jesus. He realized he had erred. He committed suicide. Nothing could save him from what eternity had in store for him.

Whatever you do, do not betray Jesus. He is your most loving friend. Remember, Jesus does not send us to hell, we send ourselves there.

Do not put anything in the way of Jesus, ever.

When faced with a choice,

don’t betray your loving leader.

Our Daily Bread – September 4, 2008