Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor. When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”

Anger creates rash actions that cannot be taken back. Here we see Judas, once he realized the extent of the Jewish leaders’ plan for Jesus — to kill him — how he then felt remorse.

Who knows how he justified his actions to himself? Maybe he told himself: “If they arrest Jesus, he is so powerful he will finally fight these leaders and we will have better leaders in the end. And I deserve a cut (compensation) for the role I played in bringing this about.”

Whatever his motivation, he clearly did not want Jesus to be killed. And this brings us to an important lesson: The ends do not justify the means. Partnering up with evil, corrupt people will always end in remorse and regret.

And sadly, we now see that Judas felt remorse, but he did not repent. Instead, he decided to take his own life. This is a clear condemnation of Judas. Listen to what Jesus said about Judas: “The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭24‬)

We must always take the story of Judas in context with other similar stories in the Bible. A relevant story here is the conversion of Saul. Judas did bad things and so did Saul. Saul was persecuting the church, arresting its leaders, and at times condoning the killing of some, like at the stoning of Steven. But Jesus called him and he decided to follow him. He repented. So God’s grace was extended to Paul.

Judas was called, but he apparently stopped following with his whole heart as his life mission. He stole money, he betrayed Jesus, and in the end, instead of repenting of his sins, he took the easy way out and killed himself.

This reminds me of this passage: “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭6‬:‭4‬-‭8‬)

This was Judas’ fate and it is a warning for us all. Stay true to God, Jesus, and the Bible. Follow his commands. Persevere until the end. Don’t compromise. And you will be saved.

Lord, thank you for this passage which teaches me to keep my faith and not to sell it for money or some selfish objective or plan I devise. Thank you that you always have open arms when I need to repent!