Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

--Parallel verses:
‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬-‭17‬
… but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Judas got caught in sin by accusing and judging Mary in the previous verses. He had lived his life in deception, by stealing from the common fund. He then compounded these sins by going to turn Jesus in to the High Priests and Pharisees, out of anger. There is a progression here, that James describes aptly.

First, evil desire in our heart drags us away from God and Jesus. This was the temptation to steal. Second, this desire is conceived and gives birth to sin. Judas, over time, decided he was OK with stealing. Third, sin develops like an infant develops into a grown person. When sin develops fully, it leads to death, destruction, and all sorts of evil, and ultimately to eternal death. Here we see that Judas’ sin led him to be complicit in the crucifixion of Jesus.

Sin is incestuous. It worms its way into our lives through our own desire for pleasure and sinful passions over all else. Then it gets a foothold in our heart and corrupts it like a fast growing mold, until our whole heart becomes evil and dark.

“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.” (‭‭Romans‬ ‭7‬:‭24‬-‭25‬)

So I must look to my deliverer, instead of looking to my sinful desires, for what I need in life. And I must ask for good gifts. Sinful men cannot be relied upon. God can. Sinful desires lead to death, but a life with God in charge leads to salvation and eternal life.

Lord, this is a clear example, in Judas’ actions, to learn from. Sin corrupts. I must run to the light! Praise you, Father! May your truth be alive and well in my heart, and may I desire purity over worldly pleasures.