H85
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen. Our text is recorded in the 27th chapter of Matthew, the 1st through the 10th verse, reading as follows:
Dear fellow redeemed sinners, redeemed by the precious blood of God’s only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, whose suffering on our behalf is the topic of our Lenten season once more. Recently we heard about the corrupt Council’s proceedings and its condemnation of Jesus Christ. More amazing, we heard Jesus’ astounding declaration in the very midst of His enemies. Indeed, He is the Son of God, and He will allow no misunderstanding of that fact. Furthermore, He tells them that they shall someday see Him in all His glory as Judge (Luke 22:69f), when He comes again on His throne surrounded by all His holy angels (Matt. 25:31). Matthew’s account now records a detour concerning Judas. The wicked rulers at this point send Jesus bound to Pilate. While they are doing that, Judas goes to the temple. This morning, then, we consider –
JUDAS’ TRAGIC END.
I. We dwell a bit on Judas’ disappointment; and
II. The distribution of the proceeds which he cast down onto the temple floor.
I
We begin with Judas’ disappointment. Then Judas, which had betrayed Him, when he saw that He was condemned, repented himself. Judas has been deeply involved. He has viewed all the things which have happened this evening. Through it all He beholds Jesus’ wondrous conduct. Jesus declares a final time at the Supper that one of them shall betray Him (John 13:21). Then He sends Judas away into the night rather than reveal him to the others (John 13:29), lest they beat Judas perhaps even to death, and so disable him from his dastardly mission. He addresses Judas as “Friend” when he comes to the garden (Matt. 26:50). A detour to Annas follows (John 18:13) and Judas accompanies the group. Annas was the true high priest, for the office of high priest was to be until death. Yet the Romans decided that they were boss. Who cares what God decrees? Thus they appointed his son-in-law Caiaphas to be the new high priest. Therefore, the groups must march Jesus to Caiaphas’ palace, for the Romans will only recognize his “signature,” as it were. There Jesus is severely abused and Caiaphas lets this go on (Luke 22:63-65). Then they lead Him to the Council meeting which is convened in the dark. Judas witnesses the cruelty at the phony “trial” and its illegal decree of death. Now, our text notes, they will take Jesus bound to Pilate for official permission to crucify Him. Our text states, “When the morning was come” (v. 1), as soon as it is light out, at the earliest moment they rush to carry out their evil plan before the people are up and about. He is popular with them. Yes, the pilgrims even gave a parade for Jesus a few days earlier on Palm Sunday. In the midst of all this violence, Judas observes Jesus’ amazing tranquility. Jesus lets the band come to arrest Him, and after causing them to fall helpless, permits them to rise again from the ground (John 18:6). Jesus gently heals Malchus’ ear (Luke 22:51), and directs them to send His disciples safely away (John 18:8). Now He stands silent before His devilish accusers. Something has gone terribly wrong! Jesus refuses to use His almighty power to escape, as He has employed on other occasions (e.g. Luke 4:29). Most recently He walked through midst of His enemies – “Excuse me! Pardon me!” – and made His way out of the temple (John 8:59) as they surged forward to seize Him in order to stone Him. But now He does nothing and quietly endures all their wickedness. Suddenly that wonderful money in the bag no longer satisfies Judas. He learns too late the lesson which many need learn, that money does not buy happiness.
Now Judas is filled with desperation. 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, saying, “I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.” And they said, “What is that to us? See thou to that.” Yes, now he is filled with desperation. It is genuine sorrow and regret. He realizes that he has committed a major sin. Furthermore, he testifies to the chief priests of Jesus’ innocence. This is innocent blood! But all he meets with is harsh laughter rather than assurance that all shall be okay, that there is pardon and forgiveness for sin. Instead they remind him of his problem, “What’s it to us; it’s your problem.” In disgust Judas throws down the money, those distressing thirty pieces of silver. Many ask pardon but are not willing to return the thing. So a caught shoplifter may say, “I feel bad about taking that merchandise, but do I also have to return it?” We want to have pious sorrow and yet keep the thing we covet. By discarding the money Judas demonstrates that he really means it. The money around which his life once turned no longer satisfies him.
He cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. Despair and death fill him. He hanged himself. This is the ultimate proof that he is not pretending sorrow, but means it. Why does he go and do a stupid thing like commit suicide? We are told in John’s Gospel, “After the sop Satan entered into him;” after which Jesus finally gave up on him, saying, “that thou doest do quickly” (13:27). “If your are bound and determined to do this wicked thing, and I cannot dissuade you, then get it over with!” Yes, Jesus lets Judas know that He is well aware what Judas is planning. This does not disturb Judas, and he goes out and hangs himself. This is a tremendously stupid action on the part of Judas! Don’t ever let Satan advise you when things are tough, and seduce you with his suggestions as to what to do next! He was responsible for Judas doing this and he certainly was not going to deliver him now. Had Judas only waited till Sunday – if for nothing else than curiosity – he would have been welcomed back by Jesus, even as Jesus welcomed Peter and restored him. Jesus truly paid for the sins of every person in the whole world, and “every person” includes Judas. Yes, He wished to be a Friend to Judas, but Judas pushs away that friendship. While Judas is tremendously sorry, yet he has no faith in forgiveness. It sinks in that he can never pay for his own sins. No, returning the money, discarding it at the priests’ feet, cannot undo this wicked deed. Moreover, he must think: “If, indeed, Jesus does actually rise again, then He will surely hate me. He will punish me and send me to hell. I might as well get it over with.” So even if he knows Jesus to be God, yet he does not know God to be a loving and gracious God. Therefore he commits suicide by hanging himself. Thus he perishes in unbelief (John 17:12; Acts 1:25).
II
We next hear of the distribution of those returned proceeds. We hear those perverse and uncaring priests, who say, “What is that to us? See thou to that.” They ought to help this poor, pathetic parishioner, especially when he is so severely distraught. They should hurry to Pilate and say, “Stop! We’ve just uncovered new evidence!” or something similar. “We have been informed that Jesus is innocent. Let Him go!” Instead, they sneer coldly, “That’s your problem, sucker!” and let Judas go out to hang himself. They are filled with refusal to admit their own part in this miscarriage of justice. Their hearts are unmoved for their complicity even by the desperate begging of Judas, their partner. They desire to see Christ killed, and nothing else will satisfy them. The chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, “It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.” Hear the hypocrisy of these supposed holy men. It is a possible infraction of Deut. 23:18, which deems certain donations unacceptable to the church, namely profits from immoral or illegal acts. They decide, “It is not lawful.” They are such sticklers for the letter of the law, yet they blatantly disregard the spirit of the Law. As Jesus says, they strain at a gnat while they swallow a camel (Matt. 23:24). Similarly, after Jesus’ death they petition Pilate to have the corpse removed (John 19:31). They want to put the evidence of their crime out of mind and enjoy their holiday. Such is their disturbing nature.
They took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called “The field of blood” unto this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of Him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; and gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me.” After some discussion they make the decision to purchase a plot of land. Oh, they themselves in all their imagined holiness are far too good to be buried there. But they can use this place for the poor and foreigners who die while visiting Jerusalem. It is “good enough” for those lowlifes. This plot of land is forever after haunted by this deplorable reputation. It is called Acheldema, the “Field of blood,” whether because this is bought with “blood money” paid to betray Jesus or because of Judas’ blood, we cannot say for sure. Nevertheless, this horrible name remains on this purchase. Acts 1:18 further notes that Judas fell unto the rocks below “and all his bowels gushed out.” After Judas hanged himself either the rope or the branch broke, and he plunged over the edge of the cliff, hitting the jagged rocks below so hard that he burst open. Whether he was already dead from the rope breaking his neck, or a helpless quadriplegic from having his spinal cord snapped and died from exposure on the rocks we cannot say absolutely, but after hanging himself he ended up on the rocks. Both of these things happened and they are not two different reports of his death, as some allege. Acts merely adds this detail about what happened after Judas hanged himself. Matthew notes that two prophecies were fulfilled. Our text names Jeremiah here, which refers to the purchase of the potter’s field (12:6-15), but it is Zechariah who foretells the exact price, thirty pieces of silver (11:12-13).
My friends, don’t listen to the lure of the flesh for money. Don’t listen to Satan’s whisper how “easy” it will be to get this. Do not listen to the world. When the people don’t need you anymore to do their dirty work, see how they will treat you. Behold how the priests push Judas away when he is of no further value to them. Above all, don’t listen later to Satan’s snarl of how hopeless it now is. Don’t be driven to despair, whatever things you are facing in your life, be it struggles in the family or hardships in our distressed economy. Nothing is so bad as hell, and the devil is not being your friend. No, don’t be driven to despair, whatever you are presently facing. Remember Judas’ unnecessary tragic end. Rather listen to Christ call, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). Cling to that promise and confess as St. Paul did: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief (1 Tim. 1:15). Yes, in God’s only-begotten Son there is pardon and welcome for all of us. May we, too, cling to Jesus as our divine Savior and live. To our gracious God be all the glory. Amen.
HYMNS: 317, 319, 342, 166
March 14, 2010
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