Good Evening y’all. Today we are looking at Matthew 27.

Be blessed.

This chapter details Jesus crucifixion but one bit that struck me was the Judas part in verses 3-5.

“When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.” “What do we care?” they retorted. “That’s your problem.” Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself”. (Matthew 27:3-5 NLT)

In yesterday’s chapter, Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, but in today’s chapter, he was full of remorse for what he had done and He went back to the religious leaders to return their money. I’m not sure what exactly he was expecting from the leaders but i’m sure their reaction wasn’t what he wanted. Perhaps he wanted something to relief him of the guilt, something to soothe his aching soul.

How often we find ourselves in that position, where we know we have done something wrong but rather than ask for forgiveness, we look for things or people to ease our guilt.

The devil will entice, then sets up a trap and once we fall into it, he leaves us to pick up the pieces by ourself. That was exactly what happened to Judas. It was interesting to see that the religious leader were quick to help him betray Jesus, but after he had done what they needed him to do, they didn’t care about how he felt or the remorse he was feeling. Basically he was used and dumped. The guilt was so much that he hung himself. He felt that was the only way out of the mess he found himself in.

I wonder if he had repented and cried out to God for forgiveness, I’m sure God would have forgiven him and given him a new start. But the enemy led him to believe their was no hope for him and he hung himself.

I don’t know where you are right now, maybe you feel you have done so much that God can’t forgive you. That’s a lie. Scripture tells us that if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all our unrighteousness (1John 1:9). God is ready and willing to forgive us, he is waiting for us to call on him and ask for mercy.

He said in isaiah if your sins are red as scarlet, I will make them white as snow

 “Come now, let’s settle this,”
    says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
    I will make them as white as snow.
Though they are red like crimson,
    I will make them as white as wool”.
(Isaiah 1:18 NLT)

Jesus loves us so much and that’s why He went to the cross for us. Let’s turn to him with a sincere heart and cry for mercy and forgiveness today and He will forgive us.

“then if my people will humble themselves and pray, and search for me, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear them from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land”.(2 Chronicles 7:14 TLB)

Prayer:
Dear Lord we thank you for today. We come before you and ask for your mercy and forgiveness for all the times we’ve betrayed you. Pls help us to remain close to you. Thank you Jesus for going to the cross for us and for giving us a new start. In Jesus Name. Amen

Thank you for joining today.

Have a blessed evening.

***With God all things are possible***