The Sad End
Acknowledged, Apostle, Betrayed, Betraying, Bitterness, Blog, Blood, Character, Chief Priests, Chosen, Companion, Condemned, Convictions, Cost, Covering, Death, Delivers, Earned, Erik Garthe, Evidence, Forgiveness, Fulfillment, God, Gospel, Hanged, Heart, Horrible, Innocence, Innocent, Insincere, Jesus Christ, Jesus’ Blood, John, Judas Iscariot, Judgment, Miserable, Misuse, Money, No Longer Conformed, Peter, Pleasure, Preacher, Pride, Privilege, Promises, Proof, Rebellion, Remorseful, Repent, Repentance, Repents, salvation, Satisfied, Sin, Sinned, Sinner, Suicide, Teaching, Temple, Terrible, The Sad End, Thirty Pieces of Silver, Trial, Wages, witness
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God has forgiveness available for every sinner who sincerely repents, but sadly many can’t or won’t repent—Judas Iscariot was one. Matthew 27:1-10 provides the record of his miserable end. First, we see proof of Jesus’
innocence—“[He said,] “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” (v. 4a) Judas acknowledged to the chief priests that he had sinned and betrayed an innocent person. This was a witness to the very character of Jesus Christ. If there was any person who could have been called on to give evidence against Jesus, Judas Iscariot was the man. He was a chosen apostle, a constant companion, a hearer of all His teaching—public and private. The absence of Judas Iscariot at Jesus’ trial is a proof of His innocence. Second, we see evidence of insincere repentance—“Judas … seeing that [Jesus] had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver.” (v. 3) He was remorseful. He gave back the money. He even acknowledged his sin. And yet it’s clear by his suicide that he didn’t repent to salvation. Third, we see sin brings no fulfillment—“He threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed.” (v. 5a) He went away in bitterness; the money was earned at a terrible cost and brought Judas no pleasure. Someone wrote, “Sin is the hardest of all masters; it promises so much but delivers so little.” Sin’s pleasure lasts for a moment, but its wages can last a lifetime. Fourth, we see what misuse of privilege produces—“He … went and hanged himself.” (v. 5b) A horrible death! An apostle of Jesus Christ, a former preacher of the Gospel, a companion of Peter and John, Judas committed suicide and ran into God’s presence without forgiveness and unprepared for judgment. He didn’t have the covering of Jesus’ blood. What is the state of your heart? Don’t be satisfied with partial convictions and remain full of pride and rebellion!
Sin cera, Erik
Erik O. Garthe is Associate Pastor at Canton Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland.
