Matthew 26:14-16

Matthew 26:14 Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests ¹⁵ and said, "What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?" And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. ¹⁶ And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.

Our text today is brief but very important for us.  Jesus has told us ahead of time that we could expect the same treatment He got.  John 15:20 records Jesus statement, "Remember the word that I said to you:  'A servant is not greater than his master'.  If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.  If they kept My word, they will also keep yours."  Jesus also told us what would happen to us in order to keep us from falling away.  Jesus states in John 16:1 "I have said these things to you to keep you from falling away."  A third thing we're told in scripture and need to know as we look at Matthew 26:14-16,  is that the devil is behind Judas betraying Jesus and will be behind the people who are close to us and betray us (John 13:2; Ephesians 6:12).

One of the most hurtful things that happens to us is betrayal by someone close to us who is supposed to be for us.  This can cause us to doubt our faith in God.  Jesus told us ahead of time what our enemy Satan would do to get us to quit following Him.  Armed with Jesus warning, we expect to be betrayed and we stand firm in our faith in God and keep doing our assigned work knowing Jesus is standing with us.

In our devotional passage we see scripture being fulfilled.  Psalm 41:9 is fulfilled in Jesus' life when He is betrayed by Judas, "Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me."  God predicted hundreds of years before it happened that Jesus would be betrayed.  We, too, will be betrayed by a trusted friend in our life just as Jesus has told us in His written word.  We need to stand firm in our faith and keep accomplishing the work God has given us to do.  Satan is looking for an opportune time to betray us and get us off track from doing God's work in our families, our work places, our communities and our churches.  Let's stand firm in the faith and complete God's life giving work just as Jesus did.