Matthew 26:14-18: a reflection

14Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him to you?” So they weighed out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16From that time he sought opportunity to betray him. 17Now on the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18He said, “Go into the city to a certain person, and tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.”’”

As the drama of Jesus' passion begins, one of his own twelve disciples goes to the chief priests with a chilling question: What will you give me if I deliver him to you? And they weigh out for him thirty pieces of silver. From that moment, Judas looks for an opportunity to betray Jesus. The Lord of glory, the one Judas had followed and served for years, is sold, for a sum of money, by one of his own.

Notice the tragedy: Judas sold Jesus for silver. Whatever else drove Judas, the love of money was at the heart of his betrayal; he valued thirty pieces of silver more than his Lord. It is a chilling picture of what the love of money can do: it can lead even one who had followed Jesus to sell him for a paltry sum, to value money over the priceless Christ. Judas put a price on Jesus, and it was a low one.

That is a sobering warning about the love of money. We may recoil at Judas's betrayal, and rightly; but the love of money that drove it is a danger to us all. Money can gain such a hold on our hearts that we, too, in smaller ways, value it over Christ, over integrity, over what is precious, willing to compromise or betray for financial gain. Guard your heart against the love of money that led Judas to sell his Lord. Do not let money become so precious to you that you would compromise your integrity or your loyalty to Christ for it. Judas sold Jesus for silver; let nothing lead you to value money over your Lord. Keep your heart free from the love of money, which can lead even a disciple to betrayal.

Lord, one of your own twelve sold you for thirty pieces of silver, valuing money more than his Lord; the love of money was at the heart of Judas's betrayal. Guard my heart against that same love. I may recoil at Judas's betrayal, but the love of money that drove it is a danger to me too. Money can gain such a hold on my heart that I, in smaller ways, value it over you, over integrity, over what is precious, willing to compromise for financial gain. Keep me from letting money become so precious that I would compromise my loyalty to you for it. Judas sold you for silver; let nothing lead me to value money over you. Keep my heart free from the love of money, and let you, my Lord, be more precious to me than any sum.