Thoughts on Matthew 26:14-25

You sit with your closest friends and announce, “One of you will betray me.” One by one, they ask, “Is it I?” Eleven ask earnestly, but one deceitfully. Judas Iscariot had already made a deal with the chief priests to deliver you into their hands.

You know the truth and yet you remain in relationship. Yesterday, you told Peter the truth about his future denial of you, today you reveal the potential betrayal in the hearts of the ones who follow you. Only one of the twelve had actually committed treason, but the others were wise enough to not trust their own estimation of themselves, instead they asked you to examine them. They suspected their hearts held the possibility of betrayal.

Lord, I will follow their example. Within me lies the possibility of denying you; sadly, my soul has its own 30 pieces of silver that could buy my loyalty to you. So, please examine me; I do not want to betray you. “How is it I, Lord?”

Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong – then guide me on the road to eternal life. Psalm 139:23,24 The Message