“Thank You, Lord Jesus, that even from the story of Judas, there are several precious lessons for us to learn. We commit ourselves to Your hands. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.”
Acts 1:18-20 (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. (19) And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.) (20) “For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’ On the basis of prophecy, Peter explains to the disciples, the need for them to find a person to be numbered with the eleven. He began by quoting the Scriptures from the book of Psalms.
Psalms 69:25 Let their dwelling place be desolate; Let no one live in their tents. Psalms 109:8 Let his days be few, And let another take his office. This shows how Peter and the Jews in general were all well versed in the Scriptures. We generally consider Peter as a fisherman, and probably without knowledge of the Scriptures. This is not the case. This is how the Jews were in knowing and understanding the Scriptures. Out of this community, who were all knowledgeable of the Scriptures, there were people like Apostle Paul. We can, therefore, imagine Paul’s stature and his level of proficiency and thoroughness with the Scriptures. Compare this with the state of understanding of many of us in the church today, regarding the Scriptures. It is quite disappointing and shameful. This should cause us to commit ourselves to personal study, application and the teaching of His word to others.
How do we resolve the difference in the narrative of how Judas died? The account in Matthew (Matthew 27:3-10) seems so different from what we read in the book of Acts. (Please read https://www.gotquestions.org/Judas-die.html) This article could probably give us the answer to the riddle over the death of Judas.
We must consider an important matter in the life of Judas. Peter refers to this issue as ‘the wages of iniquity or ‘the wages of unrighteousness. Judas was a man who was greedy for money. John 12:6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. This was Judas’ core problem. Since he was greedy for money, Judas was led astray, and he fell into all the sins, including betraying Jesus. Peter talks of this issue in the lives of some in the church. II Peter 2:15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; The problem for Balaam was his love for the wages of unrighteousness. The story of Balaam is in Numbers 22. Jude 1:11 “Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah”. The impact of Balaam’s unrighteous ways had long-term effects. This can be seen in Numbers 31:16 Look, these women caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the Lord in the incident of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord.
John warns the churches about the sin of Balaam. Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
This matter of greed for money destroys people. I Timothy 6:9-10 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. (10) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. The problem of love for money will cause many to wander from their faith in God. Money has the capacity to replace God. We will begin to trust money as the source for our security, our future and for our well-being in life. We will make money to be our habitat. This is what the love of money will do to us. I Timothy 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. We are to be righteous before God.
Our prayer
“Lord Jesus, alert me when my heart starts to have a desire for money so that in your strength, I will be victorious over the love of money.”