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Matthew 26:14-16
The Bible teaches us in 1 Timothy 6:6-10 (NKJV), “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 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. 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.”
This is a trap set for Judas by the devil as Jesus dismissed selling the oil for a large profit instead of anointing Him with it as did Mary (Matthew 26:6-13). Judas fell to the love of money and put that before his relationship with his Savior – the Savior of the world, Jesus. Judas was filled with anger at Jesus because Jesus caused him to not have a large sum of money at his disposal. This is what led Judas to betray Jesus as we now learn in Matthew 26:14-16 that he then went to the chief priests to have them do what Judas was feeling in his heart – to kill Jesus. All this over some money – and his love for money over his love for his God and Savior. Thirty pieces of silver; this is the equivalent of the price to pay another if your ox gored one of his servants (Exodus 21:32). This is the price given for the betrayal of our Savior as He too would be gored while He hung on the cross (John 19:34).
This is an example of how the devil can harden our hearts to God for the love of earthly things.
We too have a love for earthly things. We may not even realize it when we place them before our God and Savior Jesus. The importance of this is recorded in Deuteronomy 6:5 as Jesus Himself quotes this verse in Matthew 22:37-38, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment.”
Our duty as Christians, and our hearts desire once filled with God’s Holy Spirit is to put God first in our lives. We are not giving up anything, as some fear, but are gaining heartfelt blessings that will last for all eternity – in heaven – in Christ. Choose Christ Jesus and invite Him into your heart today and experience the joys and peace that only Jesus can give.
Dear LORD,
Please help us to see that true happiness and peace of heart, mind, and soul, is not found in the things of this world which are temporary, but are found only in Jesus through putting our faith in Him as our Savior – that He died for our sins so that we may live through His purity – forever – in Christ. In Jesus name I pray, amen.