“And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself. The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the temple treasury, since it is the price of blood” (Matthew 27:5-6).
Disgusted, he threw the money away. It is as if Judas was asking himself why he did it. The pharisees, always thinking legally, treated the money as if it were tainted rather than thinking it was their souls that were tainted. They were not thinking the way the Lord would have us think. They went through the motions utterly lost in their sin. At every point, we are offered grace to move out of sinning and into learning how to live a life of obedience.
Lord, I see clearly that You are not in the business of condemning us. The law, strict as it is, has already done that. You offer us every opportunity to repent, get out of ourselves and learn how to obey Your perfect will. I cling to what is temporary and do not cling to You who are eternal. Take me from where I am to where I need to be so that I may walk in the promise of Your salvation.
Lord Jesus, for all these things You went to the cross in order to free me from myself. Continue the journey with me so that I may run the race and finish the course You have set before me. Let me not become despondent or so self-absorbed that I take matters into my own hands, but lead me out of myself to learn humility and willing obedience to all that You set before me. Amen.
