Forgiveness

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

FORGIVENESS

Matt 27:1-5

27:1 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death. 2 They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor. 3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. 4 "I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood." "What is that to us?" they replied. "That's your responsibility." 5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

NIV

Surely there is a story in this action of the chief priests and elders coming to the decision to put Jesus to death. But the main character in this passage is the heart of Judas. Although we should see something as well in the hearts of the chief priests and elders. In their self-righteousness they were blinded to the truth about Jesus. They were so dogmatic in their beliefs they missed the signs pointing them to Jesus as the Messiah. Sometimes we can become just as self-righteous and dogmatic in our beliefs we missed a truth which could have a profound effect on our lives. What we have to determine is if we approach the scriptures with our preformed ideas or filters which than filter out the truth we should be seeing. This is what the chief priests and the elders had done and in doing so they determined to kill the one who could give them eternal life. As for Judas we now see a man filled with remorse. His personality has been depicted to us as sneaky thief who helped himself to the offerings given to support Jesus and his disciples. It would be like one of the ushers in church reaching into the offering plate before handing it in to whoever gets them all, taking a few lose twenties for himself. That would be inexcusable, we would think. Judas tries to restore the evil act, maybe thinking they would not continue with their pursuit of putting Jesus to death. But they would have nothing to do with his attempt to repent. Of course he was trying to repent to the wrong people. Although his actions were what was needed in order for Jesus to go to the cross, which was the plan of God, he should have repented to Jesus, or to God. Of course they are one in the same. We would think if Judas found Jesus and repented, asking him to forgive him for what he did, Jesus would have forgiven him, telling him it was in the will of God this happened as it did. Jesus might have told him he was alright, his remorse and repenting heart was sufficient. Judas might have gone on to be a great preacher for the truth about Jesus. But then this was not to happen. His guilt overcame him and he lost his opportunity of eternal life because he committed suicide. He died in his sin, without the forgiveness of God. Although it is the right thing to do to attempt to make restoration for our sinful behaviors toward our fellow man, it would far better to seek forgiveness from God. We might think we are being spiritual by asking someone to forgive us for our bad attitude or behavior toward them, but the non-believer might do that very thing as well. It may or may not be in the manner we think it should be, but generally people seek to restore or mend strained relationships. There are exceptions of course where bitterness and unforgiveness override all other feelings. But then that might well happen in the Christian community as well. When we act in a manner which is against God, whatever that might be, our first action would not be to seek to restore or try to make things right with men, but to seek forgiveness from God. Then after receiving forgiveness from God, if it is possible make restitution with men. We know one of the criminals on one of the other crosses had not opportunity to make any kind of restoration to men for his offenses. But he acknowledged Jesus and thus in his heart he knew he was right with God and Jesus told him he would be in paradise with him that day. Judas would have been far better a man to seek out Jesus rather than man for forgiveness. Let us always seek forgiveness from God, first and foremost.