Day 30

His arrest and crucifixion...

Matthew 27:1-14 NIV84

Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death. They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.

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. "I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood."

"What is that to us?" they replied. "That's your responsibility."

So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

The chief priests picked up the coins and said, "It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money." So they decided to use the money to buy the potter's field as a burial place for foreigners. That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: "They took the thirty silver coins, the price set on him by the people of Israel, and they used them to buy the potter's field, as the Lord commanded me."

Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"

"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.

When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?" But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge --- to the great amazement of the governor.

What did the chief priests and the elders decide to do?

How was Judas affected by this decision? What did he do in response? What was the attitude of the chief priests? How do you feel about the responses of Judas? the chief priests?

Where do you see the hypocrisy of the religious elite in this encounter?

We have a remarkable capacity to deceive ourselves and justify hypocrisy in our lives in order to get what we want, while condemning others for the same thing. Today, pay attention to your own life, look for areas where what you profess to believe does not mirror your actions. Notice how these revelations effect your heart. Are you moved to repent? Or justify the discrepancy?

Lord, show me where I have deceived myself and manipulated my beliefs to justify my actions in order to keep things the way I want them to be. Help me to walk in Your truth, Your way.

Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered,

but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.

Proverbs 28:18 ESV