Of the Twelve
Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people. Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd. (Luke 22:1-6)
This section of Scripture reveals a sobering reality—proximity to Jesus does not equal devotion to Him.
The chief priests and scribes, men who claimed to serve God, were blinded by their pride and hunger for control. Their fear of man outweighed their fear of God. They sought to eliminate Jesus, but only in a way that would not harm their political standing. Their hearts, though dressed in religious robes, were far from the righteousness of God.
Selfish Betrayal
Then we see Judas. He was one of the twelve—a man who walked with Jesus, listened to His teachings, and witnessed His miracles firsthand. He handled the money bag, but his love for money outweighed his love for Christ (John 12:6). His selfish heart remained unchanged despite years in Jesus’ presence. And in the end, his idolatry led to his downfall. Judas didn’t follow Jesus for Jesus—he followed Him for what he thought he could gain.
Judas’ betrayal reminds us that an unchecked heart can lead to devastating consequences. He wasn’t suddenly overtaken; he had been choosing greed over devotion for a long time. When the opportunity came, he asked the chief priests, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” (Matthew 26:14-15). He saw Jesus not as the Lord to be worshiped, but as a commodity to be traded. His self-seeking nature made him susceptible to the influence of Satan, who ultimately used him to fulfill his evil plans.
And yet, even in this betrayal, God’s sovereignty was at work. What Judas intended for evil, God used for the redemption of mankind. Jesus’ journey to the cross was set in motion, ultimately fulfilling the divine and foreknown plan of salvation.
Heart Check Moment: Where Do You Stand with Jesus?
This passage forces us to look inward and ask ourselves questions. Take a moment to ask yourself these really hard questions and get real with yourself and God, knowing He already knows your heart and wants to reveal and change any areas not yet right with Him. He loves you so much!
- Are you truly following Jesus solely out of love for Him, or are you at all seeking personal gain—status, recognition, or comfort?
- Are there idols in your heart that compete with your devotion to Christ, just as Judas’ love for money did? Sometimes we make our families, our ministry service, and even ourselves into idols.
- Do you fear God more than man, or do you, like the chief priests, make decisions based on how they will affect your earthly reputation?
- When you hear Jesus’ words, do you obey with a heart of humility, or do you ever twist them in your mind to fit your own ambitions? Sometimes this can look like applying His word to how we think others need it in their life, instead of applying it to our own life.
Admonition: Guard Your Heart
Scripture warns us to be watchful over our hearts, because “the heart is deceitful above all things” (Jeremiah 17:9). None of us are immune to sin’s deception. Even those who are near to Jesus—who serve, who listen to sermons, who participate in church—can have hearts that remain unchanged if they do not truly surrender to Him.
The call is clear:
- Come humbly before God, asking Him to search your heart (Psalm 139:23-24).
- Seek God’s face, not just His hands—pursue His presence and being transformed in it, not just what He can give you.
- Repent of any idols you have before they lead you further from Him.
- Fear God above man—live in reverence and obedience, regardless of what it costs you.
We will give our lives one way or another – either now in humble obedience and adoration to God for His work of salvation in our life, or in torment paying the penalty for our own sin. Life in Christ, both here and in eternity, is far better than any amount of money, status, recognition, or comfort we could ever gain here. I encourage you today, choose the better portion of Jesus and guard your heart against anything that could disrupt you from it.