When Judas Quit the Race
I believe Judas, like the rest of the Israelites, were expecting the Messiah to establish an earthly reign. I also believe he thought he could manipulate the fulfillment of prophecy by forcing Jesus to rise to power by placing Jesus in a situation of arrest.
Judas believed his interpretation of the Messianic prophecies. When it didn’t play out the way he wanted it to, I think he cast off his hope in and for the Messiah completely.
“And casting the pieces of silver [forward] into the [Holy Place of the sanctuary of the] temple, he departed; and he went off and hanged himself.” Matthew 27:5 AMPC
Most may think he was just casting off the guilt of the blood money, but when you explore the Old Testament references to silver and it’s use in the temple, silver was often used for vessels of service or referred to as a talent.
He designated the weight of gold for all the gold articles to be used in various kinds of service, and the weight of silver for all the silver articles to be used in various kinds of service: 1 Chronicles 28:14 AMPC
Judas, as a vessel, was casting his service, his talents back into the Holy of Holies, back into the face of God.
Even though Jesus spoke it, Judas did not understand that the earthly temple would be destroyed, and a new temple raised… that Jesus was entering into the business of creating human temples.
Do you not discern and understand that you are (the whole church at Corinth) God’s temple (His sanctuary), and that God’s Spirit has His permanent dwelling in you (to be at home in you, collectively as a church and individually)? I Corinthians 3:16
Now, God had very specific instructions on the building of the tabernacle and the temple, a PLAN regarding- the dimensions, implements, and weights.
For the tabernacle,
And I have filled him (Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah) with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and ability, in understanding and intelligence, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship, to devise skillful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in bronze, and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of craftsmanship (for the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony, and the mercy seat)… (so) say to the Israelites, truly you shall keep My Sabbaths, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you [set you apart for Myself]. Exodus 31:3-5, 13 AMPC
And for the temple,
“All this the Lord made me understand by the writing by His hand upon me, all the work to be done according to the PLAN. Also David told Solomon his son, be strong and courageous, and do it. Fear not, be not dismayed, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail or forsake you until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord. And see, [you have] the divisions of the priests and Levites for all the service of God’s house, and with you in all the kinds of work will be every willing, skillful man for any kind of service. Also, the officers and all the people will be wholly at your command. 1 Chronicles 28:19-21 AMPC
In the same way, God has a specific plan to build us individually into an abode for Him, as well as how we can participate in building each other up as temples belonging to You. We are a priesthood of believers working out our own and assisting in each other’s sanctification.
For this reason (seeing the greatness of this plan by which you are built together in Christ) I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 3:14
For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love. Ephesians 4:16
The serving vessels of the Israelite temple were holy and to be weighed before the chief priests.
And I said to them, You are holy to the Lord, the vessels are holy also, and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the Lord, the God of your fathers. Guard and keep them until you weigh them before the chief priests and Levites and heads of the fathers’ houses of Israel in Jerusalem in the chambers of the house of the Lord. Ezra 8:28-29 AMPC
Like the vessels in the early temple, we also, as serving pieces, will be weighed.
Oh, let me be weighed in a just balance and let Him weigh me, that God may know my integrity! Job 31:6
For,
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs and tries the hearts. [Prov. 24:12; Luke 16:15.] Proverbs 21:2 AMPC
And,
All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits (the thoughts and intents of the heart). [I Sam. 16:7; Heb. 4:12.] Proverbs 16:2 AMPC
The error in Judas.
Judas saw the error in his actions and had a selfish dread of the consequences, but Judas ultimately did not submit to and endure correction for discipline for his good from His Father.
When Judas, His betrayer, saw that [Jesus] was condemned, [Judas was afflicted in mind and troubled for his former folly; and] with remorse [with little more than a selfish dread of the consequences] he brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, [Exod. 21:32.] Matthew 27:3 AMPC
Instead we should
…submit to and endure [correction] for discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons. For what son is there whom his father does not [thus] train and correct and discipline? Hebrews 12:7 AMPC
as we wait for the Sacred Rest.
For he was [waiting expectantly and confidently] looking forward to the city which has fixed and firm foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God. Hebrews 11:10 AMPC
THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, LOOKING AWAY [from all that will distract] to JESUS, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. [Ps. 110:1.] Hebrews 12:1-2 AMPC
Let us therefore, receiving a kingdom that is firm and stable and cannot be shaken, offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship, with modesty and pious care and godly fear and awe; for our God [is indeed] a consuming fire. [Deut. 4:24.] Hebrews 12:28-29 AMPC