Matthew 26:14-16

Matthew 26:14-16
There have been many speculations as to why Judas betrayed Jesus. Some go so far as to say that Judas had no choice but to betray Jesus since God foreknew what he would do. However, this cannot be since God has given man freewill and it would be unjust for the Lord to condemn a man for something He made him do. Besides, just because God foreknew something does not mean He caused it to happen. In fact, in John’s account (13:18-30), we see Jesus challenging Judas in such a way that most people in Judas’ position would have surely fallen on their face before the Lord in repentance for the very thought of their heart.
Others believe that Judas had become frustrated that the Lord had not established himself as king so that the twelve could take the rightful positions of power with him. That may be true, though we have no record of such a motivation in scripture.
I think more likely that Judas’ betrayal was simply what the scriptures reveal to us: he was filled with greed. We know from John 12:6 that Judas was a thief and had for some time been pilfering out of the money bag that he held for the expenses of the Jesus and the twelve. Now, in this text, he goes to the chief priests and makes a deal to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Not a very large sum of money, especially considering whom he was betraying. But money is money to a man who is in love with it.
Finally, we must remember that Judas was not always this way. Judas fell. That’s what Peter said when he referred back to Judas’ transgression (Acts 1:25 NKJV). Therefore, if Judas fell, then at one point Judas was in a right relationship with the Lord. After all, Jesus had given Judas miraculous powers when He sent him and the twelve out in the limited commission. Judas preached the gospel just like the rest. But at some point Judas allowed the desires of the flesh to overcome him. It is a warning to us that even a person who had spent over three years when the Son of God could fall. It is a reminder that Jesus constantly warned His disciples to be sober and watch.
Berry Kercheville