Tree Of Life Ministries Association
http://www.treeoflifeinc.org
What Really Happened?
Matt 28:11-15
Pastor Eric Aschendorf 4/20/2003
Pastor@treeoflifeinc.org
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Matt 28:11-15
Mat 28:11 Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.
Mat 28:12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,
Mat 28:13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him [away] while we slept.
Mat 28:14 And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.
Mat 28:15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
Is this the truth? Did the Disciples really come by night and steal the body of JESUS? In verse 15 it says, “This saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.” If that is true and this is GOD’s word then can and shouldn’t we believe it as well? Of course not! It is obvious in these verses that the story of the Disciples having come in the night and stealing JESUS’ body was a fabrication of the Jewish, religious leadership.
If this is a fabrication, then what really happened? The HOLY SPIRIT happened! GOD happened!
In Gen 1:2 when the earth (that was created in verse 1) was “without form (time – structure), and void (without GOD’s SPIRIT) ‘darkness’ (Heb –choshek-fig. Misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness or in other words, all the attributes of satan) was upon the face of the waters.” At this point GOD is stating that satan was the ruler of the earth prior to what HE is about to describe. This time prior, is the time that scientist and children alike find evidence of still today. It is the time of the dinosaurs. It is the time when what we call fossils were still alive. It is the time of pre-historic earth, including pre-historic man. Pre-historic man was being which possessed a body and a soul but NOT a spirit. Man is not given a spirit until Gen 2:7 when GOD breathes into his nostrils.
As we read further in verse 2 we see that “The SPIRIT of GOD moved upon the face of the waters.” GOD intervenes! Prior to this scientist tell us the earth existed for possibly millions or billions of what we now call years. This is a bit of a misnomer since until this point, time, as we know it did not exist upon the earth. Thus to use the word “time” to describe it is fallacious. However it is a convenient way to describe it. It is convenient because it is a method that we can comprehend. The point, however, is that GOD happened!
When HIS SPIRIT started to move on the earth, HE also set time in motion. At this point is basically when the Bible starts! Prior to this, since HIS SPIRIT or HIS essence and power were not active here, HE didn’t have “much” of a concern as to what was happening here.
This same power or essence that starts to move on the earth in Gen 1:2 and changes the structure of the earth. That puts time in motion! Which later in Gen 1 creates new life, including the first three-part being (body soul and now spirit), Adam is also what “happens” in Matt 28 and brings JESUS back to life!
In Matt 3:13-17 we have the account of JESUS’ baptism by John, HIS cousin. Read with me verses16-17?
Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Note in verse 16 how we have the portrayal of The HOLY SPIRIT descending, coming upon or lighting upon JESUS. Then in verse 17 we read of GOD, The FATHER speaking over HIM. This is when “GOD Happens!” In Gen 1:2-3 we see the same thing! In verse 2, The SPIRIT moves! Then in verse 3, GOD, The FATHER speaks when HE says, “Let there be light”! As it was in the events of the earth prior to Gen 1:1 it is also true in the life of JESUS prior to HIS baptism. That is, that prior to HIS baptism, when The HOLY SPIRIT descends upon HIM and The FATHER speaks over HIM, there exists a dispensation of “relatively” no importance. HE is “similar” to any other person growing up prior to this. HE can and is tempted prior to this in like manner, as would be you or I.
After HIS baptism things change! In Matt 4, immediately after HIS baptism The SPIRIT leads HIM into the wilderness. There satan directly confronts HIM. He tests HIM with all that is available to him. He uses food to test HIM in the area of the basics or essentials of life. He uses wealth to test HIM in the area of greed and/or the frills of life. He then tests HIS pride with power and authority. Basically what satan discovers is that JESUS is NOW “the fulness of the GODhead bodily” (Eph 3:9).
In Matt 26, at the feast of the Passover, HE lays it all back down. At what we refer to as The Last Supper, HE prepares HIMself to be the eternal sacrificial LAMB of GOD for all humanity. With the bread, the Matzoh HE strips HIMself of the body or the structure of the GODhead bodily encased in flesh. With the wine, HE strips HIMself of The SPIRIT of GOD, of the life force or essence of GOD. Now, and only now, can man or more correctly satan nail HIM to the cross! To the Tree of Life and cause HIM to face death. If HE had not stripped HIMself of HIS GODliness, then HE could not have been nailed to the cross. HE could not have faced death for as GOD, HE could not die! If HE had died as GOD then what part of GOD would have been alive to raise HIM back to life?
Then GOD happens! Then the power of The HOLY SPIRIT comes back upon HIM, in the grave and raises HIM over the power of death. Then HIS body and soul and SPIRIT are reunited and HE once again embodies the fullness of GOD upon the earth.
The Chief Priests are not interested in having people to believe that JESUS was The MESSIAH! They don’t want people to see them as the murderers of their SAVIOR. They don’t want to loose their authority by letting people make JESUS their LORD and KING.
NOTE: The Chief Priests recognized who JESUS was but knowing who HE was is NOT the same as accepting HIM for who and what HE is!
For this reason these “holy men”, the Chief Priests of the Jewish faith lied! Because they were afraid of loosing their positions of authority, their power and the wealth that came with it, they conjured up the lie that the Disciples have stolen the body during the night. This simple little lie effectively establishes the Disciples and all CHRISTians as liars in the eyes of the Jews. For when a CHRISTian or the Disciples would later tell people that The HOLY SPIRIT had raised JESUS from the dead by re-entering HIM they would simply reply, “Why should we believe you? The Chief Priests said that you or the Disciples had stolen the body in the night!” This effectively established a “tradition” (mark 7:13), which is still taught today. This simple “tradition”, this lie is all that was needed to keep many Jews from knowing who The MESSIAH is. It has kept many of them still looking for the day when their MESSIAH will come and free them from the captors and prisons of this life.
When JESUS died HE did not go to Hell. HE went to Paradise. This is what JESUS was talking about on the cross when HE told one of the others being crucified at the same time HE was, that, “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). This is where the spirits of people were who had died looking forward to a time when The MESSIAH would come. This is where Abraham, Moses, Elisha and Isaac were. GOD had given the Jews this promise and through it they would all be given this chance to accept JESUS as their SAVIOR or to reject HIM. This is what is being described in Matt 27:51-53. Since “time” is irrelevant with GOD, to us it appears as if this happens instantaneously. This was the point where JESUS appeared in Paradise. Those described in verse 22 – 23 are, at least, some of the Jews who had died looking forward to the time of the coming MESSIAH.
For all of those who die still looking for but not having heard of JESUS as MESSIAH, there exist this place of Paradise. This is what is being described in Luke 16:19-31 when the angels carried some people to Abraham’s bosom while others were taken to Hell. Those who were taken to Paradise would still be given their chance to accept or reject JESUS as CHRIST, as MESSIAH. Today in Paradise there are still those who have not yet had the opportunity to know who JESUS is. They have not had an opportunity to accept or reject HIM. They are in Paradise waiting for their chance. Those who accept HIM will have eternal life in Heaven. Those who reject HIM will eternally experience something like the rich, gluttonous man described in Luke 16. Not only will they experience the gulf between themselves and GOD, they will also eternally experience differing degrees of torment depending upon how much freedom they gave satan while they were in this life. Remember, this Paradise is ONLY for those who die looking forward for their MESSIAH and who did not have the opportunity to accept or reject JESUS while they were alive!
I’ve said all of this to explain and establish who and/or what these Chief Priests were. To demonstrate the type of people they were. To illustrate what motivates their conduct. Let’s now look at another point of confusion listed in the Bible and see whether we can illuminate the truth within it?
Matthew 26:6-16
Mat 26:6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
Mat 26:7 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat [at meat].
Mat 26:8 But when his disciples saw [it], they had indignation, saying, To what purpose [is] this waste?
Mat 26:9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
Mat 26:10 When Jesus understood [it], he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.
Mat 26:11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.
Mat 26:12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did [it] for my burial.
Mat 26:13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, [there] shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.
Mat 26:14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
Mat 26:15 And said [unto them], What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
Mat 26:16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
This is a very well known story about both Mary, the woman with the alabaster box of ointment and Judas who would betray JESUS. Even though Matthew doesn’t call “the woman” in this story Mary we are told her name in John 12:3 where we read, Jhn 12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
The first point we want to take note of is in verses 8-9 of matt 26. Mary had been laying up her earthly treasures to purchase and fill this alabaster box. As noted in verse 9 the “ointment might have been sold for much” money. Attached to this story sequentially is the story of Judas’ betrayal of JESUS. I don’t know about anyone else but I find it interesting that even though Matthew covers both stories he neglects much of the details. As noted before we had to go to John in order to learn that this woman is Mary. Yet later we will have to come back to Matthew in order to obtain a detail that is found nowhere else! This is often the way of GOD throughout the Bible and this is why we must do more than simply to “read” through the Bible in a year! We must do as stated in II Tim 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Now look to Luke 22:3. Notice that it states that, Luk 22:3 Then entered Satan into Judas … this is a critical detail! According to other accounts in the four Gospels this happens right after Mary pours out her ointment upon JESUS in preparation of HIS upcoming death. Because of HIS death being right before the start of the Sabbath they were not going to have time to prepare HIS body properly for burial after they took HIM down from the cross. That is why; in part this was done in advance.
The other reason was to prepare Judas. Judas had a love of money. In I Tim 6:10 we read, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (Emphasis mine) The love of money brings forth the mercenary in Judas. His desire for earthly gain appears to be his reason for having betrayed JESUS. There is however a problem with this long held logic (Tradition of men) that has been applied to Judas ever since the betrayal of JESUS!
According to scripture Judas sold JESUS for thirty pieces of silver (Matt 26:15) or the common price for a slave. There is the first problem! If Judas was such a money-wise mercenary, he surely would have bargained for so much more than thirty pieces of silver? He knew from close observance how the people followed JESUS. How at every turn JESUS showed that the Jewish religious leadership was wrong and were hypocrites. He knew of their hatred for JESUS, as HE would undermine their authority before the masses. Surely a mercenary would have demanded so much more than thirty pieces of silver?
Some contend this story to be complicated even further. Their contention is that it was not yet common practice for silver pieces to be used as a currency! Regardless, either Matthew, in his description or some translator later had to find a common equivalent for the reader to comprehend that the life of JESUS was sold for the price of a common slave for this is the fulfillment of prophecy from Zech 11:12 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give [me] my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty [pieces] of silver. One other position that I have heard espoused by Dr. Steve Smithers, Founder/President of United CHRISTian Ministries International (UMCI.org) is that Judas was a zealot and felt that by forcing JESUS before these Chief Priests that HE would be heard and listened to and that this would be all that was needed to convert them. This would be all that it would take to show them that HE was The MESSIAH and for them to then move out of HIS way and to allow HIM to establish HIS earthly kingdom with Judas as one of it’s leaders. In the natural or in the flesh I believe all of these positions have a degree of merit but let me put forth a stronger or “more base” reason for the actions of Judas. A reason that emanates from a source that is harder to recognize and to resist.
There is one other possibility that I think is worth mentioning as well. In Luke 22:3 we have mentioned, “Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.” Satan! Satan was ultimately what motivated Judas. The love of money and/or his zealous believes are what opened the door for satan to enter Judas. Through them he was able to gain control and possess Judas.
In John 13 we gain further insight into this “baser” concept.
Jhn 13:2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s [son], to betray him;
Clearly, laying aside the fleshly reasons, the “most base” reason why Judas betrayed JESUS is that he was motivated to do so by satan!
To substantiate this further let’s also look in John 13 to verse 27 where it states, “And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.” Notice that it is not until after satan enters Judas that JESUS tells him to “do quickly” that which he is about to do.
QUESTION: would it have been a sin for Judas to disobey JESUS and not go do what JESUS had just told him to do? Is it a sin to disobey the directions of JESUS?
No! “If” Judas had refused, he would have been demonstrating great spiritual maturity. Had he refused he would have been showing a maturity that is often credited to Job. In Job even though his wife tells him “to curse GOD and die”, even though his “friends” contend that there must be sin in his life. Even though Job doubts he still has the spiritual maturity and fortitude to resist until he receives his breakthrough. He does still resist!
In James 4:7 we are told, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” This is where Judas failed! When Mary came and anointed JESUS in preparation for HIS burial we see the first notable temptation by satan on Judas.
Mat 26:7 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat [at meat].
Mat 26:8 But when his disciples saw [it], they had indignation, saying, To what purpose [is] this waste?
Mat 26:9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
Mat 26:10 When Jesus understood [it], he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.
Mat 26:11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.
Mat 26:12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did [it] for my burial.
Mat 26:13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, [there] shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.
Mat 26:14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
Mat 26:15 And said [unto them], What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
Mat 26:16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
What we see here is the first scriptural account of Mary anointing JESUS. In Verse 12 it states that this is being done in preparation of HIS death. In verse 8 we see where many or all of HIS disciples were indignant saying, “To what purpose [is] this waste?” John paints a different picture of this saying in John 12:4-6,
Jhn 12:4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s [son], which should betray him,
Jhn 12:5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
Jhn 12:6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.”
Clearly John states that Judas alone was upset by this. Over the years this section has been used to portray Judas as having always been evil. Whereas, if we go back to what was said in Matthew we see that satan was probing at this point. That he was testing “all” of the disciples to see where the weakest link was that he could exploit. The Old Testament makes it clear that something like this would happen, so even if Judas had resisted someone was still going to do it. Someone was still going to betray JESUS!
So; was Judas totally evil? Was he never really a believer that JESUS was The MESSIAH? Was he forever relegated to an existence in Hell? Before we really answer these questions let’s look a little bit at Mary and Joseph of Arimathea.
Mary had been saving! Because of what we have already read in scripture, coupled with what scholars tell us about the oil that was used to prepare the body for burial it is easy to see that Mary had made this a high priority in her life. It is very likely that she had established a budget for herself and that virtually anything above her more basic necessities would have been laid aside in order for her to purchase this oil at the very earliest time in her life. Even without what the scholars tell us if we just consider how the Disciples reacted we can tell the great value that had been expended in the acquisition of this oil. Basically we can state that Mary had been devoting herself to this project! That after meeting the “needs” of her existence, that this had become project number one in her life! Until! Until she finally understood who JESUS really was and what lay before HIM! She came to realize that JESUS was “the” most important thing in her life. This was a lesson that the disciples still hadn’t truly learned!
Joseph of Arimathea; a believer just like many we see everyday! He was the type of believer that didn’t want others to know that he was a believer. He is what we would call a “closet believer”. An individual who kept his beliefs in JESUS hidden in a closet so that no one else would know! Joseph did have a reason that “might” be considered justification for keeping his CHRISTianity (if we can call it that since CHRIST had not yet died therefore there were no quote/unquote CHRISTians yet) hidden. Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling body. Even though the Romans, occupied Israel at this time, the Jewish religious and governmental structures were left in tact. They were diminished in authority but they were still there. Joseph was part of this governing body and had it been known that he was now a disciple of JESUS it is likely that he would have lost his position, his job and his means of support. To this point and time that was just too great of a cost for him to forsake.
At the cross Joseph’s values change! At the cross he comes to the realization that what JESUS has been saying and doing all along were “really” what the Jewish scriptures and teachings have been proclaiming about The MESSIAH, The SAVIOR, The REDEEMER of mankind would say and do! He realizes, at the cross that JESUS is The SON of GOD and at the cross he accepts JESUS as LORD of his life! Then he boldly proceeds before Pontius “Pilate and craved the body of JESUS” that he might see to the proper burial of HIS body. He did not simply “ask” for the body but he “craved” or possibly pleaded for the body of JESUS.
At some point in his life, Joseph had gone to great expense to purchase a burial tomb. These types of tombs were either natural or man-made caves. They limited in numbers and were thus very expensive. Once he had secured the body of JESUS from Pilate, he had HIM removed from the cross and placed in this tomb, which he had originally purchased presumably for his own burial.
Both Mary and Joseph had laid up their earthly treasures in the things of this world. They had both invested into what would be considered normal or at least acceptable purchases for the day when they too would die. They had tried to do the “right thing” by making the purchase of at least one of the most expensive parts of the burial process. Mary is aware of her need to sacrifice what she considers important before JESUS is even taken prisoner. Joseph gains his grasp of the reality of JESUS at the cross. At the cross is really where he meets the LORD! It is at this point in their lives respectively that they really become aware of what is to or has happened! Judas and the rest of the Disciples have yet to fully come to this grasp of reality but just like all of us, at some point and time they will!
JESUS tries to explain who HE really is in John 5 & 6. HE tries to show the multitude by referring them to HIS works. By instructing them to search the scriptures and see if they can see whom HE is. HE tries to show that HE is The BREAD of LIFE, the manna sent from Heaven to sustain them forever. HE tries to show them how HE is the foundation in the Passover.
In John 6:66 we read, “From that [time] many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” Judas was not one of those that left. None of the Twelve left. Judas was not yet a “believer”. To this point his motives still “appear” to be mercenary or selfish. He still appears to be looking to profit, in an earthly sense, from following JESUS.
I find verse 64 curious in how it is written!
Jhn 6:64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
Even though they are included together in one sentence you can easily assume that the unbelievers and those who would betray HIM are different groups. As the discourse continues it is easy to see that those who leave are the unbelievers. That would lead us to believe that the remainder of the disciples was those who would betray HIM. This group, of course, contains Judas and the rest of the Twelve. One must ask at this point, “When or how did the others betray HIM?” In John 16:32 we see how!
Jhn 16:32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
Interestingly in the New Testament the same word is used to mean, “betray” in every case! Thus the same word used in this case is the same one that is used whenever the Bible talks about Judas betraying JESUS. In all cases the word used is “paradidomi”, which means, “to surrender as into yield up, to betray, bring forth, cast, commit, to deliver up, give over or give up.” Thus in the Greek language there is no difference between the way the rest of the Disciples “give up” on JESUS and the way Judas gives up and/or gives over JESUS to the Roman soldiers.
So as I asked before, “Was Judas totally evil?” Was he never really a believer that JESUS was The MESSIAH? Was he forever relegated to an existence in Hell?
If we forget everything said to this point and only look at John 6:70 we would probably have to conclude that Judas was totally evil for in John 6:70 we see;
Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
Before we state unequivocally that he was totally evil let’s first look at the true, full or actual meaning of the word “devil”. In John 6:70 when JESUS states that one of the Twelve is a “devil”, HE uses the word “diabolos” which means, “a traducer” and is derived from “diabolos” which means, “to traduce, slander or accuse”. Diabolos is derived from the word, “dia” which “denotes the channel of an act.” Thus what JESUS is saying is that one of them would be the channel of an act of slander or accusation. That this individual would be the means by which satan, The Accuser would gain access to JESUS. This is the role that Judas fulfilled!
Luke 22:3 clearly delineates this where it says, “Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.”
John 13:2;27 also clarifies this,
Jhn 13:2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s [son], to betray him;
Jhn 13:27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
In all three of these verses it is made clear that Judas is the channel or conduit that satan uses to get JESUS murdered legally. Remember in Matt 26:8 when “all the disciples” got upset because of Mary anointing JESUS? When we first looked at it, I told you that satan was probing. That he was looking for the weakest link. In Judas he found it. Because of his love for money satan, evil had access. Isn’t it just like GOD to couple, in stark contrast, the love of money that Judas had with the act of releasing earthly possessions as Mary just demonstrated?
So to answer the question, “Was Judas totally evil?” No! He was however the weakest link!
As for the other oft asked questions:
Was he never really a believer that JESUS was The MESSIAH?
Was he forever relegated to an existence in Hell”
Turn with me to Matt 27:1. This is the morning after Judas has turned JESUS over to the Roman soldiers. This is the morning after his sin.
Mat 27:1 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:
Mat 27:2 And when they had bound him, they led [him] away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
Mat 27:3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
Mat 27:4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What [is that] to us? see thou [to that].
Mat 27:5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
Mat 27:6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.
Mat 27:7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in.
Mat 27:8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.
Mat 27:9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;
Mat 27:10 And gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me.
First take note of verse 3. There we see that Judas “repented”! He did that which was required of a Jew in order to be absolved before GOD. He returned that which he had received for the sinful act of betraying an innocent man – JESUS and he confessed it as a sin to the priests. The problem he faced was that the priests were part of his sin!
Don’t overlook the rest of the verses. They clearly illustrate the much deeper connection of the Chief Priest to the sin via “The Potter’s Field”.
When I started, I relayed the two accounts of the resurrection of JESUS and asked, “What Really Happened?” With Judas we have the same problem and question.
In Matt 27:5 it states the Judas “hanged himself”. In Acts 1:18 we see a different account.
Act 1:18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
The field mentioned here is the same “Potter’s Field” that we read about in Matt 27. So why do we have the conflicting stories of how Judas died? Simply put, to divert guilt! The Chief Priests that were involved in the conflicting stories of the resurrection of JESUS are the same ones involved here. These men knew they were sinning! They knew they were guilty of shedding innocent blood!
When the demon lifts from Judas and he really realizes what he has done, he was distraught! Distraught to the point of being distracted! As he left he went through the “Potter’s Field”. As I have taught before when a potter had a piece of clay that he couldn’t get enough of the impurities out of he would simply chuck it into the field. If he had a piece of work that exploded in the kiln he would chuck it into the field as well.
Remember Judas is concerned. His thoughts are on what do I do now? The Chief Priests have rejected my repentance. I can’t go to JESUS because HE has been arrested and if I went to HIM I would be arrested as well. Not paying attention to where he was walking because of the distraction and concern of what he had done, Judas stumbles. He stumbles over a large chunk of the unusable clay. As he falls he is cut asunder by a piece of the exploded pottery that is also in the field and dies as his bowels are ripped open and poured out upon the ground.
The Chief Priests not wanting anyone to question why they bought this otherwise useless field concoct the story we see in Matt 27:5. They tell everyone that Judas bought the field and in it hanged himself. That, now this has become a field that because of his death is useless for anything other than to bury the dead. That forever more this be it’s purpose. Thus all the blame has been shifted to Judas.
In reality it is important to note that Judas “repented”(Matt 27:3)! He had finally come to the same point Mary and Joseph of Arimathea had or would come to. He had finally understood that there was nothing on this earth worth more than JESUS!
He asked, and I believe he received the forgiveness of GOD even though at that point he was unable to forgive himself. Therefore he was distraught and distracted which led to his eventual, accidental death.
Was he forever relegated to an existence in Hell? I think not. I believe that part of the reason he was chosen to be the “channel” that satan would use was because of his love of money. I also believe that part of the reason he was used was because he knew how to respond! That he knew to repent! That he was to be the “perfect” example to everyone and for all times that no matter how great your sin, that if you will honestly,
2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
That our GOD is the GOD of a second chance and that HE will forgive you!
Celebrate with me today the resurrection of JESUS! See in it that all that HE promised mankind lives through HIM. See that no matter how great your sin has been that if it is possible for GOD to give Judas a second chance, that it is easily possible for HIM to give you one!
Let us ask HIM for that second chance today?
LORD, today we come before you and know that you care for us. We see that through the life of Judas that you love us all and are there for us. That you are waiting to accept our repentance. That no one else has to accept it, only you. Therefore LORD we humble ourselves before you and ask that you forgive us. We have been wrong many times in our past and in the natural we may be wrong many times yet to come but we use this time to set a pattern in our lives. A pattern that will bring us before you, asking for you to forgive us! We see that in Judas there is nothing that we can do but to come to you and ask.
LORD forgive us this day?
