Mateus 26

Mateus 26

Sproul: It is not as though God in His sovereignty coerced Judas to carry out the evil act of betraying Jesus. Rather, the sovereign God worked His will in and through the choices of His creatures. Judas did exactly what Judas wanted to do, but God brought good out of evil, redemption out of treachery. Judas Iscariot was the classic apostate, who had grace and truth, who seemed to partake of truth for 3 years and yet intentionally, willfully withdrew from and rejected the truth from the One Who is Truth personified. He reminds one of those in Hebrews 6:4+ "For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit (JUDAS SURELY WAS), and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come (JUDAS DID - SEE Lk 9:1-2+), and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame." (Heb 6:4-6+) . THOUGHT- Beloved, for those folks you share the Gospel with and they draw back making the statement "I might believe if I had more evidence that Jesus was real," you need to remind them of Judas Iscariot. No man had more exposure to the "real Jesus" and yet still steadfastly and resolutely rejected "the Way, the Truth and the Life" (John 14:6+)! The problem is never about enough evidence. The heart of the problem is the heart! Judas is an example of those individuals described in the most serious and fearful warning passage in the book of Hebrews... For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth (JUDAS WOULD BE THE PROTOTYPICAL EXAMPLE AFTER THREE YEARS IN THE VERY PRESENCE OF THE ONE WHO IS "FAITHFUL AND TRUE" Rev 19:11+), there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES....29 How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified (JUDAS LITERALLY HEARD JESUS WORDS INAUGURATING THE NEW COVENANT IN HIS BLOOD!), and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:26-27+, Hebrews 10:29-31+) It would have been good (kalos) for that man if he had (ouk - absolutely) not been born (gennao) - This is one of the more frightening declarations from the lips of Jesus! Apparently there was a similar phrase in the Rabbinical Schools, but never was it sounding with such an awful depth of certainty. It certainly got Judas' attention, but failed to bring about repentance. If Judas had an ounce of conscience left (see illustration), surely this would have shocked him into reality, but this stern warning had no impact on his hardened heart. Jesus point is clear that because Judas had received so much spiritual truth (probably the most any human has ever received), to reject the truth and reject Jesus would result in a commensurate condemnation far greater than most other people who refuse Christ's offer of forgiveness Jesus' statement emphasizes the depth and severity of Judas' punishment because of his greater spiritual light. (See Are there different levels of punishment in hell?). THOUGHT - Perhaps you are a skeptic who does not believe that Jesus died for your sins and you are reading this out of curiosity. If that is the case obviously my prayer would be that God's Spirit uses these words, specifically His Words of Truth, to open your heart to receive the Word implanted which is able to save your soul and that you would repent and believe the Gospel. But if you are reading and continually rejecting words of truth, you need to understand that the more light your receive and reject, the greater will be your punishment in Hell. This is one reason I stop sharing the truth of Christ with individuals who scoff and ridicule Jesus and His sacrifice for sins on the Cross. I do not want that person to suffer even greater degrees of punishment! Daniel Akin - Observe: (1) Jesus, as Daniel’s “Son of Man” (Dan 7:13-14+), was predestined to be betrayed and crucified. Once again Jesus weds Daniel’s apocalyptic figure to Isaiah’s “Suffering Servant” (Isa 52:13-53:12; also Ps 22). (2) The one betraying the Lord Jesus was pitied in spite of his unconscionable deed (“woe to that man”). Jesus loved and cared even for Judas. (3) The future judgment for Judas will be so terrible it would have been better “if he had not been born.” Again, we see the truth that “revelation brings responsibility.” (4) Even though Judas’ betrayal was ordained according to God’s plan, he is morally responsible for his freewill action. Jesus will be betrayed and crucified according to God’s predetermined will, but this in no way relieved Judas of his responsibility and guilt. In a divine mystery we will never completely comprehend in this life, we embrace the truth and tension that divine sovereignty never cancels out human freedom and moral responsibility. Both are true. We affirm them both.