Matthew 26:47-50 When a Friend Betrays You
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: September 3, 2019 Matthew 26:47-50
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him.
(Understanding the Text) Judas was thinking that he could get away with not being identified as a betrayer by going up to Jesus and greeting Him in the usual way. In the confusion that would follow, he thought that he could claim innocence, like he hadn’t realized that he had been followed. Jesus showed Judas that his betrayal would not be hidden.
Matthew’s account of the words is different from some of the others. Luke says “but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:48). TSK Cross references says Matthew’s words should be translated as “Companion, εταιρε [G2083], against whom (εφ ̓ω the reading of all the best MSS) art thou come?”
(Revelation of God) We always like to think that Judas was peripheral to Jesus’ group, but we forget the nature of God is to invest His love in each person regardless of the betrayal to come. Jesus calls Judas friend/companion even though He knows that Judas has chosen not to be Jesus’ friend.
God allowed Himself to be grabbed by soldiers. Jesus could have frozen them in place with a word or left them stunned as He walked away or made them stay behind Him in a respectful group as He walked ahead towards His trial or simply become hidden and walk through them to safety, which He had actually done before. However, He did none of these things. Instead, He let them treat Him as they chose. They chose to follow the promptings of Satan. God had to demonstrate what would happen if He did not use His power. He had to let Satan do what he chose to do so that the universe could see that Satan would hurt and kill his own Creator in order to grasp the power that he had claimed was rightfully his. Jesus had to do one of the hardest things of all–to not react when He had a thousand ways to react.
(Application) My application for myself is that I need to remember that even though I have the ability to act, it does not mean that acting is the right thing to do. Sometimes, it is better to let others do as they choose even when I can stop them with words because stopping them does not change their hearts. It is only by heart change that people can be permanently stopped. Otherwise, they will just return to their ways with more vehemence later.
(Prayer) Please give me the wisdom to know when to intervene and when to keep quiet. Help me to understand the best way to act in all the situations that I face. Most of all, remind me to depend upon You to make changes in other people rather than to try to bring about those changes myself. I want to work with You rather than thinking that I am working for You and taking all the responsibility upon myself. Thank you that You love even those who betray You. Thank You that You love me.