Matthew 26:1-25

The time of Passover was approaching and Jesus once again foretold how He would be handed over to be crucified. This was at the very time that the chief priests and elders were planning how to do this. They didn't want to do it during the feast because they feared the people might riot.


Jesus was at a house having dinner when a woman came up behind Him and poured some expensive perfume on His head. The disciples thought she was wasting the perfume and that it could have been better used by selling it and using the money to feed the poor. Jesus defended the woman's actions because she was anointing Him in preparation for His burial.

The disciples had good intentions. It is good to give to the poor, however, in this particular situation, Jesus accepted this gift that honored Him because it was appropriate at the time. The disciples didn't understand the significance, so Jesus had to tell them. We are responsible for how we use the things God has given us, but we shouldn't be too quick to judge how others use what they have been given when we don't know what has been impressed on their hearts.


Judas went off to the chief priests to make a bargain with them for betraying Jesus. They agreed on thirty pieces of silver (the price of a common slave) as payment for this deed. The Bible doesn't assign a clear motive for why Judas did this, but money seems to be at the heart of it. Judas was the one responsible for the group's money. The "wasting" of the perfume may have been the last straw. Regardless of why he did it, the fact is that he had spent a great deal of time with Jesus and for some reason felt enough contempt for Him that he was willing to hand Him over to His death. Spending time with Jesus isn't enough if we're not truly listening to Him and applying His words to our life.


At the Passover meal, Jesus told the disciples that one of them would betray Him. He said that it would be better for this one to have never been born. Each of the disciples questioned whether it could be him. When Judas asked if it was him, Jesus answered that it was as he said. Judas, knowing what he was about to do, tried to play innocent. Jesus knew his heart though, and let him know as much.

Some people think they can hide their wrongdoings from God. Even in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve hid from God after they had eaten the fruit. God knows our innermost thoughts; He knows our hearts. There is no way to hide from Him. We all sin. We all fall short of the glory of God, but when we do, the proper action is to go to Him and ask for forgiveness. We don't accomplish anything by pretending the problem isn't there.