“Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests and asked, “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭14‬-‭16‬

THEN

“Very early in the morning the leading priests and the elders of the people met again to lay plans for putting Jesus to death. Then they bound him, led him away, and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor. When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.” “What do we care?” they retorted. “That’s your problem.””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭27‬:‭1‬-‭4‬…

I’ve been reading these passages over and over and one verse that stands out to me is “when Judas, who had betrayed him, REALIZED that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse.“

I wonder… when he made the choice to betray Jesus, did he not realize then what the final outcome would be? What changed? Did he underestimate what his betrayal would cause? Is it possible he did believe Jesus was who he said he was so his betrayal wouldn’t have many consequences? Judas could make some money and leave it up to Jesus to work out the trouble it would bring? Or did the truth of Jesus’ innocence not dawn on him until his eyes were opened that day?

The other verses that stood out were these:

“The leading priests picked up the coins. “It wouldn’t be right to put this money in the Temple treasury,” they said, “since it was payment for murder.” After some discussion they finally decided to buy the potter’s field, and they made it into a cemetery for foreigners.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭27‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭

The leading priests thought they were being honorable by not putting the money in the Temple treasury. They had enough awareness to know it was blood money for murder, yet had no conscience about the murder itself.

In these versus, we see the process of justifying our actions, underestimating the consequences and then performing so-called righteous acts to alleviate the guilt, cover up or even make up for the wrong that has been done or is still ongoing.

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Galatians 6:7-8

“Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.” Acts 3:19