by Don Ruhl

Read Matthew 10:1--20

The Sad Story of Judas

In every list of the apostles, Judas is last. That is not necessarily bad. Hey, if I could have been among that blessed company and my name appeared last, you would not hear one word of complaint from me! What is bad is the way that Judas is mentioned in the list. Hear is what Matthew says,

4 ...Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him (Mat. 10:4).

It is those last words, sort of like an asterisk, that forever tarnishes the name of Judas. Before the betrayal, this man engaged in all the same good works as the eleven other apostles. Yet, Judas had a covetousness problem. He was the treasurer and took money out of it regularly for himself. In the end, he saw an opportunity to make some money off Jesus and betrayed Him to His enemies. You know the story.

Here is the thing. Judas had a problem of sin in his heart, which he did not conquer. Therefore, the problem conquered him. Although he participated in the many works of the apostles that Jesus told them to do, Judas still had this problem in his heart and it destroyed him.

If there is a problem in your heart, do not ignore it. It will conquer you and destroy you.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100