2. Introduction
What comes to your mind when you hear: “thirty pieces of silver” ?
The Lord’s betrayal is etched in the memory of every Christian.
Even marginal Christians (and non-Christians) immed-iately connect the name and deeds of Judas with “thirty pieces of silver” :
Matt. 26:14-16: “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, 15 And said unto them, ‘What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you?’ And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.”

3. Introduction
The Bible recounts the weakness of character of various men to teach us important lessons: Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:11
Saul: Lessons on obedience (1 Sam. 15:22; 1 Jn. 2:3-5).
Esau: Lessons on valuing our blessings (Heb. 12:16-17).
Rich young ruler: Lessons on priorities (Matt. 19:16-22).
We need to learn important lessons from Judas.
He betrayed Jesus for a paltry sum of money.
Follows closely the story of Jesus’ anointing at Bethany: Matt. 26:6-13

4. Introduction
Judas evidently resented the “waste” the “oil of spikenard” represented: Matt. 26:8-9
Judas was a “phony”; he was not at all concerned about the poor; he was a “thief” : Jn. 12:6
Judas’ love of money led him to try to “cash in” on the Lord: Matt. 13:45-46; 26:4
Judas’ thought he could profit from the hatred the chief priests and Pharisees had toward Jesus: Matt. 26:15
Ironically, “thirty pieces of silver” was the value of a slave who had been gored by an ox: Ex. 21:32; vs. Matt. 13:45-46

5. Thirty Pieces of Silver Matthew 26:14-16

6. Thirty Pieces of Silver
1. What it could buy
Jesus:
Imagine Jesus worth no more than an injured slave! Ex. 21:32
Judas thought a small sum of money was more valuable than the “unsearchable riches of Christ” : Eph. 3:8; Matt. 13:45-46
Whenever we put anything in our lives ahead of the Lord, we are no better than Judas. We “devalue” the Lord! Matt. 6:33; Phil. 3:8
Thirty Pieces of Silver

7. Thirty Pieces of Silver
2. What it could buy
Judas’ loyalty:
Think of the grand and exalted position Judas held: Jn. 1:1-3; Col. 1:16-17
Think of the intimate relationship he enjoyed with Jesus and the things to which he was privy.
In many ways, we are privy to an even more intimate relationship with Jesus; how cheap do you sell your position with the Lord? 1 Jn. 1:1-4; Eph. 3:1-5; Heb. 12:16
Thirty Pieces of Silver

8. Thirty Pieces of Silver
1. What it could buy
Judas:
Judas didn’t realize it, but he sold himself for “thirty pieces of silver.”
So many make this foolish bargain: Lk. 12:16-21
“He who dies with the most toys wins!” Really?!
We all have a possession that is priceless! Matt. 16:26
What does Satan have to offer you before you sell your soul?
Thirty Pieces of Silver

9. Thirty Pieces of Silver
1. What it could buy
Potter’s field:
Jewish leaders had too much “conscience” to put the “blood money” in the treasury: Matt. 27:6-10
But they didn’t have enough “conscience” to condemn an innocent man, to murder their own Messiah.
Such hypocrisy! The ultimate “straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel”. Matt. 23:24; Acts 2:23; Matt. 27:25
It is so easy to rationalize and to sear one’s conscience: Matt. 15:9; Heb. 10:25; 1 Cor. 15:33; 1 Tim. 4:2
Thirty Pieces of Silver

10. Thirty Pieces of Silver
2. What it could not buy
Jesus’ life:
Sin (always!):
Takes you further than you wanted to go.
Keeps you longer than you wanted to stay.
Costs you more than you wanted to pay.
I don’t think Judas thought his betrayal would lead to Jesus’ death; he didn’t consider the consequences of sin: Rom. 6:23; Heb. 12:16-17; 11:25
All of us forget the eternal and temporal consequences of sin; but they are REAL!
Judas had a conscience, and his conscience told him he was wrong: Matt. 27:3-5
But it was too late! The “train had left the station” and giving back the money could not undo the deed: Matt. 12:36-37
Thirty Pieces of Silver

11. Thirty Pieces of Silver
2. What it could not buy
Spiritual concern:
The Jewish leaders were those who should have been concerned for Judas’ soul, but they weren’t: “What is that to us? See thou to that!” Matt. 27:4
Very few are really concerned about your soul and my soul: Psa. 38:10-12; 2 Pet. 2:3
Judas learned his accomplices were willing to go much further than he was willing to go.
We need to remember this as we chose our close associates, etc.
Thirty Pieces of Silver

12. Thirty Pieces of Silver
2. What it could not buy
Peace of mind:
Imagine the joy Judas initially felt as he jingled the “thirty pieces of silver” in his pocket.
But, he quickly found it could not give him the peace of mind it promised: Matt. 27:5
Sin always promises more than it can deliver: Rom. 6:16; 2 Pet. 2:19
Sin promises peace of mind, but creates guilt; it promises pleasure, but brings pain; it promises satisfaction, but leads to want. NEVER forget that!
Thirty Pieces of Silver

13. Thirty Pieces of Silver
2. What it could not buy
Clear conscience:
Judas tried to clear his conscience by giving back the “thirty pieces of silver” : Matt. 27:3-5
Only the gospel can give us true peace and a clear conscience: Phil. 4:7
Our lives are too short NOT to learn this lesson from Judas: Jas. 4:14; Eccl. 3:11
The “world” cannot provide this for us! 1 Jn. 2:15-17; 2 Pet. 3:10-11
Two men sinned that night; two different reactions; two different results: 2 Cor. 7:10
Thirty Pieces of Silver

14. Thirty Pieces of Silver
2. What it could not buy
Redemption:
“​Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance.  The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
C. S. Lewis
Jesus foretold Judas’ damnation: Matt. 26:24; Jn. 17:12
Money could not buy Judas’ soul.
Our pursuit of the world will lead to the same fate it lead Judas: eternal ruin.
Good deeds (alone) will not save us: Eph. 2:10; Rom. 2:5-11
Only those “in Christ” will be saved: Eph. 1:3; Gal. 3:29
No matter how trivial or silly the world may consider one for being a Christian; its the only way to heaven: Jn. 14:6; Matt. 13:45-46
Thirty Pieces of Silver

15. Conclusion Some things “thirty pieces of silver” could buy.
Jesus
Judas
Judas’ loyalty
Potter’s field
Some things “thirty pieces of silver” could not buy.
Jesus’ life
Clear conscience
Spiritual concern
Redemption
Peace of mind
If we don’t learn these lessons; we too will become a “son of perdition” : Jn. 17:12