February 26th Daily Devotion

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

JUDAS’ REGRET     

Matthew 27:1-5 “Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. So they bound Him, led Him away and handed Him over to Pilate the governor. Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.” 

After Judas betrayed Jesus, he quickly became the loneliest man on earth. He no longer belonged in the company of the disciples. And, the Jewish leaders wanted nothing to do with him once he delivered Jesus over to them. The thirty pieces of silver quickly lost their allure.   

Judas was filled with regret. The dictionary defines regret as “feeling of guilt,” and “disappointment.” He didn’t know what to do. Finally, it appears in an effort to cleanse his conscience he confessed to the Jewish leaders, “I have sinned for I have betrayed innocent blood.” The Jewish leaders could have cared less how Judas felt about his activities. “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” Judas felt so hopeless and abandoned that he “threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.” He despaired! 

Regret changes nothing! In fact, it only lays an even heavier burden on your conscience and soul. Judas’ sorrow over his sin unfortunately did not drive him to seek God’s forgiveness. Instead it led him to despair. . . and suicide.  When you have sinned, recognize you have done so, and regret what you have done, Jesus reaches out His nailed pierced hands inviting you to come to Him, give Him your sins and receive from Him the forgiveness of your sins through His blood shed on Calvary’s cross. There is no sin too great, not even betrayal of Jesus, that God is unwilling to forgive. Jesus paid the full and complete payment for all the sins you commit. He has promised He will never abandon you, but will always be with you. (Matthew 28:20) 

Prayer: You have promised, dear Jesus, You will never abandon me. I beg you to be with me always, especially when I am under great temptation from the evil one. Keep me in the true faith to life everlasting. In Your holy name. Amen. 

My faith looks up to Thee,  
Thou Lamb of Calvary,  
Savior divine.  
Now hear me while I pray;  
Take all my guilt away;  
O let me from this day,  
Be wholly Thine! 

May Thy rich grace impart  
Strength to my fainting heart;  
My zeal inspire!  
As Thou hast died for me,  
Oh, may my love to Thee  
Pure, warm, and changeless be,  
A living fire! 

While life’s dark maze I tread  
And griefs around me spread,  
Be Thou my guide;  
Bid darkness turn to day,  
Wipe sorrow’s tears away,  
Nor let me ever stray  
From Thee aside. 

When ends life’s transient dream,  
When death’s could, sullen stream  
Shall o’er me roll,  
Blest Savior, then, in love,  
Fear and distrust remove;  
O bear me safe above,  
A ransomed soul!  

My Faith Looks Up to Thee // LSB 702