30 Pieces of Silver

Monday, June 15th, 2026

4:17 am

Good morning! Today I am in Matthew 26:14-16, Mark 14:10-11, and Luke 22:3-6. As the leading priests and teachers of religious law were plotting Jesus' death, Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' 12 disciples, and he went to the leading priests and asked them how much they would pay him to betray Jesus to them. The leading priests were delighted when they heard this, and offered him 30 pieces of silver. He agreed, and began looking for the best opportunity to betray Jesus, when the crowds weren't around.

I find it very interesting that they offered to pay Judas 30 pieces of silver for betraying Jesus. 30 pieces of silver was how much someone would pay if one of their oxen killed someone's slave (Exodus 21:32). So the leading priests paid Judas 30 pieces of silver, the price of a slave, to betray Jesus.

How much would it take for us to betray Jesus? Judas had become one of Jesus' 12 disciples. These men were part of Jesus' inner circle. That didn't matter to Judas though. Judas had already been stealing from the group (12:6). So he was already betraying Jesus, making a very open door for Satan to enter into him. Jesus knew that Judas was stealing. Jesus knew that Judas was going to be the one to betray Him. But Jesus still gave Judas the same chance as the others. Satan entered Judas, but Judas was already sinning, he had given the enemy easy access.

When we live in sin, we are opening a door for the enemy to enter. When he enters, he persuades us to sin a little more, and a little more, until we feel like we are completely trapped. Sin kills us more and more every time we decide to indulge in it, whatever that sin may be. It starts simple, and grows gradually over time. And the more we indulge, the worse we will feel, and the further away from God we get. Sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2), but if you have been born again, nothing can separate you from God (Romans 8:38-39). When we fall into sin as believers, it makes it harder to hear God and feel God in our lives. Causing us to feel like we are on our own and God can't help us, but He can. God does not want us to fall into sin, He wants us to stay connected to Him. When we stay connected to Him, praying and reading His Word, He helps us not stumble when the enemy comes after us. He gives us a way out. But we must be diligent in our lives to not open a door that the enemy can enter. That door looks different for everyone of us, and we must take the time to examine our lives and our hearts, to understand the things we mess with in our lives that opens that door. That could be alcohol, drugs, certain types of movies, shows or music, etc.... It's different for everyone of us. For Judas it was greed, so it only took 30 pieces of silver for him to turn his back on Jesus. We each must take the time to understand and allow God to show us the areas we stumble in. He will if you ask Him to help you. We don't have to keep making the same mistakes because God gives us a way out. Seek Him, and allow Him to help you today.