Key Scriptures: Matthew 26:14-16, 31-35, 47-50, 69-75, Matthew 27:1-5
Matthew 26:14-16, Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
Matthew 26:31-35, Then Jesus said to them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of Me. For it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” Peter said to Him, “Even if all fall away on account of You, I never will.” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus declared, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Peter replied, “Even if I have to die with You, I will never deny You.” And all the other disciples said the same thing.
Matthew 26:47-50, While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The One I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going directly to Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. “Friend,” Jesus replied, “do what you came for.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus, and arrested him.
Matthew 26:69-75, Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!” After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away.” Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Matthew 27:1-5, When 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.” Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
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Lesson One: Not all guilt is created equal.
• Godly sorrow is fundamentally God-centered—worldly sorrow is fundamentally self-centered
2 Corinthians 7:10, Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
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Lesson Two: Shame is the devil’s playground.
• Guilt says—“I did something bad”, shame says—“I am bad”
• The devil wants to use your shame to drive you away from God—God wants to use your guilt to draw you to his grace
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Lesson Three: You can’t change your past but God can change your future.
• The message of the enemy is that you cannot change your past and are imprisoned by it—the good news of the gospel is that God has changed your future and set you free
1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, our God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.