Judas went to the priests saying, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.’ But they said, ‘What is that to us? See to that yourself!’ Matthew 27:4
For the first time in my life, I feel pity for Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus. He tried to repent of his sin according to the Law but was rebuffed.
Under the Old Covenant, the way of spiritual cleansing was to bring an offering to the priests. The priests would take your offering and sacrifice it to God as intercession for your sins. That offering would ensure your forgiveness, - your right standing with God - but only until your next sin. After your next misdeed, you needed to bring yet another offering to the priests.
Praise God! Jesus was our once and forever sacrifice (Heb. 10:6)! And He is continually interceding for us as our Great High Priest! No longer do we have to bring an offering to a human priest for every wrong word or deed. We just turn our face to Jesus and give Him our confession. Jesus is available every moment of every hour of everyday to forgive our sins and to restore us into a right relationship with God.
Poor Judas lived under the Old Covenant. He had realized his mistake of betraying Jesus. He came in repentance longing to be forgiven and restored back to God. He came to the priests with his offering in his hand, thirty pieces of silver. But look what the priests told him, “See to that yourself!”
How could Judas see to that himself? Jesus had not yet opened the way to the Father by His death and resurrection. Now, I understand Judas’ despair. The only way of repentance open to him was cut off by the evil priests. In a sense, those priests condemned him to death by rebuffing his repentance.
I am so relieved that I do not have to go through flawed human beings to receive forgiveness or salvation! I have the awesome privilege of direct access to God Himself! Thank You, Jesus! I can enter the holy place with confidence, by the blood of Jesus. I can have forgiveness anytime I ask for it. I can have right standing with God anytime I choose to repent. I am so grateful for this new and living way!!!
Thank You, again, precious Jesus!