01-13-2026 PART 1: God Is in Charge, Even in Betrayal

Section 1

Matthew chapter 26 brings us to one of the most sobering and weighty moments in all of Scripture: the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot. Jesus knowingly chose Judas as one of the Twelve, fully aware of what Judas would one day do, yet He still poured His life, teaching, and love into him. Judas was present for miracles, teaching, and ministry, leaving no room for the idea that he was somehow excluded from the work of God. This passage follows closely after the incident of the woman anointing Jesus with costly ointment, an event that directly exposed Judas’s heart. As the keeper of the money bag, Judas viewed that act not as worship, but as a financial loss. That moment appears to ignite his decision to seek compensation elsewhere, revealing that money had taken a controlling place in his thinking.

Section 2

At the center of Judas’s betrayal is not merely pressure, confusion, or disappointment, but an entitlement mindset fueled by a love of money. Scripture is clear that money itself is not evil, but the love of money corrupts judgment and motives. Judas approached the religious leaders with a single question: how much will you pay me? That detail is critical. His actions flowed from a belief that he deserved something more, something owed to him. That spirit of entitlement is spiritually dangerous, leading people to justify actions they would otherwise condemn. Judas’s choice serves as a warning that when entitlement replaces humility, even proximity to Jesus does not prevent catastrophic failure. What begins as dissatisfaction quietly grows into betrayal.

Section 3

Yet even in this dark moment, God’s sovereignty stands unshaken. The thirty pieces of silver were not a random amount, but the precise price of a bond servant, tying Judas’s actions directly to Old Testament prophecy. Satan influenced Judas, human choice played its role, and yet God remained fully in control of every detail. The forces of darkness were active, but they were not in charge. The betrayal, the timing, and even the payment all unfolded within God’s redemptive plan. This passage forces an honest question upon every believer: if God is sovereign over something as tragic and complex as the betrayal of Jesus, can He be trusted with our lives as well? What feels chaotic to us has never been chaotic to God. The challenge is not whether God knows what He is doing, but whether we are willing to trust Him when we do not understand.