Matthew 27:1-10
27: When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. 2 And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor.
3 Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” 5 And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. 6 But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7 So they took counsel and bought with them the potter's field as a burial place for strangers. 8 Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, 10 and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me.”
Reflection
Both Peter and Judas were sorry for their rejection of Jesus (Matt. 26:75; 27:3–4), but Judas never turned back to Jesus for forgiveness, and his sorrow led to despair. The book of Matthew provides great hope for sinners. The proper response to sin, however severe it may be, is not despair. Instead we are to trust in Jesus’ willingness to forgive and restore the sinner to full friendship with God and usefulness in the kingdom. The gospel gives rich hope to those who are painfully aware of their failures yet want their lives to count for Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1
23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof.” 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
11: Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
Reflection
Paul now gives advice about whether or not to eat the meat sold in the market after it has been sacrificed to idols (1 Cor. 10:25; see note on 8:1–13). As he has already taught in chapters 8–9, a Christian should not “seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor” (10:24). In Christ, our goal is not to simply do what is “lawful” but what is “helpful” for others (v. 23). Paul’s own practice, presented in detail in chapter 9, is again summarized: he does not seek his own good, “but that of many, that they may be saved” (10:33). He now states explicitly where he learned this pattern of living: “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (11:1). Just as Christ gave up many freedoms to secure our salvation, we are called to give up many personal rights and preferences so that others may receive and enjoy that salvation.
Paul now ends the section by providing the goal of our self-sacrifice. In everything we do, we should do it for “the glory of God” (10:31)—that is, God’s honor and praise should be our primary goal in life. This is not easy, since sin tempts us to selfishly insist on our own rights and to compromise our loyalty to God. But the gospel offers us this hope: we who have received Christ as Savior also have strength to follow his example. Indeed, the cross of Christ is the place where we learn to imitate Christ by doing costly things for God’s glory and our neighbor’s good. For Christ himself did the supremely costly thing for our good—he died in our place.
Psalm 145:1-3
145: I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. 2 Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. 3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.
The glory of God is the primary goal of our salvation. We live for the praise of his name. Take some time today to simply praise him for being a wonderful God and Savior.