Worldly Sorrow

Mt. 27:3-8

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,  saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." They said, "What is that to us? See to it yourself."  And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself.  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."  So they took counsel and bought with them the potter's field as a burial place for strangers. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.

Judas' decision and consequent action were the epitome of the worst decision ever! For 30 pieces of silver, that he didn't even keep, he threw his life away. What a temptation money is! But what I am wondering is what changed his mind? Would seeing the innocent Jesus condemned to die have affected him so much that he changed his mind and gave back the money? Didn't he know what would happen when he betrayed Jesus? Did he think that when he gave back the money, the chief priests would change their minds? Did he think that he could undo what he had done? Sadly, some decisions cannot be undone! The chief priests didn't care at all, not about Judas, their co-conspirator, or about Jesus. Judas saw his only recourse was to hang himself because he couldn't live with this load of guilt crushing down on him. Sadly, that is what happens when you only change your mind and not your heart! Changing the mind leaves only regret, but changing the heart leads to repentance. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. How true in the life of Judas! He was a man totally controlled by the world, its ambition, its sorrow, and finally its death.

Father,
Thank You for the gift of sorrow, repentance, and salvation! Your forgiveness is so gracious!
In the name of Jesus who died for me,
Amen