What does Judas's role in John 13:29 teach about hidden motives? Setting the Scene in the Upper Room • John 13 finds Jesus sharing the Passover meal with the Twelve. • Verse 29: “Since Judas had charge of the moneybag, some thought that Jesus was telling him, ‘Buy what we need for the feast,’ or to give something to the poor.” Why Judas Looked Trustworthy • He handled the common purse—a position of confidence (John 12:6). • He blended in so well that even after Jesus identified the betrayer with the dipped bread (John 13:26-27), the disciples still assumed he was running an errand for charity. • Outwardly, Judas’s life matched the expectations of a disciple. Inwardly, his motives had already shifted toward betrayal (Matthew 26:14-16). Lessons on Hidden Motives • Appearance can deceive. Even intimate fellowship with Jesus does not equal genuine devotion (1 John 2:19). • Possession of spiritual responsibility does not guarantee spiritual integrity (Acts 5:1-5). • People around us rarely perceive secret intentions; God always does: – “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) – “All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but his motives are weighed out by the LORD.” (Proverbs 16:2) How Hidden Motives Grow 1. Small compromises—Judas pilfered from the moneybag (John 12:6). 2. Unchecked sin—greed matured into betrayal. 3. Satanic foothold—“after the morsel, Satan entered into him” (John 13:27). Discernment for Today • We must test actions by Scripture, not appearances (Hebrews 4:12-13). • Accountability within the body helps expose duplicity (Galatians 6:1-2). • Continual self-examination keeps motives surrendered to Christ (Psalm 139:23-24). Comfort and Warning • The disciples’ blindness to Judas shows our human limitation; only Christ fully knows hearts. • Judas’s downfall cautions against secret sin and invites transparent devotion to the Savior. |
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