I. Note first, the relation of Judas and Jesus Christ. He was one of the twelve selected Apostles; he had all the privileges, all the opportunities, of Christ's near and dear companions; he was chosen, as were Peter and John and James, out of the increasing number of disciples, to be the chief companions chief messengers of Jesus Christ. It is awful to think that an Apostle was a betrayer; that a man so fenced about with safeguards, should make shipwreck of his soul.
II. What was it in Judas' case that made him a traitor? what lay at the root of the mischief? for he could not all at once have turned out so bad. The root of the mischief, the little seed which grew up and brought such a harvest of evil to Judas, was this: he was fond of money; and, unhappily for him, he had in his office of pursebearer an opportunity of indulging his love for money. Many a little act of pilfer, many a dishonest appropriation of the funds entrusted to him, must have preceded the final act of wickedness. When the love of money gets rooted in a man, it changes him for the worse. It deadens religion in his soul. It shuts up his compassion. It withholds his hand from doing good.
III. Observe what that sin was of which Judas was guilty he betrayed his Master. We betray Christ when, from fear or any other motive, we shrink from confessing Him before men; when we stand by and see our Master denied and dishonoured, and have not the courage to show our colours. We betray Christ when we side with the enemy; when we fall away from His side; when we turn our backs upon His ordinances.
IV. All repentance is not true repentance; is not repentance unto life. The sorrow of Judas was the sorrow of the world that worketh death. It was despair. Could Judas have believed that God is gracious and mighty, even in his terrible situation he might have sought and obtained pardon.
R. D. B. Rawnsley, Village Sermons,3rd series, p. 74.
References: John 6 A. B. Bruce, The Training of the Twelve,p. 121. Joh 6:70, John 6:71. Clergyman's Magazine,vol. ii., p. 155.John 7:5. E. M. Goulburn, The Gospel of the Childhood,p. 235; Homilist,3rd series, vol. ix., p. 45.John 7:6; John 7:7. Homiletic Magazine,vol. x., p. 141. Joh 7:8. H. Wace, Expositor,2nd series, vol. ii., p. 197 John 7:11. Spurgeon, My Sermon Notes; Gospels and Acts,p. 136. John 7:15. H. Wonnacott, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xiv., p. 46.