WHAT CAUSED JUDAS TO BETRAY JESUS?

What Caused Judas to Betray Jesus?

My mind keeps thinking about Judas and his betrayal of Jesus.  

I marveled that he could look Jesus directly in the eyes and so innocently ask, "Is it I?" when Jesus mentioned that one of the twelve present would betray Him.

I marveled that he would not flinch as Jesus looked him in the eye and responded back, "thou hast said."

I marveled that he would quickly get up and leave after Jesus looked directly at him and said, "what thou doest do quickly" knowing Jesus knew what he was about to do. Yet he went out to do it anyway.  

As I pondered on these things, it came to me:

JUDAS HAD A CRITICAL SPIRIT.

He criticized Mary for pouring the expensive perfume over Jesus' head instead of selling it and giving the money to the poor. (Not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief.)

It appears he became OFFENDED when Jesus rebuked him in front of everyone telling him to leave the woman alone. She was doing a good deed toward His burial. It was after this that Judas slipped away and consulted with the chief priests to deliver Jesus to them for 30 pieces of silver. 

His CRITICAL SPIRIT caused him to become OFFENDED which opened the door satan to enter into him. (Lk 22:3) Which then led him to be so callous and bold in his betrayal. He had something already brewing in His heart toward Jesus or he would not have sought opportunity to betray Him. 

An OFFENDED and CRITICAL SPIRIT caused him to find faults where there were no faults.

An OFFENDED and CRITICAL SPIRIT caused him to turn against the One who knew he was a thief yet let him continue keeping the money bag without revealing his sin. 

An OFFENDED and CRITICAL SPIRIT caused him to despise and reject the One who was reaching for his soul and called him "friend" even as he callously gave the betrayal kiss.

An OFFENDED and CRITICAL SPIRIT opened the door for satan to enter into him.

An OFFENDED and CRITICAL SPIRIT caused him to hang himself rather than repent and make it right with Jesus as Peter did after he denied Him.

The story of Judas is a lesson to us all to beware and guard against OFFENDED and CRITICAL SPIRITS....

🥺 They only lead downward to spiritual death and ruin. 

🥺 They will cause a person to find fault where there is no fault. 

🥺 They will cause a person to turn against the one who is trying to help them. 

🥺 They will cause a person to wound someone who is innocently trying to do a good deed for Jesus. (Example: Mary)

The story of Judas is a lesson to us all to beware and guard against OFFENDED and CRITICAL SPIRITS lest we fall into the same snare.