Thessalonians part 59

Even when we make a sincere confession GOD knows a true heart from a false one. For me king David is a perfect example of one who's heart was right with the LORD. Our example is found in 2Samuel chapter 24 and if you look at it do so seeking God's revealtion contained within it. That being said turn with me to Matthew 26 where we find Judas' betrayal through his use of treachery. Beginning at verse 47 through the end of verse 50; “While he yet spoke, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed Him gave them a sign, saying, Whomever I shall kiss, that same is He: hold Him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, Master; and kissed Him. And Jesus said to him, Friend, wherefore are you come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took Him.”

With this I will also turn to Luke 22 to get more on this story beginning with verse 1 through 13 where we have this stated, “The feast of unleavened bread drew near, which is called the Passover. And the chief Priests and scribes sought how they might kill Jesus; for they feared the people. Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. And he went his way, and communed with the chief Priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray Jesus to them in the absence of the multitude. Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the Passover must be killed. And Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. And they said, Where will You that we prepare? Jesus answered, Behold, when you are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he enters in. You shall say to the goodman of the house, The Master asks of you, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the Passover with My disciples? And he shall show you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. And they went, and found as He had said to them: and they made ready the passover.”

Our third witness to this important event is found in John's synoptic gosple looking at chapter 12 first and then 13. First 12 beginning at verse 1 through 6 where this statement is made, “Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom He raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with Him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. Then saith one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray Him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.”

This tells the true heart condition which governed Judas and set him up for what was to come. Now chapter 13 beginning at verse 1 through 38, I will break this up in this fashion 1-11, 12-20, 21-30, 31-35, 36-38, here is what it says, “Before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour was come that He should depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them to the end. And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He was come from God, and went (would return) to God; He rose from supper, and laid aside His garments; and took a towel, and girded Himself. After that He poured water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded. Then came He to Simon Peter: and Peter said, Lord, do You wash my feet? Jesus answering him said, What I do you know not now; but you shall know hereafter. To this Peter said, You shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash not you, you have no part with Me. (The disciples do not know or understand the things that were already set in place and motion by God, just as many of our own generation do not still, some 1986 years later.) Simon Peter responded to him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus said to him, He that is washed need not save to wash his feet, but is clean every bight: and you are clean, but not all. (Jesus knowing who His betrayer was) For he knew who should betray Him; therefore said He, You are not all clean.

After Jesus had washed their feet, and had taken His garments, and was set down again, He said to them, Know you what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord: and you say well; for so I am. If I then, be your LORD and Master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say to you, The servant is not greater than his Lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If you know these things, happy are you if you do them. I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me. Now I tell you before it comes, that, when it is come to pass, you may believe that I am HE. Verily, verily, I say to you, He that receives whomsoever I send receives Me; and he that receives Me receives HIM that sent Me.

When Jesus had thus said, He was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say to you, that one of you shall betray Me. Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting (this is an operation of the evil one, for he causes all to question and doubt GOD and HIS Word) of whom He spoke of. Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom He spoke. He then lying on Jesus' breast asked Him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when He had dipped the sop, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus to him, That you do, do quickly. Now no man at the table knew for what intent He spoke this to him. (These things all remained hidden to them.) For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said to him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night (darkness was upon him).

Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in Him. (Revealing what was about to take place but hidden from most of humanity still.) If God be glorified in Him, God shall also glorify Him in Himself, and shall straightway glorify Him. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You shall seek Me: and as I said to the Jews, Where I go, you cannot come; so now I say to you. A new commandment I give to you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love one to another.

Simon Peter said to Him, Lord, where go You? Jesus answered him, Where I go, you can not follow Me now; but you shall follow Me afterwards. (This includes two revelations, the first is that accepted by most of the practical mindset, that being when we fall to sleep in what ever fashion it may take we will be with the Lord. The second is much harder to accept and it is this that Paul reveals by way of revelation of the secrets which God keep to Himself until the day of the LORD received it fullness. This happened on the day of Pentecost and continues on through today. Which is GOD in you, per John's synoptic gosple chapter 17 and all that Paul reveals.) Peter said to Him, Lord, why cannot I follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake. To this Jesus answered him, Will you lay down your life for My sake? Verily, verily, I say to you, The cock shall not crow, till you have denied Me thrice (three times).”
The use of treachery has been the history of the church in the wilderness where Israel as a young nation began on through its history. This same treachery is active in what is called the “Christians faith” which to day is far from what it started out as.