(John 12:4-6), “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.”
We have been looking at the subject of “what does your heart say about you” by looking at the family of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. The heart is often used as a metaphor to describe the true nature of a person. (Matthew 15:19), says “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.”
In our first lesson we looked at the heart of Lazarus and learned the heart of Lazarus reveals the Gospel because the death and resurrection of Lazarus from the dead in John 11 is a picture of the condition of all sinners before salvation and what happens in salvation.
In our second lesson we looked at the heart of Martha and learned the heart of Martha reveals a heart of good works because of her love for the Lord Jesus and her continuous service to Him.
In our third lesson we looked at the heart of Mary and learned the heart of Mary reveals a heart of gratitude because she anointed the feet of the Lord Jesus with a very expensive box of ointment.
We are going to continue the thought of “what does your heart say about you” as we move beyond this family to look at some others hearts in the Bible and what their hearts said about them. In this lesson we are going to look at the heart of Judas Iscariot. In John 12, verses one through six, six days before the Passover when Jesus was die for the sins of the world, He and His disciples in the home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary where they had made Him a supper after Lazarus was raised from the dead. It was during this supper that Mary came and broke the expensive box of ointment and anointed the feet of Jesus. The breaking of the box of ointment and the anointing of the feet of Jesus provoked a response from one of Jesus’ disciples name Judas Iscariot. In this lesson we are going to see what the response of Judas Iscariot to Mary breaking the box of ointment and anointing the feet of Jesus shows about the heart of Judas Iscariot.
• The Heart of Judas Iscariot reveals Greed
From the verse cited above we learn that Judas was a thief and he was a thief because he was greedy. The sin of greed is something that we all have to guard against. WHAT IS GREED? Greed is human desire gone amiss. It’s consumption out of control. It is an excessive desire for something you don’t have. It is when you allow yourself to be controlled and devoured by a desire for things. There’s nothing wrong with wanting certain things, like something better for your family, to better your education, to improve your lot in life, etc. But greed is an excessive desire that compromises convictions to gain something you want. It is also an envious desire for what someone else has and desiring what they have to be yours. Greed can be summed up in one word, “more.” Greed has been called the mother of all other sins because it is an inward sin that gives birth to all manner of outward evil acts. This is what Jesus was talking about in: (Matthew 12:34b-35b), “…out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh… and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth fort evil things.”
Another word for greed the Word of God uses is “covetousness” and in the Ten Commandments we see that covetousness (greed) is the catalyst that leads to breaking the other nine commandments. In the Ten Commandments, the first nine deal with action but the tenth one which his covetousness and greed deals with the attitude. The first nine deal commandments deal with behavior but the tenth commandment which is covetousness and greed deal with the mind. (Exodus 20:3), “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (The covetous worships the gods of money and materialism) (Exodus 20:4-5), “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image…Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them” (The covetous bow before things that they possess and serve them). (Exodus 20:7), “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain…” (Wars are fought because people covet land or power) (Exodus 20:8), “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” (Stores, factories, and restaurants are open on Sunday because of covetousness. Sundays are the biggest sports day of the week because of covetousness. Vacations, recreations, and relations keep interfere with keeping Sunday holy because of covetousness). (Exodus 20:12), “Honour they father and thy mother…” (Covetousness causes children to steal from their parents, dishonor their parents, and curse their parents). (Exodus 20:13), “Thou shalt not kill.” (Many are killed every day by someone who wanted what they had because of covetousness). (Exodus 20:14), “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” (Adultery always begins with covetousness that is, wanting the spouse of another). (Exodus 20:15), “Thou shalt not steal.” (This is obvious) (Exodus 20:18), “Thou shalt not bear false witness…” (Covetousness causes people to lie to get gain; like a bribe on a witness stand; or about someone to get out of a jam, etc.)
Covetousness (greed) is the mother of all other sins because the word “covet” means “to desire to have more.” The words we used today are “jealousy” and “envy.” When we think in terms of covetousness we think primarily about money. But covetousness is not just an excessive desire for more money, but is also includes but is not limited to power, prestige, material things, someone else’s job, spouse, and the list goes on. Judas’ heart revealed a heart of greed. What does your heart say about you?
Pastor Allen Jackson