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Daily Reading: November 16

Read Matt 27:1–10
Mat 27:3-5 Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, (4) saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” (5) And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself… 7-10 So they took counsel and bought with them the potter’s field as a burial place for strangers. (8) Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. (9) Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, (10) and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.”

It is a horrible thing when those appointed to bring forgiveness in the stead and by the command of God throw our remorse to ourselves and tell us to deal with it. But that is the problem with sin. We cannot deal with it ourselves. We cannot forgive ourselves. That is a delusion. Only God can forgive sins. He only does it because of the blood shed for us by His only begotten son Jesus Christ shedding it for us on the cross. Jesus who has been given authority to judge and forgive sins has given this authority to his bride, the Church and she does this through those she calls, that is her pastors.

Judas’ repentance is not one though to repentance. Many people are sorry for their sins, that is, they regret what they are experiencing, the fruits of their sin but are not repentant towards God. They do not regret having transgressed against God’s law. They do not believe God can or will forgive them. They have no intention of quitting their sinful behavior. They do not seek forgiveness from the ones they harmed nor to God with whom all forgiveness lies. So Judas in his despair goes and hangs himself. But we should always remember we have a gracious, merciful, loving God who acts towards us and desires to be this way toward us on account of Jesus.

Secondly, we see here the Scriptures have been fulfilled concerning our Lord Jesus Christ. This should give us great comfort. For where we see the Scriptures fulfilled we can look to the rest of the promises of God and know our Father in heaven will fulfill all His promises He gives us in the Scriptures. Here is one promise you can take with you the rest of the day and every day-If you believe Jesus Christ died for your sins you have eternal life and on the last day you will be raised to everlasting life.

Lord Jesus Christ, ever grant unto us repentance and faith that we may not despair of our sins but believe and possess eternal life now and the resurrection of our bodies on the day of your return. Amen.

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Rev. Guillaume J. S. Williams, Sr.

The Reverend Guillaume Williams is the Pastor of Hope Lutheran Chapel of Osage Beach, Missouri. His pastoral ministry with Hope began in 2005 where he preaches the Christ crucified.

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