The Most Costly $7,500 Ever Made – What Would You Do For Money?

What would you do for some extra cash? 

In this rough economy, many people would be glad to make a few extra bucks right now.

But how far would you be willing to go for $7,500? 

Would you steal for it?

Would you lie for it?

How about kill someone for it?

The most costly transaction ever made was for $7,500. 

Let’s take a look:

Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?”

And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.  Matthew 26:14-16.

ESV Study Bible Notes:

thirty pieces of silver. In the OT, this was the penalty paid by the owner of an ox that gored a slave to death (Ex. 21:32).

Equivalent to about four months’ wages for a laborer (about $7,500 in modern terms), this meager sum suggests the low esteem in which Jesus was held by both Judas and the chief priests.

Not Uncommon

In the past, I used to think, “how could Judas do something like that“, but as I’ve grown in my own spiritual journey with Jesus I’ve come to only scratch the surface of my own sin – and the fact that I so often chase the treasures and pleasures of this world rather than live for him!

Judas did what many of us do every single day of our lives.  We deny and betray Jesus Christ for earthly treasure.

He thought it would bring him happiness

Why would he do that? Because he thought ultimate joy would be found in getting just a little more cash.  Here’s what it really brought him though:

3 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.    Matthew 27:3-5

The Most Costly $7,500

Even though the betrayal only yielded Judas a measely $7,500 it cost Jesus his life and it cost God the sacrifice of His Son to pay the penalty for our constant betrayals.

This Christmas season, don’t just think about presents and little baby Jesus in the manger - think about the one who came, lived a perfect life, was betrayed, beaten and killed on that cross to take the just penalty we deserved.

It was a costly transaction – but God had bigger plans!

Tagged as: Betrayed, Costly Transaction, Jesus, Jesus Betrayal, Judas, Thirty Pieces of Silver, Treasure