Bible Text

Luke 22:1-6 (ESV)

¹ Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. ² And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people.

³ Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. ⁴ He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. ⁵ And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. ⁶ So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.

• How did Judas become a target for Satan? (See John 12:4-6; James 1:14 -15.)

John 12:4–6 (ESV) 

⁴ But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, ⁵ “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” ⁶ He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.

James 1:14–15 (ESV) 

¹⁴ But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. ¹⁵ Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

• List all the words that describe the progression from “seeking how” to the final conspiracy. What can this teach me about the progression of “desire when it has conceived giv[ing] birth to sin”?
• What did fear of people, and a desire to get rid of Jesus, cause the religious leaders to do?  Is there some parallel between what the religious leaders did and what I do to get what I want?
• What are some ways in which I am making myself vulnerable to sin?