Superficial Study

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Oct 3, 1911

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 38, No. 39.

Superficial Study

Superficial Study.—It is worth while to meditate a little upon a text. One who has a theory to uphold regarding our Lord's forbearance, says:

Satan had only tempted Judas before the last supper. Luke 22:3. After the supper Satan entered into him. John 13:27. Before the supper he could have repented; after he ate and drank unworthily, and Satan had entered, his sin was greater than could be forgiven.

It was before the Lord's Supper that Judas criticized the anointing of Jesus, because he coveted the money expended. It is expressly said, "He was a thief." John 12:3-6. It was before the supper, hoping to make up what he had lost in failing to get the price of the nard, that he bargained with the priests for the betrayal of his Lord. Mark 14:10; Matt. 26:14-16. It would rather seem that Judas had not only been tempted, but had yielded to the devil's temptations. At the supper he utterly rejected the proffers of mercy, and rejected the warning.

Eating and drinking "unworthily" has reference to manner, not to character. Of course character is behind it; but the injunction in 1 Cor. 11:27 pertains to "unworthy manner." See A.R.V. This is the meaning of the adverb "unworthily."

No sin is so great that God will not forgive; the trouble lies with man. Judas had yielded to sin till he could not repent, had no desire to repent; no godly sorrow; and the willingly unrepentable sin is the unforgivable sin.