“Betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" (Luke 22:48)  

Christ knew Judas was going to betray Him, but that probably didn’t make the experience any less painful. He warned His disciples, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16). The deceitfulness of sin makes sinners deceitful. They use truth as a weapon when it suits them, and forget it when it costs too much. On the other hand, the Bible says the saint, “walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart ...swears to his own hurt and does not change” (Psalms 15:2-4). But perhaps this Scripture doesn’t match your experience. Perhaps you can identify more with Judas. 

 Are you guilty of the same sin as Judas, that son of perdition? If you’re like most church-goers, you repeated a salvation prayer in which you promised to trust Christ as your Savior and follow Him as your Lord. You were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and became a member of His visible Church. You regularly take communion, hopefully, after you examine yourself and repent of all known sin. Are all these just so many deceptive kisses? Does your inward heart match your outward profession? If not, you’re a traitor to the name Christian. Do you live in the world as carelessly as others do, and yet make a profession of being a follower of Christ? Then all you’re doing is exposing Christianity to ridicule, and giving sinners cause to speak evil of His holy Name. 

 Surely if you act like a sinner, you’re a Judas, and it would have been better if you were never born. But as long as you can repent, there’s hope. “Oh Lord, help me to see my hypocrisy. Help me to be a doer of Your Word, and not just a hearer (James 1:22). Help to not grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30), and see the true condition of my heart, as Your Word describes it. Oh God, help me to not betray You with a kiss and end up in Hell.