“Evil for Good”

The Bible describes all manner of sins, but one of the worst is repaying evil for good. The foremost example, of course, would be Judas. He had the honor of being chosen specifically by Jesus to be one of the twelve. He participated in the limited commission (Matt. 10:1-15). How many people did he cure of illnesses? Did he raise anyone from the dead? How many people might he have baptized while serving Jesus? He heard firsthand some of the greatest teaching this world has ever heard. He saw all the miracles Jesus had done, also, including Lazarus returning from the dead after four days. The miracles established the authenticity of Jesus and all His claims.

So, what happened? Did he get bored? Did he expect even more excitement that attended Jesus wherever He went—something in addition to seeing Jesus calm the storm and feeding 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish? Perhaps it would have been more exciting if Jesus had mounted an attack against Rome? Putting aside whatever Judas expected, he had benefitted and been blessed beyond measure. How could he, then, betray Jesus? With a kiss, no less. This is almost an unforgivable sin—and, in fact, without repentance it is one. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 17:13: “Whoever rewards evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.” But David wrote much more in Psalm 109.

Solomon’s father had experience with betrayers as well (Absalom, Ahithophel). He says that the mouth of the wicked and the deceitful spoke against him with a lying tongue. They surrounded him with words of hatred and fought against him without cause. They rewarded him evil for good and hatred for love (Ps. 109:1-5). David does not wish such men well.

When he is judged, let him be found guilty, and let his prayer become sin. Let his days be few, and let another take his office. Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow. Let his children continually be vagabonds, and beg; let them seek their bread also from their desolate places. Let the creditor seize all that he has, and let strangers plunder his labor. Let there be none to extend mercy to him…. Let his posterity be cut off… (Ps. 109:7-13).

There is more, but the reader gets the idea. In fact, Psalm 109:8 is applied to Judas in Acts 1:20. These may seem like severe penalties, but they reveal the enormity of the sin. Of course, anyone who made a mistake and repented of it could be forgiven, but most guilty of this sin never do. They may be too ashamed to do so; their pride refuses to let them; or they may be satisfied with their course of action, which they will indeed regret. Returning good for evil is a much better practice.