The Power of Mammon

By John Madge

“While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, ‘You are to say, “His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.” If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.’ So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.”—Matthew 28:11–15

Before diving into today’s Scripture, I want you to consider two things: a question and a quote. The question is, “What would it cost to have you compromise your beliefs?” And the quote is, “Money makes the world go ‘round.”

Now, don’t answer that question too quickly, and I’m not making any assertions with that quote. I’d like you to keep both in mind as we unpack today’s Scripture together.

Let’s consider the guards mentioned in today’s Scripture. Here’s what the Bible says of their orders and what they witnessed:

“‘Take a guard,’ Pilate answered. ‘Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.’ So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.’”—Matthew 27:65–66 (NIV)

“There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.”—Matthew 28:2–4 (NIV)

These guards were placed at the entrance to Jesus’ tomb to ensure that none of His disciples would come and take His body, thus silencing any notion of resurrection that Jesus claimed during His earthly ministry.

It was in the best interest of the religious leaders to ensure that no hope of resurrection circulated because their position and power depended upon it. If it was discovered that Jesus’ missing body could not be explained or that the testimony of the guards was true, they would be brought under public scrutiny. Remember these were the men who paid Judas Iscariot 30 shekels of silver to betray Jesus into their hands and then had Him crucified by Pontius Pilate and the Romans. Now they are paying the guards “a large sum of money” to falsify their testimony.

Have you ever trusted in the power or comfortability that money affords? It can buy silence, protection, assurance, comfort, relationships, etc., but it can’t buy the forgiveness or friendship God offers us through Christ Jesus. In Jesus’ own words, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul?” (Mark 8:36 ESV).

The point I’m trying to get at is this: It’s not about the amount of your possessions or material wealth, but more about your mindset and heart attitude concerning these things. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day thought that money served their purposes (what made the world go ‘round) because it bought betrayal, silence, or the narrative they wanted, power, and comforts. However, they were the ones serving money as their god (compromising their beliefs in Yahweh as God) because they placed all their trust in money’s ability to provide these things.

Pause: Consider how the religious leaders were thought to be the closest people to God.

Practice: Think about what mindset(s) you might have that depend too heavily upon material wealth or possessions. Confess them to God and allow Him to lead you to a place of surrendering those mindsets.

Pray: Jesus thank You that Your truth and the truth of Your Word cannot be bought and that You do not accept bribes nor show favoritism to those with great wealth. I’m spiritually poor and You are spiritually rich beyond measure. Help me to trust You with my life and possessions just as You placed Your life and trust in the hands of the Father. Amen.