Understanding Betrayal Biblically
What does the Bible say?
1. Psalm 41:9 Even my closest friend whom I trusted, the one who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
2. Psalm 55:12-14 For it is not an enemy who insults me— I could have handled that— nor is it someone who hates me and who now arises against me— I could have hidden myself from him— but it is you— a man whom I treated as my equal— my personal confidant, my close friend! We had good fellowship together; and we even walked together in the house of God!
3. Job 19:19 My close friends detest me. Those I loved have turned against me.
4. Job 19:13-14 My relatives stay far away, and my friends have turned against me. My family is gone, and my close friends have forgotten me.
5. Proverbs 25:9-10 Instead, take up the matter with your neighbor, and don’t betray another person’s confidence. Otherwise, anyone who hears will make you ashamed, and your bad reputation will never leave you.
We must cry out to the Lord for help.
6. Psalm 27:10 Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD cares for me.
7. Psalm 55:16–17 I call upon God, and the Lord will deliver me. Morning, noon, and night, I mulled over these things and cried out in my distress, and he heard my voice.
8.Exodus 14:14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.
Jesus knows how it feels. He was betrayed twice.
Peter
9. Luke 22:56-61 A servant girl saw him sitting by the fire, stared at him, and said, “This man was with him, too.” But he denied it, “I don’t know him, woman!” he responded. A little later, a man looked at him and said, “You are one of them, too.” But Peter said, “Mister, I am not!” About an hour later, another man emphatically asserted, “This man was certainly with him, because he is a Galilean!” But Peter said, “Mister, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just then, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. Then the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. And Peter remembered the word from the Lord, and how he had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”
Judas
10. Matthew 26:48-50 The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss.” So Judas came straight to Jesus. “Greetings, Rabbi!” he exclaimed and gave him the kiss. Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.” Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him.
Don’t waste your suffering. Use your betrayal to share in the sufferings of Christ.
11. 2 Corinthians 1:5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.
12. 1 Peter 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
Use your betrayal as an opportunity to become more like Christ and grow as a Christian.
13. 1 Peter 2:23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.
14. Hebrews 12:3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so that you won’t grow weary and lose heart.
There is always a blessing in every trial. Find the blessing.
15. Matthew 5:10-12 How blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, because the kingdom from heaven belongs to them! “How blessed are you whenever people insult you, persecute you, and say all sorts of evil things against you falsely because of me! Rejoice and be extremely glad, because your reward in heaven is great! That’s how they persecuted the prophets who came before you.”
Don’t find a way to get revenge, but instead forgive others just like God forgave you.
16. Romans 12:14-19 Bless those who persecute you. Keep on blessing them, and never curse them. Rejoice with those who are rejoicing. Cry with those who are crying. Live in harmony with each other. Do not be arrogant, but associate with humble people. Do not think that you are wiser than you really are. Do not pay anyone back evil for evil, but focus your thoughts on what is right in the sight of all people. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live in peace with all people. Do not take revenge, dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me. I will pay them back, declares the Lord.”
17. Matthew 6:14-15 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
I know it’s hard on our own, but we must trust in the strength of God to help.
18. Philippians 4:13 I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.
19. Matthew 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Don’t dwell on it which will only create bitterness and hatred. Fix your eyes on Christ.
20. Hebrews 12:15 Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and by it, defiling many.
21. Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
We must rely on the Spirit and pray to the Spirit.
22. Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
Forget the past, move on, and continue in God’s will.
23. Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Reminder
24. Matthew 24:9-10 Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other.
Example
25. Judges 16:18-19 When Delilah realized that he had disclosed everything to her, she sent for the Philistine officials and told them, “Hurry up and come here at once, because he has told me everything.” So the Philistine officials went to her and brought their money with them. So she enticed him to fall asleep on her lap, called for a man to shave off his seven locks of hair from his head, and so began to humiliate him. Then his strength abandoned him.
Bonus: Saul betrayed David.
1 Samuel 18:9-11 So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David. The very next day a tormenting spirit from God overwhelmed Saul, and he began to rave in his house like a madman. David was playing the harp, as he did each day. But Saul had a spear in his hand, and he suddenly hurled it at David, intending to pin him to the wall. But David escaped him twice.