We were taught and have taught that, according to the Gospels, Judas betrayed Yeshua for 30 pieces of silver. The betrayal was not to Rome, but to the Jewish Chief Priests. According to the scripture, after Yeshua’s crucifixion, Judas was remorseful over what he’d done, and a few days later tried to return the silver.

The priests basically said too late and refused to take the 30 pieces of silver back. Judas threw the silver at them, left and killed himself. The priest knew that it was unlawful to put the money in the treasury, because it was ‘blood money.’ They decided to buy a potters’ field with it and use it as a non-Hebrew or foreigner’s burial ground. However, let me offer you an explanation on the significance of the 30 pieces of silver!

In the Book of Zechariah he told the people to pay him what they thought he was worth. Chapter 11:12 reads, “I told them, “If you think it best, give me my wages; but if not, keep it.” So they paid me thirty pieces of silver.” In verse 13, God speaks: And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the handsome price at which they valued me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter at the house of the Lord.” No doubt the 30 pieces given to Zachariah was even offensive to God. The play on the words – ‘worth’ and ‘the handsome price’ – kind of gives a clue. But if not, let’s go back to Leviticus and see why it was offensive to give it to Zachariah, as well as being the price to betray Yeshua.

Leviticus is one of the five Books of the Law, or the Torah. In chapter 27:1-4, God instructs them on the rules as to how to evaluate a person. “The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If anyone makes a special vow to dedicate a person to the Lord by giving the equivalent value, set the value of a male between the ages of twenty and sixty at fifty shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel for a female, set her value at thirty shekels.”

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by selling our Lord and Savior out for the meager price: "_______."

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When cross-referencing these scriptures we find that not only did Judas betray Yeshua, but he added injury to the insult, by selling our Lord and Savior out for the meager price of a Jewish woman!