An interesting parallel to Judas’ payment

“What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” 
And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.
(Matthew 26:14-16)

Thirty pieces of silver—the amount Judas was paid to betray Jesus—was also the amount an ox owner in the Old Testament (Exodus 21:32) was required to pay if his ox killed the servant of another.

In other words, the 30 pieces were compensation for a loss of property.

I’m not sure if it’s intentional or a coincidence, but Judas was paid as an owner who lost property. 

In this case, following that parallel, Jesus was the property.

We give Judas a hard time, betraying Jesus and all.

And, I should add, rightly so.

But how many of us treat Jesus just the same, like an asset or a tool to use? Prayers, logged like divine work orders.

Perhaps Judas wasn’t that far away from where many of us are today.