Judas' hopes were raised by Our Lord’s triumphal and royal entry into the capital on Palm Sunday.  But when Jesus let so favourable an opportunity slip away, Judas at last knew that his dreams would never now be realised and, as he thought whose fault it was, his hatred became almost uncontrollable.

What finally decided him was the incident of the anointing of Christ’s feet at Bethany.  When he protested at what he considered a wicked waste of money, having his own ideas of what should have happened to it, Our Lord administered him a public rebuke (John 12:1-8).

His hatred now swamped even his avarice, for he actually allowed the chief priests to name their own figure, and he didn’t care how small it was.  “What will you give me if I betray him to you?” he asked (NRSV, Matthew 26:15).  When they offered him 30 silver pieces – the price of a sheep – he accepted it.