After that he was looking for a suitable opportunity to betray Jesus.
This statement shows how sin, once conceived in the heart, begins its practical course. Judas had already received his payment and was now looking for a suitable moment to bring his betrayal to completion. There was no peace within him anymore; he had become an instrument of Satan’s mind, waiting only for a favorable circumstance. By saying “a suitable opportunity,” the Gospel reveals the deep psychological course of sin: sin is never satisfied with intention; it seeks its fulfillment. Judas lived in the Lord’s presence, heard His words, saw the miracles, yet in that light he chose the path of darkness. This statement reminds us that even the closest nearness to holiness does not save a person if the heart is closed before God. A person can be found in an environment of faith, yet live in unbelief. Judas’s example is a warning to everyone of how dangerous it is to give place to evil in the heart, because sin, when it is not repented of by a person, inevitably leads to destruction.