Yes, Joseph’s being sold by his brothers is the Old Testament picture of Jesus being betrayed and sold for silver.
Stephen says the patriarchs “moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt,” and Joseph himself later told his brothers, “whom ye sold into Egypt.” Les compares that sale to Judas’s betrayal of Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, which Judas then threw down in the temple before hanging himself. In both stories a favored one is rejected and sold, yet God remains in control.
Genesis 37:20 — This verse records the brothers’ plot to slay Joseph and cast him into a pit, the first step toward his being sold.
Genesis 45:4 — Joseph identifies himself to his brothers with the words “whom ye sold into Egypt,” making the sale explicit.
Acts 7:9-10 — Stephen summarizes that the patriarchs sold Joseph, but God was with him and exalted him in Egypt.
Matthew 27:4-5 — Judas admits he betrayed innocent blood and casts down the silver in the temple, mirroring the silver purchase of Joseph.
Genesis 37:20 records the brothers’ plot: “Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.” Later, when Joseph reveals himself, he says, “I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt” (Genesis 45:4). Stephen’s summary is even more direct: “And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him” (Acts 7:9). In the New Testament, Matthew records that Judas, after betraying Jesus, said, “I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood,” and then “cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself” (Matthew 27:4-5).
Les uses Joseph’s rejection and sale as a picture of what happened to Christ. In these clips he observes that the brothers hated Joseph because he was the favored son and, for all practical purposes, killed him, although God spared his life (Clip 5). Stephen’s words show that envy lay behind the sale (Clip 3), and Joseph himself confronts his brothers with the fact that they sold him into Egypt (Clip 4). On the New Testament side, Les traces Judas’s betrayal to the moment Satan entered him, making Judas Satan’s instrument in the Garden (Clip 1). Les insists Judas was not predestined to betray; he had the same free choice as the other disciples, but God’s foreknowledge and prophecy made the betrayal certain (Clip 6). Judas took his thirty pieces of silver back to the priests, threw it at their feet, and then went and hanged himself (Clips 6, 7). The connecting point is the sale for silver: Joseph was sold by his own brothers, and Jesus was sold by one of His own disciples. Both were rejected by their own people and handed over for silver, yet God’s purpose moved forward.
Les shows that Joseph’s brothers hated him because he was their father’s favorite, and for all practical purposes they treated him as dead. God spared his life, however, and Joseph ended up in Egypt, where he became the second most powerful man in the land, in control of the grain. When famine hit Canaan, his brothers had no choice but to go down to Egypt, not knowing they were dealing with the brother they had sold.
Joseph’s brothers sold him for silver, and Judas sold Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Les shows that Judas was not forced by God; his betrayal was foretold, but he acted by his own choice. Afterward, Judas was so guilty that he threw the silver down in the temple and went out and hanged himself, while Jesus went on to be crucified.
In Acts 7, the patriarchs sold Joseph, “but God was with him,” and Joseph was delivered and made governor of Egypt. Les sees the same sovereignty in Judas’s case: Judas was not created to be the betrayer; he had full free will, yet God’s foreknowledge and prophecy meant the betrayal would happen. So the sale of Joseph and the betrayal of Jesus both show men acting wickedly while God’s purpose moves forward.
The Brothers’ Plot Against Joseph
Les highlights the brothers’ plan to slay Joseph and cast him into a pit with a cover story for their father, showing the rejection that preceded the sale.
Judas as Satan’s Instrument
Les connects Judas’s betrayal of Jesus to Satanic influence, explaining why Judas was able to betray Jesus in the Garden.
What the Bible Really Says About the Prodigal Son
It just fits so beautifully if you leave it where it belongs. So the little small percentage of Jews realized that they needed the true shepherd, and they let it be known, but the vast majority of Pharisees and religious Jews went on their merry way, not knowing that they were lost. Now let�s come on down and watch the same way in the next parable, the lost coin.
Stephen’s Summary: Sold by Envy, God With Him
Les reads Stephen’s account that the patriarchs moved with envy and sold Joseph into Egypt, yet God was with him and made him governor over Egypt.
Joseph Names the Sale
Les reads Joseph’s revelation to his brothers, including “I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt,” making the sale the central fact.
Rejected by Brothers, Exalted in Egypt
Les shows that the brothers hated the favored son and regarded him as dead, but God spared him and placed him in charge of Egypt’s grain, so his brothers later had to come to him.
Judas’s Free Choice and Prophecy
Les teaches that Judas was not predestined to betray; God’s foreknowledge and prophecy foretold it, but Judas chose to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.
Judas’s Remorse and the Cross
Les reads Matthew 27:4-5, where Judas admits he betrayed innocent blood and casts the silver down in the temple, then connects Jesus’s death on a tree to Deuteronomy’s curse.
Genesis 37:20: Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.
This verse shows the brothers’ murderous intent and their plan to hide Joseph’s fate, which led to his being sold.
Genesis 45:4: And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near: and he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
Joseph directly tells his brothers they sold him into Egypt, confirming the sale as the hinge of the story.
Acts 7:9-10: And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
Stephen’s summary links the brothers’ envy and sale to God’s presence and exaltation of Joseph.
Matthew 27:4-5: Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
Judas’s confession and the casting down of the silver directly parallel the sale of Joseph for silver.
Yes. Stephen says the patriarchs “moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt” (Acts 7:9), and Joseph himself tells his brothers, “I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt” (Genesis 45:4).
Yes. Les refers to Judas taking his thirty pieces of silver back to the priests and throwing it at their feet. Matthew records that Judas cast down the pieces of silver in the temple before he went and hanged himself (Matthew 27:5).
No, according to Les. Judas had the same free choice as the other disciples; God in His foreknowledge knew what Judas would do, and prophecy foretold it, but Judas was not predestined or created to be the betrayer.
Les sees the rejection and sale of the favored son Joseph as a picture of the betrayal of Jesus. Joseph’s brothers sold him into Egypt, and Judas betrayed Jesus for silver — the same pattern of being rejected by one’s own people and sold for a price.
Watch the Teaching: Joseph as a Type of Christ: The Hidden Prophecy in Genesis 37-46