Bible Matters 520: Judas

Out of the mouth of three prophets and all eight New Testament witnesses, the Supreme made it clear that thou shall not judge!   Judge no one.   The scripture reflects on judgement, especially during the time of the crucifixion of Jesus.  Was Judas the wicked criminal that the witnesses testified, too.  Read these passages and reflect on your initial thoughts.

When you realize that the gospels were written well after the events happened, then your judgements may be biased.  It is clear that John was not impressed with Judas pointing out Jesus to the leaders of the Jewish religion.

Matthew 10:4 – Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him

Mark 3:19 – And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house

Luke 6:16 – And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor

John 6:70-71 – Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?  He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

John 12:4-6 – Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him,  Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?  This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

John 18:2-3 – And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus often times resorted thither with his disciples.  Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.

One thing for sure is that the followers of Jesus considered Judas Iscariot a traitor.  In the kingdom of God and to fulfill prophecy, Judas Iscariot had to betray Jesus.  Judas Iscariot was the keeper of the bag of money or funds that the disciples used in their ministry.  Twelve disciples with no known source of income, other than donations for a group following a rogue preacher who was not following the Jewish religion.  Selling ointment for three hundred pence for the poor would seem appropriate.  Not all of them understood the message, when Jesus told Judas Iscariot to do it quickly. 

John 13:2,26-27,29-30 – And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him;  Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.  And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.  For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.  He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.

Matthew 26:25 – Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.

Judas Iscariot understood that he was the one to betray Jesus.  Judas was told by Jesus to do it quickly!   In your mind, how would this play out if you sat in Judas’s seat.  Jesus taught in the streets.  He taught in the temples.  He preached in and around Jerusalem for the last three and a half years.  Jesus was well known and followed by many.  It would have been apparent that the chief priests would have known who Jesus was!   When Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests, they promised to give him money.  Judas could use this money in the bag of funds, used by the apostles. 

Mark 14:10-11 – And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.  And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.

Matthew 26:14-16,23 – Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,  And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.  And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.   And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.

The chief priests and elders of the people wanted a sign, a kiss of betrayal. 

Matthew 26:47-49 – And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.  Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.  And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.

Luke 22:47-48 – And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?

Mark 14:44-45 – And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely. And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him.

To fulfill prophecy, thirty pieces of silver were required for the purchase of the potter’s field.  Only one witness referred to Judas as the devil and in the same breath, refers to the devil entering Judas and then Jesus telling Judas, that whatever he must do, do it quickly.  For Jesus’s ministry, Judas could receive thirty pieces of easy silver for pointing out Jesus.  Jesus was already known by all.  Judas was a pawn in fulfilling scripture.   It wasn’t until Jesus was condemned, that Judas realized the criticality of the betrayal.  Like the criminal on the cross, Judas repented of his sin.   He then proceeded to give the thirty pieces of silver back to the high priests.  Judas was so distraught that he hung himself!

Matthew 27:3-10 – Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,  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. And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.  And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in.  Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.  Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;  And gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me.

Judas did the betrayal quickly, as commanded by Jesus.  Judas was not Satan, as Satan would not have repented of his sin, nor returned the blood money!  Judas’s actions in the scripture is beyond your ability to judge.  Judas did the will of God in order to fulfill scripture.  Only God knows where Judas is spending eternity. 

One thing for sure out of the mouth of three prophets and all eight New Testament witnesses in the scripture is the Supreme Gospel of Love.  Do not be deceived.  Decide today, that you will go and live your life per his Gospel of Love, with the promise of everlasting life in heaven for those that follow this gospel and endure to the end!

To God be the glory in all you do, Amen.