Judas Iscariot

Matthew 26
The Plot against Jesus = V1-5
Jesus anointed at Bethany = V6-16
The Last Supper = V17-30
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial = V31-35
Gethsemane = V36-46
Jesus Arrested = V47-56
Jesus Before the Sanhedrin = V57-68
Peter Disowns Jesus = V69-75

Judas’ name is the Greek version of the Hebrew “Judah” which roughly means “Praise” or “Let God
Be Praised.”
Iscariot probably means “the man from Kerioth,” the town Kerioth Hezron (Jos 15:25), 12 miles south
of Hebron (Jer 48:24)
If the speculations about the meaning of “Iscariot” are true, he would have been from southern Judah,
which also means he would have been the only one of the 12 disciples from Judea; the rest were
from Galilee. Though we don’t know for sure where he grew up, he joined Jesus during His three-year
ministry, definitively placing him in Israel around 30 A.D.
Judas was one of the 12 disciples, Jesus’ closest companions. There isn’t a specific scene of Jesus
calling Judas in the Gospels, as it is for others such as Philip, Nathaniel, and Peter. He is included in
the list of the 12 from early on. Although the order of the disciples’ names varies, Peter is always
listed first and Judas Iscariot last.
Mt 10:2-4 = and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him
Mk 3:16-19= and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him
Lk 6:14-16 = and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor
The Bible records that Judas was the treasurer for the disciples (Jn 12:6; Jn 13:29). It also reveals
that Judas used this position for his own personal gain. Jn 12:6 states, “he was a thief; as keeper of
the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.”
Judas’ Character Revealed
Mt 26:6-9; Mk 14:3-9 = Jesus anointed in Simon the Leper’s home at Bethany.
There, the Bible records that Jesus’ friend Mary took a large quantity of expensive perfume, poured it
over Jesus’ feet, and wiped His feet with her hair as an act of worship.
“Why this waste?” they asked. “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money
given to the poor.”
Jn 12:5 revealed Judas’ objection, 5“Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor?
It was worth a year’s wages.”
Though his intentions seemed pure, Jn 12:6 states, 6“He did not say this because he cared about the
poor but because he was a thief.” He fully intended to skim the funds from the money bag.
From this passage we learn that Judas was dishonest. Yet he must have been thought to be a man
of some reliability, for he was the keeper of the money bag.
Rather than expose Judas, Jesus responded to the supposed concern, at the same time emotionally
addressing His own impending death. 7“‘Leave her alone,’ Jesus replied. ‘It was intended that she
should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8You will always have the poor among you, but you
will not always have me.’”
First Satanic Possession
After recounting the story of the perfume, both Matthew and Mark immediately follow this scene with
that of Judas’ deal with those who wanted to kill Jesus.
Mat 26:14-16 = 14Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests
15
and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” So they counted out for him
thirty silver coins. 16From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
Judas offered to betray Jesus voluntarily.
Lk 22:3-6 = Before the Passover, Satan entered Judas Iscariot who then went and discussed with the
chief priests on how he might betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.
This is premeditated betrayal.
Second Satanic Possession
John 13:2 records and reminds us that the devil had already prompted Judas to betray Jesus. The
Bible does not state why Judas did what he did. His habits with the money bag might suggest
greediness, but it is also quite possible that he was troubled by Jesus’ insistence that He would die.
Many were looking for a strong political leader in a Messiah, and Jesus was not what they expected.
The Bible also explicitly states that Satan was involved with Judas’ actions, but not to what extent.
During the Last Supper (Jn 13:26-27), Jesus told His disciples He would be betrayed. When asked by
whom,
26
Jesus replied, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.”
Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27As soon as Judas
took the bread, Satan entered into him. “What you are about to do, do quickly,” Jesus told him.
= If the giving of the bread to Judas was a mark of honour, it also seems to have been a final appeal
– which Judas did not accept.
Do quickly = Jesus’ words once more indicate his control. He would die as he directed, not as his
opponents determined.
Food For Thought (Jn 13:28-30)
28
But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the
money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give
something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
Kiss, Remorse, Suicide
Judas is next seen entering the garden later that night where Jesus is praying. Knowing the place,
Judas led a detachment of soldiers and officials to Jesus. Judas told the men, “The one I kiss is the
man; arrest him” (Mat 26:48). He then proceeded to approach Jesus and kiss him in greeting. After
this, Jesus was arrested.
Mat 27 records Judas’ demise. 3When Judas saw that Jesus was condemned to death, he was
seized with remorse and returned the 30 coins to the chief priests and elders. “I have sinned,” he
said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”
When they disregarded him, he threw the money into the temple, left, and went away and hanged
himself.
The 30 pieces of silver were then used to buy a plot of land that became a burial ground for
foreigners — a place called the Field of Blood.
Acts 1:18-19 depicts a more dramatic ending for Judas, claiming that he used the 30 pieces of silver
to buy a field, where he gruesomely died. 18"With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas
bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19Everyone
in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of
Blood.".
= Judas bought the field indirectly. The money he returned to the priests (Mt 27:3) was used to
purchase the potter’s field (Mt 27:7)
= fell headlong = Mt 27:5 reports that Judas hanged himself. It appears that when the body finally fell,
either because of decay or because someone cut it down, it was in a decomposed condition and so
broke in the middle.
Acts 1:20-26 records that Matthias was chosen by lot to replace Judas as one of the 12 disciples
The 30 pieces of silver
30 pieces of silver was the amount required for a person to pay a master if his slave was gored by a
bull (Exodus 21:32) and, the bull is to be stoned to death.
The significance of the 30 pieces of silver
i. It demonstrates the Old Testament prophecy of Zec 11:13, Jer 19:1-13, and Jer 32:6-9 of Jesus
being sold for 30 pieces of silver, was fulfilled in Mat 26:14-16.
It was a known set price for the lowest slave, Exodus 21:31; Joel 3:3, 6.
ii. During New Testament times and within Hebrew culture, 30 pieces of silver was an extremely small
sum of money. It was symbolic of the low view the Jewish leaders had on Christ. It demonstrates that
the Jewish leaders saw Jesus’ worth as being very minute. It was low estimation of the Messiah’s
value. The price marked upon Jesus’ life was the same as a lowly servant’s life.
iii. According to the Bible, there was no noble intention in Judas’ heart. His motive was simply money.
Judas was covetous enough to have asked more. The wickedness of the chief priests would have
edged them to have given more. Yet, 30 pieces of silver was the Divine order. Christ must be sold
cheap, that he might be the more dear to the souls of the redeemed ones.
iv. Yet many have sold Jesus for a less price than Judas received. A smile or a sneer has been
sufficient to induce them to betray their Lord.
Regardless of the small worth and low value the Jewish leaders placed on Christ, God places a large
worth upon each of us. God tells us we are each fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13-16).
In addition, God made us in His Image (Genesis 1:27). This means that God has placed a large
sense of worth on us.
God has given us each inherited self-worth and as believers, we need to place a high emphasis on
Jesus’ worth because He is God and He died for our sins.
Judas, Why?
Through the centuries, many suggestions have been offered regarding the motive of Judas in
betraying Jesus.
i. Judas was the only Judean among the other disciples, who were all Galileans. Perhaps Judas, as
the treasurer, resented the leadership of the Galilean fishermen among the disciples, and finally had
enough of it.
ii. Perhaps Judas was disillusioned with the type of Messiah Jesus revealed Himself to be; wanting a
more political, conquering Messiah.
iii. Perhaps Judas watched the ongoing conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders and
concluded that they were winning and Jesus was losing. Therefore, he decided to cut his losses and
join the winning side.
iv. Perhaps he came to the conclusion that Jesus simply was not the Messiah or a true Prophet, even
as Saul of Tarsus had believed.
v. Perhaps Judas did this from a noble motive. He was impatient for Jesus to reveal Himself as a
powerful Messiah, and he thought that this betrayal would force Him to do this.
vi. Whatever the specific reason, the Scriptures present no sense of reluctance in Judas, and only
one motivation: greed. The words stand: 15“What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?”
Both the Gospel of John and Luke cited Satan’s influence, rather than mere greed, as a reason for
Judas’ betrayal. John, however, made clear that Judas was an immoral man even before the devil got
into him: He kept the “common purse,” the fund that Jesus and his disciples used for their ministry,
and stole from it.
The sense from Matthew is that the matter with Mary was the final nail to Judas’ betrayal. Judas could
have felt despised and insulted by Jesus’ response to Mary’s anointing. After that, he was determined
to betray Jesus to the religious leaders who wanted to kill Him.
What We Can Learn from Judas
Judas’ life story is a tragic one, but it points to God in powerful ways.
Multiple prophecies hundreds of years before Judas’s birth predicted his betrayal. Zechariah
predicted Jesus would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (Zec 11:12-14). Ps 41:9 predicted that
Jesus’ betrayer would share his bread, which Jesus directly referenced in Jn 13:18 and acted out in
Jn 13:26-28.
Thus, God knew of this “disastrous” turn of events long before it ever occurred. God was not
blindsided by this betrayal. In fact, it was part of His plan. In order to save the world from sin, the
Bible claims, Jesus had to die. God therefore used Judas’ betrayal to help bring about the salvation of
His people.
Satan may have thought he was upsetting God’s plan through Judas, but the results show just how
impossible that is. Judas reminds us that God is always in control. Judas’ name itself, “Let God Be
Praised,” is a reminder that even the worst of situations can be used by God in powerful ways.
Was Judas Forgiven?
The Bible clearly indicates that Judas was not saved. Jesus Himself said of Judas, “The Son of Man
will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be
better for him if he had not been born” (Mat 26:24). Here is a clear picture of the sovereignty of God
and the will of man working together. God had, from ages past, determined that Christ would be
betrayed by Judas, die on the cross for our sins, and be resurrected. This is what Jesus meant when
He said He would “go just as it is written about him.” Nothing would stop the plan of God to provide
salvation for mankind.
However, the fact that it was all foreordained does not excuse Judas or release him from the
punishment he would suffer for his part in the drama. Judas made his own choices, and they were the
source of his own damnation. Yet the choices fit perfectly into the sovereign plan of God. God
controls not only the good, but also the evil of man to accomplish His own ends. Here we see Jesus
condemning Judas, but considering that Judas travelled with Jesus for nearly three years, we know
He also gave Judas ample opportunity for salvation and repentance.
Matthew 26:21-25
21
Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” 22And they
were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?” 23He answered and
said, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me. 24The Son of Man indeed goes just
as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been
good for that man if he had not been born.” 25Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and
said, “Rabbi, is it I?” He said to him, “You have said it.”
25
You have said it: Jesus did not say this to condemn Judas, but to call him to repentance. It is fair to
assume that He said it with love in His eyes, and Jesus showed Judas that He loved him, even
knowing his treachery.
Even after his dreadful deed, Judas could have fallen on his knees to beg God’s forgiveness. But he
did not. He may have felt some remorse born of fear, which caused him to return the money to the
Pharisees, but he never repented, preferring instead to commit suicide (Matthew 27:5-8).
In John 17:12, Jesus prays concerning His disciples, “While I was with them, I protected them and
kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction
so that Scripture would be fulfilled.” At one time, though, Judas believed that Jesus was a prophet, or
possibly even believed He was the Messiah. Jesus sent the disciples out to proclaim the gospel and
perform miracles (Luke 9:1-6). Judas was included in this group. Judas had faith, but it was not a true
saving faith. Judas was never “saved,” but for a time he was a follower of Christ.
Reflection
Did God purposely create Judas to betray Jesus and then sent him to hell?
Is it fair for Judas to be born for the sole purpose to betray the Messiah?
If there was no betrayal, would Jesus have been crucified on the cross?
If Judas had not committed suicide, would Jesus have restored him as in Peter’s case?
Will you be willing to replace Judas as the fall guy for the benefit of someone else’s salvation?
Was there ever a situation where you have to suffer injustice for the benefit of others?