Judas, Betrayer of the Lord

“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?” (Luke 22:47–48)

There are some names that, when they are mentioned, carry a certain connotation. We understand what it means to say that someone “met their Waterloo,” or maybe understand why no one wants to name their babies “Jezebel, Adolf, Lucifer, etc.” Although there are several people in Scripture named Judas, most of the time, when we hear the name Judas, we immediately think of the apostle that betrayed Jesus. Judas Iscariot was the apostle that betrayed our Lord, but there are a few lessons that we can learn from what the Scriptures tell us about him.

Judas was a man that followed Jesus. There is no information about the life of Judas prior to his meeting Jesus but because he is chosen by Jesus to be an apostle may indicate that he was a follower of Jesus. There were multitudes of people that began to follow Jesus to hear His teachings, many of whom had followed John the Baptist as he prepared the way for Jesus, telling of the One that is to come (Luke 1:76-77; John 1:20-27). The first mention of Judas’ name in Scripture (Matt. 10:4; Mark 3:19; Luke 6:16) is the listing of the apostles that were sent out on the Limited Commission (the preaching of the kingdom to the Jews only), indicating that Judas was a man that was chosen by Jesus to be an apostle and Judas followed Him.

Judas was a man that had a purpose. When we think about the twelve apostles, we may not recall a certain role or purpose of any of the other eleven, but when Judas is mentioned he is given the role of handling all of the money that the apostles would have. There was a need for someone to handle the money that would be given as the apostles traveled and redistributed the offerings given to them to those that were in need and this role was filled by Judas (John 12:6). We have an insight to the character of Judas when we look at what is said about his handling of the money, and the Scriptures do not speak favorably of him, as he is called a thief, he is pictured as being covetous, unfaithful, and selfish. In this aspect of the life of Judas, we see clearly the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Tim. 6:10).

Judas was a man that betrayed Jesus. In each Gospel account when Judas is introduced it is mentioned that he would be the one to betray Jesus. We often wonder why Judas was chosen to be an apostle, if he was faithful but then let the love of money motivate him to betray the Lord, or if his character was the same from the beginning of him following Jesus, but John sheds light on this question, showing us the choice was not made by Jesus knowing that he would betray Him. “But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him” (John 6:64) . When the apostles were with Jesus, observing the Passover and the institution of the Lord’s Supper, Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him. This caused much contention among the apostles as they all began to question which would do such a thing (can you imagine the finger pointing that took place) and they all began to ask “is it I” but Jesus knew that it would be Judas and states that the punishment of what he was about to do would come upon him. “And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born” (Matthew 26:23–24). Ultimately, Judas did not take the warning given to him, and for thirty pieces of silver (Matt. 26:15), led the mob to Jesus and would betray Him.

One final note on the life of Judas, Judas was a man that could not bear his sinful actions. After the mob had taken Jesus by force, Judas tried to return the money given to him (Matt. 27:3-5). It is said in Scripture that Judas “repented himself” which indicates the remorse and guilt that Judas felt for betraying Jesus, and does not indicate repentance (change of actions brought about by godly sorrow) as is necessary for salvation. After Judas returns the money, he hangs himself, showing the extreme remorse felt by him. Smith’s Bible Dictionary adds this commentary on the actions of Judas after the betrayal, “Restitution of silver did not undo the wrong, it was restored in a wrong spirit- a desire for relief rather than a hatred of sin; he confessed to the wrong party, or rather to those who should have been secondary, and who could not grant forgiveness.”

Jesus says that the things that took place were necessary (Luke 24:46), and Judas’ actions led to the crucifixion of Christ, without which we could not be forgiven of our sins. May we not be like Judas, but may we follow Jesus faithfully and not give way to any sin.