Judas Iscariot the Betrayer
- CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD
- Jul 31
- 8 min read
Matthew 26:47-56 gives us an overview of the betrayal of Jesus. It reads - 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.
48 Now he that betrayed Him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is He: hold Him fast.
49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed Him.
50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.
51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.
52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to My Father, and he shall presently give Me more than twelve legions of angels?
54 But how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
55 In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take Me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on Me.
56 But all this was done, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook Him, and fled.
Mark 14:21 pronounces a woe against the betrayer. It reads - The Son of Man indeed goeth, as it is written of Him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.
Judas sat at the Passover table with Jesus. He heard every word Jesus said, he saw the agony He felt, he ate with Jesus and allowed Him to wash his feet then he left and betrayed Him. What cruelty! What hardheartedness?
Who was Judas Iscariot? He was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ. Matthew 10:2-4 - Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus, Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.
Judas Iscariot was given the same commission as was given to the others. (Matthew 10:5-42)
According to Matthew 11:1 when Jesus had made an end of commissioning His twelve disciples, He left and went to teach and to preach in their cities.
While the commission was given to all it is proven based on Scripture that Judas was not one of those who bonded closely with the Lord neither was very active in the Ministry.
Based on the Scriptures we can justly evaluate Judas’ relationship to Christ.
The records of Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:14-16 state that he was not only a disciple but was also a betrayer and a traitor.
When the disciples are listed - Peter, James and John are always listed first, this shows the close bond which they had with our Lord. Judas is always listed last, which may indicate a lack of personal relationship with Christ.
The following are the only records of communication between Jesus and Judas - when Jesus rebuked him for after his greed-motivated remark to Mary (John 12:1-8), Judas’ denial of betraying Christ (Matthew 26:25), and the kiss of betrayal (Luke 22:48).
How did Judas refer to Jesus? Matthew 26:25, 48-49-Then Judas, which betrayed Him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, thou hast said. Now he that betrayed Him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is He: hold Him fast.
49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed Him.
All persons who are worthy of authority ascribed to them must be careful of persons who refuse to properly acknowledge their authority. Judas travelled with Jesus for more than three years. He saw Him drive out demons, heal diverse forms of sicknesses, fed thousands with a few loaves of bread and fish, walked on water, stilled a stormy sea, raise the dead and made the blind see. Yet he decided that the best word to use was “Rabbi.” Judas did not acknowledge Jesus as Lord of his life but he acknowledged Him as a mere teacher like any of those around him. It was a sign of his untrustworthiness.
Judas may have become a follower Jesus hoping to benefit from association with Him as the new reigning political power. Most persons including Judas expected the Messiah to overthrow the Roman government and assume rulership of the nation of Israel. Soon Judas would have realised that this was not the focus of Jesus’ Ministry so he began to doubt Jesus’ authority. This shows that Judas was not truly a follower but a tag along. Even today there are many tag-alongs; be careful of them.
What was one of Judas’ responsibilities? John 12:3-6 - 3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
4 Then saith one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray Him,
5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
6 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.
Based on his greed this may have been the responsibility that he enjoyed most.
Jesus had included Judas in His team. Was Jesus aware of the evil traits which Judas possessed? Yes, He did. John 2:25 tells us that Jesus had the spirit of discernment.
He knew what Judas would have done yet He took him on His team. John 6:64,70-71, 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. Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray Him, being one of the twelve.
John 13:10 - Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
Luke 12:2 - For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
What did Judas do and what was done to him before the betrayal? John 13:1-5 - Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that His hour was come that He should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end.
2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him;
3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He was come from God, and went to God;
4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside His garments; and took a towel, and girded Himself.
5 After that He poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded.
Everyone operates by the power of choice. Even in situations of oppression you can make the right choices. Judas had a wicked heart and this caused Satan to influence him. It was his choices that influenced him. (John 13:21-30)
We should always be careful of the enemy that is inside; the one closest to you. Jesus knew that Judas was a deceiver but many of us lack the spirit of wisdom and discernment. How much did Judas charge for betraying the Lord and how did this money benefit him?
Mark 14:10-11- And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray Him unto them.
11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.
Matthew 26:15- 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.
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,
4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the Temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
6 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.
7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.
8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.
9 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;
10 And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.
Silver represents redemption but the amount paid is a sign of the disdain they held for Jesus. Exodus 21:32 - If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.
What prophecies were fulfilled by Judas’ action?
Psalm 41:9 - Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.; Zechariah 11:12-13 - Zechariah 11:12-13 -And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.
13 And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord.
After Jesus' resurrection to whom did He appear? Luke 24:33- And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them. He appeared to the eleven remaining disciples.
What does Acts 1:25 say about Judas and who replaced him? Acts 1:25-26 - That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Due to his wickedness Judas lost the wonderful promises Christ had given to the twelve disciples. Matthew 19:28 - And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Luke 22:28-30- For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
19 And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is My body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of Me.
Learn from Judas and always keep these powerful words alive within you.
Proverbs 4:23 - Keep your heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life.
Remember: You are a result of your choices.
Writer - A. E. Fisher
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