Why Did Judas Deny Jesus

Why did Judas betray Jesus?

QuestionAnswer While we can never know for definite why Judas betrayed Jesus, there are several things we can be confident of. First and foremost, despite the fact that Judas was chosen to be one of the Twelve (John 6:64), all scriptural evidence indicates that he never believed Jesus to be the Son of God. He may not have even been convinced that Jesus was the Messiah at the time (as Judas understood it). Unlike the other disciples, who addressed Jesus as “Lord,” Judas never addressed him as such, instead referring to him as “Rabbi,” implying that Jesus was nothing more than a teacher.

This lack of confidence in Jesus serves as the foundation for all of the other concerns that will be discussed further down.

If we fail to accept Jesus as God incarnate and, as a result, as the only One who is capable of providing forgiveness for our sins—along with the everlasting redemption that comes with it—we will be vulnerable to a slew of other issues that arise as a result of having a distorted vision of the divine.

When the synoptic gospels list the Twelve, they are usually given in the same basic sequence, with minor changes, with the exception of Matthew and Mark (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:14-16).

  1. Regardless of the differences, Peter and the brothers James and John are always mentioned first, which is consistent with their personal ties with Jesus and the apostles.
  2. Aside from that, the only known exchange between Jesus and his betrayer Judas is Judas being scolded by Jesus after making a greed-motivated comment to Mary (John 12:1-8), Judas’ denial of his treachery (Matthew 26:25), and the act of betrayal itself (Matthew 26:26).
  3. In a third instance, as we can see in John 12:5-6, Judas was overwhelmed by greed to the point of betraying not only the confidence of Jesus, but also that of his fellow disciples.
  4. The fact that Judas was in control of the organization’s moneybag would show that he had a financial stake in the group (John 13:29).
  5. Judas may have followed Jesus in the hope of reaping the benefits of being associated with Him as the next political force in the world.
  6. By the time of Judas’ betrayal, Jesus had made it obvious that He intended to die rather than instigate a revolt against the Roman authorities.
  7. Some Old Testament scriptures, some more precisely than others, allude to the violation of the king’s trust.
  8. “I also told them, ‘If you believe it’s best, give me my salary; if you don’t, keep it,'” says the author.

And the LORD said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter,’ referring to the great price at which they had valued me.’ And with those thirty pieces of silver in my possession, I gave them to the potter who worked in the LORD’s temple (Zechariah 11:12-13; see Matthew 27:3-5 for the fulfillment of the Zechariah prophecy).

  • But, if God was aware of Judas’ treachery, did Judas have a choice, and is he held accountable for his role in the betrayal?
  • This is due in great part to our limited understanding of time.
  • In a linear sense, we see time as a straight line, and we go from one place to another gradually, recalling the past we have previously traveled through but being unable to see into the future we are about to enter into.
  • He exists outside of time.
  • However, Judas had the entire capability to make his decision—at least until “Satan came into him” (John 13:27), and God’s foreknowledge (John 13:10, 18, and 21) in no way exceeds Judas’ ability to make any particular option in any specific situation.
  • “I’ll tell you the truth: one of you will betray me—and it will be the one who is eating with me right now” (Mark 14:18).
  • As for culpability for this betrayal, Jesus said: “Woe to the one who betrays the Son of Man!
  • We see in John 13:26-27 that Satan played a role in this, and he will be held accountable for his actions as a result of them as well.
  • Because Satan assisted in the sending of Jesus to the cross, sin and death were vanquished, and God’s provision of redemption is now freely available to anyone who believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior (Romans 6:23).

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Why Jesus Was Betrayed by Judas Iscariot

Judas Iscariot sealed his own fate from the minute he planted a kiss on Jesus of Nazareth in the Garden of Gethsemane: he would go down in history as the world’s most renowned traitor. The identification of Jesus by the Jewish authorities, on the other hand, set in motion a series of events that would become the cornerstones of the Christian faith: Jesus’s arrest and trial, his crucifixion, and ultimately his resurrection, all of which are collectively known as the Passion of Christ. WATCH: JESUS: A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE Vault In light of how little we truly know about Judas Iscariot from the Bible, he continues to be one of the most enigmatic–and important–figures in Jesus’s life narrative to this day.

Who Was Judas Iscariot? What We Know from the Bible

Despite the fact that the Bible provides little details concerning Judas’s upbringing, he is listed as one of Jesus’ closest disciples, or apostles, in all four of the New Testament’s canonical gospels. Intriguingly, Judas Iscariot is the only one of the apostles who is (possibly) identified by his hometown in the Bible, which is a unique distinction. Some academics believe that his surname “Iscariot” is derived from the town of Queriot (also known as Kerioth), which is located south of Jerusalem in the Judean Hills.

The northern section of Israel, or Roman Palestine, is where Jesus hails from.

However, there is nothing in the Bible that links Judas to the Sicarii, and the Sicarii were only discovered to be active after Judas’ death.

Because people are always attempting to justify why he would have done anything like this.

At the Last Supper, Jesus announced his betrayal to the assembled guests. Judas is seen sitting on the other side of the table from where the action is taking place. Images courtesy of David Lees/Corbis/VCG/Getty Images

Possible Motives for Judas Iscariot’s Betrayal

According to the Gospel of John, Jesus revealed to his followers over the Last Supper that one of them would betray him if they didn’t repent of their actions. In response to their question, Jesus responded, “It is the person to whom I offer this piece of bread after I have dipped it in the dish.” Later, Judas, who was recognized as the “son of Simon Iscariot,” was given a piece of bread that had been dipped in a dish by the apostle. “Satan came into Judas when he received the piece of bread,” the Bible says.

The Gospel of Luke, like the Gospel of John, attributed Judas’ treachery to Satan’s influence rather than simple avarice, as was the case in the Gospel of John.

In the words of Cargill, “there have always been some who have sought to attach Judas’s treachery to the fact that he had a love of money.” Others have speculated that his disloyal behavior was motivated by a greater political purpose.

Alternately, according to Cargill, Judas (along with Jewish authorities at the time) might have perceived a rebellion as potentially dangerous for the Jewish people in general, similar to what happened when Rome destroyed Sepphoris earlier in the first century: “Maybe he decided to hand Jesus over, in effect, to put a stop to a larger rebellion.” More information may be found at: Why Did Pontius Pilate Order Jesus’ Execution?

What Happened After That

No matter what his motivations were, Judas led troops to the Garden of Gethsemane, where he recognized Jesus as the Messiah by kissing him and addressing him as “Rabbi.” (Matthew 14:44–46) As recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, Judas instantly repented of his conduct and returned the 30 pieces of silver to the church’s treasurer, declaring, “I have sinned by betraying the blood of innocent men and women.” When the authorities dismissed Judas, he left the money on the floor and committed himself by hanging himself from the ceiling fan (Matthew 27:3-8).

  1. The Bible contains several different versions of Judas’s death.
  2. The Book of Acts, on the other hand, portrays his death as more akin to a spontaneous combustion than anything else.
  3. As a result, he proceeded into a field, where he “fell headlong into the center of it and burst asunder, with all his guts gushing out” as a result of “falling headlong into it” (Acts 1:18).
  4. Because of Judas’ treachery, Jesus was arrested, tried, and executed by crucifixion, following which he was raised from the dead.
  5. However, the name “Judas” came to be associated with betrayal in a variety of languages, and Judas Iscariot would come to be depicted as the prototypical traitor and false friend in Western art and literature as a result.

MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PAGE: Mary Magdalene: Prostitute, Wife, or None of the Above?

Was Judas Really That Bad?

According to Joan Acocellawrote in The New Yorker in 2006, “the most essential aspect about Judas, aside from his betrayal of Jesus, is his association with anti-Semitism.” Judas has been held up as a symbol of Jews by Christians almost since Christ’s crucifixion, representing what they believe to be the Jewish people’s deviousness and thirst for money, among other ethnic vices.” Due to the historical inclination to associate Judas with anti-Semitic stereotypes, following the horrors of the Holocaust, this significant Biblical figure has been given a second look, and his image has even been somewhat restored in some quarters of the world.

When writing about Judas in 1997, Canadian biblical historian Professor William Klassen asserted that many elements of his betrayal had been fabricated or embellished by early Christian church leaders, particularly as the Church began to drift away from Judaism.

What Is the Gospel of Judas?

It was revealed in 2006 by the National Geographic Society that a long-lost document known as the “Gospel of Judas” had been discovered and translated. The text is thought to have been composed about A.D. 150 and subsequently transcribed from Greek into Coptic in the third century, according to historians. The Gospel of Judas was first mentioned in writing by the second-century cleric Irenaeus, and it is one of a number of ancient texts that have been discovered in recent decades that have been linked to the Gnostics, a (mostly Christian) group who were denounced as heretics by early church leaders for their unorthodox spiritual beliefs.

According to this version of the story, Jesus begged Judas to betray him to the authorities so that he may be released from his physical body and fulfill his mission of redeeming people on earth.

Getty Images/Universal History Archive/Universal Image Group Despite the fact that it is a well-known piece of literature, the Gospel of Judas is surrounded by controversy, with some scholars claiming that the National Geographic Society’s version is a faulty translation of a Coptic text and that the public was misled into believing it depicted a “noble Judas.” According to whatever interpretation you choose, given that the Gospel of Judas was written at least a century after both Jesus and Judas died, it offers little in the way of historically reliable information about their lives, and certainly does not provide the missing link to understanding Judas Iscariot”s true motivations.

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As Cargill points out, “the fact is that we don’t know why Judas did what he did.” “Of course, the great irony is that without it, Jesus would not have been delivered up to the Romans and executed.

The Crucifixion is the key component of Christianity, because without Judas, there is no Resurrection.”

Why Did Judas Betray Jesus after Following Him for Three Years?

However, although hundreds of individuals accompanied Jesus during his career, occasionally giving housing or providing for basic necessities such as food (Luke 8), the majority of us are aware that Jesus had 12 disciples whom he specifically picked. The twelve apostles of Jesus would be comprised of individuals like these. Of these, Judas Iscariot is the most infamous. After three years of following Jesus during the course of Jesus’ public ministry, Judas Iscariot handed his companion over to the religious leaders, who tried him and sentenced him to death.

We may recall close pals from our high school or college years who have remained with us for more than three years if we reflect back on our past experiences.

I certainly hope not.

The reasons why Judas betrayed Jesus will be discussed in this article, as will the reasons why Judas finally took his own life when he learned the consequences of his conduct.

What Does the Bible Say about Judas?

Identifying what the Bible has to say about Judas is essential before delving into the reasons for his betrayal of Jesus. For one thing, as noted out in the Crosswalk piece mentioned above, we don’t have a clear understanding of why Judas did what he did. Theologians have developed a number of hypotheses, which we will discuss in more detail later. The Bible says in Psalm 41:9, “Even my close buddy, in whom I put my faith and who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me. This text, which may be found in the Old Testament, predicts that a close friend of Jesus’ would rise their heel against him.

Judas took a bite out of it.

Judas is one of the twelve disciples that were chosen by Jesus.

But one of his students, Judas Iscariot, who would eventually betray him, objected: “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor?” (John 12:4-6) “It was the equivalent of a year’s pay.” But he didn’t say this because he was concerned about the impoverished; rather, he said it because, in his capacity as the money bag’s custodian, he used to help himself to whatever was placed in it.” During Jesus’ career, it appeared that the apostles played a variety of duties.

  1. Judas was in charge of the money, acting as a type of treasurer.
  2. However, because Judas betrays Jesus for money, the magnitude of his betrayal is magnified even further.
  3. In terms of spiritual possession or tyranny, we’re not sure what we’re dealing with.
  4. Judas, on the other hand, had already agreed to betray Jesus before to this night’s events.
  5. Despite the fact that Judas had previously devised a plan in his heart to betray Jesus, Satan appears to provide the final push here.
  6. ‘When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been sentenced, he was overcome with guilt and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders,’ says Matthew 27:3 (New International Version).

This appears to imply that he did not wish for Jesus to be crucified. Possibly he was bored up with Jesus, or perhaps he was disappointed that Jesus did not turn out to be the insurrectionist that he had hoped. He, on the other hand, is filled with remorse.

Why Did Judas Betray Jesus?

Theologians are divided on this point. In the words of the Crosswalk article referenced above: “At the other extreme of the idea spectrum is the proposition that Judas betrayed Jesus because Judas was a nasty man all along.a wolf in sheep’s clothes.” This idea is primarily based on the image of Judas in the Gospel of John, which paints a highly negative portrait of the betrayed apostle.” When we examine Judas’ guilt in the paragraph above, we can see that this idea falls short at times.

  1. Although Jesus foresaw that Judas would eventually betray him, we do not know if Judas really did so.
  2. Despite the fact that Satan did enter Jesus’ body, and despite the fact that some may argue that Judas had no autonomy, we observe Judas forming a pact with the religious authorities long before Satan appears during the Last Supper.
  3. This appears to indicate that Judas had great expectations for Jesus at the beginning of his mission, but that after three years, he was dissatisfied with what he had witnessed.
  4. This is supported by the Crosswalk article: “During the time of Jesus, the people of Israel were subject to the control of the Roman Empire.
  5. They were in desperate need of a monarch who had been anointed to guide them on their journey.
  6. He was unquestionably selected by God.
  7. He talked with authority regarding the establishment of a new monarchy.
  8. This might explain Judas’ surprise when he learned that Jesus had been sentenced to death.
  9. The religious elders demand that he repay the 30 pieces of silver to them since he has committed sin by “betraying innocent blood.” Whatever the circumstances, Judas was ultimately responsible for Jesus’ betrayal.

How Did Judas Die?

The killing of Judas is described in great detail in the Bible, although in graphic detail. As soon as the religious authorities refuse to take the 30 silver pieces, Judas throws them on the ground and walks to a nearby field where he hangs himself. I won’t go into much more detail than that, but if you want some hyper-realistic depictions, go no further than Acts 1:18, which is available online. The religious leaders then spend the monies to purchase a potter’s field, which allows them to fulfill an Old Testament prophecy that they would do so (Matthew 27:9).

  • After all, when Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, people greeted him with palm branches and shouted “hallelujah.” He was put to death less than a week later, according to the authorities.
  • Judas was predicted to betray Jesus in the Old Testament, and it was through his treachery that Jesus died on the cross for our sins.
  • Even though he was aware that Judas would betray him, Jesus nonetheless bathed Judas’ feet before the Last Supper (John 13), demonstrating his willingness to serve.
  • We betrayed Jesus by our actions.
  • Jesus, on the other hand, chose to wash our feet.
  • And, eventually, to save our lives.
  • Heaven, so close yet so far awayBetrayed!
  • More than 1,200 of her pieces have been published in a variety of journals, ranging from Writer’s Digest to Keys for Kids, among others.
  • Jenkins and Michelle Medlock Adams.

She is also a co-author of the Dear Heroduology, which was published by INtense Publications and is available for purchase online. Her inspirational adult novel Picture Imperfect, which will be released in November of 2021, will also be released. You may learn more about her by visiting her website.

Why Did Judas Betray Jesus?

Assume you’re in biblical times during the week of Passover. In a few days, on Sunday, Jesus made his triumphant entry into Jerusalem for the first time. A massive throng of people gathered along the streets where he was traveling. Some of them lay their cloaks out on the side of the road. Another group of people removed branches from the trees and spread them across the road. “Hosanna to the Son of David!” the crowd exclaimed. A blessing is upon him who comes in the name of the Lord! “Hosanna to the highest degree!” Nonetheless, on this day, Jesus instructs his followers, saying, “You are aware that the Passover is approaching, and that the Son of Man will be handed up to be crucified after two days.” These remarks have caused consternation and confusion among the disciples.

“Can you tell me what you’ll offer me if I surrender him to you?” Judas approaches them and asks them a question.

The Price of Betrayal

They give Judas 30 pieces of money in exchange for his services. One of Jesus’s followers betrays him on Thursday evening, as he and his disciples are having the Passover supper in an upper chamber. “Truly, I tell to you, one of you will betray me,” Jesus says. “Is it really I, Rabbi?” Judas inquires of Jesus. “You have stated as much,” Jesus responds. Judas departs from the upper chamber. After praying in Gethsemane for a few hours, Jesus declares, “Behold, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.” “Rise, let us get moving; look, my betrayer is right around the corner.” At that point, Judas appears, escorted by a large group of people wielding swords and clubs, who have been dispatched by the chief priests and elders of the community.

They apprehend Jesus and force the disciples to escape.

By the afternoon, he had passed away.

What might possibly motivate one of the twelve disciples to betray their Lord?

Theory 1: Judas actually didn’t betray Jesus.

Towards the other extreme of the theoretical spectrum is a proposal made by Research Professor William Klassen, who passed away in the spring of 2019. Klassen argues in his bookJudas: Betrayer or Friend of Jesus? that Judas tried to construct a connection between the Jewish authorities and Jesus, and that Jesus was fully aware of what Judas was up to at all times. Instead of betraying Jesus to the authorities, Klassen claims that Judas was betrayed by the authorities themselves, rather than by Jesus.

In the words of Klassen, there is “a plethora of reasons to give Judas the benefit of the doubt.” Klassen’s thesis suffers from a main and, in some cases, fatal flaw: he assumes that Jesus was completely unaware of what was about to take place.

He had no desire to die, and he makes no indication that he want to die at any moment. However, he was compelled to submit himself to the authority of those tasked with carrying out the divine will, namely, the religious authorities. Nobody knew what would happen as a result of it.”

Theory 2: Judas was bad from the beginning.

Those who believe that Judas betrayed Jesus do so because Judas was a wicked man all along.a wolf in sheep’s clothing, to put it another way, are on the opposite extreme of the theory spectrum. In particular, this view is predicated on the portrayal of Judas in the Gospel of John, which paints a highly negative picture of the betrayer. Here are a few illustrations:

  • Following his statement that they should eat his flesh and drink his blood, Jesus claims that his words are spirit and life, but some of his disciples do not trust him. This is followed by a parenthetical note – “For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.” – which suggests that Judas did not believe in the first place. Immediately following Peter’s statement that they “have believed and come to know that you are the Holy One of God,” Jesus asks, “Did I not chose you, the twelve? ” “Yet one of you is a demon,” says the other. For the record, according to John, “He talked of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot,” because he was one of the twelve who was about to betray him.
  • Jesus’ feet are anointed with costly ointment in John 12, and Judas laments that the ointment might have been sold for 300 days’ pay, with the proceeds going to the needy. Judas, according to John, “was a thief,” and “having custody of the moneybag, he used to help himself to whatever was placed into it.”
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There is a flaw in the argument that Judas was a terrible guy from the start, which stems from the fact that Jesus picked Judas to be one of his twelve followers. If Judas was actually bad from the beginning, then:

  • For what reason would Jesus choose Judas to be a member of his inner circle for three years
  • For what reason would Jesus delegate Judas’ responsibility for managing the money bag
  • And for what reason would Jesus grant Judas and the other disciples “power and authority to cast out demons, heal diseases, and proclaim the kingdom of God” before sending them out “to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick”? (SeeMatthew 10, Mark 6, and Luke 9 for examples.) Is it possible that Jesus did not reform Judas over the three years that he spent almost every day with him?

Another flaw in this scenario is what Judas did after Jesus was sentenced to death, which is as follows: As soon as Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus had been sentenced, he changed his mind and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the Chief Priests and the Elders, claiming he had “sinned by betraying innocent blood,” according to the Gospel of John. “What does that mean to us?” they inquired. “Take care of it yourself.” Leaving the temple after hurling the silver coins into it, he proceeded to hang himself.

Why would a wicked guy be remorseful for “betraying innocent blood” in this world?

Theory 3: “Satan entered Judas” duringHoly Week.

While John’s Gospel appears to portray Judas as a wicked guy from the start, other Scripture passages and early Christian scholars picture him as a genuine disciple of Jesus who, at a key moment, came under the sway of Satan and turned his back on Jesus. In contrast to Matthew and Mark, who merely report that Judas went to the authorities to make plans for a betrayal, Luke adds an important term to the statement (which I will stress below):

  • While John’s Gospel appears to portray Judas as a wicked guy from the start, other Scripture passages and early Christian scholars picture him as a genuine disciple of Jesus who, at a key moment, came under the sway of Satan and turned against Jesus. Instead of merely reporting that Judas went to the authorities to make plans for his treachery, Luke adds a critical term to the sentence (which I will underline below):

Some early church academics and theologians, such as Origen, held fast to the view that Judas was a legitimate disciple of Jesus until he came under the sway of the devil (184-253 AD). Origen reminds out in his writings that although Jesus said that one of his followers would betray him, none of the disciples realized that it was Judas who had betrayed him. This might imply that Judas had been an excellent disciple who was well-liked by his Master at the time of his death. Judas’ covetousness is seen by Origen to be a major flaw in Judas, and it is possible that Satan took use of this weakness during Holy Week.

According to Origen, his act of contrition was genuine and heartfelt, and he was forgiven.

Is it possible for a loyal disciple of Jesus to turn bad for a few days before regaining his composure as soon as he fell?

Theory 4: Judas tried to force Jesus to rise to power.

It was under the control of Rome that the people of Israel lived during Jesus’ time. They wished passionately to defeat their oppressors and re-establish their homeland as soon as possible. They were in desperate need of a monarch who had been anointed to guide them on their journey. Is it possible that it’s Jesus? He was unquestionably selected by God. He was able to accomplish miracles. He talked with authority regarding the establishment of a new monarchy. He drew large throngs of people. Jesus came into Jerusalem on a donkey colt, which was the foal of a donkey, four days before he was betrayed by Judas Iscariot.

  1. With little doubt, Jesus was the prophesied king who would save the people from the oppression of their political leaders.
  2. They were inspired.
  3. including overthrowing the Romans.
  4. For this reason, in that kingdom, James and John requested to be seated on Jesus’ left and right hands, respectively.
  5. He had been acclaimed king by the throngs in attendance.
  6. When Jesus remained silent, it’s possible that Judas chose to push his hand.
  7. Jesus exclaimed, “I AM!” when surrounded by hundreds of soldiers, causing everyone to fall to the ground (John 18:6).

However, rather than assuming the role of political messiah, Jesus consented to be taken away by soldiers and subjected to a fake trial, conviction, and death. And Judas came to the realization that he had committed a horrible error. According to the fourth hypothesis.

What this means for us

It was under the control of Rome that the people of Israel lived in Jesus’ day. In their hearts, they want to overthrow their oppressors and re-establish their country. For them to be successful in their endeavor, they required a monarch who had been chosen by God. Possibly Jesus, if you believe in miracles. Without a doubt, God picked him for this position. He was a miracle worker. About a new dominion, he spoke with authority. Large throngs flocked to see him. Jesus came into Jerusalem on a donkey colt, which was the foal of a donkey, four days before he was betrayed by the Jewish leaders.

  1. As far as the people were concerned, Jesus was the long-awaited monarch who would deliver them from their political oppressors.
  2. They were impressed.
  3. That the kingdom of Israel had been restored to power had to be the one of which Jesus spoke.
  4. While in Jerusalem, Jesus was with his disciples.
  5. Christ’s accession to the throne and leadership of the revolt against Rome came at an opportune moment.
  6. It appeared to be the proper decision for a brief period.
  7. In the end, Jesus chose to let the soldiers to carry him away to a false trial, a conviction, and death rather than become a political messiah of his own making.
  8. This is according to the fourth hypothesis.

Why did Judas betray Jesus?

The life of Judas Iscariot is considered to be one of the most tragic episodes in human history. According to the Bible, Judas Iscariot was one of the disciples of Jesus Christ, who is considered to be the greatest man who ever lived. And he conspired against his Master, betraying Him to His enemies, ultimately leading to His execution on the cross. With little difficulty, we can identify two reasons that contributed to Judas Iscariot’s transformation into a traitor, and therefore the world’s most renowned betrayer, according to the biblical account.

  • His flaw, which was a desire for money or a love of money, was his downfall. It is under the control of the devil.

Judas Iscariot’s greed for money

Everyone remembers Judas Iscariot as the one who betrayed Jesus and then hanged himself out of remorse. His story is well known. His portion of the narrative was tragic — no one would ever want to find themselves in his position. At the time he was chosen to be one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, Judas Iscariot may not have had such a malicious intention to betray Jesus in the first place, let alone to betray Him for money; such a malicious intention may have been far from his heart at the time he was chosen to be one of Jesus’ twelve disciples.

I’m referring to the fact that he had a flaw or a weakness that he kept hidden deep within himself in the depths of his heart.

It is known as ‘the love of money,’ but it can also be referred to as ‘greed for money,’ or simply ‘greed’ – any of the three terms will suffice.

The trait of Judas Iscariot that corresponded to his weakness of greed for money began to manifest itself, and he began to steal from Jesus, thereby establishing himself as a thief in the eyes of others.

(John 12:4-6)At this point, it was clear to everyone that Judas Iscariot would go to any length to satisfy his insatiable desire for money. He had started with stealing, and believe me when I say that he would be willing to engage in any other evil deed if it resulted in financial gain.

Satan’s influence

So we’ve established that Judas Iscariot had a flaw, which was a passion for money, which meant that he would do everything to make money regardless of the consequences to others. This explains why he was less concerned about stealing from Jesus Christ. Having reached the point when Judas Iscariot’s weakness of hunger for money had matured and was yielding fruit in the form of stealing, the devil viewed him as a vessel appropriate for carrying out even more evil. Since the day of Jesus’ birth, Satan has tried several efforts to depose of Him.

  • While traveling about the country doing His ministry, Jesus found himself in conflict with the Jewish religious establishment, including the Sadducees, the Pharisees, the High Priest, the chief priests, and so on.
  • They had often wished to arrest him in public and assassinate him, but they were unable to do so due to the large throng.
  • In addition, any effort to arrest Jesus in public would have been met with opposition from the audience and would have caused widespread consternation in the city, for which the Jewish leaders would have had to account to the Roman authorities in the aftermath.
  • As a result, even though Jesus had a large number of opponents, His death was not guaranteed.
  • Those opposed to Jesus required someone who was closer to him, who was familiar with his affairs, and who could alert them of his locations so that they might come and arrest him when the rest of the audience was absent.
  • The devil recognized a perfect opportunity to put Jesus to death and decided to give it a shot once again.
  • Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ twelve followers, was the perfect person to fill this job when it became available.

It was Satan who went into Judas Iscariot’s life and tricked him into believing that Jesus Christ, his own Master and Teacher, was a treasure to be had.

Indeed, he would gain more money if he could just deliver Him up to the Jewish authorities, who were obsessed with the goal of assassinating Him.

They were pleased with his performance and awarded him a sum of thirty silver pieces.

(3:3–6) (Luke 22:3-6) Satan’s effort to assassinate Jesus was successful.

Judas Iscariot, who had gone during the final supper, arrived with a large group of armed men to the location.

He then stepped up to Jesus and kissed Him, after which Jesus was taken into custody.

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He had no clue that the whole notion of betraying his Master, as well as the audacity with which he went about it, had been inspired by none other than the devil.

Even while we can see that Judas Iscariot was a horrible guy in his own right, betraying Jesus for money was not part of his original plan until the devil got involved. It was the devil who carried his selfishness to the point of betraying others for financial gain.

Conclusion

Judas Iscariot did not betray Jesus because he desired to exact revenge on Jesus, nor was his decision motivated by political considerations. Judas Iscariot’s frailty, thirst for money, and the devil’s influence, according to biblical evidence, were the primary elements in his betrayal, as was his lack of faith in God.

Why Was Jesus Betrayed by Judas Iscariot?

The betrayal of Jesus by one of His followers, Judas Iscariot, is considered to be one of the darkest episodes in all of history. When the disciples returned to Jerusalem for the final time, Jesus made it known that He would be killed soon after. You are aware that the Passover will be celebrated in two days and that the Son of Man will be handed up to be crucified after that (Matthew 26:2). Following his realization of the situation, Judas went to the chief priests and said, ‘What are you ready to offer me in exchange for my delivering him to you?’ And they gave him thirty pieces of silver in exchange for his services.

  • When Jesus and the disciples gathered for the Last Supper on the night of the Passover, Judas conspired with the religious leaders to kidnap some of the disciples and carry them to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.
  • What Motivated Judas to betray Jesus?
  • In light of the overwhelming evidence demonstrating that Jesus is the Son of God, it is puzzling that one of His own followers betrayed Him.
  • One school of thought holds that Judas was destined to be a traitor and had nothing he could do to prevent it.
  • In response to His followers’ disbelief, He remarked, “But there are those of you who do not believe.” Because Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe and who would betray him, and he prepared himself accordingly (John 6:64).
  • Judas acted entirely on his own initiative.
  • Was Judas a devout follower of the faith?

Handing Jesus up to the religious authorities, according to popular belief, would compel Him to establish His Messianic reign.

Judas solicited the top priests for money in exchange for his treachery, which is inconsistent with his purportedly “pure” spiritual motivations.

This is hardly the title one would associate with a fervent believer in their religion.

Another school of thought saw Judas an American patriot who desired to use Jesus as an instrument of resistance against their Roman overlords, while another viewed him as a traitor.

There is no evidence to suggest that Judas had any other motivation than avarice.

This takes us to the most plausible reason for the phenomenon.

Judas was under the impression that by associating himself with Jesus, he would be given a prominent position in the kingdom.

Because of this, he was able to acquire all he could by betraying Jesus.

He never addressed Jesus as “Lord,” instead referring to him as “master” or “teacher.” When it comes to following Jesus, Judas is an example of someone who does so for all the wrong reasons.

SummaryJudas Iscariot betrayed Jesus for the sum of thirty pieces of silver in exchange for his life.

Judas’s motivations for carrying out this heinous act have been attributed to a variety of factors.

There has been speculation about his identity, with some claiming that he served as a superpatriot who attempted to coerce Jesus into revolting against the Romans.

Judas was said to be a thief who never truly believed in Jesus as his Lord and Saviour.

If Judas had not been born, Jesus claimed that it would have been better for all of mankind. The fact that Jesus was aware that Judas would betray him does not absolve Judas of culpability for his actions. He betrayed Jesus because he made the decision to do so.

Why did Judas betray Jesus since everyone knew Him?

Why did Judas betray Jesus when everyone was aware of His presence?

Bible Answer:

What was the reason behind Judas’ betrayal of Jesus? This is a frequently asked question. However, the question of why Judas had to betray Jesus in light of the fact that so many people knew and recognized Him is not frequently questioned. The solution to the question will be provided in three parts. Part 1: What is the question?

Judas Betrayal of Christ

The twelve disciples Jesus picked early in His career included a man by the name of Judas, who was betrayed by one of them. Judas is described as the one who betrayed Christ in Matthew 10:4 and Mark 3:19, while Luke 6:16 states that he would be considered a traitor. Have you ever questioned why Jesus selected Judas, given that he was well aware of the thoughts and motivations of human beings? We will find out the solution as soon as possible. As recorded in John 6:70-71, Jesus informs Peter and the other disciples that one of them is a demon.

  • Asked why he chose them, Jesus said, “Did I not personally pick you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?” He was referring to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon Iscariot, because he was one of the twelve who was about to betray Him.
  • A thief, according to John 12:6, Judas took money from the box that housed the funds used to assist Christ and his followers, the Bible says.
  • Judas is a character about whom we know very little.
  • The betrayal of Jesus by Judas is detailed in all four gospels, which is significant information.
  • “What are you ready to offer me to betray Him to you?” demanded one of the twelve apostles, Judas Iscariot, when he went to the chief priests with his request.
  • His search for an appropriate moment to betray Jesus began immediately after that.
  • Earlier in John 13:2, the Bible claims that the devil had already influenced Judas towards betraying Christ before the Passover Meal.
  • John 13:2 (NASB) says that one of the disciples was to be revealed as a traitor over the Passover dinner, despite the fact that no one had suspected him.
  • He, on the other hand, was not a sincere disciple.
  • At the conclusion of the dinner, according to John 13:27, Satan entered Judas and caused him to flee in order to betray Christ.

The betrayal of Christ by Judas is described in John 18:2-12. Matthew 26:47-50 and Mark 14:43-45 both inform us that Judas betrayed Jesus by kissing him on the cheek. When Jesus was arrested, he was carried away to be judged by the Sanhedrin Council, and he was subsequently executed the next day.

Primary Reason Judas Betrayed Christ

Given the fact that so many people knew who Jesus was and could recognize Him, why would Judas betray Him? First and foremost, it is not evident that everyone was familiar with Christ. However, the major solution to the issue may be found in both John 17:12 and Acts 1:16-20 of the New Testament. In the time that I was with them, I was protecting them in Your name, which You have given Me; and I guarded them, and not one of them perished save the son of perdition, in order that the Scriptures may be fulfilled.

That Judas would betray Christ was foreordained at the time of Christ’s selection of him as a disciple, as shown by this passage.

More information may be found in Acts 1:16-20.

Because he was numbered among us and received his part of the ministry,” says the pastor.

And it became known to everyone who lived in Jerusalem, to the point where the field became known as Hakeldama, which means “Field of Blood” in their own tongue.) Psalms says, “Let his home be made desolate, and let no one live in it,” and “Let another man take his place of business,” which means, “Let another man take his place of business.” Acts 1:16-20 (KJV) (NASB) Psalm 69:25 and Psalm 109:8 are the two predictions that are being cited here.

Judas did, in fact, betray his position as a Christ-follower.

It was necessary for Judas to betray Christ in order for the prophecies to be fulfilled.

Second Reason Judas Betrayed Christ

The second part of the solution to our query may be found in Luke 22:1–6. The leading priests and scribes were scared of the people, and this was the reason for their fear. They desired to capture Jesus in the most discrete and covert manner possible, and a traitor was an excellent choice. If the religious authorities had been brave and not fearful of the people, they would not have agreed to pay Judas to betray Christ. Instead, they would have refused to do so. Their need for secrecy had a role in the fulfillment of the prophecies.

The chief priests and scribes were scrambling to figure out how they might put Him to death because they were terrified of the people.

And Satan entered Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples who belonged to the number of the twelve.

They expressed their delight and agreed to provide him with money.

Satan entered Judas and persuaded him to accept to betray Christ, according to Luke 22:3-6 (NASB). This had transpired before to the Jewish holiday of Passover. (Matthew 26:14-16; Luke 22:14; Matthew 26:14-16).

Third Reason Judas Betrayed Christ

In response to the question “why did Judas betray Jesus?” the third argument is that Judas was easily seduced for thirty pieces of silver, according to Matthew 26:14-16. He betrayed Christ, the Son of God, for the sake of thirty pieces of money, according to the Bible. Judas is said to have returned the thirty pieces of money, according to Matthew 27:3. Both of these events were foretold in Zechariah 11:11-14 as well. Judas was motivated solely by avarice. This demonstrates that Satan and his army of demons can attempt to encourage us to commit sins such as greed, pride, pleasure, wrath, and a variety of other offenses.

Conclusion:

We’ve learned that Christ picked a group of twelve disciples, one of whom was a traitor, to follow him. He had been a thief. He was a philanderer who was readily swayed by the devil, sometimes known as Satan. He was similar to several of the people who pretend to be excellent Christians in our churches today. They may even believe that they are a good Christian, but this is not true. However, they are not genuine. There are tares or unbelievers in the church, according to Jesus’ parable of the wheat and the tares (Matthew 13:24-26).

Suggested Links:

Is it true that Judas was not rescued according to the Bible? For what reason did Jesus chose Judas Iscariot to be one of his disciples? Is it possible that Judas did not believe in Christ in order to cast out demons? Is it possible that Jesus had two followers called Judas? Jesus Was Betrayed by a Friend Who Went by the Name of Judas In what ways are chief priests and high priests distinguished from one another? 1st Module of Discipleship Training

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