Judas Iscariot

Who was Judas Iscariot?

Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. His surname, “Iscariot,” likely indicates he was from Kerioth, a town in Judea, setting him apart from the other apostles, most of whom were Galileans. Judas is most infamous for betraying Jesus, an act that led to His crucifixion.

Significant Characteristics

Greed/ Thief: When one of Jesus’ followers Mary anointed the feet of Jesus with expensive perfume, Judas’ response was, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” (John 12:5) The scriptures say that, “Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money bag, he used to take from what was put into it.” (John 12:6) His greed blinded him from seeing this true act of worship from Mary.

Betrayer of Jesus: Matthew 26:14-15 states, “Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, ‘What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?’ So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver.” This shows Judas as one who was willing to betray Jesus for payment and prioritizing his love of money over loyalty and devotion. Jesus being well aware of Judas’ plans, predicts his betrayal during the Last Supper with the disciples. (John 13:21,26)

Influenced by Satan: The Bible states that Satan entered Judas before the betrayal. (Luke 22:3, John 13:27)

Death

Unlike most of the other disciples, Judas did not die a martyr’s death. After realizing the gravity of betraying Jesus, Judas was overcome with guilt and despair. The Gospels record that he returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests, acknowledging his sin and confessing, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood” (Matthew 27:4). However, the religious leaders dismissed him, leaving him to deal with his overwhelming sense of regret on his own.

Filled with hopelessness, Judas did not see a way out of his guilt and despair. So instead of seeking forgiveness, Judas tragically took his own life by hanging himself (Matthew 27:5). The book of Acts adds further detail, stating that Judas fell headlong, and his body burst open (Acts 1:18), possibly referring to the aftermath of his hanging.

Tragic Life of Judas

Judas’ life serves as a powerful example of how someone can miss recognizing who Jesus truly is when their heart is consumed by personal desires. Despite spending years in close proximity to Jesus, witnessing His miracles, hearing His teachings, and being part of His inner twelve, Judas allowed his greed and love of money to blind him to Jesus’ true identity as the Messiah.