Judas’ name and background
The most complete description in the New Testament of Judas is “Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son” (John 6:71, etc.).
Many people have speculated about Judas’ name and background. But there is little material in the Scriptures to build on. And unfortunately, much of that material is unclear.
Judas is a form of the name “Judah;” that much is clear. However, the meaning of “Iscariot” is uncertain. This name is also attached to Judas’ father (John 6:71), so it may have been a place name. If so, it would mean “man of Kerioth.” Two locations existed with this name. One is a town on the eastern side of the Dead Sea in Moab or on the western side of the Dead Sea, north of Beersheba). If this is the correct meaning, then Judas was the only apostle who wasn’t a Galilean. The other possible meanings are “the dyer” and “assassin.”
Both Judas and Simon were very common names in that time and it is impossible to guess who Judas’ father was.
Judas’ Participation in Ministry
Whatever Judas’ background was, Jesus chose him to be an apostle (Matthew 10:2-4). Judas became a member of the group who would live with Jesus constantly. They observed Jesus more closely than anyone else.
Jesus sent out the apostles to preach, heal, deliver people from demonic indwelling, and other miracles (Matthew 10:7-8). Judas was part of that group. No record exists of what any individual apostle did on these trips. So, I can’t say for certain if Judas did any of these things, or watched.
We do know Judas had a position of trust among the apostles. He was the money keeper for the group (John 12:6).
Peter later said of Judas, “He was one of our number and shared in this ministry” (Acts 1:17).
When the lists of apostles mention Judas, they add, “who betrayed him” (Matthew 10:4). The next glimpse we get into Judas’ character is the scene in the house of Lazarus in Bethany (John 12:1-8). Lazarus’ sister, Mary, poured out a very expensive perfume or ointment on Jesus’ feet. Then she wiped them with her hair. Jesus felt honored. He decreed that wherever the good news about Jesus traveled, the story of Mary’s kindness and generosity would be told.
But, some of the disciples, including Judas specifically, complained. “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” (John 12:5).
In his Gospel, John the apostle explains that no altruism was behind Judas’ comment. Instead, Judas complained because he would not have the opportunity to pilfer some of that money (John 12:5-6). Judas was a thief.
Arrangements for the Betrayal
Judas visited the chief priests just after his complaint about the perfume. Did the “waste’ of the expensive perfume push Judas over the edge? Is that what drove him, humanly speaking, to seek money for betraying Jesus?
Judas went to them asking for money. “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” (Matthew 26:15). They counted out for Judas third pieces of silver. The standard coin used by the Temple was the shekel, which was worth four day’s wages for a working man. So this would be equal to about twenty week’s pay.
Jesus Honors Judas at the Last Supper
Judas would soon lead a mob to arrest Jesus. But before that, Judas was present with Jesus and the other apostles for the Passover meal. During that meal, Jesus seemed to offer grace to Judas in two ways.
First, Jesus washed Judas’ feet (John 13:2-5) along with the feet of the other apostles. This was an offer of cleansing, forgiveness, and fellowship.
Second, during the meal, the apostle John asked Jesus who would betray Jesus. “Jesus answered, ‘It is the one to whom I give this morsel after I have dipped it.’ Then He dipped the morsel and gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot.” (John 13:26). Usually the host gave this broken and dipped piece of bread to the honored guest .
In these acts, Jesus continues to offer Judas forgiveness and a relationship. Judas refused.
Judas Betrays Jesus to Arrest
Judas followed through on his commission immediately. He led “a large crowd armed with swords and clubs,” (Matthew 26:47). He kissed Jesus on the cheek to point Jesus out as the one to arrest. “But Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:48).
The mob led Jesus away to an illegal and dishonest trial.
Motivated by Satan
Whether money motivated Judas we do not know for sure. But we do know for sure that there was also a satanic motivation. This is shown in several passages.
Before Judas went to see the chief priests, Satan had entered into Judas (Luke 22:3).
Before Jesus washed Judas’ feet, “the devil had already put into the heart of Judas… to betray Jesus” (John 13:2).
When Jesus offered the piece of bread to Judas, “Satan entered into him” (John 13:27).
But Jesus was not surprised by Judas’ betrayal. Jesus knew Judas’ spiritual condition when Jesus chose him. “Jesus answered them, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” He was speaking about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. For although Judas was one of the Twelve, he was later to betray Jesus.” (John 6:70-71)
Jesus dismissed Judas to meet those who would arrest Jesus. “And when Judas had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to Judas, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”” (John 13:27)
Just before His arrest, Jesus prayed in the presence of His apostles. He mentioned Judas (who was now gone). “While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.” (John 17:12 NAS95).
These verses taken together show that Judas was not acting only on his own. Satan was moving Judas along to deliver Jesus to death.
Jesus Knew Judas Would Betray Him.
Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him.
The Gospels make it abundantly clear that Judas’ betrayal was no surprise to Jesus. We know this from several passages.
First, Jesus knew Judas’ spiritual condition when Jesus chose him. In John chapter 6, some of Jesus’ other disciples left Him. Jesus questioned the apostles about their willingness to stay with Him:
“From that time on many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him. So Jesus asked the Twelve, “Do you want to leave too?” Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.”” (John 6:66-69)
Jesus knew what Peter did not know. Judas did not believe. So,”Jesus answered them, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” He was speaking about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. For although Judas was one of the Twelve, he was later to betray Jesus.” (John 6:70-71)
This passage hints Jesus knew that Judas would betray him even when Jesus chose Judas.
Much later, at the Passover meal before Jesus’ death, Jesus announced that one of His apostles would betray Him. The disciples each asked in turn, “Lord, is it I?”
Then, Judas hypocritically asked, “‘Surely not I, Rabbi?’ Jesus answered, ‘You have said it yourself.'” (Matthew 26:25)
Peter apparently did not hear that conversation. Moments later, Peter told John to ask who would betray Jesus.
“After Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit and testified, “Truly, truly, I tell you, one of you will betray Me.” The disciples looked at one another, perplexed as to which of them He meant. One of His disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at His side. So Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus which one He was talking about. Leaning back against Jesus, he asked, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this morsel after I have dipped it.” Then He dipped the morsel and gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. And when Judas had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to Judas, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”” (John 13:21-27)
As you see, Jesus knew exactly who would betray Him.
Judas left the Last Supper. He went to the priests and led a mob to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.
His regret and his testimony to Jesus’ innocence.
“When Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was filled with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.” So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.” (Matthew 27:3-5)
This is one reason why Jesus had an enemy in His group of apostles. So there would be an intimate but unbiased testimony to the character and innocence of Jesus. Jesus was our sinless sacrifice for our sin. Judas testified to that sinlessness.
Death and disembowelment
Some have tried to make a contradiction out of two reports about Judas. Matthew records that Judas hanged himself. In Acts 1:18-19, Peter reports that “falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.” that the supposed conflict between this passage and Mt. 27:5–7 arises from assuming that Peter is recounting the manner of Judas’ death. In fact, it appears to me that Peter is recounting Judas’ burial.
First, Peter tells of Judas having a share in the ministry (Acts 1:18). Then, Peter says, “now this man acquired a field…” This is universally understood as the priests buying the potter’s field (Matthew 27:7). When did the priests do this? Most likely after Judas’ death; it would have taken some time. Later, when Judas’ body was discovered, it was moved to this graveyard. As men moved the body on their shoulders (compare with Luke 7:14) the body fell headlong and burst open. This report spread throughout Jerusalem.
This understanding allows Acts 1:18-19 to speak in chronological order without distortion. This also shows there is no contradiction with Matthew’s account.
Why then, did Jesus have an enemy in His group of apostles?
In my opinion, for two reasons. First, so there would be an intimate but unbiased testimony to the character and innocence of Jesus. Judas provided that.
Second, to fulfill prophecy. Jesus had to die to full God’s purpose as laid out in prophecy.
At the Last Supper, Jesus said, “The Son of Man will go [to death] just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed. It would be better for him if he had not been born.”” (Brackets added. Matthew 26:24)
Also at the Last Supper, Jesus said, “I am not speaking about all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the Scripture: ‘The one who shares My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’ I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it comes to pass, you will believe that I am He.” (John 13:18-19)
Even the price that Judas was paid was prophesied: “Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: ‘They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on Him by the people of Israel, and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord had commanded me.'” (Matthew 27:9-10, alluding to Zechariah 11 and Jeremiah 19.)
Judas knew everything he needed to know to trust in Jesus. He chose to betray Jesus instead. What about you? Do you know the truth about Jesus now? If not, please keep reading Faith of Abraham Study Bible Notes. Do you know that Jesus is the Son of God and He died for your sins and rose again? Then please trust Jesus. Ask Him to forgive your sins and receive new life from Him.
Please do not end up despairing like Judas.
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* Unless otherwise specified, Bible quotations in the notes are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God’s Word has been dedicated to the public domain.