Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve disciples chosen by Jesus Christ. His surname, “Iscariot,” likely refers to his place of origin, Kerioth, a town in Judah (Joshua 15:25). This would make him the only disciple from Judea, while the others were from Galilee.
Judas’ name means “praised” or “God be praised,” yet his life turned out to be one of the greatest tragedies in Scripture. He is known as the man who betrayed Jesus Christ for thirty pieces of silver. Unlike the other disciples who stumbled yet repented, Judas was consumed by greed and ultimately destroyed by his own sin.
Judas’ Role as a Disciple
Though Judas was a disciple, his heart was never truly with Jesus. He was entrusted with the role of treasurer, carrying the money bag for Jesus and the disciples (John 12:6), yet Scripture reveals that he was a thief.
“This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.” (John 12:6)
Despite walking with Jesus, seeing miracles, and hearing His teachings, Judas’ heart remained hardened. While the other disciples struggled but grew in faith, Judas followed Christ for selfish gain. He witnessed Jesus heal the sick, raise the dead, and cast out demons, but his love for money and personal ambition overshadowed his commitment to Christ.
Jesus’ Warning – Calling Judas a Devil
Long before Judas’ betrayal, Jesus openly exposed his true nature:
“Jesus answered them, ‘Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?’ He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.” (John 6:70-71)
Jesus was not caught off guard by Judas’ actions. He knew from the beginning that Judas would betray Him, yet He allowed him to remain among the twelve. This shows the patience and long-suffering nature of Christ, who gives even the worst sinners an opportunity to repent. However, Judas did not turn from his wicked ways.
The Betrayal with a Kiss
The final act of Judas’ treachery came in the Garden of Gethsemane. After conspiring with the chief priests and agreeing to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16), Judas led a band of soldiers to arrest Jesus.
His method of betrayal was particularly sinister—he used a kiss, a sign of affection, to identify Jesus:
“Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, ‘Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.’ Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ and kissed Him.” (Matthew 26:48-49)
Jesus responded with heartbreaking words:
“But Jesus said to him, ‘Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?'” (Luke 22:48)
This moment reveals the depth of Judas’ hypocrisy. Outwardly, he appeared as a follower of Jesus, but inwardly, he had already sold his soul to Satan. His betrayal was not only an act of treason against Christ but a personal rejection of the Messiah.
The Guilt and Suicide of Judas
After Jesus was condemned, Judas realized the horror of what he had done. Overcome with guilt, he attempted to return the blood money:
“Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.’ And they said, ‘What is that to us? You see to it!'” (Matthew 27:3-4)
However, his remorse was not true repentance. Instead of seeking forgiveness from God, Judas took matters into his own hands:
“Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.” (Matthew 27:5)
Judas’ life ended in destruction, fulfilling Jesus’ words:
“The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” (Matthew 26:24)
Acts 1:18-19 gives additional details about his death:
“Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out.”
“And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.” (Acts 1:18-19)
The money he received for his betrayal was used to buy a field, fulfilling prophecy (Zechariah 11:12-13). His violent death was a tragic end to a wasted life.
The Replacement of Judas – Matthias
After Judas’ death, the apostles recognized the need to replace him, as prophesied in Psalm 109:8:
“Let his days be few, and let another take his office.”
Peter led the disciples in selecting a new apostle:
“And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.” (Acts 1:26)
Matthias was chosen to restore the twelve, ensuring that the apostolic witness remained intact. However, unlike Judas, Matthias was a faithful follower of Jesus from the beginning.
Final Thoughts
Judas Iscariot stands as one of the most tragic figures in Scripture. He had every opportunity to truly follow Christ, yet his heart remained far from God. He walked with Jesus, listened to His teachings, and witnessed His miracles firsthand. Yet despite being physically close to the Savior, his soul was lost. Proximity to Christ does not guarantee salvation; only genuine faith and surrender to Him can bring true redemption.
Even in the face of treachery, God’s plan remained unshaken. Judas’ betrayal did not hinder the work of God; instead, it fulfilled prophecy and set in motion the very purpose for which Christ came—to redeem the lost through His death and resurrection. The fall of Judas is a sobering reminder that every person must choose whom they will serve. Will we surrender our lives to Jesus in faith, or will we allow sin to take root and harden our hearts? The life of Judas warns us that it is not enough to know about Jesus—we must truly know Him.
