Judas betrayed Jesus because he was driven by greed, spiritual blindness, and the influence of Satan. Though he was chosen as a disciple and walked with the Lord, his heart was never truly submitted. His betrayal fulfilled Scripture and revealed the reality that proximity to Jesus does not equal loyalty to Him.
“Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?’ And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver.”
(Matthew 26:14–15)
Judas initiated the betrayal. His question reveals a transactional mindset, willing to hand over the Messiah for a small price. The amount, thirty pieces of silver, was the price of a slave (Exodus 21:32), underscoring how little he valued Jesus.
Luke records the spiritual dimension:
“Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.”
(Luke 22:3)
Satan exploited Judas’ unrepentant heart. Judas had been stealing from the money bag (John 12:6), showing that his character had long been compromised. He was outwardly a follower but inwardly unchanged.
His betrayal fulfilled Old Testament prophecy:
“Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.”
(Psalm 41:9)
Jesus identified Judas during the Last Supper, yet Judas still followed through:
“Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, ‘What you do, do quickly.’”
(John 13:27)
Afterward, Judas felt remorse, but not repentance:
“Then Judas… was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver… saying, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.’”
(Matthew 27:3–4)
Instead of turning to God for mercy, he went out and hanged himself (Matthew 27:5). His story is a sobering warning that closeness to spiritual truth without surrender leads to destruction.
