jeremiah1five
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This will not serve as an exhaustive study but merely show the path which leads me to the conclusions of which I find in Scripture doctrines that bear on the question of Judas Iscariot.
The name Iscariot is obscure. It is probably a reference to Judas’ place of origin which is shared by his father, Simon (John 6:71; 13:26). Some manuscripts even read “from Kerioth” (John 6:71; 12:4; 13:2, 26 and 14:22). If Iscariot indicates Judas’ hometown, the precise location of Kerioth is less clear. The Old Testament identifies a town in Moab with this name (Jer 48:24, 41; Amos 2:2), as well as a location called Kerioth-Hezron (Josh 15:25).
His Calling:
12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; 14 Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, 15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, 16 And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor. Luke 6:12-16
After spending all night in prayer with His Father Jesus calls His disciples to Himself and from this group, He chose twelve and He named them apostles.
Judas was an apostle, a true apostle, the Holy Spirit who Authored the Holy Scripture is adamant to putting that point across:
Matt. 26:14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests…
Matt. 26:47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve…
Lk. 22:3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
Etc.
The Last Supper:
19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. Luke 22:19-21
All twelve disciples are with Jesus at the Passover meal.
Faith is a gift, confession is a gift, repentance is a gift, calling and election and justification and righteousness are all gifts of God to His people. God elects, God calls, and everyone God calls responds without fail.
When Jesus from the cross uttered “Father, forgive them for they no not what they do” He was doing what a High Priest is given to do and that is pray for the people of God and offer sacrifices for the people of God. And the prayer as High Priest was uttered in John 17:9.
9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
Those the Father gave the Son are the objects of His atoning work. John 17:2.
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
Jesus was not asking the Father to forgive the religious leaders or the Romans who crucified Him, nor those that were present at His crucifixion, He was atoning those whom the Father gave Him, those souls whose names are written in the Book of Life before God began creating. It was the Father’s plan, the Son implemented that plan, and the Holy Spirit applies that plan to God’s eternal elect.
The Betrayal:
When I’d ask Christians what Judas did that was cause for his betrayal of Jesus they cannot answer because they don’t know. Simply put, Judas’s betrayal was that he revealed the place where Jesus took His disciples to get away from the multitudes of people that always accompanied Him wherever He went. It was a secret place known only to Jesus and His disciples.
1When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples. 2 And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples. John 18:1-2.
But what about this?
70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? 71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.
Strong’s defines the word devil as: diabolos (διάβολος, 1228), “an accuser” or “traducer.” It means ‘one who is a false accuser’ or ‘impugns the character of another.’
The religious leaders knew Judas was a disciple of Jesus and Judas comes to them seeking to turn over his master. In their minds they reason if he could be trusted, was Jesus sending Judas as a means to trap the religious leaders in a plot of His own. But in order to gain their trust Judas begins in this meeting to falsely accuse Jesus to the religious leaders and in this the begin to trust the sincerity of why Judas came to them. In the Jewish religion “false accusation” is a serious violation of the Law.
11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. Mark 14:11.
The Law states that ‘in the mouth of two or three witnesses must every word be established’ but these religious leaders are not all obedient to the Law when they are attempting to put their Messiah to death in order to maintain their fortunes and places of power and privilege. And so Judas falsely accuses his Rabbi, his Master and impugns the character of Jesus to the religious leaders. And he succeeds. Then they trust him.
And this:
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
Again Strong’s: perdition 684. ἀπώλεια Strong’s Greek #684 from a presumed derivative of <G622> (apollumi); ruin or loss (physical, spiritual or eternal).
‘Ruin’ or ‘loss.’ And the three senses in which it is used are ‘physical,’ ‘spiritual,’ or ‘eternal’ ruin. Jesus’ atonement in which His body and blood are ‘given for you’ cannot mean the ‘eternal’ ruin of Judas nor his ‘spiritual’ ruin for the Holy Spirit has not yet been given. The only sense in which ‘apollumi’ can apply is physical ruin, and this occurred when Judas hung himself and his bowels gushed out at the bottom of the ravine where his hanging took place.
Judas’s Repentance:
3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
First, Judas understands his act against Jesus and ‘saw [perceived] he (Jesus) was condemned.’ Then Scripture states Judas repented and ‘brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests’ and he confessed ‘I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood.’ The chief priests say ‘what is that to us? See thou to that.’ Then Judas cast down the thirty pieces of silver in the temple and went out and hanged himself.
Under the Law it states:
23 And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life,
Mischief followed. And the sentence for such mischief that an innocent man die is life for life. But the chief priest was not concerned with addressing Judas’s sin. They in effect told him to “See thou to that” (‘handle it yourself’.) So Judas went and gave his life under the law for the life of Jesus. What the prescription for Judas’s sin was for the religious leaders with the people in tow was to take him outside the city and stone him. Judas was obeying the Law and went out and gave his life for the life of innocent Jesus. And at this time they were all still under the Law.
And what of this:
24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
Well let’s look at this statement. First, Strong defines the word ‘woe’ simply as ‘grief.’ And Judas grieved over his act against Jesus very deeply to the point of death.
49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. 50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come?
There are only two people in Scripture that Jesus calls ‘Friend,’ Abraham and Judas.
James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
And there are no Friends of God in hell.
Rev. 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
In Isaiah the prophet describes the coming Redeemer as a Suffering Servant and Conquering King, as a Lamb of God and a Lion from the tribe of Judah. Before the cross Jesus was described by John the Baptist as the Lamb of God. This helps date and identify who these twelve apostles are: they are the twelve apostles (including Judas) when Jesus was a Lamb and this takes us to pre-cross apostles – NOT Matthias, NOT Paul, but Judas. And what honor God bestows upon the twelve apostles – including Judas Iscariot, to have his name on the foundation of the wall of the New Jerusalem.
The name Iscariot is obscure. It is probably a reference to Judas’ place of origin which is shared by his father, Simon (John 6:71; 13:26). Some manuscripts even read “from Kerioth” (John 6:71; 12:4; 13:2, 26 and 14:22). If Iscariot indicates Judas’ hometown, the precise location of Kerioth is less clear. The Old Testament identifies a town in Moab with this name (Jer 48:24, 41; Amos 2:2), as well as a location called Kerioth-Hezron (Josh 15:25).
His Calling:
12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; 14 Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, 15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, 16 And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor. Luke 6:12-16
After spending all night in prayer with His Father Jesus calls His disciples to Himself and from this group, He chose twelve and He named them apostles.
Judas was an apostle, a true apostle, the Holy Spirit who Authored the Holy Scripture is adamant to putting that point across:
Matt. 26:14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests…
Matt. 26:47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve…
Lk. 22:3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
Etc.
The Last Supper:
19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. Luke 22:19-21
All twelve disciples are with Jesus at the Passover meal.
Faith is a gift, confession is a gift, repentance is a gift, calling and election and justification and righteousness are all gifts of God to His people. God elects, God calls, and everyone God calls responds without fail.
When Jesus from the cross uttered “Father, forgive them for they no not what they do” He was doing what a High Priest is given to do and that is pray for the people of God and offer sacrifices for the people of God. And the prayer as High Priest was uttered in John 17:9.
9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
Those the Father gave the Son are the objects of His atoning work. John 17:2.
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
Jesus was not asking the Father to forgive the religious leaders or the Romans who crucified Him, nor those that were present at His crucifixion, He was atoning those whom the Father gave Him, those souls whose names are written in the Book of Life before God began creating. It was the Father’s plan, the Son implemented that plan, and the Holy Spirit applies that plan to God’s eternal elect.
The Betrayal:
When I’d ask Christians what Judas did that was cause for his betrayal of Jesus they cannot answer because they don’t know. Simply put, Judas’s betrayal was that he revealed the place where Jesus took His disciples to get away from the multitudes of people that always accompanied Him wherever He went. It was a secret place known only to Jesus and His disciples.
1When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples. 2 And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples. John 18:1-2.
But what about this?
70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? 71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.
Strong’s defines the word devil as: diabolos (διάβολος, 1228), “an accuser” or “traducer.” It means ‘one who is a false accuser’ or ‘impugns the character of another.’
The religious leaders knew Judas was a disciple of Jesus and Judas comes to them seeking to turn over his master. In their minds they reason if he could be trusted, was Jesus sending Judas as a means to trap the religious leaders in a plot of His own. But in order to gain their trust Judas begins in this meeting to falsely accuse Jesus to the religious leaders and in this the begin to trust the sincerity of why Judas came to them. In the Jewish religion “false accusation” is a serious violation of the Law.
11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. Mark 14:11.
The Law states that ‘in the mouth of two or three witnesses must every word be established’ but these religious leaders are not all obedient to the Law when they are attempting to put their Messiah to death in order to maintain their fortunes and places of power and privilege. And so Judas falsely accuses his Rabbi, his Master and impugns the character of Jesus to the religious leaders. And he succeeds. Then they trust him.
And this:
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
Again Strong’s: perdition 684. ἀπώλεια Strong’s Greek #684 from a presumed derivative of <G622> (apollumi); ruin or loss (physical, spiritual or eternal).
‘Ruin’ or ‘loss.’ And the three senses in which it is used are ‘physical,’ ‘spiritual,’ or ‘eternal’ ruin. Jesus’ atonement in which His body and blood are ‘given for you’ cannot mean the ‘eternal’ ruin of Judas nor his ‘spiritual’ ruin for the Holy Spirit has not yet been given. The only sense in which ‘apollumi’ can apply is physical ruin, and this occurred when Judas hung himself and his bowels gushed out at the bottom of the ravine where his hanging took place.
Judas’s Repentance:
3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
First, Judas understands his act against Jesus and ‘saw [perceived] he (Jesus) was condemned.’ Then Scripture states Judas repented and ‘brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests’ and he confessed ‘I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood.’ The chief priests say ‘what is that to us? See thou to that.’ Then Judas cast down the thirty pieces of silver in the temple and went out and hanged himself.
Under the Law it states:
23 And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life,
Mischief followed. And the sentence for such mischief that an innocent man die is life for life. But the chief priest was not concerned with addressing Judas’s sin. They in effect told him to “See thou to that” (‘handle it yourself’.) So Judas went and gave his life under the law for the life of Jesus. What the prescription for Judas’s sin was for the religious leaders with the people in tow was to take him outside the city and stone him. Judas was obeying the Law and went out and gave his life for the life of innocent Jesus. And at this time they were all still under the Law.
And what of this:
24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
Well let’s look at this statement. First, Strong defines the word ‘woe’ simply as ‘grief.’ And Judas grieved over his act against Jesus very deeply to the point of death.
49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. 50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come?
There are only two people in Scripture that Jesus calls ‘Friend,’ Abraham and Judas.
James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
And there are no Friends of God in hell.
Rev. 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
In Isaiah the prophet describes the coming Redeemer as a Suffering Servant and Conquering King, as a Lamb of God and a Lion from the tribe of Judah. Before the cross Jesus was described by John the Baptist as the Lamb of God. This helps date and identify who these twelve apostles are: they are the twelve apostles (including Judas) when Jesus was a Lamb and this takes us to pre-cross apostles – NOT Matthias, NOT Paul, but Judas. And what honor God bestows upon the twelve apostles – including Judas Iscariot, to have his name on the foundation of the wall of the New Jerusalem.
