No 11

(Judas Iscariot)

The name Judas is synonymous with words such as treachery, duplicity, disloyalty and the list goes on; no one names their child Judas. In our studies of the disciples, we come to the one who betrayed Jesus in the worst of ways because he, as the other 11 disciples, followed Christ for three years. His name is a form of Judah which means “Jehovah leads”. When he was born, his parents must’ve had great expectations of him; undoubtedly hoping that he would serve Jehovah. Iscariot is the name of the place from which he came which is located in southern Judah.

His calling is not recorded in Scripture per se but it is obvious that he followed Jesus willingly. He was called like the others giving up whatever he was doing and gave his life to Jesus but he did not give his heart to Jesus; Satan controlled that part of him. How do we reconcile the fact that Judas’ treachery was prophesied and predetermined with the fact that he acted on his own free will? God’s plan was that Jesus was to be betrayed and Judas did it through his evil heart. Jesus Himself clears up any ambiguity about these two seemingly contradicting realities. The Bible says in Luke 22:22 – Jesus said “For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!” These two opposing facts ought not to be compared just as man’s free will for salvation and predestination ought not to be compared; we saw this in 2 studies - #’s 90 and 168. Judas’ betrayal was part of God’s plan. Judas received 30 pieces of silver for his treachery and he is a classic example of what Paul describes to Timothy in his first epistle, chapter 6 verse 10 “For the love of money is the root of all evil.” We sometimes hear a perverted use of this verse in the world – some have said “Money is the root of all evil”. Money is not the root of all evil; the love of money is the root of all evil, as the Bible says.