Why did Judas betray Jesus

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Samual

Guest
#1
I've just finished reading the book of Mathew, and I found myself asking a question I've never asked before in all my time ever reading or hearing about the Bible, why exactly did Judas betray Jesus. I know the Pharisees paid him to do it, but why would he take the money? He was one of Jesus' disciples, he had personally seen Jesus preform miracles like casting out the Devil or healing a blind man or raising the dead, so why would he betray the man he knew to be the son of God for money?
 
Dec 12, 2013
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#2
Because he was a thief, a devil from the beginning, a lost man (the son of perdition) and he made his choice......nothing more, nothing less!
 
Aug 16, 2016
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#3
As the scriptures says for the love of money is the root of all evil. Judas loved money more than Jesus. Not to mention he was a liar & a thief so it was fairly easy for the devil to enter him. He cared about earthly riches rather than heavenly riches.
 

Ahwatukee

Senior Member
Mar 12, 2015
11,159
2,373
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#4
I've just finished reading the book of Mathew, and I found myself asking a question I've never asked before in all my time ever reading or hearing about the Bible, why exactly did Judas betray Jesus. I know the Pharisees paid him to do it, but why would he take the money? He was one of Jesus' disciples, he had personally seen Jesus preform miracles like casting out the Devil or healing a blind man or raising the dead, so why would he betray the man he knew to be the son of God for money?
"Even my close friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me." - Ps.41:9





 
Dec 19, 2009
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#5
I've just finished reading the book of Mathew, and I found myself asking a question I've never asked before in all my time ever reading or hearing about the Bible, why exactly did Judas betray Jesus. I know the Pharisees paid him to do it, but why would he take the money? He was one of Jesus' disciples, he had personally seen Jesus preform miracles like casting out the Devil or healing a blind man or raising the dead, so why would he betray the man he knew to be the son of God for money?
I doubt he understood he was the Son of God – otherwise I doubt he’d have done it. Maybe he wanted the money. Maybe he thought he was a bigshot by turning Jesus in to the authorities.
 

Desertsrose

Senior Member
Oct 24, 2016
2,824
207
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#6
I've just finished reading the book of Mathew, and I found myself asking a question I've never asked before in all my time ever reading or hearing about the Bible, why exactly did Judas betray Jesus. I know the Pharisees paid him to do it, but why would he take the money? He was one of Jesus' disciples, he had personally seen Jesus preform miracles like casting out the Devil or healing a blind man or raising the dead, so why would he betray the man he knew to be the son of God for money?

He never saw Jesus as Lord. If you look at the accounts of Judas, you'll see him constantly calling Jesus Rabbi, which means teacher. He never saw Jesus as God coming in the flesh. He never called Him Lord.

I think Judas was used by the leaders to condemn Jesus because they knew he was a disciple, but they also knew he didn't see Jesus in the same way as the other 11 disciples. He was easy prey to be used for their purposes.

Judas probably saw Jesus as a great man. Maybe even a man of
God, but not THE man of God. He may have followed Jesus for the healings and miracles. Maybe he like positions of power and loved having the reputation of being one of the 12.

We really don't know or have the details, but what we do know is that Judas did not know Jesus as Lord.

He could never have betrayed Him if he really knew Jesus as God in the flesh, the Son of God, the Only Begotten of the Father, the King of kings, the Lord of lords.

And what Ahwatukee said!!! :)
 
Mar 7, 2016
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#7
What I dont understand is the scripture says Satan enterd Judas ? Surely if Satan can enter you then you must not have the spirit and as the spirit had not yet been given how can we blame the flesh for Sin ?
 

joaniemarie

Senior Member
Jan 4, 2017
3,198
303
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#8
I've just finished reading the book of Mathew, and I found myself asking a question I've never asked before in all my time ever reading or hearing about the Bible, why exactly did Judas betray Jesus. I know the Pharisees paid him to do it, but why would he take the money? He was one of Jesus' disciples, he had personally seen Jesus preform miracles like casting out the Devil or healing a blind man or raising the dead, so why would he betray the man he knew to be the son of God for money?

This is a great question Samual. I've often considered this and one day heard a message that spoke of Judas. Judas is like anyone before getting saved. He was not born again and didn't have the Holy Spirit. He only had his own reasoning to go by and the devil also comes along side and uses deception to confuse the mind. Who knows what drove Judas but it seems he had a major interest in Jesus that could have been political or he could have been a political/religious zealot. But that doesn't stop him or anyone from being a money lover and evil man. Religion will not cure a heart and make it clean.

Judas was on the threshold of the total change in covenants. How God deals with man under a the new covenant is He provides the sacrifice and grace comes in. If Judas had only waited and didn't try to redeem himself by killing himself.

Jesus died for our sins and only His redeeming blood can pay for what God demands. Jesus Christ is the sinless lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world. Judas did what so many people think is plausible before God but is totally NOT acceptable. In the end Judas tried to do his best and gave all he had - his life - to try and get away from and pay for his guilt and shame and sin. He was sorry for what he did.,regretting what he did and threw away the gold and went and killed himself.

But he didn't believe what Jesus said all along day in and day out Judas heard Jesus. "I am Way the truth and the life., no man comes to the Father but by Me."

Instead like any religiously righteous person, he figured his way of giving his best is something God would surely take into consideration. MAJOR UNBELIEF. Had Judas only waited he could have allowed Jesus to died for his awful sin. But Judas could not break from the human reasoning of human pride. He didn't believe Jesus ONLY can pay for the sins of the whole world and for Judas own sins.


 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
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#9
What I dont understand is the scripture says Satan enterd Judas ? Surely if Satan can enter you then you must not have the spirit and as the spirit had not yet been given how can we blame the flesh for Sin ?
Judas was called a devil from the beginning, he is also called a son of perdition and was suggested a thief by the carrying the bag comment....HE was NOT SAVED
 
Dec 19, 2009
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#10
What I dont understand is the scripture says Satan enterd Judas ? Surely if Satan can enter you then you must not have the spirit and as the spirit had not yet been given how can we blame the flesh for Sin ?
I don't think Satan enters us unless we let him do so.
 

joaniemarie

Senior Member
Jan 4, 2017
3,198
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#11
What I dont understand is the scripture says Satan enterd Judas ? Surely if Satan can enter you then you must not have the spirit and as the spirit had not yet been given how can we blame the flesh for Sin ?


Hi Jimbo, this is another good question that got me to thinking too. We are in a new covenant of grace.
Judas was sort of like in between covenants. The Holy Spirit was not yet given and Jesus was still on earth bringing the major plan of ages into reality by His dying on the cross. He was in the process of becoming the sacrifice for our sins and His blood was going to be shed. John the Baptist was done with his part and was leaving and Jesus was coming in. Even John said he was not the One, he was called to be one crying in the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord.

So even if we don't understand all the details of that transition., we know when we are saved today, we are given the Holy Spirit right away at salvation. But for those Apostles they waited until Jesus left and gave the gift of the Holy Spirit as a seal and a promise never to leave us.

It's just amazing how this all works out and it really is a plan of the ages. Knowing what covenant we are in is major in understanding so much of the Bible. Studying the Bible and hearing the Bible preached is so important to our survival as believers. So many of us don't know what our salvation really means. What Jesus gave us keeps giving and giving while we are learning how to walk by faith we are entering into the walk that believes first than sees.




 
S

Samual

Guest
#12

This is a great question Samual. I've often considered this and one day heard a message that spoke of Judas. Judas is like anyone before getting saved. He was not born again and didn't have the Holy Spirit. He only had his own reasoning to go by and the devil also comes along side and uses deception to confuse the mind. Who knows what drove Judas but it seems he had a major interest in Jesus that could have been political or he could have been a political/religious zealot. But that doesn't stop him or anyone from being a money lover and evil man. Religion will not cure a heart and make it clean.

Judas was on the threshold of the total change in covenants. How God deals with man under a the new covenant is He provides the sacrifice and grace comes in. If Judas had only waited and didn't try to redeem himself by killing himself.

Jesus died for our sins and only His redeeming blood can pay for what God demands. Jesus Christ is the sinless lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world. Judas did what so many people think is plausible before God but is totally NOT acceptable. In the end Judas tried to do his best and gave all he had - his life - to try and get away from and pay for his guilt and shame and sin. He was sorry for what he did.,regretting what he did and threw away the gold and went and killed himself.

But he didn't believe what Jesus said all along day in and day out Judas heard Jesus. "I am Way the truth and the life., no man comes to the Father but by Me."

Instead like any religiously righteous person, he figured his way of giving his best is something God would surely take into consideration. MAJOR UNBELIEF. Had Judas only waited he could have allowed Jesus to died for his awful sin. But Judas could not break from the human reasoning of human pride. He didn't believe Jesus ONLY can pay for the sins of the whole world and for Judas own sins.


So what if Judas didn't betray him? Jesus told his disciples that he would die on the cross, he also said that one of their own would betray Jesus. Judas' betrayal led to Jesus on the cross, therefore leading to his death and all of humanity being given salvation from our sins. If Judas hadn't betrayed Jesus, would he have simply been brought to the cross another way?
 

notuptome

Senior Member
May 17, 2013
15,050
2,538
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#13
Judas made a determinate decision to betray Christ. Peter made the same decision. Different reasons on the surface but the same underneath. We all deny Christ from time to time when we fear and give in to our weaknesses. Because of sin and our corrupted nature we give in to sin and betray Christ to serve our self righteous purposes.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
 

joaniemarie

Senior Member
Jan 4, 2017
3,198
303
83
#14
So what if Judas didn't betray him? Jesus told his disciples that he would die on the cross, he also said that one of their own would betray Jesus. Judas' betrayal led to Jesus on the cross, therefore leading to his death and all of humanity being given salvation from our sins. If Judas hadn't betrayed Jesus, would he have simply been brought to the cross another way?

Hey Samual., I have no idea of the what if's of life, none of us do. Frankly I've found asking 'what if' has not been beneficial for me. I can make a guess but I don't hang my faith on guesses. God knows everything but He gives us a free will. How this all works out in the end for His good AND ours is a major mystery for me but not for God. He is not shocked or surprised.

I have no idea how God would have dealt with Christ going to the cross had not Judas done what he did but it was not God who forced Judas to do evil. Judas did that all on his own and made his own choices about believing what Jesus told him for all those years they lived together. He chose unbelief and died in unbelief and in his sin.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
24,699
13,384
113
#15
What I dont understand is the scripture says Satan enterd Judas ? Surely if Satan can enter you then you must not have the spirit and as the spirit had not yet been given how can we blame the flesh for Sin ?
I'm not sure about your last sentence here... if the spirit (I presume you mean the Holy Spirit) had not been given... that has nothing to do with blaming the flesh for sin. All the humans in the Old Testament were sinners and none had the Spirit in the sense that Christians do. Perhaps you could unpack what you mean?
 

MadebyHim

Senior Member
Dec 17, 2016
572
15
0
#16
Has anybody read lost gospel of judas? i hear it has a different story. i have not read it just heard of it. It is said to say Jesus asked judas to betray Him, because Jesus would rather a friend do it. We can't just go by what weve heard over the years new things are always coming to light. i'm not saying either way. So many things being shown, that was hid before.
 

MadebyHim

Senior Member
Dec 17, 2016
572
15
0
#17
What if judas was a loyal disciple of Jesus, and an innocent martyr instead of an evil betrayer? i'm not saying this is so, just saying what if?
 
M

Miri

Guest
#18
What if judas was a loyal disciple of Jesus, and an innocent martyr instead of an evil betrayer? i'm not saying this is so, just saying what if?

Wouldnt make a difference, Jesus offered up his own life, no one took it from him.
Various people were plotting against Jesus, Judas just helped provide information about
where He would be on an opportune night. Even without Judas' betrayal, they would
still have got Him because Jesus came to die on a cross.


Besides ALL of the disciples betrayed Jesus, they all fled and Peter denied Him 3 times.
 

tanakh

Senior Member
Dec 1, 2015
4,635
1,040
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#19
I've just finished reading the book of Mathew, and I found myself asking a question I've never asked before in all my time ever reading or hearing about the Bible, why exactly did Judas betray Jesus. I know the Pharisees paid him to do it, but why would he take the money? He was one of Jesus' disciples, he had personally seen Jesus preform miracles like casting out the Devil or healing a blind man or raising the dead, so why would he betray the man he knew to be the son of God for money?
It was Prophesied that someone would betray Christ. See the story of Joseph and his brothers. Joseph was sold to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. The one who suggested selling him was Judah. GEN 37:26-28 Judas is a variation of that name.
 

presidente

Senior Member
May 29, 2013
9,090
1,751
113
#20
I've just finished reading the book of Mathew, and I found myself asking a question I've never asked before in all my time ever reading or hearing about the Bible, why exactly did Judas betray Jesus. I know the Pharisees paid him to do it, but why would he take the money? He was one of Jesus' disciples, he had personally seen Jesus preform miracles like casting out the Devil or healing a blind man or raising the dead, so why would he betray the man he knew to be the son of God for money?
Mary anointed Jesus at Bethany. Judas spoke up and asked why this waste? Why wasn't this ointment sold and given the to the poor? He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he kept the box and took money out of it.

Jesus defended Mary.

Judas went out and betrayed Jesus for silver.

Before He actually delivered Jesus over to them, Satan entered into him.