Judas Iscariot,
the apostle
All four gospels identify Judas
as the betrayer when they first mention him
(Matthew. 10, Mark. 3, Luke. 6,
John. 6:71).
The name “Judas” was a common Jewish name
during the time of Christ and it means “God is
praised.” His father is named as Simon Iscariot
(John. 6:71).
The name Iscariot means “man of Kerioth”
meaning that both he and his father were from
Kerioth. Kerioth was in Moab
(Jeremiah. 48:24, Amos 2:1-2)
which meant that he was the only Apostle
that was not from Galilee
(Acts 2:7)
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He served as treasurer for
the Apostles which meant he carried the money
bag. John tells us that he was also dishonest
and that he often stole money out of the bag
whenever he wanted it.
(John. 12:1-6)
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This is why he objected so strongly to
Mary (sister of Martha and
Lazarus)
pouring expensive perfume (nard) on Jesus’ feet. He
said they should have sold the nard and used the
money to help the poor. But what he really wanted
was more money in the treasury so he could steal it.
The next time Judas
is mentioned is in the upper room at the Last
Supper. Jesus tells his disciples that one of them
is going to betray him.
(John. 13:21)
When one of the disciples asks who it
is Jesus replies “It is the one to whom I give this
piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.”
(13:26)
He then gives the bread to Judas and as
soon as he takes the bread from Jesus John says
“Satan entered into him.”
(13:27)
and Judas got up and left to betray
Jesus. Later, at the Garden of Gethsemane where
Jesus had been praying Judas arrives with a mob of
people carrying swords and clubs. Judas had told
the chief priests that the one who I kiss is Jesus
so they would know who to arrest
(Mt. 26:48)
and so Judas approaches Jesus and
greets him with a kiss and Jesus is arrested.
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It is possible that
Judas didn’t know that they would kill Jesus
after arresting him because the next morning
when Judas finds out Jesus is condemned to die
Matthew says he became “seized with remorse.”
(Matthew. 27:3) |
He returns to the chief priests and confesses “I
have sinned for I have betrayed innocent blood.”
(Matthew 27:4)
And when the priests respond by saying “that’s your
responsibility” Judas throws the thirty pieces of
silver he was paid by them into the temple. He then
left and committed suicide by hanging himself.
(Matthew. 27:5)
Sometime after he was dead his body fell from the place he was hanged and
Acts 1:18 says his body burst open when it hit the
ground and his intestines spilled out.
Gross!!!
The chief priests
decided not to put the money Judas returned into the
temple treasury because it was “blood” money (which
means it was money used to shed innocent blood) so
they bought the field where Judas died to be used as
a grave yard for foreigners
(Matthew 27:6-7)
After this the field became known as the “Field of Blood”
(Acts 1:19, Matthew. 27:8).
