In brief
Judas Iscariot is one of the twelve apostles chosen by Jesus. He kept the group's money bag and handed Jesus over to the chief priests for thirty pieces of silver, shortly before the crucifixion. The Gospels show that Jesus shared a meal with him and washed his feet. Seized by remorse, Judas returned the money, then died. Acts tells that Matthias took his place. His story is a serious warning about false closeness to Jesus.
What does the name Judas Iscariot mean?
Judas is the Greek form of Judah, a Hebrew name generally linked to the idea of praise. For Iscariot, the suggestion is often man of Kerioth, a town in Judea, but the Bible gives no direct explanation. The name remains mostly associated with betrayal.
The story of Judas Iscariot
An Apostle Who Keeps the Purse
John 12:4-6At Bethany, a woman pours very costly perfume on Jesus. Judas Iscariot protests, claiming to care about the poor. John explains the real motive: Judas was a thief, he kept the money bag and took what was put into it. The Gospels thus show that he already had a divided heart before the betrayal.
The Deal of Thirty Pieces of Silver
Matthew 26:14-16Judas goes to the chief priests and asks what they will give him if he hands Jesus over to them. They pay him thirty pieces of silver. From that moment, Judas looks for a good opportunity to betray him. One of the twelve takes the initiative in the deal.
Feet Washed and the Morsel Given
John 13:2-30During the last meal, the devil has already put into the heart of Judas the plan to betray Jesus. Jesus washes the feet of his disciples, announces that one of the twelve will betray him, then gives a dipped morsel to Judas. After that morsel, Satan enters him, and Judas goes out into the night.
The Kiss of Betrayal
Matthew 26:47-50In the garden of Gethsemane, Judas arrives with a large armed crowd sent by the chief priests and the elders. He had given a sign: the one he would kiss would be Jesus. He approaches, greets Jesus and kisses him. Jesus calls him friend and asks why he has come.
Remorse and the End
Matthew 27:3-5When he sees that Jesus is condemned, Judas feels remorse. He brings the thirty pieces of silver back to the chief priests, admitting that he has betrayed innocent blood. They send him back to his own responsibility. He throws the money into the temple, goes away and hangs himself.
A Place to Fill
Acts 1:15-26After the ascension of Jesus, Peter explains that what happened to Judas fulfills the Scriptures. The disciples look for someone to take his place among the twelve. After prayer, the lot falls on Matthias, who is counted with the eleven apostles. The ministry of Judas is entrusted to another.
What Judas Iscariot teaches us
- Being near Jesus, within a group of disciples, does not replace a personal and sincere faith.
- A divided heart, like that of Judas toward money, eventually leaves a door open to the enemy.
- Jesus loves to the end: he washed the feet of the one who was going to betray him.
- Remorse alone is not enough: we must turn to God to receive his forgiveness.
Key verses
John reveals that Judas spoke of the poor not out of concern for them, but because he was a thief who took what was put into the money bag. It shows that the betrayal began in the heart.
Judas, one of the twelve, offers to hand Jesus over to the chief priests for thirty pieces of silver and from then on looks for a good opportunity. This is the starting point of the betrayal.
Judas feels remorse and brings the money back, but he does not turn to God: he goes away and hangs himself. A contrast with Peter, who weeps and will be restored.
Sermons about Judas Iscariot
- Jesus Didn't Lose Judas: Judas Lost HimselfThe pastor digs into a question that troubles many Christians: why did Jesus choose Judas? His answer fits in one sentence: "He did not lose Judas. Judas lost himself."
- Jesus at the Traitor's Feet: What Humility Really MeansJesus knew what Judas was going to do and still washed his feet like the others, with a perfect and limitless love. This is where we see the humility of Christ.
- The Broken Jar: Mary, Judas, and the New CovenantIn Mark, the plot of the religious leaders and the betrayal of Judas frame the gesture of Mary. The contrast is striking between the duplicity that strikes Jesus from within and a heart that gives everything.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Jesus choose Judas?
The Bible gives no detailed explanation. It shows that Jesus called Judas among the twelve, gave him the same closeness as the others, and that Judas was responsible for his own choices. John 12:6 reveals that his heart was attached to money.
What does the name Judas Iscariot mean?
Judas is the Greek form of Judah, a Hebrew name generally linked to the idea of praise. For Iscariot, the suggestion is often man of Kerioth, a town in Judea. The Bible does not directly explain these names.
Where can I find the story of Judas in the Bible?
It is found in the four Gospels: the deal of thirty pieces of silver and the kiss at Gethsemane in Matthew 26, his end in Matthew 27, the criticism at Bethany in John 12, the last meal in John 13. Acts 1 tells of his replacement by Matthias.