Why judas betrayed jesus

The Bible catalogs, in somewhat gory detail, the death of Judas. When the religious leaders refuse to accept the 30 silver pieces, Judas casts it on the floor, goes to a field, and hangs himself. After all, when Jesus entered Jerusalem, people waved palm branches and rejoiced. But less than a week later, they called for his death. The Old Testament prophesied that Judas would betray Jesus, and through his betrayal, Jesus died for our sins.

We can often tsk at Judas when we read what he did, until we realize that we, in fact, are Judas. We betrayed Jesus. Our sins led him to his death. But Jesus chooses to wash our feet. To befriend us. And to ultimately save us. Kiss of Death. Heaven, So Near - So Far. Hope Bolinger is an editor at Salem, a multi-published novelist, and a graduate of Taylor University's professional writing program. Judas would have given up a lot to follow Jesus. Scholars estimate that Jesus spent around 3 years doing ministry before his death.

Still, it was likely months, possibly over two years, that Judas spent roaming around Israel with Jesus. Like Peter, Matthew, and other disciples, he would have left his home and his profession to do this. His big recommendation was from another itinerant teacher, John the Baptist …who was executed by the authorities. Despite taking all those risks, Judas threw it all away when he betrayed Jesus. On an even more tragic level, Judas did this despite various warnings. When Jesus appointed the 12 disciples, he warned all of them to watch out for Satan Matthew At the last supper, Jesus told everyone that things would be terrible for the betrayer, that it would be better if he had never been born Mark Still, Judas was told in a public setting what the consequences would be.

Judas had multiple opportunities to think about his actions, and still chose to betray Jesus. While hopefully none of us will find ourselves in a position like Judas, we can all learn a few things from his behavior:. Consider carefully our motivations. We all need to take time to ask what we really want in a situation, whether we have selfish motivations that we are hiding and maybe not admitting to ourselves.

Consider what will happen in the end. In the same way, we must recognize our selfish motivations, we must ask whether what we want will lead to something good. Similarly, what the devil offered Judas looked good—a chance to shut up someone who might expose his criminal behavior—but the end showed that it was terrible.

As we walk with God, we must seek his help to develop a long view of things, and consider where our plans will end. We tend to avoid the idea that we could make big mistakes in the future. As long as we are on this side of heaven , we will be fallible human beings who can fail. Read the full story of Judas Betrayed Jesus in scripture text below and find Articles, Videos and Audio Sermons relating to this enlightening story.

Shoebox Collection Week is Here! Plus Toggle navigation. Password Assistance. Email address. Judas Betrays Jesus - Bible Story. Contributing Writer. Connor Salter. Bible Articles Videos Audio. Who Was Judas in the Bible? Why Did Judas Betray Jesus? While hopefully none of us will find ourselves in a position like Judas, we can all learn a few things from his behavior: Consider carefully our motivations.

Share Tweet Save. John On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

And Judas the traitor was standing there with them. If you are looking for me, then let these men go. Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me? They bound him 13 and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Commentaries for John Luke Commentaries for Luke Your partnership makes all we do possible. Would you prayerfully consider a gift of support today?

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Search the Bible. Remember St. Paul himself said that 'we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews Jesus had become a stumbling block for Judas.

Judas felt betrayed by Jesus, before he betrayed Jesus in turn. One scholar has argued that Judas never intended to betray Jesus. Professor William Klassen says that the idea of betrayal is based on a mistranslation and that Judas intended not to 'betray' Jesus, but to 'hand over' Jesus to the authorities.

And this can be developed to suggest that Judas intended to bring Jesus and the authorities together in order to resolve their differences. If Judas didn't intend a betrayal then that would explain his suicide when he became aware of the catastrophic consequence of his action. A manuscript called the Gospel of Judas, written in the 2nd century was translated from a 5th century copy in the first decade of the 21st century, although its existence had long been rumoured.

Early comments on the manuscript suggested that it portrayed Judas in largely positive, even heroic, terms. The manuscript was said to show that Jesus asked Judas to betray him, so that Jesus could be freed from his physical body and the plan of salvation could be fulfilled.

Judas was instructed to sacrifice Jesus the man - "you will sacrifice the man that clothes me" - and was warned by Jesus that he, Judas, would be hated by future generations as a result.

More recently, other translators have come up with a different take which portrays Judas as a demon who betrays Jesus, possibly in order to further the interests of a different, and evil God, and who is doomed never to reach heaven. Read the comments and reviews of The Passion drama. Explore the meaning and history of the events of Holy Week using the timeline, complete with audio, video, audio, images and articles. Listen to an audio version of the Passion story according to the Gospel of St.

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The Passion. What the Bible tells us about Judas: Judas was one of the 12 disciples closest to Jesus Judas offered to betray Jesus to the religious authorities They agreed to pay him 30 pieces of silver for doing so Jesus knew that Judas was going to do this, but took no action to stop him Judas led soldiers to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus was praying Judas kissed Jesus to identify him Afterwards Jesus' death, according to Matthew's gospel, Judas regretted his actions, returned the money and hanged himself Other versions say that he didn't return the money and died by accident In fact the books of the Bible don't offer a consistent account of what Judas did, but the list above includes the events that most people associate with Judas.

There are various interpretations of this story: Judas killed himself in horror at his betrayal of Jesus Judas killed himself because he had betrayed everyone who had stayed loyal to Jesus and so made himself an outcast from his peer group Judas killed himself in order to redeem himself from his bad act this was an accepted use of suicide in the first century Judas killed himself in order to focus the blame on those who had paid him to betray Jesus When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders.

He said, 'I have sinned by betraying innocent blood. Matthew According to St Luke in Acts Luke suggests that the death of Judas may have been an accident, but some writers think that the passage below refers to Judas falling from the rope that he used to hang himself - perhaps as a result of bodily decay.

Acts According to Dante's Inferno In Dante's Inferno Judas is found in the lowest circle of hell, which is reserved for traitors. Dante Alighieri, The Divine Comedy - Inferno, Canto 34 According to Papias Papias, a 2nd century bishop, gave Judas a sad departure from this world, but passed no opinion as to what happened to him thereafter.