LESSONS FROM JUDAS ISCARIOT

Judas was the son of Simon (John 12:4). He was of "Kerioth" in the tribe of Judah for which he is named. The name means "praise" but Judas did not turn out to be to the praise of God. The part of activities of Judas we will be concerned with are John 12:4-8; Matthew 26:14-16; Matthew 26:21-25; Matthew 26:46-50; Matthew 27:3-8. Judas sold the Lord for 30 pieces of silver and betrayed him to the high priests, scribes and other religious officials with a kiss. As the Jewish religious leaders were taking Jesus to be tried by Pilate Judas brought the money back to the temple, confessed that he betrayed innocent blood, and went out and hanged himself. Look at these lessons on Judas.

1. He was one time a close disciple of Jesus. He had left all and followed Jesus. He had special talent to take care of their treasury. Here was also his downfall for the scriptures point out that he condemned Mary for anointing Jesus with the precious ointment as a waste which could have been sold and the proceeds given to the poor. "This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein" (John 12:6). Covetousness and greed got into his life. The Lord received him into the apostleship and trusted him but he betrayed this trust. Psalms 41:9 states, "Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me." Judas by transgression fell. (Acts 1 :25).

2. Judas shows that a child of God can fall from grace and be lost. He was sent out on the limited commission (Matthew 10). He on this missionary journey to the children of Israel had powers to heal the sick, cast out devils, and the power to speak without mistakes being given his message by the Holy Spirit. Some think he never was sincere but prophecy shows that this is not so (Psalms 41 :9). In John 6:70,71 the Lord said, "Have I not chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?"and he was speaking of Judas. Greed or covetousness was the devil Judas had. He could have ruled over it but he did not. He let Satan enter into him (Luke 22:3) when he set about to betray the Lord. If he had not been a faithful disciple at one time then how could he by transgression fall (Acts 1 :25)? From what did he fall? The only answer is that he once was a faithful disciple. Christians today need to take heed lest they fall and lose their souls. "Let him that standeth take heed lest he fall" (I Corinthians10:12). See also Hebrews 3:12;
Matthew 13:41,42; John 15:6).

3. Judas went through a form of repentance but was not restored to the Lord. 2 Corinthians 7:10 speaks of two kinds of repentance. One is motivated by godly sorrow while the other is motivated by sorrow of the world. "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." His repentance was a regret for what he had done and bringing the money back that he had taken. But he did not return to faithful discipleship. He confessed his sin but instead of restoration he went out and committed another sin of suicide. Repentance is not sorrow though it is motivated by godly sorrow. Repentance pleasing to God is a change of the mind of man which is followed by a change of conduct. Two different Greek words are in the New Testament translated "repent". One is "Metamellomai" which means "to care after" indicating a sorrow for the past, regret. This is used in Matthew 27:3. The other word is "Metanoeo"which means "to know after", indicating a change of mind or purpose which is what the Lord said that unless we do we will perish (Luke 13:3).

4. Judas confessed, "I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood." Matthew 27:4. This shows the innocence of the Son of God. If Judas could have found fault in the Lord he would have told it but there was none. The man who betrayed Christ, under no compelling power except that of his own conscience, admitted Christ's innocence. The Jewish leaders just took the money and bought the potter's field. They did not allow the testimony of Judas to be known at the trial.

5. We learn from Judas the vice of wrong motives. When Mary anointed Jesus, Judas said the ointment could have been sold for 300 pence and given to the poor; but his concern for the poor was not his real motive (John 12:3-8). He encouraged discontentment among the other disciples (Mark 14:5,6). One person with a wrong motive can create much dissatisfaction and backbiting. Judas kissed Jesus but it wasn't because he loved Him but because he was using it as a mark of betrayal (Matthew 26:47-49). This which could have been the whitest was the blackest because of motives. Jesus in the sermon on the mount taught some great lessons on motives in Matthew 6: 118. He first said don't give to be seen of men but do it secretly so the Lord can reward openly. He also said do not pray to be seen of men, nor think that one is heard for much praying. Prayer should be sincere, from the heart and direct and to the point as he gave a model prayer of 65 words. This prayer could be repeated in 20 seconds but it has profound meaning. He also said do not do your fasting to be seen of men. Anything done to impress people is a wrong motive. Anything done to gain a personal advantage is a wrong motive. A Christian's motive is because he loves the Lord and really needs His blessings.

6. Judas had the same opportunities as the other apostles. He squandered his opportunities. He allows his heart to become evil. The condition on the heart affects the life and the production of gospel fruit. "Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23).

7. Judas went to his own place. (Acts 1 :25). We all determine what eternal home will be ours by our actions in life. When a person takes no interest in preparing himself for heaven how could he expect to go there. In Luke 16: 19-24 two men lived and two men died, and each one went to his own place. If we die in Sin where the Lord is we will not go according to John 8:21. In Amos' words, "Prepare O Israel to meet thy God" (4:12).

8. Jesus said, "it had been good for that man, if he had not been born" (Matthew 26:24). This is also true of all who betray Jesus by selling him out for something of this world. -C.D.