Why did Judas Iscariot betray Jesus?

28 Answers

• Judas was not evil. He expected Jesus to be the kind of messiah that the Jews expected to deliver them from the Romans - a warrior. Jesus was not going to be a warrior. Judas thought that the Sanhedrin could force him into a showdown and he would display his powers and banish the Romans.

  Jesus was never going to do that. Judas didn't think it through.

  When Jesus was arrested, and Judas realized what had happened, he was so ashamed that he couldn't return to the apostles. It was his "despair" and not realizing that Jesus and Mary would have forgiven him that was his final sin, not the act of "betraying" Jesus. Of course, Jesus knew what was coming and could have stopped it - but he realized it was all part of God's plan and he accepted it.

  Judas was indeed human and no one really knows how he was finally judged. Personally, I think he played his part and was treated with mercy.

• First, you are assuming that a book written about 100 years after the events and that has been subsequently altered is an accurate representation of history.

  It is not. It is just a story, the characters do whatever the author wants them to. Judas 'betrays' Jesus because some out of context passage in the OT says he will, and the Christians can add one more messianic 'prophecy' that has been fulfilled.

  For a different story look into the Gospel according to Judas. A gnostic gospel that the church declared heresy basically because they did not like it. It raises your exact point. Jesus must die at the hands of the authorities so that his human blood sacrifice can wash away our sins (Don't ask why an omnipotent deity can't just wash them away without a human sacrifice.) So Jesus commands Judas to betray him to the Romans.

  But that is just another story written long after the time that these events were supposed to happen.

• Judas Iscariot Betrayal

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• Why Did Judas Betray Jesus

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• Judas betrayed Jesus because of his weak nature. Because he feared being it trouble for associating with him. Because Judas is a people pleaser and a crowd follower. He had a very hard time being that commited follower of Christ, standing out against the crowd at a hard time and facing the scrutiny that would result. Jesus didnt TELL Judas to betray him, he just told him that he would. I think that was Jesus way of forgiving him in advance for the deed that was to commited. Yes, after the fact Judas was overcome by guilt because he realized Jesus had forseen all of this and was in fact "great" I don't think Judas realized, in the moment to save his own butt, that he was accepting what I would term "blood money" That is were his extreme guilt came in. He acted selfishly and realized that after the fact and in doing so, caused the death of a good friend.

  I think it is an important lesson we can all associate at with and understand once you think about it. No one is perfect, we all fault and we all do wrong to another human being. We all feel the guilt and remorse afterward. This was just an example of weak human nature. I dont think Judas should be hated for what he did, he did what most would have done.

• If you carefully look at Jesus' interactions with Judas I think you can find some compassion from Christ to the very end. Remember the last question Jesus asked? "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" I think Jesus made room in the question for repentance. I don't think we can judge whether repentance ever occured. I know those who believe in suicide as a mortal sin would not recognize the possibility, but I'm not so sure. I also think Peter's statement in Acts 1 is interesting, "To serve in this office of apostle, from which Judas left to go to his own place." What exactly is "his own place" but the place suited for him. Peter did not tell us what place that was. Why not? I don't think he knew nor do we.

• The idea that Jesus chose Judas as his betrayer is the story of the Gospel of Judas, a recently translated story of Jesus not included in the Bible (obviously, because unlike the others it was not the word of God almighty). The problem with discussing this topic is that the Christian community on YA! gets angry and refuses to talk about non canonical literature in an objective secular manner, which results in name calling and Bible thumping from each side of the debate.

  Final answer - nobody has any concrete information on what went on between Jesus and his disciples. We know a bit of the larger story from where certain depictions overlap, however there are so many stories which diverge from the "accepted" narrative that nothing can be taken at face value; everything is speculative outside that he was a man who did exist and know Jesus.

• One...it was a fulfillment of scripture. Therefore it must happen.

  Two, Judas was not saved, or trusted by Christ, because as He told us, He knew men's hearts. "I have lost none of those you have given me Father, save the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled." (Jn. 17:12) I believe that Jesus felt compassion for Judas, just as He prayed for the cross to "let this cup pass from me if possible." But it was not possible, and neither was the salvation of Judas. His emotions are only a common gift to all men. Unbelievers everywhere feel guilt at times towards God plan and their actions, although they cannot see or know that it is God's law in their heart which causes us to feel these emotions. There "heartfelt" feelings are just that...only feelings. They cannot save the soul of man.

  The "Son of Perdition" literally refers to the offspring of death and destruction. Also, Luke 22:3 and John 13:27 tell us CLEARLY that Satan entered into Judas Iscariot. You may doubt this if you choose, but it is the Word of God. Therefore, anyone of faith knows it is truth. I am certain that Satan was convinced that killing Jesus would give him a victory against God. But his greatest victory turned into his ultimate defeat. But what greater tool to use on Judas than the one that has always worked...lust. Lust of money in this case...ie, I want more.

• First of all, don't fall into the trap of seeing Judas as just an instrument of God, because he had free will, and 30 pieces of silver in those days was probably the same as a million dollars today, so don't look at it as a measly amount

  there was a warrent out for the arrest of Jesus and his followers, and the Romans were going to find him, sooner or later, to stand trial for his crimes against Rome (putting himself up as higher than the Emperor by declaring himself the Son of God, - which he never did, but his followers did- was one of the crimes against him, and threatening to tear down the Temple, when he was clearly speaking about himself was another,)

  anyway, they would have found him without Judas

• It was God who sent Jesus, Jesus also said that he would willing die for our sins.

  But jesus couldn't Just come to earth preach a lil and then Jumb up on the Steak and die, there had to be events that lead up to that. Jesus knew he was going to die but he let the events play out the way they where.

  The bible says that Judas sold Jesus out for silver so thats what happened. i cant really explain anymore.