DECODING JUDAS ISCARIOT

By Fr. Casmir Odundo

Who Exactly was Judas Iscariot?

Friends, we are within Holy Week, when we re-live the Passion of Our Lord and His last moments here on earth. One of the notable figures from these days is Judas Iscariot: The Apostle who betrayed the Lord.

Background

The name Judas (Ioudas) is the Greek form of Judah (Hebrew "praised"), a proper name frequently found both in the Old and the New Testament. Two among the disciples of Christ bore the name.

The surname Iscariot denotes the city where he came from i.e  Kerioth" or Carioth, which is a city of Judah (cf. Joshua 15:25)].

Very little is told us in the Sacred Text concerning the history of Judas Iscariot beyond the bare facts of his call to the Apostolate, his betrayal, and his death.

His birthplace, as we have seen, is indicated in his name Iscariot, and it may be remarked that his origin separates him from the other Apostles, who were all Galileans. For Kerioth is a city of Judah. On Sunday, you will recall that Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem as the Galileans cheered him on. This Friday another group will crucify him: The Judeans. We know that there was rivalry between the Judeans and the Galileans. The People from town Vis-a-vis the people from the village.

The Scriptures tell us nothing concerning his call or his share in the ministry and miracles of the Apostles. We know from the Gospel of St. John that Jesus mentions that  his father was called Simon. (Cf. John 6:71-72). This Particular fact shows that Jesus knew him very well, perhaps up-to his family and background.  

Whenever he is mentioned in the scriptures, his act of betrayal is always mentioned alongside, "...and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him". (Matthew 10:4. Cf. Mark 3:19; Luke 6:16).

St. John mentions also that he was also sort of the treasurer of the disciples’ i.e. the one who carried the purse. He is also mentioned as the Devil and a thief.  

Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, he that was about to betray him, said: 'Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?' Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and having the purse, carried the things that were put therein (John 12:4-6).

Who took the initiative?

In both Matthew and Mark it is Judas Iscariot who takes the initiative he is not tempted and seduced by the priests, but approaches them on his own accord.

Then went one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, to the chief priests, and said to them: What will you give me, and I will deliver him unto you? (Matthew 26:14-5)

And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests, to betray him to them. Who hearing it were glad; and they promised him they would give him money. (Mark 14:10-1)

St. Luke tells the same tale, but adds another touch by ascribing the deed to the instigation of Satan:

And Satan entered into Judas, who was surnamed Iscariot, one of the twelve. And he went, and discoursed with the chief priests and the magistrates, how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agrred to give him money. And he promised. And he sought opportunity to betray him in the absence of the multitude. (Luke 22:3-6)

St. John likewise lays stress on the instigation of the evil spirit: "...the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray him" (13:2). St. John also tells of an earlier intimation of Christ's foreknowledge of the betrayal (John 6:71-2), and in the same chapter he says expressly: "For Jesus knew from the beginning, who they were that did not believe, and who he was, that would betray him" (6:65). 

However, all Evangelists concur that the betrayal was disclosed more explicitly at the Last Supper: "When Jesus had said these things, he was troubled in spirit; and he testified, and said: Amen, amen I say to you, one of you shall betray me" (John 12:21). And when St. John himself, at Peter's request, asked who this was, "Jesus answered: He it is to whom I shall reach bread dipped. And when he had dipped the bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the morsel, Satan entered into him. And Jesus said to him: That which thou dost, do quickly. Now no man at the table knew to what purpose he said this unto him. For some thought, because Judas had the purse, that Jesus said to him: Buy those things which we have need of for the festival day: or that he should give something to the poor" (12:26-9). St. Matthew adds that Judas himself asked, "Is it I, Rabbi?" and was answered: "Thou hast said it" (26:25).

The Kiss of Judas

All four Evangelists agree in regard to the main facts of the actual betrayal which followed so closely on this prediction, and tell how the traitor came with a multitude or a band of soldiers from the chief priests, and brought them to the place where, as he knew, Jesus would be found with His faithful disciples (Matthew 26:47; Mark 14:43; Luke 22:47; John 18:3). Sts. Matthew, Mark and Luke say that Judas betrayed Christ with a Kiss. 

On his part, St. John, tells us that those who came to take Jesus fell backward to the ground as He answered "I am he." Again, St. Mark tells that Judas said "Hail, Rabbi" before kissing his Master, but does not give any reply. St. Matthew, after recording these words and the traitor's kiss, adds: "And Jesus said to him: Friend, why have you come:" (26:50). St. Luke (22:48) gives the words: "Judas, dost thou betray the Son of man with a kiss?"

Thirty Pieces of Silver and the Suicide of Judas

St. Matthew is the only Evangelist to mention the sum paid by the chief priests as the price of the betrayal, and in accordance with his custom he notices that an Old Testament prophecy has been fulfilled therein (Matthew 26:15; 27:5-10). 

In this last passage he tells of the repentance and suicide of the traitor, on which the other Gospels are silent, though we have another account of these events in the speech of St. Peter as found in the Acts of the Apostles:

Men, brethren, the scripture must needs be fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was the leader of them that apprehended Jesus: who was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. And he indeed hath possessed a field of the reward of iniquity, and being hanged, burst asunder in the midst: and all his bowels gushed out. And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem: so that the same field was called in their tongue, Haceldama, that it to say, the field of blood. For it is written in the book of Psalms: Let their habitation become desolate, and let there be none to dwell therein. And his bishopric let another take. (Acts 1:16-20. Cf. Psalm 68:26; 108:8)

What did Judas do with the Money?

There are discrepancies between this passage in the Acts and the account given by St. Matthew. For St. Peter's words taken by themselves seem to imply that Judas himself bought the field with the price of his iniquity, and that it was called "field of blood" because of his death. But St. Matthew, on the other hand, says: "Then Judas, who betrayed him, seeing that he was condemned, repenting himself, brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and ancients, saying: I have sinned in betraying innocent blood. But they said: What is that to us? Look thou to it. And casting down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed: and went and hanged himself with an halter." 

After this the Evangelist goes on to tell how the priests, who scrupled to put the money in the corbona because it was the price of blood, spent it in buying the potter's field for the burial of strangers, which for this cause was called the field of blood. And in this St. Matthew sees the fulfillment of the prophecy ascribed to Jeremias (but found in Zechariah 11:12): "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was prized, whom they prized of the children of Israel. And they gave them unto the potter's field, as the Lord appointed to me" (Matthew 27:9, 10).

Why Did Judas Betray Our Lord?

Sin is a mystery. In every way the betrayal of Judas would seem to be the most mysterious and unintelligible of sins. For how could one chosen as a disciple, and enjoying the grace of the Apostolate and the privilege of intimate friendship with the Divine Master, be tempted to such gross ingratitude for such a paltry price? Yet the Master thus basely betrayed was not hard and stern, but a Lord of loving kindness and compassion. Looked at in any light the crime is so incredible, both in itself and in all its circumstances.

Some theologians argue that perhaps Judas never really believed, that he was a false disciple from the first day. 

Some think that Judas was really enlightened, and acted as he did in order that mankind might be redeemed by the death of Christ. They suggest that Judas, who in common with the other disciples looked for a temporal kingdom of the Messiah, did not anticipate the death of Christ, but wished to precipitate a crisis and hasten the hour of triumph, thinking that the arrest would provoke a rising of the people who would set Him free and place Him on the throne. In support of this they point to the fact that, when he found that Christ was condemned and given up to the Romans, he immediately repented of what he had done.

We cannot adopt either of these extreme views. However difficult it may be to understand, we cannot question the guilt of Judas. On the other hand we cannot take the opposite view of those who would deny that he was once a real disciple. For, in the first place, this view seems hard to reconcile with the fact that he was chosen by Christ to be one of the Twelve. This choice, it may be safely said, implies some good qualities and the gift of no mean graces. It is a grave mistake to think of Judas as a demon without any elements of goodness and grace. What is important is what we learn from him.

What do we learn from Judas?

In his fall is left a warning that even the great grace of Vocation, of the Apostolate and the familiar friendship of Jesus may be of no avail to one who is unfaithful. From Judas we learn that a vocation can be lost.

Is Judas in Heaven?

A young girl once asked me the above question. Definitely there is no St. Judas Iscariot. However, we cannot minimise the effect of his remorse.  The Scriptures neither overrule nor the reject the possibility of real repentance.

We know that God is full of Mercy and he died for all the sins. We live that to him. What is important is that we do not become other Judas’ in the modern world.

Sources

CHRYSOSTOMUS, Hom. De Juda Proditore: MALDONATUS and other commentators on New Testament.

EPIPHANIUS, Haeres., xxxviii; Legend on death of Judas in SUICER, Thesaurus. Modern view in STRAUSS, Das Leben Jesu.

Kent, W. (1910). Judas Iscariot. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 

The author is Parochial Vicar: Mary Mother of God Kabarnet.
Email: casmirthomas28@gmail.com