Why Did Judas Betray Jesus? Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus to the Romans in the Garden of Gethsemane by identifying him in public so they could take him and put him under custody. Judas gave Jesus a welcoming kiss and pointed him out to the authorities.
However, there is more to this tale than meets the eye, so let’s examine Judas Iscariot’s persona and his famous thirty pieces of silver payment for betraying Jesus.
Why Did Judas Betray Jesus?
During the Last Supper, Jesus told his disciples that one of them would betray him. Jesus responded, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish,” when they asked who it would be. He then gave Judas (John 13:21–27).
Judas went alone to the priests of the Temple, who were the religious authorities at the time, and offered to betray Jesus in exchange for money—30 pieces of silver. The Gospel of Luke attributed Judas’s treachery to Satan’s influence rather than simple greed.
But John showed that Judas was already a dishonest man before the devil even touched him; he stole from the “common purse,” which was the money that Jesus and his disciples used to carry out their ministry.
Who Was Judas Iscariot?
Known for betraying Jesus, Judas Iscariot was one of the Twelve Apostles. The Gospels don’t tell us anything about Judas other than his death, betrayal, and apostleship.
He served as their treasurer and was always the last Apostle on the list. Judas’s theft is described in John 12:6: “As he had the money box he used to take what was put into it.”
Even though Judas’s name came to be associated with treachery and betrayal (a Judas kiss), not all portrayals of Judas showed him as betraying Jesus. According to the gospel, Judas was the only apostle who comprehended what Jesus was trying to say.
Was Judas A Fanatical Believer?
From another view, Judas was a fervent follower of Jesus who sought to overthrow Him by betraying Him. It was believed that delivering Jesus to the religious authorities would compel Him to establish His Messianic rule.
However, the facts do not support this point of view. Judas’s request for payment from the chief priests for the betrayal is hardly consistent with such “pure” spiritual motivations.
In addition, Judas is described in the Gospels as a betrayer and a thief. Not exactly the label one would anticipate for a fervent believer.
Was Judas A Superpatriot
Some have viewed Judas as a superpatriot who intended to lead a revolt against their Roman oppressors through Jesus. For the reasons outlined above, however, this is not consistent with the facts. Judas’s motivation appears to have been solely based on greed.
This leads us to the most likely reason. Judas was a thief who wanted wealth and authority. Judas thought that by standing close to Jesus, he would be granted a prominent position within the kingdom.
Judas realized the kingdom would take time to arrive when Jesus spoke of dying. He therefore betrayed Jesus in order to gain what he could. Judas never held a belief in Jesus.
Judas is an example of a person who follows Jesus for the wrong reasons; he never referred to Jesus as Lord but rather as “master” or “teacher.”
Final Words
Judas’s terrible deed has been attributed to various motives. Some have argued that Judas was a zealous follower of Jesus who wanted to establish his kingdom right away. He was trying to push Jesus to rebel against the Romans, according to some who claimed he was a superpatriot.
Well, the love for money stands out as the major reason why Judas betrayed Jesus Christ. The love for money can make one do things he or she thought he was not capable of.
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