When you think of the disciples, those closest to Jesus, which one do you relate to the most? Many would say John, the one Jesus loved, or possibly Peter, who denied Jesus but repented, became the rock on which Jesus built his church. I think, though, truly more of us than we’d like to admit have the most in common with Judas.
Judas was a trusted and close follower of Jesus. He was so trusted that we know he handled the group's finances (John 12:6). Throughout Jesus' ministry, he followed him closely, hearing his message and witnessing the many supernatural miracles that Jesus performed. He shared meals with Jesus, asked him questions, met his family, and was considered a friend. Despite this, Judas fills the infamous role of betrayer in the Gospel story.
Judas is a cautionary character for everyone who believes themselves to be followers of Jesus. We must not forget that we are not immune to the temptation of sin and can learn from Judas what not to do as a follower of Christ.
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1. Judas Sought Financial Security
"Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, 'What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. From then on, he began looking for an opportunity to betray him." - Matthew 26:14-16.
Judas Iscariot acted as a spy for the Sanhedrin. He accepted 30 pieces of silver as payment for information he provided that led to the betrayal of his master, Jesus. From the moment that Judas agreed to receive compensation for intel about Jesus’ whereabouts, he began secretly plotting against his leader, becoming a disloyal spy.
Judas was tempted by the promise of what could be gained in this present life. His eyes deceived him into believing wealth would bring him more joy than Heaven. What a tragic miscalculation he made! But how often do we make the same mistake? Choosing comfort, entertainment, wealth, and more all over Kingdom living! Temptation to exchange financial security for our souls is real. We must live continually in the light, or the darkness will quickly creep in.
We may not be asked to betray Jesus, but what other compromises are we making to accumulate wealth?
Have we been disloyal to get ahead?
Set faith aside so we can advance in the corporate ladder?
Given up on being a present spiritual leader in our homes because we are giving all our time to work?
Are we ruthless in the workplace because we are desperate to gain wealth?
These are all ways we choose the love of money over faithfulness to Christ. We must be careful to keep our priorities in line and continually surrender all we have to the Lord. 1 Timothy 6:10 warns,
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”
Paul, the writer of this text, may very well have been thinking of Judas when we offered this advice to the emerging church. Money can easily become our god; we have to be vigilant to keep our priorities in order so we don’t lose our souls in exchange for finer things.
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2. Judas Followed the Wisdom of This World
“While He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived. A large mob, with swords and clubs, was with him from the chief priests and elders of the people. His betrayer had given them a sign: “The One I kiss, He’s the One; arrest Him!” So he went to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. “Friend,” Jesus asked him, “why have you come?” - Matthew 26:47-50
Judas was friends with Jesus. Astonishingly, he greeted Jesus with a kiss at the moment of his betrayal, and this would not have been out of the ordinary, as they would have embraced to show their affection on many other occasions. Judas and Jesus were close. Nonetheless, Judas chose his self over his friend.
Have you ever let a friend down because protecting or making space for them would get in the way of you getting something you wanted? In our dog-eat-dog culture, this behavior is common, even celebrated. We are constantly told to put ourselves first, that sacrifice is for losers, and that the ends justify the means. Judas lived by these principles well before they were trending, and this self-focused road led him straight to his tragic death as well as the death of his friend Jesus.
“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” - Proverbs 14:12
All of us can logic our way past our self-interested behavior. We can find ways to justify what we have done and how it costs those we once cared about, but when we are not willing to offer sacrificial love when the going gets tough, there are dire consequences.
Judas thought he was doing the “right” thing in the moment. After all, he was a practical man. He saw the religious elite conspiring against this Rabbi and figured maybe they had a point. Then the prospect for personal gain presented itself, and the deal was sealed. Why wouldn’t he set himself up with some financial security, after all he had given his service to Jesus in hopes of advancing his lot? Jesus hadn’t been the revolutionary he hoped to be, so this was one way to recover some of his investment. Sound human logic brought on his early death.
We must be careful not to let selfish logic guide us, as it did Judas. If we gain something on the backs of a loved one, friend, or community member, we aren’t on the right path. Repent, and God will faithfully show us a better way that leads us towards Him, our only hope for eternal life.
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3. Judas Believed in Himself More Than His Savior
Judas was not the only one who betrayed Jesus from the inner circle of followers. Peter also denied Jesus three times before the sun appeared on the night he was handed over to officials (Luke 22:54-62). Somehow, the fallout of Judas' betrayal was his giving himself over to death (Matthew 27:3-5), and Peter became the rock on which Jesus built Jesus’ church (Matthew 16:18).
How did these two men, who both made terrible mistakes, end up in such different places?
The answer is in each of their reactions to their sin. Judas believed in himself, and Peter repented and affirmed his genuine belief in Jesus.
How many of us believe first and foremost in our power to control our destiny instead of living surrendered to God’s plan for our lives? Again, our culture shouts out that we can control our lives, that if we just try a few simple life hacks, we can make everything better, and that when things are going wrong, we should start over, no need to go back and say sorry for our mistakes.
A few years back, we walked alongside a friend who had been unfaithful in their marriage. What amazed me as I saw them navigate these murky, terrible waters was that no one else in their life pushed the person who had violated the marriage covenant to repent, take steps to protect their family, and lay down their right for the selfish gain for the sake of their family unit. Ultimately, I lost this friendship as the only one who voiced my concerns. In the end, the marriage and family unit failed because there was no repentance, just a relentless pursuit of personal pleasure.
When we are hard-hearted, unwilling to repent, and ultimately so prideful that we refuse to concede our need for a Savior, we are on a path that leads to destruction. That was the path Judas chose, and it’s one we are all at risk of following if we don’t surrender our great need for control. Proverbs 3:34 says,
“Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.”
Humility is essential in the pursuit of Heaven. We detract from God's narrow way when we think our way is better. The ultimate truth of the Christian life is that no matter what mistakes we make on the journey or how much we think we’ve ‘got it’, in the end, His way is always better. This is often uncomfortable, but I’d much prefer my life to be in the hands of the Creator of the universe than my own, wouldn’t you?
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Originally published Monday, 21 July 2025.