The Tragedy of Judas Iscariot (Part 1): Matthew 10:1-5

Posted on September 19, 2022

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The Tragedy of Judas Iscariot (Part 1): Matthew 10:1-5

Just as the world is rapidly changing, so does the use of the language. One word we used to associate with merchandise differentiation has become a buzz word today amongst the whiz kids’ generation. Today you hear such appellation in marketing yourself, what is your brand? Beware; your brand may be your undoing! The tragedy of Judas Iscariot is such. He carried a brand, a reminder that being a follower of Jesus Christ does not translate to—neither implies—being a disciple of Jesus Christ. His case is a sober reminder that:

  1. A character flaw left to fester like an untreated wound becomes the gateway for Satan to enter, and
  2. Superficial belief is dangerous, and while we may pretend to those around us, we cannot hide from God!

His name Judas Iscariot lends some insight in to his makeup. Judas is identified as Simon Iscariot’s son (John 6:60-71). ‘Iscariot’ in the Hebrew is likely “Ish K’riot” אישׁ קריוֹת, “a man of K’riot,” or “a man of cities.” This may be a reference to the town mentioned in Joshua 15:25, “Kerioth-Hezron (that is, Hazor).” Kerioth-Hezron קְריוֹת חֶצְרן, means, “cities surrounded by a wall,” and Hazor, חָצוֹר, means, “castle.” One would read this to mean one influenced by the ways of the cities, cut in the lifestyle of the cities or the ways of the world!

3 years or so of following the Lord showed him God’s accepted way of life, for he:

  1. heard the teachings,
  2. listened to the explanations regarding the principles of the kingdom of God (Matthew 13:11, 16), and
  3. received power (Matthew 10:1-8, Luke 9:1-6)

yet, he did not avail himself of the power of deliverance that daily presented itself to him.

From the very subtle point raised by the Lord in John 6:64-71—

But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.  Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?  He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve

was Judas aware of his bent? It is not clear, but his hustle for money, a trait of city life was known to his fellow disciples—

Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, there came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?  For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.  For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her. Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, and said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him. Matthew 26:6-16

Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and 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. Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always. John 12:1-8

The latter scripture was specific to which disciple actually made the criticism! Furthermore, one would safely postulate that he was given the purse to carry, a test to drive him to the Saviour for help if he recognized the weakness and not an opportunity to realize his ‘secret’ ambition. How many of us have failed on such a point?

Then came the time when the Lord let him go! Oh, dear friend have you nursed, disguised your nurturing of sin to the point that the Master who has given you all things needed to be a partaker of His divine nature removes His protective cover? The transition becomes clear from John 13:2, 27-30, from “putting it into his heart” to “Satan entered him”.

And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him…And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.

Defend your gate as Paul admonished in Philippians 4:8 (AMPC and TPT) and James expanded in James 4:1-5 (AMPC and TPT). Consider this, check yourself and repent for the time is at hand. Selah

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