Tuesday, November 1, 2022
“…Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him” (Matthew 10:4 KJV).
After Satan and the Antichrist, he is probably the most despised Bible character. Meet Judas Iscariot!
His name is entered into the Bible record for the first time in today’s Scripture, and, observe how he always appears last in the listings of the 12 Apostles (today’s Scripture; Mark 3:19; Luke 6:16). Carefully note that he is not to be confused with the other Apostle Judas—the latter also known as “Judas not Iscariot” (John 14:22) and “Judas the brother of James” (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13).
The Holy Spirit designates him as a “traitor” 12 times (today’s Scripture; Matthew 26:25; Matthew 27:3; Mark 3:19; Mark 14:10; Luke 6:16; Luke 22:48; John 6:71; John 12:4; John 13:2; John 18:2,5). From the Book of John alone, we gather that Judas Iscariot’s father was called “Simon” (John 6:71; John 12:4; John 13:2,26). His surname, “Iscariot,” is derived from two Hebrew words—“ish” (“man”) and “Kerioth” (a town in Judah, southern Israel). Unlike the rest of the Apostles, who were from Galilee (northern Israel; see Acts 1:11), Judas Iscariot was from down south.
Three passages about him are of primary interest to us here. Firstly, John 6:70,71: “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.” Secondly, Luke 22:3 says, “Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.” Finally, John chapter 13 reports: “[21] When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me…. [26] Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. [27] And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.”
What could have happened to Judas Iscariot to lead him to this abysmal outcome? Let us search the Scriptures….
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