The Apostle Judas Iscariot

We're going to talk about Judas Iskariot this evening in preaching on the apostles, I've saved Judas till last, because he is so unlike the other apostles, even his name kind of gives a clue that he never fit in with the others. Iskariot means from Karyath. Karyath is a small town near Jerusalem. Jerusalem is in Judea, the southern part of Israel, all the other apostles were from Galilee, from the north. So even his name indicates he didn't really fit with the others, seems to have been out of step with the other apostles. There is no reference in the scriptures to his salvation, as we do have some of the others, no reference to any time where he was personally receptive to Christ and Christ called out to him for salvation. There's no evidence of that whatsoever. The first time we hear his name is in the list of the apostles, the lists that are given when Jesus called some to be apostles. We don't know why he followed Jesus, maybe it was for political power, maybe it was because of ambition in his own life, we don't know for sure why he even followed the Lord Jesus. But there's no indication that this man was ever a believer. His story is one of the most tragic in Scripture. Christ himself said, it would have been good if this man had never been born. Through the ages his betrayal of the Lord Jesus has been seen as the fallest deed in all of human history, his name has become a byword for deceit and betrayal. The question always arises when you talk or think about Judas Iskari, at least it does in some people's minds, was this a man who was saved but somehow lost his salvation. So I want to deal with that before we get into the Scripture references that deal with Judas and see what they tell us. Was he a man who was saved because he was an apostle and lost his salvation? Well I would say very clearly, no. Aside from the fact that that goes against everything the Bible teaches about the security of the believer, the Bible makes it very clear that Jesus knew from the beginning that Judas was a betrayer. For instance John chapter 6 and verse 64, Jesus says, yet there are some of you who do not believe for Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. This is early in Jesus' ministry in down in verse 70, he goes on to say, then Jesus replied, have I not chosen you the twelve yet one of you is a devil. He meant Judas, the son of Simon is chariot, who the one of the twelve was later to betray him. Jesus knowing from the very beginning the heart of Judas where he stood that he was not really one of the twelve in the sense of being a believer, that he was a betrayer, that he was in the sense, in that sense a devil. So Jesus knew that from the very beginning and then later in his ministry toward the end of his ministry in John chapter 17 and verse 12 when Jesus is praying his high priestly prayer just before his death, 17, 12. He says, while I was with them I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me, none has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. The term doomed to destruction is an interesting term literally means a son of destruction or as the King James says son of perdition, son of destruction or one doomed to destruction literally means one who belongs to destruction, one who deserves destruction, one who's end is eternal separation from God. And so there's no indication in the Bible that this man was ever saved from the very beginning of his association with the apostles. He is known by Christ to be a betrayer, a devil, one who belongs to destruction. So he's not a believer who became an unbeliever by the way that term son of destruction or son of perdition is only used of one other individual in the Scriptures, used of the Antichrist in 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2. For that reason some have tried to associate the Antichrist with Judas and say that the Antichrist is kind of a resurrection of Judas but there's no real indication of that in the Scriptures. Well let's see what the Bible says about this man. I want us to notice four characteristics that are clearly described of Judas in the Scriptures and see what they have to teach us, the warnings that we can find from the life and ministry of Judasis Carried. The first characterization I think we could give of him from the Scriptures is his hypocrisy. He was in every sense of the word a hypocrite because definitely he was one of the apostles. I want you to turn to Matthew chapter 10, Matthew chapter 10 where the ministry of the apostles is described Judas was an apostle, no question about that. He was chosen to be one of the twelve that would follow the Lord Jesus and what is described of the apostles here in Matthew 10 obviously includes Judas. Matthew chapter 10 verse 1, he called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. Then he names them in verses 2 through 4. You can see there in verse 4 the last one named as Judasis Carried, then look at verse 5. These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans go rather to the lawsuit of Israel. As you go preach this message the kingdom of heaven is near, heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons freely you have received, freely give. No indication that any of that Judas is accepted from any of that. He was one of the twelve listed given authority, healing diseases, sicknesses, preaching, raising the dead, cleansing the lepers. I'm assuming because there's no exception mentioned here that Judas is included with the twelve in doing those things. So he was an apostle but he clearly all the time was an unsaved man. I wonder. I wonder how Judas felt when he heard Jesus say these words in the sermon on the mountain back in chapter 7 of Matthew, verse 21, where Jesus warned those who heard him, not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy or preach in your name and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles, then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you apart from me you evil doers. I wonder what Judas thought when he heard that because he evidently was one of the ones who went out and preached, healed people, cast out demons, but not everybody who has those kind of powers knows Christ. And that's one of the most intriguing things in the scriptures and I think one of the most confusing and deceptive things to many people in the scriptures, many people think that if they see some kind of supposed miraculous power, that's got to be of God, not necessarily. We know that in the tribulation time, the Antichrist will work miracles, the false prophet will work miracles. Not everybody who does miracle who really has legitimate power to work miracles is a believer and I believe that's the case with Judas. All the time he was preaching, all the time he was doing miraculous works, he was an unbeliever, he was a hypocrite. So the question arises in many minds, why did Jesus choose him as an apostle? If he was a hypocrite, to that extent where he would do all of the things the other apostles would do, but at the same time be an unbeliever, why did Jesus choose him to start with? Well, I want to reject the idea that Jesus was not aware of his character. We know from John 6 that at the very beginning he knew Judas' heart. In John 13 he knew that it was Judas that would betray him. We'll see that passage in a little bit. So Jesus knew from the very beginning, some people say, well, Jesus was not aware of Judas' character. Pictim thinking he was a good man who really wanted to follow him, but that's not true. Jesus knew from the very beginning, obviously, being God, he knew all things, he knew the heart of Judas. Some people say that Jesus chose Judas because he needed someone that would be forced into the traitor role, someone that would do that, and obviously that is not true either. So why did God choose? Why did Jesus choose Judas as one of the twelve? I don't know that there are any easy answers to that. There are several answers that partially, I believe, and you have to be able to answer that question. None of them are real easy. Obviously one of the reasons was so that Old Testament Scripture would be fulfilled. The Bible clearly says that. In fact, there were a couple of Old Testament Scriptures that are clearly fulfilled in Judas and are described that way. Look at these verses, if you will. Psalm 41.9. This one is on the screen for you. So we won't have to wear out your fingers tonight. Even my close friend, who trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. That's a verse in Psalms, and it is applied to Judas in John 13, verse 18. John 13, 18, Jesus is speaking at the upper room. He says, I'm not referring to all of you when he's talking about all of you following me. I know those I've chosen, but this is to fulfill the Scripture. He who lifted his bread, or shares my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. Jesus applies Psalm 41 to the very time when they're in the upper room, observing the last supper as it's called, Passover meal, and applies it to Judas, who would share bread with him at that table. In Psalm 69, verse 25, the Psalmist said, may their place be deserted, let there be no one to dwell in their tents, and that had a very local application to the Psalmist's time, but in Acts 1 and 20, the Apostle saw that as a prophecy of Judas. For says Peter, it is written in the book of Psalms, may his place be deserted, let there be no one to dwell in it, and may another take his place of leadership. They applied this to Judas as they were seeking to choose one who would take his place. So obviously, Judas does fulfill prophetic Scripture. That's part of the reason, but then someone could press the question, why those prophecies, why did God have this planned to work this way? Well, could it be that Judas was a part of the Apostolic band to ever serve to us as a warning of hypocrisy, the danger of hypocrisy? Was he a part of the apostles to demonstrate the long suffering and grace of God, patience of God in dealing with those who even would turn their backs on him? I don't know the complete answer to the question, why was he chosen as an apostle, but the bottom line is this, in God's sovereign will, he was chosen. For whatever purpose and whatever reason God had in mind, God chose him to be one of the apostles. Whether it was to serve as an example of hypocrisy or an example of Christ's long suffering or simply to fulfill Old Testament Scripture, those may be reasons, but the main reason, God chose to do that. And when we can't answer all the questions, that's the wall we lean back against. God is sovereign, we must trust His choices, what He does, even if we cannot understand exactly why He does what He does. But I will say this, Judas does serve to remind us of the danger of hypocrisy. Very strongly, He is a reminder. Outwardly, He's a disciple. Inwardly, Jesus says He is a devil. Outwardly, He has a close association with true believers for three years. He lives among them. He preaches with them. He does miraculous works with them for three years. He heard the preaching and teaching of Jesus. He saw the miracles of Jesus. He shared in the life of the apostles, but He was still lost. The danger of hypocrisy is nowhere better seen in the Scriptures than in Judas Iscariot. You see, it is possible to be among believers. It is possible to have your name on a church role, to be counted among other Christians. It is possible to come to church and to pray and to read your Bible and to have as the writer of Revelation says, as Jesus Himself says, about the church at Sardis, to have a name, a reputation that you are alive, but you're dead. It is possible to be among believers and not really be a believer. You know, the Scriptures challenge us to examine our hearts to see whether or not we're in the faith. Paul said that to the church at Corinth. There were so many problems in that church and folks were so messed up. He said, you just need to examine your hearts to make sure you're really in the faith. That's not a bad exercise for all of us. To make sure that we know we are placing our faith in Jesus Christ and there's been a genuine time of experience when we've come to Christ for the forgiveness of our sins and there is some evidence in our lives that we are truly followers of Christ. It's a good idea every once in a while to read the book of 1 John. The book of 1 John gives us five different evidences that will be in a believer's life if he or she is truly saved. It's a good checkup. Things like, do you love the world or do you love fellow believers? Do you have a heart desire to be obedient to Christ? Is there evidence of the spirits convicting power in your heart? Things like that that John says are evidences and that's a good checkup every once in a while. I think we need to be warned constantly of the danger of hypocrisy that it is possible to be counted among believers and not truly no Christ. Now there's a flip side to that. The flip side is there should be no shock or surprise that there are hypocrites among believers. You know, a lot of unbelievers give that as a reason for not wanting to come to church, not wanting to get saved, all those hypocrites over there. And when someone uses that excuse, one of the best answers you can give to them is that Jesus had a hypocrite in his church. He had a hypocrite among his twelve closest followers that evidently did not negatively taint Jesus or the reputation of the apostles. They went right on through the book of Acts and nor should we let that bother us or keep us from wanting to follow Jesus Christ. There should be no surprise that if that phenomenon happened in Jesus ministry, it's likely to happen today too. Yeah, there will be some hypocrites. By the way, I've never seen an unbeliever that let a hypocrite stop him from doing business at his bank or go into the grocery store that he chooses to go to. Never seen that ever happen, but that argument will often be used against the church conveniently used, I would say. The danger of hypocrisy, very clear in the life and ministry of Judas Iskariot, there is a second characteristic of this man that serves as a warning to us, and that is his covetousness. Look with me please at John chapter 12, where we find a very interesting story right toward the end of Jesus life. John chapter 12 verses 1 through 6. Six days before Passover, this is the week before Jesus died. Six days before Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany where Lazarus lived whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor, Martha served while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard and expensive perfume. She poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair, and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of his disciples, Judas Iskariot, who was later to betray him, objected in verse 5, here is his objection. Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages. Now verse 6 is John's editorial comment under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. As John writes this later, verse 6, he did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. Now that passage reveals some very interesting things about Judas. First of all, he was the treasure. He was the treasure among the apostles. The Bible says he was the keeper of the money bag. Say, did Jesus have a bank account? Did Jesus have portfolio? What's going on with the money bag there? Well obviously the apostles had needs as they traveled throughout Galilee, they had to buy food, provisions and so forth. And there were, in the scriptures, wealthy women who supported Jesus ministry. They were mentioned several times in scripture. So there was some income coming in. Judas was the one who was entrusted with the money bag, if you will, with the treasure. He was the treasure among the apostles. Now the very fact that he had that responsibility shows that he had somewhat the confidence and trust of the other apostles. I don't think they suspected anything until after Judas showed his true colors. And John, of course, is writing this, you know, 60 years after Jesus died. The ads were six to explain what was happening. But at the time, I don't think the apostles knew that. I think they trusted Judas. I think they thought everything was on the up and up. The books were being taken care of. He was the treasure among the apostles. But this passage also indicates, not only was he the treasure, he was greedy. Judas was just plain greedy. Here, he makes this statement. This, this, Nard, this expensive appointment, perfume, should not have been poured on the feet of Jesus. That's a waste. Some people today still feel that extravagant acts of worship are a waste. Or that which is poured out for Jesus Christ in abundant measure is a waste. What Judas felt that way. But the Bible tells us why he feels that way. He says, this is worth a year's wages. Look at what this could have done for our treasury. But he was not concerned about the treasury. He was not concerned about the needs that they might experience. He was greedy. He wanted more money in the bag because he had access to it. So Judas was greedy. And the greediness of his heart proved to be his downfall. I believe there's a direct link between that and later actions, which we'll see in a moment, that Judas would carry out in betraying the Lord Jesus. He was greedy. An archaeologist dug up the ancient site of Pompeii in Italy, the city that was destroyed by Mount Vesuvius when it blew its stack. They discovered some interesting things, one of which was a woman who was evidently trying to run out of the city to safety. Her feet were pointed toward the city, but her head and arm were reaching for something else behind her. And what they discovered it was reaching for was a bag of pearls. Raises an interesting question. What happened there? What's she racing to the city, gates for safety with a bag of pearls in her hand, trying to salvage something of value, dropped it, and with death close on her heels took the risk of trying to save that bag of pearls. Or did she notice it as she fled by somebody else may have dropped it and could not refrain from picking it up or seeking to pick it up. Whatever the case, it was her greed that was her downfall, just like Judas. Judas was the treasurer. Judas was greedy. But the third thing this passage tells us is that Judas was a thief. Because of his greed, because he had access to the money, because greed was in his heart, he was a thief. Verse 6 tells us that plainly. As keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was in it. And right before that it says he was a thief. So Judas stole from the treasury. That's the reason he wanted a year's worth of wages there. He would have more to take from. And it's amazing to me that the other disciples never picked up on it. Evidently, they trusted him right up to the end with the money bag. Never picked up on it. He must have been good. But Jesus knew all along. Jesus knew from day one. The heart, the character of this man. And it sheds some interesting light on some things that Jesus said throughout his ministry. Again, you wonder, here's a man who was a treasurer. He was greedy. He was a thief. But Judas also received numerous warnings. Repeated warnings. I wonder if Jesus had Judas in mind, at least partially, when he said things like, you cannot serve both God and money. I wonder if Judas was in mind when Jesus said in Matthew 1626, what good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? I wonder if Jesus had Judas in mind, at least partly, when he answered the question of a young man who came to him in Luke 12 and verse 15. And he said, watch out. Be on your guard against all kinds of greed. A man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. And then the very next verse, he starts the illustration about the rich farmer who had barns and so many crops that they were flowing out of his barns. And he said, I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. And then I'll say, eat, drink, and be merry. Be at rest, my soul. For you have many goods laid up for many years. And Jesus said to him, you fool this night, your soul will be acquired of you. Then who shall those things be, which you have provided? I wonder what Judas thought when he heard that. I wonder if Jesus had Judas in mind if he was warning him, but Judas continued in his greed and thievery in spite of all the warnings. In spite of all the teachings of Jesus, and I believe it is that hardening of his heart that prepared him for his betrayal. It started with greed. He acted on the greed as he continued to take from the treasury in spite of the warnings he was hearing from Jesus. And Jesus, his heart grew a little harder and a little harder and he is able at last to actually betray Christ. You see the progression there? Every sin progresses along lines like that. What begins with a thought if not checked there will become an act. What then is an act if it is not checked there will become a habit. And what becomes a habit if it is not destroyed at that point will become your character. Character is molded and made by the small choices we make as we consider what comes into our minds that develops into a habit which leads to our character. And I believe that is the path that Judas walked down. The warning is this. Deal with the little sins. In reality there are no little sins but you know what I am talking about. The things that don't really harm anybody yet, they are just thoughts, they are just considerations. Deal with them at that level or they will continue to progress. You know the book of James chapter 1 tells us that sin operates like this. We are first of all enticed and drawn away by our own desires. Satan is very deceptive in how he does that. He has good bait. So he is very deceptive. But we are first of all enticed and drawn away by our desires. And then the Bible says when desire or lust has conceived it brings forth sin. There is the action. And then he says and sin when it is finished that describes a development of sin, a maturing of sin, a practicing of sin. When it is finished brings forth death, he says. And that progression is not seen clearly in the beginning stages unless we are alert to Satan strategies. You see Judas started with greed in his heart and ended up a betrayer of Jesus Christ. His covetousness was evidently his besetting sin, the sin that so easily entangled him. But there is another part of the picture of this man and that is his betrayal. His betrayal of the Lord Jesus is often defended by others. There are literally have been efforts to defend Judas in print, in film. Some say he was an innocent tool of the devil, could not have helped what he did. Others have said that Judas was trying to force Christ to set up his kingdom by power. He was trying to push him into going ahead and setting up his kingdom. And once he realized that it wasn't going to work that Jesus was actually going to be crucified, that's when he was overcome with sorrow and hanged himself. So really Jesus or Judas was trying to do Jesus a favor, trying to help him really get the courage to go ahead and introduce his kingdom in that last week. The Bible does not paint the picture that way at all. In fact the Bible paints really three steps in Judas' betrayal. First of all he was empowered by Satan. No question about that. He was empowered by Satan to do what he did in John chapter 6 and verse 70. Jesus replied, it's on the screen, have I not chosen you, the twelve yet one of you is a devil. And in John chapter 13 and verse 2, the evening meal was being served and the devil had already prompted Judas' scarion son of Simon to betray Jesus. And then in verses 26 and 27 of that same chapter Jesus answered to the question, who is going to betray me? It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I've dipped it in the dish. Then dipping the piece of bread he gave it to Judas' scarion son of Simon. As soon as Judas took the bread Satan entered into him. So there obviously was an empowerment by Satan for Judas to have the boldness to do what he did. But please keep in mind what we've already said. Judas had left the door open to that, influence and empowerment by Satan by his own progression of sin. The scriptures make it clear that's always the way it works. Nobody is overpowered by Satan against their will. Nobody, not even an unbeliever. If you study very carefully demonization in the Bible or demon oppression or possession in the Bible, you will find that there is a progression that starts with sin in a person's life which is unchecked and continues continuing to open the door to first. And then further influence and strategies of Satan in a person's life until that person finally becomes overpowered if you will or empowered by Satan himself. I believe that's what happened to Judas. It was not like Judas was trying to do his best and be a good disciple and all of a sudden he went into this thing where Satan overpowered him and he was beyond his own control. No, not at all. Judas left the door open to Satan's influence because of his own sin. That can happen to anybody. It certainly happens to unbelievers but even a believer can leave himself or herself open to satanic influence and temptation if you do not deal with sin in your life. And so here's Judas empowered by Satan, yes, but because he had left the door open for that to happen. The second stage in his betrayal is the betrayal was actually carefully arranged by Judas. So not only was he empowered by Satan, he carefully arranged this. This was not an afterthought. This was not a last minute thought. Judas carefully arranged it. It was not a blunder. It was a cool and calculated betrayal. If you have any idea that Judas was really one of the true disciples right up to the end but then he was suddenly overcome and couldn't help what he did, then let's wipe that out of your mind because that's not the way the Bible describes it. It was carefully arranged by Judas. I want you to look with me please at Matthew 26 where the story is described pretty fully. You have to put all the gospels together to get this sequence of events but we'll begin in Matthew 26 and we'll just refer to some other scriptures. Matthew 26 verse 14. Then one of the twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and asked what are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you so they counted out for him 30 silver coins from then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. You see that? Now if you look at the context, this story when Judas goes to the priests is immediately after the story we read in John 12 where Jesus is anointed by Mary and Judas objects and is rebuked. It is immediately after that his greed, the stinging rebuk about what was right and Judas goes to the high priest to the priests. What do you willing to give me by hand him over and from that time on he's watching for an opportunity to betray Jesus. This was not a spur of the moment deal. This was arranged ahead of time and he's waiting, biting his time, watching for the opportunity. Luke chapter 22 and verse 6 tells us he consented and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present. Judas was not only looking for an opportunity, he was planning what kind of opportunity it should be. Let's make sure this is done when there's not crowd around and there's much better chance that we'll be in control of things. In John chapter 13 the Bible says the night before Jesus died Judas is in the upper room with him and Jesus announces to the disciples one of you will betray me and the disciples are shocked and they start asking is it me? Is it me? And Peter says to John who's right beside Jesus asking who is it? John leans up to Jesus and says who is it? And Jesus responds it is the one whom I will give the bread to after I've dipped it and he dipped it and gave it to Judas. In fact the gospels tell us that Judas in fact I believe it's here in Matthew chapter 26. Look at verse 20. Yeah the gospel of Matthew includes this detail. When evening came Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve while they were eating he said I tell you the truth one will betray me they were very sad begin to say to him one after the other surely not I Lord verse 23 Jesus replied the one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me the son of man will go just as it is written about him but woe to that man who betrays the son of man it would be better for him if he had not been born. Now look at verse 25. Then Judas the one who would betray him said surely not I Rabbi Jesus answered yes it is you. Now if you put all the gospels together again immediately after Jesus says that in John 13 Judas leaves. Now the other disciples are still confused about what's happening. Jesus says to Judas in John 13 whatever you do do quickly. Judas knows what he means Jesus knows what he's saying the other disciples are confused they think he's sending Judas out to buy more provisions because he's got the bag. They still didn't fully understand what was going on but Jesus knew and Judas had been planning this so he leaves and the Bible tells us in John chapter 18 verses 1 through 3. It's on the screen when he had finished praying Jesus left with his disciples okay Judas is already gone. He leaves with his disciples cross the Kidren Valley on the other side there was an olive grove and his disciples went into it. Now Judas who betrayed him knew the place because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the grove guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees they were carrying torches lanterns and weapons. So you see the picture here Judas has left the upper room a short time later after the institution of communion Jesus leaves with his disciples they go the go cross to the Mount of Olives the Garden of Gethsemane Judas knows that's where they will go. He has found his opportunity he's been planning for an opportunity when there's no crowd around Jesus has just dismissed him whatever you do do quickly in other words it's time. So Judas comes to the garden with the detachment of soldiers Matthew 26 verse 47 states it this way while he was still speaking Jesus talking to his disciples in the garden Judas one of the twelve arrived with him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs sent from the chief priest and the elders of the people. So you see this whole thing have been carefully arranged planned by Judas coming out of the anger and resentment and greed of his own heart he has planned for days now to find an opportunity to betray Jesus finally that opportunity has come and that leads us to the third step of his betrayal it was cruelly carried out back in Matthew 26 verse 48. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them the one I kiss is the man arrest him going at once to Jesus Judas said greetings rabbi what the word rabbi means means my teacher my teachers the word teacher with the Hebrew ending on the air make ending on the end I which means my my teacher how cruelly this is carried out in the Bible says then he kissed me. So he was the only one who kissed me. The sign that he has agreed to to point out the one they should arrest is probably still misinterpreted by the disciples as a sign of affection. And it is then that Jesus replies in verse 50 friend do what you came for that interesting friend friend do what you came for. You know John's gospel tells us that Jesus actually tried to save Judas the awkwardness of pointing him out by asking the soldiers who did you come for Jesus of Nazareth I am Jesus said. So Jesus in a sense tried to spare Judas of the hypocrisy of his betrayal and Judas went ahead with the plan anyway and kissed him pointed him out. He cruelly carried out his betrayal there is nothing here of the kind of Judas that we often hear about in the film world today. Try to paint him as a friend of Jesus who was trying to do Jesus a favor favor motivate him to go ahead and set up his kingdom. None of that scriptures he was empowered by Satan because of his own sin he never dealt with carefully arranged the betrayal and cruelly carried it out. And that leads us quickly to his bitter end. His bitter end. Notice if you will his sorrow Matthew 27 verse 3. When Judas who had betrayed him saw that Jesus was condemned he was seized with remorse and returned the 30 silver coins to the chief priests and the elders I have sinned he said for I have betrayed innocent blood what is that to us they reply that your responsibility. Interesting sorrow on the part of Judas when he saw that Jesus had been condemned by the Sanhedrin something something came over him some conviction of the spirit evidently came over him recognizing his role recognizing what he had done recognizing his guilt his conscience pricked him I have betrayed innocent blood. Now there is no indication that Judas himself would say I was just trying to help him out. No I have betrayed innocent blood he knows exactly what he has done that is not the repentance of faith in Christ it is simply I want to get out of this deal if I can. So he goes back to the chief priest take your money back this is blood money I betrayed innocent blood I want to get out of this deal that's the kind of remorse he felt. And when that would not be taken it leads to his suicide verse 5 so Judas threw the money into the temple and left then he went away and hanged himself he's lost everything he's lost any self respect he had he's lost the fellow disciples he is lost the money not only that he was paid to betray Jesus but he doesn't have the money back anymore either. He has lost the sympathy of the priests he's lost everything and worst of all he has lost his soul he has lost Christ he has lost heaven there is nothing left and Judas in that agony of recognition of what he's done commit suicide his sorrow his suicide lead to his eternal misery quite clearly in the scriptures the Bible portray him as a man. He was condemned to eternal punishment in hell because he had never trusted Christ as evidenced in his actions just quickly these three verses will have them on the screen for you mark 1421 the son of man will go just as is written about him but what to that man who betrays the son of man it would be better for him if he had not been born what does that mean John 1712 Jesus in his high priestly prayers we saw earlier at the end of the verse says he is the one doomed to destruction and notice how the apostles view this in Acts chapter 1 verses 24 and 25 as they're choosing his successor here's the comment they make about Judas then they prayed Lord you know everyone's heart show us which of these two you've chosen to take over this apostolic ministry which Judas left to go where he belongs they recognize that Judas as the son of destruction the term which means he will be eternally forever separated from God in that place of torment called hell the apostles recognize that's the place where he should be that's what he deserves so Judas eternal misery sin has a terrible end unbelief has a terrible end I would challenge you this evening if you're unsaved if you're not placing your complete hope and confidence in faith in Jesus Christ to save you and get you to heaven regardless of whether or not you're associated with believers outwardly if you're not trusting from your heart the Lord Jesus if there's no evidence in your life that there's really been regeneration a changed life then I would urge you to be saved tonight don't be a hypocrite be saved and I would also challenge you as a believer don't let the little sins get a hold on you because the little sins will continue to grow and develop until finally character is formed that draws you far away from where you are now the treacherous road that Judas traveled is possible at least to some extent for any of us to travel if we do not deal with sin although as a believer sin cannot take your eternal destiny away from you it can ruin your life it can shatter you and everything and everybody you love so deal with the little sins before they get any deeper that is the lesson of Judas let's pray together father we certainly cannot say that we're grateful for Judas what he did where he ended up but we are thankful that we can learn from the lessons of his life some of the most sobering lessons about life that we can learn I pray that if there's anyone here tonight who has never really trusted you is just depending on the fact that they've grown up in a Christian home they've been in church all their lives they're associated with believers there's no evidence they've really trusted Christ I pray father they would learn the lesson from Judas's life the danger of hypocrisy and then for all of us help us to learn the danger of not dealing with sin and letting it go on until it develops further and entrap us in its snare help us to learn those lessons well we ask in Jesus name amen