What was Judas' motivation?

[Elihu's Girl]

Satan entering Judas does not necessarily mean that Judas had no choice.

John 13:2 ...the devil had already prompted Judas (the devil had already intended for Judas), son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus...

There are several places where Judas is described as being promted, entered, etc by the devil before or while betraying Jesus. I don't think this necessarily has much to do with Judas' motives.

Luke 22:31-32 Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.

This verse implies that Satan, just as with Job, approached God for permission to put the disciples through the ringer. When Peter denied Jesus three times, it may have been due to the influence of Satan but the motivation was self-preservation.

When the disciples fell asleep at Gethsemene, when they later ran away and abandoned Jesus, it may have been due to the influence of Satan, but the motivation was sleepiness/tiredness/selfishness and self-preservaton.

Matthew 16: 21-23 From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of the religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead.

But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him (correct him) for saying such things. "Heaven forbid, Lord," he said. "This will never happen to you!"

Jesus turned to Peter and said, "Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God's."

Here, Peter's motivation is to reassure Jesus, to keep Jesus from thinking he has to go through anything so horrible... maybe comforting a friend, a teacher, a mentor was his motivation. But satan was using this to tempt Jesus. Satan was at work.

This Link talks about Satan. He often works in subtle ways. When we turn away from God, from his will, from his commands, aren't we working for and with Satan? Aren't we serving Satan?

John 6:70 Then Jesus said, "I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil."

Why Judas? Why did Satan have so much hold over Judas and not any of the other disciples? My theory is that he was not on gaurd. He was fostering something in his heart, jealousy, envy towards Jesus, greed for recognition, for money... something. Some sin that gave Satan a way in.

1 Peter 5:8-9 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him and be strong in your faith...

Luke 22:21-22 But here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray me. For it has been determined that the Son of Man must die. But what sorrow awaits the one who betrays him.

Matthew 26:23-24 He replied, "One of you who has eaten from this bowl with me will betray me. For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!"

If Satan was in the driver's seat and Judas was taken along for the ride against his will... aren't the above verses a little harsh?

Matthew 27:3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders. "I have sinned," he declared, "for I have betrayed an innocent man."

"What do we care?" they retorted. "That's your problem."

Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself."

Could it be that Judas didn't realize that Jesus would be executed? Did he not intend for Jesus to be killed? He knew Jesus was innocent so perhaps he thought Jesus would eventually be found innocent and he'd have the silver...

But that doesn't make sense. How could he not know how corrupt they were? They were offering him a bribe to get an innocent man arrested. I guess he felt guilty.

I'm guessing Judas was motivated by envy and greed.

[eric]

The whole minstry of Jesus, from His birth to His ascention was all ordained ( or engineered) by the Father from the very foundations of the earth and nothing or no one except God could change the outcome. Jesus was in his incarnate or earthly form when all this took place, so it's questionable if even Jesus could have altered things. As for judas' motive? since money was involved, I would plump for greed.

just a thought.

[nebula]

Luke 22:31-32 Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.

Jesus was prophecying to Simon (Peter) about when he would deny Jesus. You can tell this by the words: "I have prayed . . . that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again...." After Peter did repent from his denials, I am sure Peter recalled these words, and knew he needed to "strengthen [his] brothers."

**

As for Judas, my inclination is that he like so many was looking for the "Political Messiah" to overthrow the Romans and Herod and re-establish the Line of David to the throne.

Imagine how the "Triumphal Entry" (what we call Palm Sunday) appeared this way (riding on a donkey like he did was a proclomation of kingship - recall that David's son Absolom rode through the streets on a donkey when he was attempting to usurp the throne).

When Jesus then drove out the money-changers from the Temple, that was a proclomation of authority (recall that the Temple dealings were under the control of the Sanhedrein (sp?). Also recall the the Sanhedrein was as much a political entity as it was a religious one.

But then Jesus didn't do anything else after that to assert His kingship.

Chances are likely that Judas assumed instigating the Romans to rise against Jesus would provoke Jesus to rise against the Romans. Judas thought he was "helping" Jesus to begin delivering Israel from the Romans.

But instead, Jesus was led away and taken to court and beaten and sentenced to death.

Judas was wracked with guilt because instead of Jesus using His power to rise against the guards and authorities, Jesus was taken to death. And since he didn't understand what Jesus was truly about, he fell into hopelessness and despair. Thus, he killed himself.

[Guest Cephas]

Satan entering Judas does not necessarily mean that Judas had no choice.

John 13:2 ...the devil had already prompted Judas (the devil had already intended for Judas), son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus...

There are several places where Judas is described as being promted, entered, etc by the devil before or while betraying Jesus. I don't think this necessarily has much to do with Judas' motives.

Luke 22:31-32 Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.

This verse implies that Satan, just as with Job, approached God for permission to put the disciples through the ringer. When Peter denied Jesus three times, it may have been due to the influence of Satan but the motivation was self-preservation.

When the disciples fell asleep at Gethsemene, when they later ran away and abandoned Jesus, it may have been due to the influence of Satan, but the motivation was sleepiness/tiredness/selfishness and self-preservaton.

Matthew 16: 21-23 From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of the religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead.

But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him (correct him) for saying such things. "Heaven forbid, Lord," he said. "This will never happen to you!"

Jesus turned to Peter and said, "Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God's."

Here, Peter's motivation is to reassure Jesus, to keep Jesus from thinking he has to go through anything so horrible... maybe comforting a friend, a teacher, a mentor was his motivation. But satan was using this to tempt Jesus. Satan was at work.

This Link talks about Satan. He often works in subtle ways. When we turn away from God, from his will, from his commands, aren't we working for and with Satan? Aren't we serving Satan?

John 6:70 Then Jesus said, "I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil."

Why Judas? Why did Satan have so much hold over Judas and not any of the other disciples? My theory is that he was not on gaurd. He was fostering something in his heart, jealousy, envy towards Jesus, greed for recognition, for money... something. Some sin that gave Satan a way in.

1 Peter 5:8-9 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him and be strong in your faith...

Luke 22:21-22 But here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray me. For it has been determined that the Son of Man must die. But what sorrow awaits the one who betrays him.

Matthew 26:23-24 He replied, "One of you who has eaten from this bowl with me will betray me. For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!"

If Satan was in the driver's seat and Judas was taken along for the ride against his will... aren't the above verses a little harsh?

Matthew 27:3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders. "I have sinned," he declared, "for I have betrayed an innocent man."

"What do we care?" they retorted. "That's your problem."

Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself."

Could it be that Judas didn't realize that Jesus would be executed? Did he not intend for Jesus to be killed? He knew Jesus was innocent so perhaps he thought Jesus would eventually be found innocent and he'd have the silver...

But that doesn't make sense. How could he not know how corrupt they were? They were offering him a bribe to get an innocent man arrested. I guess he felt guilty.

I'm guessing Judas was motivated by envy and greed.

I can't remember where I read it, but I recall reading a supposition that Judas thought Jesus was there to establish the Kingdom immediately, and his betrayal was intended to force Jesus hand at overthrowing the Roman occupation and re-establishing the Kingdom to Israel then and there. When he found out that Jesus wasn't going to do that, he realized his error and killed himself in remorse. However, that is not Scripturally supported and so is just conjecture

[Elihu's Girl]

Luke 22:31-32 Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.

Jesus was prophesying to Simon (Peter) about when he would deny Jesus. You can tell this by the words: "I have prayed . . . that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again...." After Peter did repent from his denials, I am sure Peter recalled these words, and knew he needed to "strengthen [his] brothers."

**

As for Judas, my inclination is that he like so many was looking for the "Political Messiah" to overthrow the Romans and Herod and re-establish the Line of David to the throne.

Imagine how the "Triumphal Entry" (what we call Palm Sunday) appeared this way (riding on a donkey like he did was a proclamation of kingship - recall that David's son Absalom rode through the streets on a donkey when he was attempting to usurp the throne).

When Jesus then drove out the money-changers from the Temple, that was a proclamation of authority (recall that the Temple dealings were under the control of the Sanhedrin (sp?). Also recall the the Sanhedrin was as much a political entity as it was a religious one.

But then Jesus didn't do anything else after that to assert His kingship.

Chances are likely that Judas assumed instigating the Romans to rise against Jesus would provoke Jesus to rise against the Romans. Judas thought he was "helping" Jesus to begin delivering Israel from the Romans.

But instead, Jesus was led away and taken to court and beaten and sentenced to death.

Judas was wracked with guilt because instead of Jesus using His power to rise against the guards and authorities, Jesus was taken to death. And since he didn't understand what Jesus was truly about, he fell into hopelessness and despair. Thus, he killed himself.

What does "each of you" refer to?

But I have heard that about Judas wanting Jesus to assert his power and be an earthly king... I think it was suggested in the film Jesus of Nazareth... This possibility clears up the cloudiness of Judas' remorse and suicide for me.

I can't remember where I read it, but I recall reading a supposition that Judas thought Jesus was there to establish the Kingdom immediately, and his betrayal was intended to force Jesus hand at overthrowing the Roman occupation and re-establishing the Kingdom to Israel then and there. When he found out that Jesus wasn't going to do that, he realized his error and killed himself in remorse. However, that is not Scripturally supported and so is just conjecture

Yeah, I'd heard of this before... again... I think it was in the film Jesus of Nazareth. But it makes a lot of sense scripturally (sp).

[nebula]

What does "each of you" refer to?

Would you please isolate the sentance you found this from? I do not know what you are referring to.

[Elihu's Girl]

Luke 22:31-32 Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.

Jesus was prophecying to Simon (Peter) about when he would deny Jesus. You can tell this by the words: "I have prayed . . . that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again...." After Peter did repent from his denials, I am sure Peter recalled these words, and knew he needed to "strengthen [his] brothers."

What does "each of you" refer to?

I thought it meant in addition to Peter's failing, each of the disciples would be tempted and would fail in various ways.

[nebula]

Golly, I've never seen that "each of you" before. I double checked with an on-line Bible and compared different versions, and none of them have "each of you" there.

I have no idea where that "each of you" came from.

Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. (NKJV)

Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: (KJV)

Luke 22:31 "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; (NASV)

Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: (NIV)

[carant2000_2001]

judas was given a choice, he chose evil over good.

if he was a follower of Jesus, he would have known

the voice of the sheperd.

in Christ,

carolyn

we fall down, we lay before the Lord, and we praise his holy name

for he alone is worthy of praise.

[David from New Bern]

Golly, I've never seen that "each of you" before. I double checked with an on-line Bible and compared different versions, and none of them have "each of you" there.

I have no idea where that "each of you" came from.

Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. (NKJV)

Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: (KJV)

Luke 22:31 "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; (NASV)

Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: (NIV)

Keep digging , you are on to something! You will find the purpose of trials and tribulations