Disciple Judas Iscariot and His Characteristic Traits
Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, is primarily known for his betrayal of Christ. His name, Iscariot, most likely means "man of Kerioth," referring to a town in the tribe of Judah [1, 5]. He is sometimes identified as "the son of Simon" [1, 3].
Before his appearance in the lists of the apostles, nothing is known of Judas's life, though his inclusion implies he had declared himself a disciple [1]. In the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), his name consistently appears last in the list of apostles [3].
Several characteristic traits and actions define Judas Iscariot in the biblical narrative:
- Betrayal of Jesus: Judas is consistently identified as "he that was about to deliver him up" or "which should betray him" [2, 6, 7]. This act of betrayal is central to his identity in the New Testament [3]. Jesus himself demonstrated supernatural knowledge of Judas's future actions, knowing from the beginning that Judas would betray him [5, 9]. The betrayal was pre-determined by God, foretold in prophecy, and foreknown by Christ, serving to fulfill God's purposes and bring about the work of redemption [6, 7].
- Avarice and Hypocrisy: Judas's motivation for betrayal is often linked to avarice. When Mary anointed Jesus with expensive ointment, Judas questioned why it was not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor, but John's Gospel clarifies that he said this "not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box he used to pilfer what was put into it" [John 12:4-6]. This incident is seen as provoking Judas, leading him to form a scheme to betray Jesus, satisfying both his avarice and revenge [4]. He offered to betray Jesus for money [8].
- Satanic Influence: The Gospels indicate that Satan played a role in Judas's actions. John's Gospel states that "Satan entered into him" [John 13:27], and Easton's Bible Dictionary suggests that the evil in his nature "gradually unfolded itself till 'Satan entered into him'" [3]. John Gill notes that Judas was "instigated by Satan, who had now entered into him" [4].
- Lack of True Discipleship: Despite being one of the twelve, Judas is often portrayed as not being a true disciple of Jesus from the outset [9]. He is described as an "hypocrite" who had "no true love for his master" [6].
- Remorse and Death: After betraying Jesus, Judas expressed remorse, making "an exceeding bitter cry" and casting the money he received for his iniquity onto the temple floor [3]. He then went and hanged himself [Matthew 27:5].
The inclusion of Judas among the apostles, despite Christ's foreknowledge of his betrayal, highlights the fulfillment of divine purpose and prophecy [7]. His actions are consistently presented as infamous, forever marking his name [7].
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Judas Iscariot — (Judas of Kerioth). He is sometimes called "the son of Simon," (John 6:71; 13:2,26) but more commonly ISCARIOTES. (Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:19; Luke 6:16) etc. The name Iscariot has received many interpretations more of less conjectural. The most probable is from Ish Kerioth, i.e. "man of Kerioth," a town in the tribe of Judah. (Joshua 15:25) Of the life of Judas before the appearance of his name in the lists of the apostles we know absolutely nothing. What that appearance implies, however, is that he had previously declared himself a disciple. He was dra”
- John “John 12:4 (Rotherham) — [But] Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, he that was about to deliver him up, saith—”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Judas — The Graecized form of Judah. (1.) The patriarch (Matt. 1:2, 3). (2.) Son of Simon (John 6:71; 13:2, 26), surnamed Iscariot, i.e., a man of Kerioth (Josh. 15:25). His name is uniformly the last in the list of the apostles, as given in the synoptic (i.e., the first three) Gospels. The evil of his nature probably gradually unfolded itself till "Satan entered into him" (John 13:27), and he betrayed our Lord (18:3). Afterwards he owned his sin with "an exceeding bitter cry," and cast the money he had received as the wages of his iniquity down on the floor of the s”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 26:14: Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot,.... Who was provoked and exasperated, to the last degree, by this action of the woman, and Christ's defence of it, and because the ointment was not sold, and the money put into his hand; and being instigated by Satan, who had now entered into him, formed a scheme in his mind to betray his master, and was resolved to put it in execution, whereby he might, in some measure, satisfy both his avarice and revenge; and, as an aggravation of this his wickedness, he is described, as "one of the twelve": of his twelve disciples; ”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 6:70: 6:70-71 Once again Jesus demonstrated supernatural knowledge (see 1:47-49; 4:16-19). Judas would work for evil and betray Jesus to the authorities (12:4; 13:2; Matt 26:14-16). • Iscariot means “man from Kerioth,” the home village of Judas’s family.”
- John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 12:4: Then saith one of his disciples,.... Who had no true love for his master, was an hypocrite, and a covetous person: Judas Iscariot; so called, to distinguish him from another Judas, an apostle; See Gill on Mat 10:4. Simon's son; this is omitted in the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic versions; See Gill on Joh 13:2; which should betray him; and so he did; this was pre-determined by God, foretold in prophecy, and foreknown by Christ; and is observed here, to show the temper and character of the man.”
- Mark (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Mark 3:18: And Judas Iscariot,.... So called to distinguish him from the other Judas; and is mentioned last for the following reason: which also betrayed him; and which action of his will ever render his name infamous among men. This man, with the rest, our Lord chose to be an apostle of his, though he knew he would betray him; in order to fulfil the purposes of God, the prophecies of the Old Testament, and bring on the work of man's redemption he came into the world to perform. And they went into an house at Capernaum; the house of Simon and Andrew, where Jesus used to be whe”
- Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 14:10: 14:10-11 In sharp contrast to the woman, Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, offered to betray Jesus for money (Matt 26:15; 27:3, 9).”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 18:9: 18:9 I did not lose a single one: Jesus continued to be a good shepherd, offering his life for the sheep and protecting them from the wolves (10:11-15). From the beginning, however, Judas Iscariot had not been a true disciple of Jesus (17:12).”