“And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. 2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.” (Matthew 10:1–4 ESV)
We continue our profile of the Twelve Apostles. Today’s study concludes with the Apostle Judas Iscariot. In Matthew’s text, Judas is identified as the one who betrayed Jesus Christ.
The Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, & Luke) listing of the Twelve who Jesus called ‘to be with him’ (Mark. 3:14), Judas Iscariot always appears last, and usually with some descriptive and infamous brand (e.g. ‘who betrayed him’, Mark. 3:19; Matt. 10:4; Luke. 6:16; cf. John. 18:2, 5).
The name Iscariot is unclear. Perhaps it is referring to Judas’ birthplace, which was shared by his father, Simon (John 6:71; 13:26). Some manuscripts even read “from Kerioth” (John 6:71; 12:4; 13:2, 26 and 14:22). If Iscariot indicates Judas’ hometown, the precise location of Kerioth is unknown. The Old Testament identifies a town in Moab with this name (Jer. 48:24, 41; Amos 2:2), as well as a location called Kerioth-Hezron (Josh 15:25).
Iscariot also can mean dagger. The etymology, or origin, of the word Iscariot goes back to the Semitic word for “dagger,” which was a symbol for assassins. “Judas has been called at times “Judas the Assassin” or “Judas the Dagger-Man.” Though he never used a dagger on Jesus, he did nevertheless stab Him in the back in his betrayal,” states Dr. R. C. Sproul.
“The Apostle John’s first explicit mention of Judas also affirms Jesus’ choice of him as one of the Twelve, and even highlights his allegiance at a time when other disciples are withdrawing. However, John also simultaneously labels him a devil and references his future betrayal (John 6:66, 70–71). The Synoptics repeatedly identify Judas as one of the Twelve even after the betrayal is underway (Matt 26:14, 47; Mark 14:10, 43; Luke 22:3; Acts 1:17). Judas receives no special treatment from the evangelists until the final days of Jesus’ life; as go the Twelve, so, presumably, goes Judas (compare Matt 10:1; 20:17; Mark 4:10; 6:7; 9:35; 10:32; 11:11; Luke 8:1; 9:1–6, 12). Only after Jesus’ death is Judas notably absent from the eleven (Acts 1:13),” explains the Lexham Bible Dictionary.
Why did Jesus select Judas in the first place to be one of His disciples? In this brief treatment of Judas, we are unable to thoroughly answer this question. However, we can set forth the following probabilities.
First, the providence, or purposeful sovereignty of God. This was Peter’s perspective when he preached on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2.
22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.” (Acts 2:22–24 (ESV)
Second, there is also the perspective found in Genesis 50:20 when Joseph, years later, spoke to his ten older brothers about when they sold him into slavery (Gen. 37:12-36). Joseph understood that God used such actions for the greater good.
“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” (Genesis 50:20 (ESV)
“The Scriptures tell us that Jesus was delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God. Jesus’ betrayal was not an accident of history. It was not a mistake that took place when somebody was disillusioned and, in his frustration, sought worldly gain for the blood of our Savior. No, this act of treachery was ordained by Almighty God from the foundation of the world,” explains Dr. Sproul.
“Judas was a devil from the beginning. Judas was an unregenerate, corrupt, treacherous, lying, thieving crook before he ever met Jesus. Yet, God worked through his corruption to bring about the greatest work of salvation in all human history. As was the case with the brothers of Joseph, Judas meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.”
The LORD uses the decisions of sinful mankind in order to accomplish His ultimate purpose and for it to ultimately bring Him glory (John 16:33; Rom. 8:29; 11:33-36; I Peter 1:1-9). How has God used difficult circumstances in your own life? While they may have been painful, how has He accomplished good because of certain difficult events; and not in spite of them?
Soli deo Gloria!
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