Judas Iscariot the Traitor Lk 6: 16 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
Judas Iscariot is called a traitor in Luke 6:16. He was a traitor who betrayed his master. To betray someone is to deliver them to an enemy. He betrayed Jesus as stated in Matt 10:4, where he is listed with the other disciples. Remember that he was given all the same gifts that they had.
The wording of Jn 18:5 is interesting. “Judas stood with them” speaking of the officers of the chief priest and the Pharisees. These are the men who opposed Jesus through his entire earthly ministry. Can two walk together except they be agreed? For him to stand “with them” he could not be standing with the Lord Jesus Christ. You can often tell a betrayer by the men with whom he is standing.
What motivated Judas to betray Jesus?
Money – He was a thief – Jn 12:6. He was covetous, like the Pharisees [Lk 16:15]. He asked the chief priests, “What will ye give me?” [Matt 26:14-15]. The love of money is the root of all evil [1 Tim 6:10]. A betrayer doesn’t have to be a thief to be a betrayer, but he is definitely going to understand the persuasive value of money.
Rebellion – Judas asked Jesus, “Master, Is it I?” [Matt 26:25]. Jesus replied, “Thou hast said,” which is an affirmative answer. Look at the context from Matt 26:24!!! Judas didn’t believe what Jesus said and he didn’t regard him as the Lord. He rebelled against his authority. Notice what Judas called Jesus in the garden, “Hail, master,” [Matt 26:47-49] when he kissed him. Jesus is God manifest in the flesh. He is the king of the Jews. And Judas call his, “Master.”
The devil – Jesus said of Judas, “One of you is a devil,” [Jn 6:70-71]. Satan entered into Judas [Lk 22:3; Jn 13:2]. When the Devil entered the heart of Judas, the betrayal went into full swing. In other words, there had been an undercurrent of trouble for some time before the devil got involved.
Pride – Judas complained about the waste of the ointment that Mary used to anoint Jesus [Jn 12:4-6]. His contention spread to some of the other disciples [Mk 14:4], and then to all of the disciples [Matt 26:8]. Other people are adversely affected when their is a traitor among them. In Judas’ pride, he wouldn’t answer Jesus’ question, “betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss,” [Lk 22:47-48].
Conclusion: Here’s the trouble when these things affect men like they affected Judas. The other men don’t know that he is a traitor. The Bible says, “Now no man at the table knew,” [Jn 13:27-29]. Yet when they found out, they had to replace him [Acts 1:16, 20].