Judas Iscariot

Listed last in the Bible among the original 12 men that Jesus chose to be Apostles, Judas Iscariot became the Lord’s friend and companion. He later betrayed Jesus by turning Him over to the chief priests and scribes who were trying to kill Him.

Like the other Apostles, Judas followed Jesus during his public ministry with the authority to teach, preach, and heal. He was even present at the Last Supper when Jesus ordained the Apostles to the priesthood.

Neither Sacred Scripture or Sacred Tradition reveals whether Judas received the Eucharist when Jesus instituted it at the Last Supper. Judas was a thief who stole from the group’s money but his sins had not been publicly revealed.

Playing on Judas’ weakness that already existed, Satan entered Him and Judas promised the chief priests that he would turn Jesus over to them for 30 pieces of silver, the price of a slave.

God did not cause Judas to betray Jesus, but knowing that he would, He permitted Judas’ actions to be part of his divine plan. Judas is responsible for is own sin because he had free will and could have made the choice not to betray Jesus.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas identified Jesus by greeting Him with a kiss. Jesus was then arrested by soldiers who took Him away, leading to his scourging, crucifixion, and death.

Unlike Peter, who had denied that he knew Jesus but was forgiven, Judas returned the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests but did not seek forgiveness. Instead, he rejected God’s mercy, fell into despair, and committed suicide.

Even though Jesus called him “the son of destruction” and said that he would have been better off if he had never been born, the Catholic Church has never declared that Judas, or any particular person, is in Hell.

Guided by God and under the direction of Peter, the Apostles chose a successor to Judas from among those who had followed Jesus from his Baptism by John until his Ascension into Heaven. They chose a man named Matthias.

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