JUDAS

"And Judas went out and hanged himself" (Matthew 27:5). The name Judas is one of the most despised names in history. He betrayed the Lord. No parent would entertain the idea of naming their child...Judas.
But, what caused Judas to do it? What led to his betraying the Christ?

First, Judas made some bad choices. John tells us that "from the beginning of his discipleship, he had a desire to steal" (John 12:6). Evidently, he had been sticking his hand into the bag all the time (He was the treasurer for the group).

Second, Judas was materialistic minded. Since John tells us that he was a thief, it would be a great temptation for him, being the treasurer, to steal from the bag (John 13:29). Remember what
Paul said about the love of money? "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil" (I Timothy 6:10).

Judas thought only of self. He was not thinking of the results it would have on his children and wife. After betraying the Lord, he went out and committed suicide. In taking his own life, he was again thinking of self. He may have reasoned that he could never raise his head up in public again. But, what about his family?

Read Psalm 109:9-13. His poor wife was left without a place to live! Then, of his children, it declares: "Let his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out."

You know what happened. We answer many times for the evil others do. There are consequences to our deeds. We may cause others to be mistreated by what we do. This seems to have been true in reference to Judas.

Lastly, Judas fell from grace. Judas played the hypocrite. His act is still remembered as the "Judas Kiss." Judas fell from grace. O, yes, he did! We are warned lest the same thing happen to us. "Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (I Corinthians 10:12).
Judas took part in the ministry (Acts 1:17); Judas turned away from the truth (Acts 1:18-20); Judas fell from grace (Acts 1:25); then, Judas took his own life...in more ways than one (Matthew 27:5).

- Dan Carter