Ponder these things —
- How did Jesus treat someone Jesus “always knew” would betray him? Well, Jesus treated him the same as the others … including washing Judas’ feet on the very night Judas betrayed him.
- Was Judas still present at the Passover meal when Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper? That would be a “No” and we shall see why …
- What does this say about us and violations of trust? Maybe, just maybe, betrayers can be given respect and human dignity, without the opportunity to despoil those things that are truly Holy in our lives.
Betrayal: An abandonment or violation of trust by someone close to you.
Have you ever been betrayed by a friend or loved one? What about a betrayal by someone in leadership: Our current era would certainly present an opportunity to consider such things. Just “WHAT?” does one do with a betrayer, someone who cannot be trusted? What about the neighbor or relative that “voted for them”; you know the ones you may consider to have betrayed the ideals our ancestors envisioned, and for which they fought? Do we treat them as outsiders? You might be surprised by the example our Lord gives us in the Gospel writings of the the New Testament.
So, let us talk about betrayers, and how we, as Christians, should treat them. What better place to start than the great betrayer of Christian history: Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, the man who betrayed Jesus to the ones who put Jesus to death on a cross, for 30 pieces of silver. More important to us than Judas’ betrayal of Jesus may be how Jesus treated Judas.
Who was Judas Iscariot, Son of Simon?
The starting point then is: “Just who was this Judas?” Well, the Bible does not tell us much about Judas. Let us start with his name – Judas: Judas is the Greek form of the name Judah, and means “Praise” or “Let God be Praised”. The New Testament references to him as Judas rather than Judah, or maybe even Jude, might indicate the other Disciples referred to him with his Greek rather than Hebrew name: curious. So, Judas Iscariot — Iscariot by our modern spelling, is that a family name? No, Iscariot is use to distinguish him from other individuals named Judah, Jude, or Judas in the Bible narratives, for example from “Judas brother of James”, who was also one of the twelve and sometimes called Lebbaeus Thaddaeus, or Jude. The Hebrew word for man is “Ish”, and “Kerioth” is a town in the South of Judea, so, one possibility is Judas Iscariot = “Judas, Man of Kerioth”. Another possibility from the Hebrew is the name is a Hebrew equivalent of calling someone a “city slicker” in modern terms, or “Judas, the City Slicker”, which might be a fitting nickname given by a bunch of Galilean fishermen to someone among them from South Judah that considered Galileans a bunch of country hicks. Yet a more ominous alternative is that Judas was nicknamed, just as was another apostle, Simon the Zealot, for his political affiliation before becoming a disciple: Iscariot may be derived from a “Scicarii” or “dagger wielder”, a sect of Jewish zealots noted for political assassinations of Romans and the Jews who cooperated with Rome by using a small concealable dagger called a sicae – “Judas the Dagger-Man” – Wow, “Judas the Sicariot or Assassin”, technically a terrorist – but there are data points indicating that this sect did not existed until after Judas’ death. There are later Jewish writings referring to a similar term in Hebrew, “sikrin”, meaning “people who harass and who are disposed to being violent.”. The association with a zealot sect would align with Judas expecting a more “earthly messiah”, who would kick out the Romans and rule personally, in Judas’ time, upon this earth: an expectation that Jesus would fail to fulfill.
Did Jesus know Judas’ true nature when Jesus called Judas as one of “the twelve”?
A glaringly apparent question is – “Did Jesus know the true nature of Judas when he call the Twelve near to Him?” Well, your answer might depend upon how you view this “Jesus”. Is your image of Jesus that of a prophet, a servant of God, or is it a view of an individual who was both truly God and truly human? I personally believe there is more than adequate evidence that this individual was Yeshua Ha’Mashiach, or Jesus the Messiah (Christ) who was both fully man and fully God. We can look at this theological concept another time, it is called the Hypostatic Union.
From the perspective that Jesus was fully God and fully man, let us think logically: Jesus, being fully God, would know better than anyone the true nature of these twelve men he called closest to him during his earthly ministry. Not only would Jesus know their nature, but, being the omnipotent and omnipresent God (the creator of this thing we perceive as time) knew the choices these men would make from the foundation of time: nothing they did surprised Jesus.
So, what do we know about Jesus’ calling of Judas? Not much, but —
Matthew 10:1–4
1 He called to himself his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness. 2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these. The first, Simon, who is called Peter; Andrew, his brother; James the son of Zebedee; John, his brother; 3 Philip; Bartholomew; Thomas; Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus; Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Canaanite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
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Mark 3:13–19
13 He went up into the mountain, and called to himself those whom he wanted, and they went to him. 14 He appointed twelve, that they might be with him, and that he might send them out to preach, 15 and to have authority to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons: 16 Simon, to whom he gave the name Peter; 17 James the son of Zebedee; John, the brother of James, and he surnamed them Boanerges, which means, Sons of Thunder; 18 Andrew; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James, the son of Alphaeus; Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot; 19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. He came into a house.
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Luke 6:12–16
12 It happened in these days, that he went out to the mountain to pray, and he continued all night in prayer to God. 13 When it was day, he called his disciples, and from them he chose twelve, whom he also named apostles: 14 Simon, whom he also named Peter; Andrew, his brother; James; John; Philip; Bartholomew; 15 Matthew; Thomas; James, the son of Alphaeus; Simon, who was called the Zealot; 16 Judas the son of James; and Judas Iscariot, who also became a traitor.
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Something to ponder: Jesus knew full well the nature of Judas Iscariot, and the choices Judas would make … yet called Judas, along with 11 others, and sent them all out to preach and exercise God’s power over sickness and demons. Preaching, teaching, healing, and casting out demons: these are the very things Jesus was doing – What power, or ability, had Jesus demonstrated that Jesus did NOT confer on the 12 men during this mission? Some might say “raising the dead”, but Matthew 10:8, in some older manuscripts, actually says “raise the dead” when Jesus sends the 12 out on the mission, but there is no record that they raised anyone during this specific mission. So:
Matthew 10:8 — 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. (The NKJV has a note saying most manuscripts do not have “raise the dead”)
King James Version ( Note the New King James Version has a note saying most manuscripts do not gave “raise the dead” in Matthew 10:8)
verses
Matthew 10:8 — 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Freely you received, so freely give.
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For the question of what power — How about the forgiving of sins? Jesus forgives sin in the New Testament narrative, but that is not a power give to these men.
Judas made a commitment to Jesus, and there’s no reason to think he was anything but sincere in his faith. Like the rest of the disciples, he probably left everything to follow Jesus. Judas was actively involved in ministry, and he was given remarkable spiritual gifts. Judas walked with Jesus for three years: the greatest life ever lived witnessed up close and personal. You can’t have a better model of faith or a better environment for forming foundational belief than Judas had in walking with the Savior.
What does this tell you about those today who can miraculously heal the sick, cast out demons, and preach? Does that mean someone can be given such an authority, even by God, and yet not be “of God” or even a “true believer”? Judas’ walk with Jesus and betrayal of Jesus demonstrates that even the the best example, the most compelling evidence, and the finest teaching – the ultimate environment for faith formation – cannot, in and of themselves, change a human heart. Ultimately, Judas Iscariot hearkened to the spiritual call of the deceiver, Satan, not to the Holy Spirit of God: it was a choice he made, and one Jesus knew Judas would make – yet Jesus still allowed Judas to serve God as best as he was able.
Old Testament previews of things to come concerning the Messiah and a Betrayer:
The Old Testament authors, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, literally recorded events surrounding Jesus’ life centuries before they happened, at least in part as a means of proof for future generations. So, we have prophetic words concerning Jesus (a couple of examples we have looked at before):
- The Messiah would be born of a virgin in the City of David (Bethlehem), called “God With Us (Immanual)”, come from the tribe of Judah, born to rule, yet He is of old, from everlasting antiquity:
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
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Micah 5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Being small among the clans of Judah, Out of you one will come forth to me that is to be ruler in Israel; Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.
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- There are many, many more, and just as Psalm 22 gives a foreshadow of Jesus’ death on a cross — the very scene of the crucifixion we see described in Matthew 27:45-56; Mark 15:33-41; Luke 23:44-49; John 19:28-30.
- The Psalms — Note the highlighted parts that play a role in the New Testament narrative.
PSALM 22:
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?
2 My God, I cry in the daytime, but you don’t answer; In the night season, and am not silent.
3 But you are holy, You who inhabit the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in you. They trusted, and you delivered them.
5 They cried to you, and were delivered. They trusted in you, and were not put to shame.
6 But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people.
7 All those who see me mock me. They insult me with their lips. They shake their heads, saying,
8 “He trusts in Yahweh; Let him deliver him; Let him rescue him, since he delights in him.”
9 But you brought me out of the womb. You made me trust at my mother’s breasts.
10 I was thrown on you from my mother’s womb. You are my God since my mother bore me.
11 Don’t be far from me, for trouble is near. For there is none to help.
12 Many bulls have surrounded me. Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.
13 They open their mouths wide against me, Lions tearing prey and roaring.
14 I am poured out like water. All my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax; It is melted within me.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have brought me into the dust of death.
16 For dogs have surrounded me. A company of evil-doers have enclosed me. They pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I can count all of my bones. They look and stare at me.
18 They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.
19 But don’t be far off, Yahweh. You are my help: hurry to help me.
20 Deliver my soul from the sword, My precious life from the power of the dog.
21 Save me from the lion’s mouth; Yes, from the horns of the wild oxen you have answered me.
22 I will declare your name to my brothers. In the midst of the assembly, will I praise you.
23 You who fear Yahweh, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify him! Stand in awe of him, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, Neither has he hid his face from him; But when he cried to him, he heard.
25 Of you comes my praise in the great assembly. I will pay my vows before those who fear him.
26 The humble shall eat and be satisfied. They shall praise Yahweh who seek after him. Let your hearts live forever.
27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to Yahweh. All the relatives of the nations shall worship before you.
28 For the kingdom is Yahweh’s. He is the ruler over the nations.
29 All the rich ones of the earth shall eat and worship. All those who go down to the dust shall bow before him, Even he who can’t keep his soul alive.
30 Posterity shall serve him. Future generations shall be told about the Lord.
31 They shall come and shall declare his righteousness to a people that shall be born, For he has done it.
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— The Psalmist also gives us insight into minute details of Jesus’ betrayal:
Psalm 41: (For brevity, just look at the highlight in verse 9 for now)
1 Blessed is he who considers the poor. Yahweh will deliver him in the day of evil.
2 Yahweh will preserve him, and keep him alive. He shall be blessed on the earth, and he will not surrender him to the will of his enemies.
3 Yahweh will sustain him on his sickbed, and restore him from his bed of illness.
4 I said, “Yahweh, have mercy on me! Heal me, for I have sinned against you.”
5 My enemies speak evil against me: “When will he die, and his name perish?”
6 If he comes to see me, he speaks falsehood. His heart gathers iniquity to itself. When he goes abroad, he tells it.
7 All who hate me whisper together against me. They imagine the worst for me.
8 “An evil disease,” they say, “has afflicted him. Now that he lies he shall rise up no more.”
9 Yes, my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, who ate bread with me, has lifted up his heel against me. (We will explore this more from the story of the Last Supper … in the Gospel of John)
10 But you, Yahweh, have mercy on me, and raise me up, that I may repay them.
11 By this I know that you delight in me, because my enemy doesn’t triumph over me.
12 As for me, you uphold me in my integrity, and set me in your presence forever.
13 Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, from everlasting and to everlasting! Amen and amen.
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Ib the Book of Acts, when the Disciples choose a replacement for Judas Iscariot, Simon Peter specifically states two prophecies from the Psalms were fulfilled in Judas Iscariot:
Psalm 69:
21 They also gave me poison for my food. In my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink.
22 Let their table before them become a snare. May it become a retribution and a trap.
23 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they can’t see. Let their backs be continually bent.
24 Pour out your indignation on them. Let the fierceness of your anger overtake them.
25 Let their habitation be desolate. Let no one dwell in their tents.
26 For they persecute him whom you have wounded. They tell of the sorrow of those whom you have hurt.
27 Charge them with crime upon crime. Don’t let them come into your righteousness.
28 Let them be blotted out of the book of life, and not be written with the righteous.
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Psalm 109:
5 They have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
6 Set a wicked man over him. Let an adversary stand at his right hand.
7 When he is judged, let him come out guilty. Let his prayer be turned into sin.
8 Let his days be few. Let another take his office.
9 Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.
10 Let his children be wandering beggars. Let them be sought from their ruins.
11 Let the creditor seize all that he has. Let strangers plunder the fruit of his labor.
12 Let there be no one to extend kindness to him, neither let there be anyone to have pity on his fatherless children.
13 Let his posterity be cut off. In the generation following let their name be blotted out.
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All of these things in the Psalms, sound really harsh … but clearly Peter (Acts 1) believed the epitaphs in these two Psalms applied to Judas Iscariot.
That aligns with Jesus (John 6:70-71) calling his betrayer a “devil”. Ponder Psalm 109:13 (In the generation following let their name be blotted out.) – Is it any wonder we do not know more about this Judas, even what “Iscariot” may mean?
So, let us go over to Acts and see what Peter said about choosing a successor for Judas Iscariot:
Acts 1:12-26
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they had come in, they went up into the upper room, where they were staying; that is Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer and supplication, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
15 In these days, Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (and the number of names was about one hundred twenty), and said, 16 “Brothers, it was necessary that this Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to those who took Jesus. 17 For he was numbered with us, and received his portion in this ministry. 18 Now this man obtained a field with the reward for his wickedness, and falling headlong, his body burst open, and all his intestines gushed out. 19 It became known to everyone who lived in Jerusalem that in their language that field was called ‘Akeldama,’ that is, ‘The field of blood.’
20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his habitation be made desolate. Let no one dwell therein;’ and, ‘Let another take his office.’ (Psalm 69:25 and Psalm 109:8)
21 “Of the men therefore who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John, to the day that he was received up from us, of these one must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” 23 They put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 They prayed, and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place.” 26 They drew lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
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Side note – did Judas’ body burst open, or did he hang himself? – both may be true, according to a church tradition which states that the location of the potter’s field has an elevated rocky outcrop, and in fact both stories are true – Judas hung himself from a tree over hanging the rocks, the rope broke and his body was smashed on the rocks below.
Let us talk about that “30 pieces of silver” —
Matthew 26:14-16
14 Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me, that I should deliver him to you?” They weighed out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
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Matthew 27:3-10
3 Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that Jesus was condemned, felt remorse, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? You see to it.” 5 He threw down the pieces of silver in the sanctuary, and departed. He went away and hanged himself. 6 The chief priests took the pieces of silver, and said, “It’s not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood.” 7 They took counsel, and bought the potter’s field with them, to bury strangers in. 8 Therefore that field was called “The Field of Blood” to this day. 9 Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him upon whom a price had been set, whom some of the children of Israel priced, 10 and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”
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Mark 14:10-11
10 Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went away to the chief priests, that he might deliver him to them. 11 They, when they heard it, were glad, and promised to give him money. He sought how he might conveniently deliver him.
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So, here it gets a little weird: the story about 30 pieces of silver is NOT in Jeremiah as stated by Matthew 27:9, but rather in Zechariah. Therefore, we have the appearance of an error. So, what about that? Three viable options of about nine that I found (https://answersingenesis.org/contradictions-in-the-bible/mixed-prophets/):
- Matthew is using a well-established rabbinical formula of referring to a collection of books by the name of the first book in the collection. Jesus used a similar formula in Luke 24:44, where He referred to the Writings section of the Old Testament as Psalms—even though this could include the other writings, such as Proverbs. In the Jewish Tanakh, the prophetic books were in a different order than the order of the Christian Bible—even though they are all there. The first listed book in the collection of the Prophets was Jeremiah, not Isaiah. Therefore, a citation of Jeremiah could conceivably cover an actual quotation from Zechariah.
- New Testament writers frequently allude to more than one Old Testament passage, providing an overall context, and may only mention the Major Prophet. For the quote by Zechariah, there is a lot of foundational information that is necessary. First, Jeremiah 18 is the famous portion of the Old Testament that discusses God being the Potter and we the clay. And the Lord warns of a disaster to a nation that turns to evil. Israel had just rejected the Son of God, and the spiritual leaders just purchased His death for 30 pieces of silver. The message of the gospel then also went out to the Gentiles. And Israel, particularly Jerusalem, was soon left in ruin. Also, Jeremiah 19:1–4 gives a more precise placement of the potter’s field, outside the Potsherd Gate of Jerusalem, and the catastrophe that will happen there. The verse mentions that Israel has forsaken God here, and mentions the blood of innocents there too—Christ’s even being the ultimate innocent blood. Then, of course, Jeremiah 32:9–12 discusses the land and purchase agreements. Although the first quotation in Matthew 27:9–10 is somewhat similar to the passage in Zechariah, the second quotation—“and gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me”—alludes to Jeremiah 32:6–9, which refers to the potter’s field. So, these three aspects are Jeremiah’s, and Zechariah seems to build on them. In that respect, it is not an error to refer to the prophet Jeremiah at the point, as the whole passage—including the allusion to Zechariah—is in the context of the potter’s field, as related in Jeremiah.
- One cannot say for sure Matthew intended the story from Zechariah, since Zechariah, said no such thing—his quote had a few similar aspects, but that is as far as it should go. So, if Matthew, speaking with the Holy Spirit, quotes this and attributes it to Jeremiah, then it was indeed something Jeremiah said, and it was merely not recorded in his writings. Recall John speaking about Jesus: John 21:25 “And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.” So, the answer could be as simple as this quote by Matthew is not by Zechariah but is merely an unrecorded quote by Jeremiah. Note also that Matthew does not say that the quotation was written by Jeremiah, but rather spoken (rheo) by Jeremiah. It is possible, therefore, that the Holy Spirit inspired Matthew to report a spoken prophecy of Jeremiah, just as Jude was inspired to include previously unwritten information about Michael in his book (Jude 9). After the spoken prophecy given to Jeremiah, the Holy Spirit could later have inspired a similar prophecy to Zechariah as part of his written account.
So, let us look briefly at Exodus and Jeremiah:
Exodus 21:32 “If the bull gores a male servant or a female servant, thirty shekels of silver shall be given to their master, and the ox shall be stoned.”
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Jeremiah 32:6-10
6 Jeremiah said, The word of Yahweh came to me, saying, 7 Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle shall come to you, saying, Buy my field that is in Anathoth; for the right of redemption is yours to buy it. 8 So Hanamel my uncle’s son came to me in the court of the guard according to the word of Yahweh, and said to me, Please buy my field that is in Anathoth, which is in the land of Benjamin; for the right of inheritance is yours, and the redemption is yours; buy it for yourself. Then I knew that this was the word of Yahweh. 9 I bought the field that was in Anathoth of Hanamel my uncle’s son, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver. 10 I subscribed the deed, and sealed it, and called witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances.
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… and now in Zechariah (Insight –The prophet Zechariah asked the Israelites to pay him for the work he had done working among them, that’s what they gave him. It was meant to be an insult; they didn’t value his prophecy. God told Zechariah to throw this slave’s wage into the treasury – back in their faces.)
Zechariah 11 (WEB):10-14
10 I took my staff Favor, and cut it apart, that I might break my covenant that I had made with all the peoples. 11 It was broken in that day; and thus the poor of the flock that listened to me knew that it was the word of Yahweh. 12 I said to them, “If you think it best, give me my wages; and if not, keep them.” So they weighed for my wages thirty pieces of silver. 13 Yahweh said to me, “Throw it to the potter, the handsome price that I was valued at by them!” I took the thirty pieces of silver, and threw them to the potter, in the house of Yahweh. 14 Then I cut apart my other staff, even Union, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
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So … 30 pieces of silver, the price of a slave … what does that mean?
The word used in Matthew 26:15 was argyria, meaning “silver coins.” This, obviously, is unspecific in terms of what kinds of coins they were. In 33 A.D. there were a number of possibilities for coins that might have been in circulation in Jerusalem, including:
- Tetradrachms of Tyre, or Tyrian shekels
- Tetradrachms or Staters of Antioch
- Ptolemaictetradrachms
- Roman denarii
Of these, Tyrian shekels had the highest silver content – 94% – so these were what the priests required as payment for the temple tax. This coin contained 14 grams of silver. Today’s spot price for silver is $.93 per gram. The silver in these 30 coins would be worth $390.60 today. Silver is actually on a spike up now, historically it would be just under $200 during most modern times. Allowing for vast differences in wages and cost of living, it was not some grand amount of money … at the very highest estimate still probably less than 6 months laborer wages.
The key thing is Matthew is using a phrase from Exodus that establishes “30 pieces of silver” as the price of redemption for a slave:
So when Matthew says 30 pieces of silver and that Judas threw it back into the treasury, it’s an allusion to a story (prophesy?) in Zechariah in which unfaithful Jews undervalued a prophet of the Lord with an insulting amount of money – what a slave is worth. Matthew is saying the priests were willing to pay almost nothing for Jesus. Thirty pieces of silver to the priests, to Matthew, to Zechariah, then, was the price of contempt.
A side story about “inflation” from the time of Joseph to the time of Jesus —
Genesis 37:26-28:
26 Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come, and let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not let our hand be on him; for he is our brother, our flesh.” His brothers listened to him. 28 Midianites who were merchants passed by, and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. They brought Joseph into Egypt.
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Another rabbit trail about symbols of low value: The ancient Sumerian culture flourished from about 4000 BC to 2000 BC in ancient southern Mesopotamia (southern Iraq). Over the years archaeologists have discovered and translated hundreds of thousands of Sumerian tablets, which record their stories, songs, and sayings. Whenever an ancient Sumerian wanted to express the idea that something was worthless, they would say, “It is a mere thirty shekels worth.” This is odd since that was actually a respectable sum of money in the day. However, this culture used a base 60 number system, which is still reflected today in our concepts of 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour, and 360 degrees in a circle. Apparently, this saying “thirty shekels of silver” became a popular proverbial statement. And as the years rolled on, this phrase entered wider use among other cultures in the ancient Middle East, including ancient Israel. Apparently for multiple ancient Middle East cultures, 30 pieces of silver was a“glass half full” perspective of “30 ain’t much when a full count is 60” — Or in the thinking of modern Western culture “you have been short changed a few fries short of a happy meal” and received something of little value…
A few other NT references for insight, and then on to the main point:
John 12:4-6
4 Then Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, one of his disciples, who would betray him, said, 5 “Why wasn’t this ointment sold for three hundred denarii, and given to the poor?” 6 Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box, used to steal what was put into it.
World English Bible Remember that Psalm 41 prophesy? Psalm 41:9 “Yes, my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, who ate bread with me, has lifted up his heel against me.”
John 13:27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”
… and scripture fulfilled …
John 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name. Those whom you have given me I have kept. None of them is lost, except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
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The body and blood – why many left him, and he knew Judas did not really believe.
John 6: 53-71
53 Jesus therefore said to them, “Most assuredly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you don’t have life in yourselves. 54 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he who feeds on me, he will also live because of me. 58 This is the bread which came down out of heaven — not as our fathers ate the manna, and died. He who eats this bread will live forever.” 59 These things he said in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. 60 Therefore many of his disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying! Who can hear it?” 61 But Jesus knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble? 62 What if you would see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life. 64 But there are some of you who don’t believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who didn’t believe, and who it was who would betray him. 65 He said, “For this cause have I said to you that no one can come to me, unless it is given to him by my Father.” 66 At this, many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Jesus said therefore to the twelve, “You don’t also want to go away, do you?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and know that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 70 Jesus answered them, “Didn’t I choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” 71 Now he spoke of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, for it was he who would betray him, being one of the twelve
World English Bible
In Matthew 26:24–25, Mark 14:18–21, Luke 22:21–23 and John 13:21–30 during the meal at the Last Supper, Jesus predicted that one of the apostles present would betray him. In Matthew 26:23–25 and John 13:26–27, Judas is specifically identified as the traitor. In the Gospel of John, when asked about the traitor, Jesus states:
John 13:25-27
25 He, leaning back, as he was, on Jesus’ breast, asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus therefore answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 After the morsel, then Satan entered into him. Jesus therefore said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”
World English Bible
Events at that “Last Supper” Passover celebration:
We see in John 6 that Jesus spoke of consuming His Body and Blood – This was really too much for many followers, they simply could not grasp the teaching … and left. This “last supper” is where Jesus tells us to participate in the ritual communion of His Body and Blood: Jesus’ directive for Holy Communion, the very concept for which many disciples had ceased to follow Jesus, comes at this last Passover meal.
This is important …. If we review the traditional Passover celebration of Jesus’ time (ref https://bible.org/article/passover-time-jesus) there are several ritual steps to the meal, including 4 ritual cups of wine.
- In all probability, the “morsel of bread dipped” and handed to Judas by Jesus was after the second cup of wine where the host breaks the guest of honor’s bread and they dip it together in the bitter herbs. The guest in turn breaks his neighbor’s bread and they dip it together, and so on down the line. Was Jesus treating Judas as the “guest of honor”???
- This dipping ceremonial step is before the third cup, and Judas leaves after that according to the Gospel of John.
- The institution of Communion appears to have happened with the traditional “breaking of the last of the unleavened bread” performed after the third cup of wine, and finally ending with the ritual fourth cup of wine — “this is my blood” …
The whole “washing of feet” thing is important, but is only referenced in the Gospel of John (our man who pulls together the spiritual significance of events from the earlier Gospel writings). The cultural custom dictated that those entering a house from traveling be honored, particularly any participating in the Passover meal. This honoring of guests included washing the dust from travel from the feet of the guests. These guys were gathering in a rented upper room, there were no servants or slaves, who traditionally performed this menial tasks. So Jesus takes on the role of servant to perform this task.
Setting the scene for John 13:1-38
Notice that John never gets around to describing the institution of the Lord’s Supper – Basically, John spends three chapters with a focus on the Love of Jesus and how Jesus can remain with the disciples, even though he is absent, and looking forward to the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost – it parallels the narrative in the other 3 Gospels, which focus more on the institution of the Lord’s Supper.
In this World English Bible, and other translations, we have this phrase in verse 2 “After supper”, in the Greek it actually literally states “kai deipnou ginomenou” or “and supper taking place” with the ginomenou actually a verb signifying a change of condition, or in Southern Speak “’fixin’ ta”: It is NOT “AFTER supper” – might even be “with supper fixin’ ta start” a better modern English concept would be that “with the evening meal commencing … Jesus arose and started this foot washing”.
So basically, they ALL sat down to eat, knowing that their feet should have been washed, but there were no slaves or servants present … and the disciples, being too proud to do that task, sat there like egotistical stumps pretending everything was fine for this ritual Passover meal. Jesus, even knowing He would be betrayed tonight by one of these men, and ultimately die a cruel death … Jesus set aside natural internal anguish at the pending price He would personally pay to redeem mankind, and any manly pride to which his human nature might cling, and started washing the feet of those He loved, including Judas Iscariot … performing the task of a servant … the task demanded for a proper celebration of the Passover, performing the act in humility even for his known betrayer.
John’s Gospel clearly has the most detail about the interaction between Jesus and Judas at the Passover meal; indicating it was something John considered important from a spiritual significance standpoint. John is noted for caring more about spiritual significance than chronology — Ironically, in this narrative John makes a point of stating exactly when Judas leaves the assembly, from which we can conclude the time of departure was spiritually significant; something all other Gospels are vague about, with Luke (who like John sometimes focuses on something other than chronological order) so vague that it is read by some to imply Judas was there for the whole meal sequence.
John 13:1-38
1 Now before the feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that his time had come that he would depart out of this world to his Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 After supper (? no see above “with the evening meal commencing”), the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came forth from God, and was going to God, 4 arose from supper, and laid aside his outer garments. He took a towel, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 Then he came to Simon Peter. He said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “You don’t know what I am doing now, but you will understand later.” 8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “Someone who has bathed only needs to have their feet washed, but is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For he knew him who would betray him, therefore he said, “You are not all clean.” 12 So when he had washed their feet, put his outer garment back on, and sat down again, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me, ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord.’ You say so correctly, for so I am. 14 If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his lord, neither one who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 18 I don’t speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen. But that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me.’ 19 From now on, I tell you before it happens, that when it happens, you may believe that I AM. 20 Most assuredly I tell you, he who receives whoever I send, receives me; and he who receives me, receives him who sent me.” 21 When Jesus had said this, he was troubled in the spirit, and testified, “Most assuredly I tell you that one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom he spoke. 23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was at the table, leaning against Jesus’ breast. 24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, and said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom he speaks.” 25 He, leaning back, as he was, on Jesus’ breast, asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus therefore answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 After the morsel, then Satan entered into him. Jesus therefore said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” 28 Now no man at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus said to him, “Buy what things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30 Therefore, having received that morsel, he went out immediately. It was night. 31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him immediately. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you can’t come,’ so now I tell you. 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just like I have loved you; that you also love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” 36 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you can’t follow now, but you will follow afterwards.” 37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can’t I follow you even now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for me? Most assuredly I tell you, the rooster won’t crow until you have denied me three times.
World English Bible
So, in John’s version … the heart of the meal, the institution of the Communion of the Bread and Wine along with the last cup of the Passover celebration is yet to come … to see it, let us journey to – Mark, who never mentions when Judas leaves, but clearly describes the “dips with me” sequence, which is ritually before the third cup (at this point per John, Judas leaves). Then after Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper, they sing a hymn and leave … consistent with the cup of institution being the 4th and last ritual cup of the Passover meal, which was preceded by the last breaking of bread after the 3rd cup: Judas was not present for the 3rd and 4th cup according to John.
Mark 14:17-26
17 When it was evening he came with the twelve. 18 As they sat and were eating, Jesus said, “Most assuredly I tell you, one of you will betray me — he who eats with me.” 19 They began to be sorrowful, and to ask him one by one, “Surely not I?” And another said, “Surely not I?” 20 He answered them, “It is one of the twelve, he who dips with me in the dish. 21 For the Son of Man goes, even as it is written about him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born.” 22 As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had blessed, he broke it, and gave to them, and said, “Take, eat. This is my body.” 23 He took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave to them. They all drank of it. 24 He said to them, “This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Most assuredly I tell you, I will no more drink of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.” 26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
World English Bible
In conclusion:
WHO’s feet did Jesus wash? WHEN did Judas leave? WHEN during the proceedings did Jesus offer the Bread and Wine as His Body and Blood?
Most importantly, HOW did Jesus treat Judas? What does that say about HOW we treat others – even those who betray us or others.