Judas Iscariot, Heaven or Hell?
Divine Justice, Divine Mercy, or Both.
During our morning Men Act Now Bible devotion time, where we devote our time reading and trying to understand a chapter from a book of the Bible, we read through Mark 14. We began to discuss whether or not Judas Iscariot was in heaven or hell. What are the arguments for either case? And can we know without a doubt? I aim to explore, as an amateur, some of those arguments without forcing a conclusion here in the post. Buckle up!
Judas in Hell
The case for Judas Iscariot being in hell is based on the traditional Christian belief that he betrayed Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and thereby committed a grave sin. Judas, one of the twelve, betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver (*before the betrayal, we see in Mark’s Gospel a woman from Bethany who pours her entire vile of nard on Jesus’ head that was estimated to be 300 denarii- one year’s worth of wages- which is contrasted to Judas accepting 30 pieces of silver which didn’t even equal half of what the woman sacrificed) and identified him to the authorities with a kiss, leading to Jesus' arrest, trial, and crucifixion.
It is believed that by betraying Jesus, Judas committed the ultimate act of treachery and showed contempt for the divine plan of salvation. Judas’ betrayal showed his lack of faith, as he chose money over his loyalty to Jesus. Judas' actions reject God's love and grace and embrace evil and sin.
Moreover, we also see that Judas later regretted his actions and tried to return the 30 pieces of silver he had been paid for betraying Jesus. However, his attempt at repentance was too late, and he ultimately hanged himself.
There seems to be somewhat of a line between some Christians who hold out hope for Judas' salvation based on the idea that God's mercy is infinite and that even the worst sinners can be forgiven. In contrast, many hold to the traditional view that Judas Iscariot is in hell because of his betrayal. The hell view is rooted in the concept of divine justice, which holds that sin must be punished and that those who reject God's love and grace will be condemned to eternal separation from Him.
Here are scriptures used to justify that Judas is in hell:
John 17:12 - In this passage, Jesus refers to Judas as the "son of destruction," which some interpret as a reference to his eternal destiny.
Acts 1:25 - In this passage, Peter refers to Judas as someone who "turned aside to go to his own place," which can be interpreted as a reference to his eternal destination in hell.
Matthew 26:24 - In this passage, Jesus says of Judas, "Woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born." A possible indication that Judas is eternally lost.
Psalm 41:9 - This Old Testament passage is sometimes seen as a prophecy of Judas' betrayal of Jesus and his subsequent punishment in hell.
Revelation 9:11 - In this passage, the angel of the abyss is referred to as "Abaddon" or "Apollyon," which can be interpreted as a reference to Judas as the one who betrayed Jesus and led him to destruction.
Judas in Heaven
The argument that Judas is in Heaven is based on several factors, including the possibility that he may have been acting under divine direction, that his actions were foretold in prophecy, and that his repentance, while not explicitly stated in the Bible, is still possible.
1st Argument: Judas may have been acting under divine direction, and his betrayal of Jesus was part of God's plan for the salvation of humanity. This view holds that God chose Judas to play the role of the betrayer and that his actions were necessary to fulfill the Old Testament prophecies that foretold the Messiah's suffering and death. In this interpretation, Judas is seen not as a villain but as a key player in the unfolding drama of salvation history.
2nd Argument: Judas' actions were foretold in prophecy, and his betrayal of Jesus was inevitable. Some biblical scholars (Susan Gubar, Thomas J. J. Altizer, Anthony F. Buzzard, Jeffrey Archer, and Francis J. Moloney) point to passages in the Old Testament, such as Psalm 41:9 and Zechariah 11:12-13, that seem to predict the betrayal of the Messiah by one of his followers. If Judas was fulfilling a predetermined role, he might not deserve condemnation.
Psalm 41:9 reads: "Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me." This verse is often seen as a prophetic foreshadowing of Judas' betrayal of Jesus, as it describes a close friend who turns against the psalmist.
Zechariah 11:12-13 describes a prophecy in which the Lord instructs the prophet to act as a shepherd over a flock of sheep, which represents the people of Israel. The Lord tells the prophet to take two staffs, one called "Favor" and the other called "Union," and to use them to shepherd the flock. However, the people reject the Lord's leadership, and the Lord instructs the prophet to take 30 pieces of silver and throw them to the potter in the house of the Lord. This is often seen as a prophecy of Judas' betrayal of Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.
3rd Argument: Judas may have repented of his actions before he died. While the Bible does not explicitly state that Judas repented, some believe his suicide may have been an act of despair rather than a deliberate rejection of God's mercy. If Judas did repent, God may have forgiven him and spared him eternal damnation.
What of Suicide
Christians have traditionally understood suicide as a sin because it involves taking one's own life, which is a gift from God (Imago Dei). Suicide is seen as an act of despair and a rejection of God's gift of life, which is meant to be cherished and protected.
Christians affirm that life is sacred and that each person has a unique purpose and calling from God. Suicide violates this sacred trust, rejecting God's plan for a person's life and failing to trust in God's love and mercy.
However, we should note that some denominations have more nuanced views on suicide. For example, the Roman Catholic Church distinguishes between suicide committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent, which is considered a mortal sin, and suicide committed in a state of mental illness or extreme emotional distress, which may mitigate the gravity of the sin.
Regardless of these nuances, the overwhelming majority in orthodox Christianity view suicide as a tragic and unacceptable loss of human life and emphasize the importance of providing spiritual, emotional, and mental health support for individuals who may be struggling with thoughts of suicide.
Three Commentators
Martin Luther
Martin Luther, the German theologian and key figure of the Protestant Reformation, had a complex view of Judas Iscariot. While he condemned Judas for his betrayal of Jesus, he also saw him as an example of God's mercy and a warning against the dangers of unbelief.
In his commentary on Matthew's Gospel, Luther described Judas as a "devilish man" who had "fallen into the most terrible sin of all, unbelief." He believed that Judas had rejected Jesus as the Messiah and had placed his trust in the love of money and worldly power. Luther emphasized that Judas' betrayal of Jesus was a deliberate and conscious act of disobedience and that he had freely chosen to reject God's offer of grace.
At the same time, Luther saw Judas' story as a powerful example of God's mercy and the importance of repentance. He believed that Judas had been given numerous opportunities to turn away from his sin and to embrace the truth of the Gospel but that he had stubbornly refused to do so. Nevertheless, Luther argued that Judas could have been forgiven if he had truly repented of his sin and placed his trust in Jesus Christ.
Luther's view of Judas Iscariot reflected his emphasis on the importance of faith and the dangers of unbelief. He saw Judas as a tragic figure who had rejected God's love and mercy and who served as a warning to all believers to guard against the temptation to turn away from God.
John Calvin
John Calvin, the influential theologian and pastor of the Protestant Reformation had a negative view of Judas Iscariot. He believed that Judas was an instrument of Satan and that he was motivated by greed and a love of money rather than by divine direction or a sense of duty.
In his commentary on Matthew's Gospel, Calvin wrote that Judas was a "man of monstrous perfidy (deceitfulness; untrustworthiness)" who "willingly betrayed Christ" for "the basest of reasons." He also rejected the idea that God chose Judas to play the role of the betrayer, arguing instead that Judas acted freely and that his actions resulted from his sinful nature.
At the same time, Calvin acknowledged the difficulty of understanding Judas' actions and the mystery of God's sovereignty in allowing them to happen. He wrote that "the wickedness of Judas is a labyrinth which it is impossible to penetrate" and that the fact that God allowed Judas to betray Jesus was "an incomprehensible example of his judgments."
Calvin's view of Judas Iscariot was shaped by his belief in the total depravity of human nature and his emphasis on the sovereignty of God. He saw Judas as a prime example of the fallenness of humanity and the need for God's grace and redemption.
Matthew Henry
Matthew Henry, the 18th-century English Presbyterian minister and commentator viewed Judas Iscariot as a warning against the dangers of greed and hypocrisy. In his commentary on Matthew's Gospel, Henry described Judas as a man with "a black heart and a dark mind" and was motivated by a love of money and a desire for power.
Henry believed that Judas' betrayal of Jesus was a deliberate and calculated act of malice and that he had knowingly and willfully handed Jesus over to his enemies. He emphasized that Judas' actions were not the result of divine direction or predetermined fate but rather his sinful nature and love of money.
At the same time, Henry saw Judas' story as a cautionary tale for all believers. He believed that Judas' hypocrisy and greed had led him down a path of destruction and that his story should warn against the dangers of materialism and unbelief. Henry also emphasized the importance of repentance and the need for believers to examine their own hearts and motivations continually.
Henry's view of Judas Iscariot reflected his belief in the importance of personal accountability and the dangers of succumbing to the world's temptations. He saw Judas as a tragic figure who had allowed his love of money to cloud his judgment and lead him down a path of destruction and who ought to serve as a warning to all believers to guard against the dangers of greed and hypocrisy.
Conclusion
I know, maybe more questions than answers, but I cannot say, at this time, with any real certainty whether Judas Iscariot (the betrayer) is in heaven or hell. I agree with the commentators that because of his hypocrisy, greed, lack of faith, and the ultimate rejection of God’s love, in the end, led him to a path of destruction. The crux is on repentance; it cannot be that there is salvation for those who commit high crimes against the Lord and never repent. There is no indication in the Bible that Judas repented and found salvation, yet the arguments for the affirmative position are primarily based solely on the goodness of the Lord. Still, I believe we ought not to concern ourselves too deeply over this matter but be those who confess and repent daily and trust in the sovereignty and goodness of our Holy God, who is faithful to keep His promises.
Follow the link to read an article on whether Judas had a choice or was predestined to betray Jesus: Click Here.