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Why did Judas betray Jesus?

The Gospels name greed and Satan’s influence — yet neither erases Judas’ responsibility. What finally separated Judas from Peter was not the size of their sins but where each carried his failure: one to despair, the other back to Christ.

The motive the Gospels record: money

John states it flatly: Judas "was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein" (John 12:6) — he had been skimming the disciples’ common purse. He went to the chief priests himself and asked, "What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you?" — and they weighed out thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15), the compensation price of a slave (Exodus 21:32). Three years of walking beside Jesus, and another master still sat on the throne of his heart.

Satan’s part — and Judas’ own

"Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot" (Luke 22:3). Yet Scripture never lets that fact excuse him: "woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born" (Matthew 26:24). Divine plan and human responsibility run side by side throughout the Bible — the cross was ordained, but the betrayer chose his role. Satan enters through doors already left open: "Neither give place to the devil" (Ephesians 4:27).

Judas and Peter — remorse versus repentance

The same night, two disciples collapsed: Peter denied Jesus three times; Judas sold Him. Judas even "repented himself," returned the silver, and confessed, "I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood" (Matthew 27:3-4) — then went and hanged himself. Peter wept bitterly, and carried his failure back to the risen Christ, who restored him (John 21). "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death" (2 Corinthians 7:10). The lesson of Judas is not "look at that villain" — it is a question: when you fall, where will you go?

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