The kiss of Judas, also known as the Betrayal of Christ, is the act with which Judas identified Jesus to the multitude with swords and clubs who had come from the chief priests and elders of the people.
The kiss of Judas, also known as the Betrayal of Christ, is the act with which Judas identified Jesus to the multitude with swords and clubs who had come from the chief priests and elders of the people to arrest him, according to the Synoptic Gospels. The kiss is given by Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane after the Last Supper and leads directly to the arrest of Jesus by the police force of the Sanhedrin .
Within the life of Jesus in the New Testament, the events of his identification with hostile forces and subsequent execution are foreshadowed both when Jesus predicts his betrayal and, later, his death.
More broadly, a Judas kiss may refer to "an act appearing to be an act of friendship, which is harmful to the recipient."
In Christianity, the betrayal of Jesus is mourned on Spy Wednesday (Holy Wednesday) of Holy Week.
In the New Testament
Judas was not the only disciple of Jesus but one of the twelve Apostles. Most Apostles originated from Galilee, but Judas came from Judea. The gospels of Matthew (26:47–50) and Mark (14:43–45) both use the Greek verb ?ataf???? (kataphileó), which means to "kiss, caress; distinct from f??e?? (philein); especially of an amorous kiss." Plutarch uses the same verb to describe a famous kiss that Alexander the Great gave to Bagoas . The compound verb (?ata-) "has the force of an emphatic, pretentious salute." Lutheran theologian Johann Bengel suggests that Judas kissed Him repeatedly: "he kissed Him more than once in opposition to what he had said in the preceding verse: Greek: a single kiss (Matthew 26:48), and did so as if from kindly feeling."
According to Matthew 26:50, Jesus responded: "Friend, do what you are here to do." Luke 22:48 quotes Jesus saying, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"
Jesus' arrest follows immediately.
In liturgics
In the Divine Liturgy (religious ceremony) of Saint John Chrysostom, the Greek Orthodox Church uses the Troparion Of thy Mystical Supper.., in which the hymnist vows to Jesus that he will "...not kiss Thee as did Judas..."
Of Thy Mystic Supper receive me today, O Son of God, as a partaker; for I will not speak of the mystery to Thine enemies; I will not kiss Thee as did Judas; but as the thief, I will confess Thee: Lord, remember me in Thy kingdom. ?
Commentary
Justus Knecht comments on Judas' kiss, writing, He did not refuse his treacherous kiss: He suffered His sacred Face to be touched by the lips of this vile traitor, and He even called him: "Friend!" "I have always treated you as My friend," He meant to imply, "why therefore do you come now at the head of My enemies and betray Me to them by a kiss!" This loving treatment on the part of our Lord was to the ungrateful traitor a last hour of grace. Jesus gave him to understand that He still loved him despite his vile crime and was ready to forgive him.
Cornelius, a Lapide , in his great commentary, writes, Victor of Antioch says, "The unhappy man gave the kiss of peace to Him against whom he was laying deadly snares." "Giving," says pseudo-Jerome, "the sign of the kiss with the poison of deceit." Christ hated not but loved the traitor, grieved more at his sin than His betrayal, and strove to lead him to repentance. Moreover, though Christ felt deeply and was much pained at Judas's betrayal, He refused not his kiss and gave him a loving kiss in return.
1. "That He might not seem to shrink from treachery" (St. Ambrose in Luke 21:45), but willing to embrace it and even greater indignities for our sake.
2. To soften and pierce the heart of Judas; and
3. Teach us to love our enemies and those we know would rage against us (St. Hilary of Poitiers).
How would you react if someone called you a Judas?
Would you instantly assume you were being called a traitor? If so, you would not be alone in that assumption, as the association of the disciple Judas and treachery has been developed for centuries. Most readers of the Bible can all remember Judas as the betrayer of Jesus. However, how did Judas become so ingrained in the popular imagination as a villain over the last two thousand years? His long shadow begins with a kiss.
What is the significance of Judas betraying Jesus with a kiss?
Judas Iscariot was one of the original twelve disciples who followed and were taught by Jesus. Being in Jesus' "inner circle," Judas had a closer relationship with Jesus than most people during His ministry. Judas betrayed the Lord to the Jewish authorities. The pre-arranged signal was that the person Judas kissed was to be arrested and taken away (Mark 14:44). In this way, the Son of Man was betrayed with a kiss (Luke 22:48).
In the culture of first-century Israel, a kiss was not always a romantic expression of love; instead, a kiss on the cheek was a standard greeting, a sign of deep respect, honor, and brotherly love (see Luke 7:45; Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1Thessalonians 5:26; 1 Peter 5:14). For a student who had great respect for his teacher, a kiss fell well within the healthy expression of honor.
What stands out in the mode of Judas's betrayal is that Judas used such an intimate expression of love and respect to betray Jesus. Judas's actions were hypocritical in the extreme—his actions said, "I respect and honor you," at the exact time he was betraying Jesus to be murdered. Judas's actions illustrate Proverbs 27:6, "Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." Often, foes disguise themselves as friends. Evil often wears a mask to conceal its true purpose.
In Luke 22:3, we see that Satan entered Judas before Judas went to see the chief priests and set things up to betray Jesus. Satan possessed Judas in hopes of using him to destroy Jesus' ministry and get Him out of the way, and Satan used a kiss—a sign of affection—to unleash a surge of hatred. However, there is nothing the Evil One does that God does not know about or has complete control over. God allowed Satan to possess Judas and use him to betray Jesus deceptively and hypocritically to bring about our redemption. The betrayal was prophesied hundreds of years before its fulfillment (Psalm 41:9).
When a kiss betrayed Jesus, He identified with the troubles of David, who wrote, "If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were rising against me, I could hide. Nevertheless, it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, as we walked about among the worshipers" (Psalm 55:12–14). Job's emotional pain also foreshadowed Jesus' sorrow: "Those I love have turned against me" (Job 19:19). Once Judas gave the kiss, the deed was done. Jesus was betrayed into the government's hands to be crucified. Judas was "seized with remorse" (Matthew 27:3) over his actions. He gave the money back to the temple authorities and hanged himself out of guilt (verse 5).
Why Did Judas Kiss Jesus as He Betrayed Him?
In our culture today, a kiss might be associated with family love, or even romance. But a kiss in the culture of Israel at the time was a standard greeting — a simple expression of respect and brotherly love (Luke 7:45; Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:26; 1 Peter 5:14). A kiss on the cheek might be a hospitable greeting when a guest arrived or an acceptable way a student might show honor to a teacher.
Proverbs 27:6 could almost be written of Judas: "Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." However, such a kiss coming from Judas on the occasion of a betrayal was not only grievous, but it was also hypocritical. Judas, posing as the friend of Jesus, masked his true motivation. Betrayal is not uncommon in human history. David and Job also understood betrayal by family and friends (Psalm 55:12-14; Job 19:19).
On the one hand, Judas' kiss suggested honor and respect. After all, he followed Jesus for His three years of public ministry. On the other hand, the kiss was a pre-arranged signal to indicate that this was the person the officials sought. The kiss was the first step in the Lord's eventual crucifixion.
Why Did Judas Betray Jesus?
According to the apostle John, Jesus informed His disciples during the "Last Supper" that one of them would betray him. Likely shocked, they asked Jesus who it would be. Luke 22:3 and John 13:27 tell us Satan then "entered" Judas. Judas may have already hatched his wicked plan, but Satan gave the final push.
Judas may have been tempted by demons and took their bait until the Last Supper, when Satan entered him. Some suggest this entering by Satan was actual possession; others say it was tormenting spiritual oppression. Regardless, Satan purposed to get Jesus out of the way to try to stop God's plan of salvation, and Judas became a pawn in the adversary's hands.
That is not to say God had no control over the situation. God is completely sovereign in all His creation. God allowed the devil to possess Judas to bring about redemption — a fact prophesied in Psalm 41:9, hundreds of years before Judas' kiss.
However, what did Judas hope to get out of his act of betrayal? There are at least three possibilities. First, some scholars have suggested it was simply a matter of greed. He could have asked for anything from the religious leaders who wanted to capture Jesus—favors or even land—but he was a thief, so he wanted money. He had already pilfered the disciples' funds, and now he took the bribe – 30 pieces of silver.
Second, some believed it was a political move because, like many Jews, Judas was likely eager for an independent kingdom of Israel. Though Jesus seemed to have no interest in instigating rebellion against the Romans, perhaps Judas thought that if Jesus were put on trial, it would foster an insurrection.
Third, people saw such a rebellion as a potential threat to the Jews. They were frightened Jesus might instigate Rome's fury.
We cannot know why Judas betrayed Jesus, but Satan's plan reached far beyond the betrayer's understanding.
Why Did Jesus Choose Judas?
As already noted, Judas had a unique role during Jesus' ministry. He took charge of the finances, their "common purse." Some theologians suggest Jesus' choice to make Judas the treasurer was ironic since Judas was an immoral man — a thief. Judas probably wondered how much Jesus knew after his greed was called out.
From John 6:64, we know Jesus knew who was following Him from the beginning. However, why would Jesus choose a betrayer to be among His disciples?
In "Why Did Jesus Choose Judas?" John Piper suggested several reasons. First, Jesus chose Judas to fulfill Scripture (Psalm 41:9; John 13:18; Acts 1:16). "Scriptures cannot be broken, and God is in control," Piper said.
The betrayal was a horrific act, but Jesus chose Judas to show that "even horrific sins serve the saving purposes of God in his sovereign plan" — His saving plan (Acts 4:27-28).
Choosing Judas also illustrates that "time with Jesus and miracle-working are no proof of saving faith." Judas may have performed miracles like the other disciples (Matthew 10:1), but that was not evidence of salvation. Judas became a vivid illustration of the people in Matthew 7:22-23 who claimed to do "mighty works" in Jesus' name — but Jesus told them, "I never knew you."
In choosing Judas, Jesus reminds us that predestination and human accountability go hand in hand. Piper said: "God's sovereignty does not undermine human responsibility" (John 17:12; John 6:64-65; Matthew 27:4). Judas was accountable and guilty for his heinous act.
Finally, "the love of money is behind the worst sin in the world," Piper said. Judas shows how the love of money can blind us to what is valid and valuable. In focusing on money, he failed to see the true treasure Jesus was.
Did Judas Have a Choice?
Like Pilate, Judas made his own choice about betraying Jesus. Without getting into a lengthy discussion of God's foreknowledge, predestination, and power, God knew what Judas would do, and in His providence, God fulfilled the remarkable prophecy of Zechariah 11:12-13. The Bible also prophesied that Jesus' close friend would betray Him (Psalm 41:9).
Judas had no choice in the matter as soon as Satan entered him. The Old Testament prophesied that there would be a betrayer, and apparently, Judas was that man (Mark 14:17-21; Acts 1:16; Psalm 109:5-8). The Bible is clear that Judas was entirely responsible for his decision. It was a deliberate act. Once the authorities paid him, Judas "watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present" (Luke 22:6).
Some religious teachers speculate that Judas may have had a choice at the Last Supper when Jesus announced that someone would betray Him — that perhaps Judas had an opportunity to reconsider. Mark 14:21, speaking of Jesus, says, "the Son of Man goes as it is written of him." However, it offers this warning: "woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man!" Some have suggested that the would-be betrayer's actions were not set in stone at some point. But Judas did choose to betray the Lord.
Judas perhaps had another choice. After he completed his terrible deed, Judas felt regret. He could have turned to Jesus in true repentance, asking for forgiveness, but unlike proud Peter — who did repent after shamefully betraying Jesus (Matthew 26:33-35; Matthew 26:69-75) — Judas chose to kill himself.
What Happened to Judas?
Once the evil deed was done in the darkness of the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas was "seized with remorse" (Matthew 27:3). Perhaps he did not realize that the authorities meant to kill Jesus, but it was too late. With great regret, he tried to return the 30 silver coins to the chief priests and elders. "I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood" (v. 4). The authorities did not care about that. They had what they wanted; they took full responsibility for the betrayal of Judas.
Judas, the money-lover, threw the silver into the temple and left. Overcome by guilt, he hanged himself (Matthew 27:5). Acts 1:18 describes the gory scene. While some say this account sounds more like spontaneous combustion, Judas could have fallen from the hanging due to his weight and suffered devastating injuries. The chief priests, calling the 30 pieces of silver "blood money," bought a potter's field — the Field of Blood — as a burial place for foreigners. This fulfilled another prophecy (Matthew 27:7-9; Zechariah 11:12-13; Jeremiah 32:6-15).
Scholars speculate about Judas' ultimate fate. Is he going to be in heaven? There are many examples in art and literature that depict Judas' fate. Dante's Inferno, for instance, doomed Judas to the lowest circle in hell. Further, true believers cannot be demon possessed (1 John 5:18). John quoted Jesus as saying that none of those the Father gave him would be lost "except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled" (John 17:11-12). Jesus, knowing Judas would betray Him, told the disciples, "Ye are not all clean" (John 13:8-11).
Matt Slick at CARM — The Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry (CARM) — says it does not appear that Judas went to heaven, even though he was full of remorse over what he had done (Matthew 27:1-10). "The reason I say this is because of what Jesus said about him," In Matthew 26:24 and Mark 14:21, Jesus said it would be good for the betrayer not to have been born. Jesus referred to Judas when he said, "Did I not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?" John makes it clear that Satan possessed Judas.
What Personal Takeaways Can We Learn from This Passage?
The most important takeaway from this passage is how crucial it is to ensure one's salvation. Many professing Christians may very well be on their way to hell. Jesus warned about this in Matthew 7:21-23. Being a Christian is not the same as being found "in Christ." People can practice religion but still not know Jesus. Salvation is only available to those who come to God on His terms (Titus 3:5).
There is a second takeaway. It is too easy to condemn Judas without examining our hearts.
Hope Bolinger wrote regarding this: "What is especially important to take away is one of Jesus' last moments with Judas. Even though he knew Judas would betray him, he still washed Judas' feet before the Last Supper (John 13:4-11), an act of servitude. We can often rebuke Judas when we read what he did until we realize that we are Judas. We betrayed Jesus. Our sins led him to his death. However, Jesus chooses to wash our feet. To befriend us. Moreover, to ultimately save us."
Therefore, we should not be surprised that churches have problems and supposed "Christians" leave the faith. Acts 1:16-17 states that prophecy was fulfilled when Judas betrayed Christ.
Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. He was counted among us and received his portion in this ministry. Acts 1:16-17 (NASB)
Conclusion:
Why did Jesus choose Judas? The primary reason is to fulfill the prophecy. Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him. Jesus could have chosen someone else, but Scripture had to be fulfilled. This is an important lesson for Christians. Just because someone says they are a Christian does not mean they are a Christian. 1 John 2:19 teaches us that if someone leaves the faith, they are never a faithful Christian.
They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out so that it might be shown that they all are not of us. 1 John 2:19 (NASB)
Are you a true believer in Christ? If you are unsure, discover biblical verses that should help you determine if you are indeed a Christian at "Self Inventory Test – Determine if you are a Christian."
