The image of Judas Iscariot I have portrayed so far may seem unfamiliar. Traditionally, he is described as someone who betrayed Jesus for money and then committed suicide out of guilt. However, this explanation alone leaves many questions unanswered, and over time, various interpretations of his motives have emerged. Before exploring these perspectives, let us first consider the motive most often attributed to him: money.
In the temple, one shekel of Tyrian silver was valued at about four denarii. Thus, thirty shekels would be equivalent to 120 denarii—roughly four months’ wages for a common laborer. While this is a considerable sum, it is worth noting that a scribe’s weekly salary was about 12 denarii. If Judas had been a scribe, he could have earned this amount in about ten weeks (sixty working days, not counting Sabbaths). Additionally, the price of a typical cloak (tallit) was around 12 denarii, while a luxurious cloak for the wealthy could cost between 100 and 200 denarii. This puts the value of thirty shekels into perspective, showing that it was not as substantial as it might initially seem.
In the mid-first century AD, the price of two doves—the offering of the poorest—rose to the equivalent of one gold denarius (or 25 silver denarii). Considering all these factors, it becomes clear that the money Judas received for betraying Jesus was not as extraordinary as is often perceived. Furthermore, since Judas had previously been in charge of the money bag (John 12:6), if money had been his sole objective, it would have been more advantageous for him simply to continue managing the funds.
For these reasons, since the earliest days of Christianity, there has been a sense that, while Scripture explicitly mentions money as a motive for Judas’s betrayal, it was unlikely to be the only reason. This has led to various interpretations of his character. For example, the "Gospel of Judas," which is part of the New Testament apocrypha and was circulated among a small group of Gnostics, suggests that Judas was the first to understand the truth and betrayed Jesus under his instruction. However, this narrative was regarded as unorthodox and contrary to the biblical account from the start.
Other explanations propose that Judas was one of the most insightful of the disciples and acted based on his understanding of Jesus’s teachings. There are also political interpretations, which focus on Judas’s possible hopes for dramatic change. One theory is that Judas followed Jesus believing he would transform the world, but became disillusioned when Jesus showed no such intent. This theory splits into two branches: one where Judas betrayed Jesus out of genuine disappointment, and another where he expected Jesus to take action if he were betrayed.
The ambiguity surrounding Judas’s motives has inspired numerous works of literature, theater, and film. My aim is to explain Judas’s story based on the biblical account while also suggesting another possible motive: the desire for recognition and elevation. The disciples were all eager to rise in stature, and this feeling can be central to the narrative.
In any case, it is a fact that Judas was chosen from the beginning to play the role of betraying Jesus. This may have been because of his thoughts and actions before he was chosen as one of the twelve apostles, or it may have happened even when he had done nothing at all. We cannot know for certain. Still, one thing we must remember is that God does not use someone who is good and has repented to commit evil. Of course, since no one is completely good, even someone dearly loved by God, like David, can fall into sin and commit evil acts. But God never uses someone who has already repented and been made clean to do evil. I hope you will keep this in mind.
I have also approached Judas’s suicide from a different perspective. My intention is not to elaborate further here, as it is fully covered in the text. However, I wanted to briefly share my personal reflections on whether his suicide was part of God’s plan. This content includes my own thoughts and should not be considered strictly biblical.
I think that the words of Jesus, who said that Judas would suffer judgment, and Peter’s statement in Acts that his death was the fulfillment of prophecy, do not necessarily mean that these things had to be realized through suicide. Because of this, I have considered a slightly different way in which the prophecy could be fulfilled. The God I believe in is one who never takes pleasure in the death of even the most grievous sinner, and I wanted to portray that kind of God.
By saying this, I am not suggesting that the account in Acts is incorrect. Ultimately, the outcome aligns with the biblical narrative. My point is simply that if Judas had made different choices, the biblical record might have been different—perhaps one where Judas repented and lived.
Of course, Judas’s death could still be seen as a predetermined judgment. God desires sinners to repent, but He does not wait indefinitely. Humans are destined to die, and judgment follows. If Judas did not repent before his death, his demise could be seen as a judgment from God, with the responsibility for his actions falling on himself. Reflecting on the parable of the barren fig tree may shed further light on this idea.
