The Judas Controversy
A few thoughts about the Judas betray controversy: In the Matt 27:1-10 [1] When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. [2] And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor. [3] Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, [4] saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." And they said, "What [is that] to us? You see [to it!"] [5] Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself. [6] But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood." [7] And they consulted together and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. [8] Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. [9] Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, [10] "and gave them for the potter's field, as the LORD directed me." account, it’s mentioned that Judas is: 1. Remorseful, 2. Returns the money 3. Throws it into the temple 4. Calls Christ…“innocent” and 5. Then, hangs himself. Why did Matthew mention all of this?
From an American or even post-Augustinian (Catholic) view point, there is shame only in suicide. A quick search of Middle Eastern suicide will yield a portion of a paper by Caroline Whelan called “Suicide in the Ancient World: A Re-Examination of Matthew 27:3-10 [3] Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, [4] saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." And they said, "What [is that] to us? You see [to it!"] [5] Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself. [6] But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood." [7] And they consulted together and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. [8] Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. [9] Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, [10] "and gave them for the potter's field, as the LORD directed me." ” - found here . She draws out some points about the shame/honor mindset of suicide from a ancient perspective that helps with understanding Judas’ actions. Did he kill himself out of guilt, or act out of shame - a more honorable motive? Although I’m not sure I agree with her conclusions about Matthew’s ‘literary insertions’, she concludes that Matthew uses language to point the reader to the latter (shame/honor motive) in order to draw attention to the greater wickedness of the Chief Priests and Elders.
The result is that we tend view Judas in Matt’s account very negatively and as a result…I think we miss the emphasis Matthew is making. The wickedness of the Chief Priest and Elders. This doesn’t change my view that there is no contradiction or problem between the two accounts (Matt 27 and Acts 1:18(Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. ). As we read in class, Josh McDowell does a good job describing the geographical terrain and provides a fine explanation.
In thinking further about the potter’s field purchase issue, I’ll offer this: Is it unreasonable to say that Judas provided the means for buying the field, and the Chief Priest and Elders ‘bought’ the field? Regarding the Acts 1:18(Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. account - The Geneva bible footnotes that Luke is emphasizing that ‘a man has done himself wrong’ by his actions. Not that he intended to buy a field…
By the way, Matthew 27:9Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, ,10 quotes from two prophets and quotes only one. What’s up with this? There are two different prophecies being fulfilled here, Jeremiah 32:6-8 [6] And Jeremiah said, "The word of the LORD came to me, saying, [7] 'Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you, saying, "Buy my field which [is] in Anathoth, for the right of redemption [is] yours to buy [it."] ' [8] "Then Hanamel my uncle's son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the LORD, and said to me, 'Please buy my field that [is] in Anathoth, which [is] in the country of Benjamin; for the right of inheritance [is] yours, and the redemption yours; buy [it] for yourself.' Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD. , which deals with the real estate purchase and Zechariah 11:12Then I said to them, "If it is agreeable to you, give [me] my wages; and if not, refrain." So they weighed out for my wages thirty [pieces] of silver. the 30 pieces of payola. Matthew attributes both portions of the prophecy to Jeremiah (don’t get nervous) Quotations were identified by the name of the first book of the group. Matthew combines both prophecies and names Jeremiah because he was the major prophet and foretold what Matthew intended to stress - the purchase of the field.
Comments
Re: The Judas Controversy
Here's a critical piece I discovered this morning:
From the 'Complete Biblical Library' commentary of Acts 1:18(Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. . "The incident can be better understood better by recognizing that hanging by a rope was not a common practice in ancient times. The two common methods of hanging were crucifixion and impalement through the middle of the body over a sharp stake, Judas of course, could not nail himself to a cross. But he could set up a sharp stake and fall headlong over it with the result described here."
So as far as a rope hanging, a rotted bloated body exploding....nope.
Re: The Judas Contraversy
I am content to "rest" in the fact that the two accounts of Judas describe different details of the same event. It is good to be challenged though in digging deeper to further understand our christian apologetical stance.
I mentioned last night in class that I wondered if the original language brought out a cause of death. I dug around on the net and found that the greek word "apagchw" means to successfully hang oneself. I find it interesting that this is not the word used in Matthew 27:5Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself. but rather "apagcho" and this is the only place it is used in the new testament.
It is used though in 2 Samuel 17:23 but notice that in this passage the phrase "and died" is added to note a successfull hanging.
My speculation is that Judas put the rope around his neck and jumped causing a branch/rope to break and fell headlong on jagged rocks or the hanging was unsuccessful and he fell upon an object that impaled him causing him to burst open....either way I lean more toward the bursting open as the cause of death.
Re: The Judas Controversy
BTW.....Here is the source I used
Re: The Judas Controversy
I don't think we can ignore the isogogic of common methods of the time, namely, jumping onto a jagged rock or crucifixion.
Re: The Judas Controversy
Burst asunder: greek word: lascho "Las -kho" :To crack open from a fall.
Fascinating that when you dig into the original, it is a whole lot different than you thought.
The next one I have had is Hebrews 12:9Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected [us,] and we paid [them] respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? I have always had the phrase we have all had human fathers who disciplined us...(NIV) well, no we all have not. All is not there. Only in NIV. Just when I thought I understood something, I learn it is different.
If it's all Greek to you, let's learn Greek.
Re: The Judas Controversy
Sometimes in the study of the scriptures we can get so intent on a detail of translation that we can't see the forest for the trees. By that I don't mean to imply that exegesis and isogogics are not important because they most certainly are, rather that there may be a more important lesson in the suicide of Judas than the gory details of how the deed was done.
I think that the lesson to be learned in reading about the suicide of Judas is this: Here was a man who lived with the incarnate Savior for 3 solid years. He was a first hand witness to His teaching, to His miracles, to His compassion, and to His unconditional love for the lost, yet he never really knew Jesus. So wrapped up in himself that he could never allow the Lord to break through his shell and set him free, he was left with no recourse but take his own life when he realized that he had been used by Satan and Satan had no more use for him.
I think sometimes we see parallel behavior in the lives of both believer's and unbelievers and, perish the thought, even in our own lives. How often do we become so enthralled with our own plans and preconceptions of what God should or shouldn't do, what others should or shouldn't do, and what we should or shouldn't do that, when God finally shatters those misconceptions and shows us that what He has in mind is a bloody cross, we nearly self-destruct in a frenzy of remorse, self-condemnation, doubt, and depression?
I think that Judas saw in Jesus' eyes when he betrayed him in the garden the same thing that Peter saw when Jesus looked at him in Luke 22:61And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." . Peter saw the heart of Jesus and was convicted to tears; Judas saw his own heart and committed suicide. Let us purpose to always see the heart of God, no matter how much the circumstances in which we find ourselves may tempt us to focus on ourselves. It may make the difference between a martyr's cross and a suicide's tree.
My 2¢
Re: The Judas Controversy
Great thoughts guys.
Re: The Judas Controversy
Wow! Powerfull thought! Focus is everything.
"looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest yo u become weary and discouraged in your souls." (Heb 12:2-3 [2] looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of [our] faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. [3] For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. )
Judas' consideration of himself (instead of Christ) caused him to become weary and discouraged.
Because we take the time to study Canonicity we can place assured faith in the application.
Re: The Judas Controversy
Just re-reading this thread, I think there were some excellent thoughts!