Do you feel sorry for Judas?

[simonpeter]

Shalom,

While reading the gospel, do you ever feel sorry for Judas? I know he did a bad thing and all, but do you feel he was a good man who was tricked into doing a bad thing? A really evil and heartless man wouldn't have felt remorse - enough remorse to hang himself. An evil man would've enjoyed watching Jesus (or anyone else, for that matter) suffer; he wouldn't have felt so much regret and guilt.

Not supporting Judas or his actions, but was he really all that bad? All disciples betrayed Jesus, even Peter denied him. We're okay with that, yet we seem to be unforgiving with respect to Judas.

Simon

 

[radhead]

Sometimes I do.

But the other disciples certainly hated him. Which I've never understood, being the degree to which the Bible condemns him. But I'll take it on faith that he was as bad as it says he was.

I don't think he was tricked or anything.

 

[kingoffools13]

no such thing as a good man

None are good except God

Mark 10:18 (New American Standard Bible)

18And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.

as for your definitions of evil and an evil man not feeling bad ... say if he can be controlled to the level that he turns over his Lord and Savior, then the same dark force manipulating him can certainly send him into a self pity spiral and suicidal tenancies. No good about it.

now do I feel bad for him? sure, he is in the same boat I am. Its normal to empathize with people who have experienced some of the same things you have.

K
O
f

 

[brinny]

Shalom,

While reading the gospel, do you ever feel sorry for Judas? I know he did a bad thing and all, but do you feel he was a good man who was tricked into doing a bad thing? A really evil and heartless man wouldn't have felt remorse - enough remorse to hang himself. An evil man would've enjoyed watching Jesus (or anyone else, for that matter) suffer; he wouldn't have felt so much regret and guilt.

Not supporting Judas or his actions, but was he really all that bad? All disciples betrayed Jesus, even Peter denied him. We're okay with that, yet we seem to be unforgiving with respect to Judas.

Simon

yet he did not seek forgiveness, but was overcome with the tragedy of doing away with himself. Even in those last moments he did not turn to the One Who he knew could, and would, forgive him.

Peter loved Jesus and sought for, and received forgiveness. Judas NEVER loved Jesus. Jesus knew this.

 

[brinny]

no such thing as a good man

None are good except God

Mark 10:18 (New American Standard Bible)

18And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.

as for your definitions of evil and an evil man not feeling bad ... say if he can be controlled to the level that he turns over his Lord and Savior, then the same dark force manipulating him can certainly send him into a self pity spiral and suicidal tenancies. No good about it.

now do I feel bad for him? sure, he is in the same boat I am. Its normal to empathize with people who have experienced some of the same things you have.

K
O
f

actually you said it better than i could...

 

[GQ Chris]

No, because he made his decision.

 

[Marycita]

Judas really leaves my heart and head going back and forth...

but yes I do feel sorry for him...Especially when I read Matthew 27:1-5

1Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death. 2They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor. 3When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. 4"I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood."
"What is that to us?" they replied. "That's your responsibility."
5So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.





Whenever I read this I can't help but be pained for him...I get the feeling that he realized the bigness of what he did and was deeply sorry for it...but didn't see a way to return from that...and in that deep guilt, regret, and pain, decided to end it...I just...ugh...it's heartbreaking to me, yeah.

 

[white dove]

Shalom,

While reading the gospel, do you ever feel sorry for Judas? I know he did a bad thing and all, but do you feel he was a good man who was tricked into doing a bad thing? A really evil and heartless man wouldn't have felt remorse - enough remorse to hang himself. An evil man would've enjoyed watching Jesus (or anyone else, for that matter) suffer; he wouldn't have felt so much regret and guilt.

Not supporting Judas or his actions, but was he really all that bad? All disciples betrayed Jesus, even Peter denied him. We're okay with that, yet we seem to be unforgiving with respect to Judas.

Simon

Judas is one man in the Bible that has intrigued me and left me really wondering about him and what really went on in his head during his time with Christ and up to his subsequent suicide. Why? Because like you said, he is so looked down upon (labeled a traitor) and yet, how many of us have "kissed" Jesus while in the midst of a betrayal you know? How many of us have praised the Lord with our lips, turned around and gossipped about another? He was the ultimate hypocrite and yet... how many of us have deserved the label of hypocrite? It's terrible, but I feel that Judas is one of the more honest characters in the Bible. Honest because that could easily be any one of us. And I think one of the reasons why he exists is to show us how terribly things can end up if we don't watch it. He was a man stripped naked in a sense, someone whose intentions (greed) and ignorance are there for the world to see. Also, you know that at some point - some significant point - in his walk with Christ (he quite literally walked with Him), he lost faith... maybe he never had it and was just following through the motions. But, as it's been pointed out, he regretted his decision which means that something about Jesus Christ stuck with him, though not enough to realize forgiveness could've been his had he asked. There is so much to assume about this man, but I think he is an important character.

 

[Blank123]

I do and I don't. He made the choice. It wasn't something, and this is where Calvinists tend to throw rotten tomatoes at me, that he was forced to do.

At the same time, I feel badly for anyone who feels so lost and hopeless that they think suicide was the only way out. Had he really recognized the significance of who Christ was and what His death on the cross entailed, I'm sure he would have been beating a path to the tomb to seek His forgiveness and He would have gotten it. but he chose worldly sorrow over Godly sorrow.

 

[lostaquarium]

no such thing as a good man

None are good except God

Mark 10:18 (New American Standard Bible)

18And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.

as for your definitions of evil and an evil man not feeling bad ... say if he can be controlled to the level that he turns over his Lord and Savior, then the same dark force manipulating him can certainly send him into a self pity spiral and suicidal tenancies. No good about it.

now do I feel bad for him? sure, he is in the same boat I am. Its normal to empathize with people who have experienced some of the same things you have.

K
O
f

Perfect answer

 

[seeking.IAM]

If Jesus' death and resurrection was essential for our salvation, was Judas part of God's plan?

I think it was one of Kazantzakis' books (either The Last Temptation of Christ or The Greek Passion) that posits that Judas was chosen for his special mission essential for the salvation of mankind.

 

[Inkachu]

I don't agree with the OP's assessment of the overall picture, and I don't appreciate the whole "we" thing; the OP doesn't speak for me, he speaks for himself and that's it.

But yes, I do feel great pity for Judas; however, God is perfect and righteous, and the eternal outcome is His to decide.

 

[Oddish]

Judas was not a good man, he wasn't even repentant. Remember that he had been guilty before his traitorous act, he was a theif who lusted after money.

Read this JUDAS ISCARIOT

 

[Oddish]

John 13:27 "As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. "What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him".

Do you think that Satan actually entered and took hold of Judas?

 

[Nom De Guerre]

I often think of this particular scripture when thinking about Judas:

Isaiah 45:7(NIV)

I form the light and create darkness,
I bring prosperity and create disaster;
I, the LORD, do all these things.

(KJV):

7I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Judas was sent for a reason, he fulfilled that reason; do I feel sorry for Judas, naturally. I don't condemn him like many people do, and I don't reject him either; his acts were Gods.

 

[Oddish]

Interesting point that I have never noticed before is that all the other disciples called Jesus Lord and Son of God, but Judas never did..he called him rabbi instead.

 

[Oddish]

If Judas was really repentant of what he did, he would have appealed to God for forgiveness. He killed himself before Jesus came back, but did he not hear Jesus talk of his resurrection beforehand? He had no faith.

 

[Niels]

No, but I do feel sorry for Pontius Pilate.

 

[Nom De Guerre]

Everything happens for a reason, and just as Yeshua was born to save the world Judas was born for a reason; I'm sure with the possession of Judas, much of what was sanity became twisted and reality heavily distorted. What God did with Judas after his death was/is up to Him, and, thankfully, I'm glad humans aren't in-charge of that decision.

 

[Oddish]

Yes, but it says in the Bible that he was doomed for eternal punishment. None of us are passing judgement, God was the one who judged him and we know what Jesus thought of him. He had many opportunities to follow Jesus, he saw miracles - people being healed and demons driven out - and he still didn't give his heart to God. I hate the idea of someone suffering eternally in Hell, and yes I do feel pity for anyone who has to endure it but that is the way it is and I trust that God knows what he is doing.