I her blog last week Gchyayles did a post about Judas Iscariot. I looked up his life in Wikipedia, and found there was some controversy about what the Bible says about his death. In Mathew 27:3-5 it says he hung himself. In Acts 1:16-19 it says he fell and “brust asunder”, which sound more like an accident.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judas_Iscariot
What is your view on these two apparently different version?
If Judas did die in a fall then couldn’t he have repented his sins before his death and been saved?
Acts 1:16-19
16Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
17For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
18Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
19And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.
Mathew 27:3-5
3Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
5And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
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November 7, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Indian Lake Papa
No one knows what Judas’ last thoughts were – no one. He was remorseful at one point but that is not repentance. Repentance suggests turning back or away from – a change of heart. The two stories, by most scholars, do not contradict each other. Some think that he hung himself by a tree limb that may have broke over a cliff and that he fell to the field and guts burst out. The other theory is that he may have been left hanging long enough to rot and that his body literally burst from rotting. There are questions because we don’t have all the information, but the two different accounts may be just different parts of the same incident. When you and I die Ed, hopefully you and I both will get to ask Christ about this. Then we can tell mama when she gets there. She will be very disappointed if your not there.
November 9, 2009 at 8:36 pm
edfromct
I think you are right Papa that while Judas was remorseful, in committing suicide he did not demonstrated a willingness to repent for his sins.
All the articles I have read so far about Judas’s death conclude, as you say, that Judas did commit suicide.
Since the accounts in both Acts and Mathew are secondhand it should not be surprising that they are some differences in the details.
I would be great to spend eternity with good friends like you and Mama. I am confident however that we will only live in the memories of our loved ones. Hopefully they will be smiling when they think of us.
November 7, 2009 at 10:32 pm
gchyayles
I am learning a little more about Judas in my study (thank you again Debs for inspiring me to do it). I do believe Judas committed suicide because the Word says he hung himself (the Word is my only source
Some things that stand out is that if Judas believed that Jesus was truly the Christ he would not have committed suicide. He was remorseful but repentance and ultimately a belief in Christ would not have led to suicide it would have led to reconciliation like it did with Peter. Essentially Peter betrayed Jesus too but he repented and sought Jesus after the resurrection and reconciled with Him.
I still have questions such as wasn’t Judas covered under the law before salvation existed therefore going to Heaven? It seemed he was religious and those who believed in God were covered under the law before Jesus died and rose again. Or because he lived through Jesus’ time/teaching of salvation and chose to commit suicide knowing Jesus was coming again to save him and all others from sin it was different and he really wasn’t “eligible’ for Heaven because he didn’t believe.
I have more but still trying to sort it all through my head to really know the truth.
Thanks for following up on my post Ed.
Love and blessings.
November 8, 2009 at 11:47 pm
gchyayles
You know the more I think about it the more I wonder if it really matters. What purpose would it serve for believers to know whether or not Judas was saved? I believe God wants us to be concerned with our salvation first and foremost and then do as He directs to spread the good news of salvation to those who do not know about it so more people can be saved. Even in that there’s a balance. We’re not responsible for anyone else’s salvation but we do have a responsibility to share. I read in a grief book after my Daddy died that God does not want us to be burdened by whether or not someone was saved once they are gone because that is not our burden to carry at that point. Well it isn’t our burden/responsibility even when they are alive but again there is a responsibility to share as God leads.
Maybe it bothers me that some people use Judas’ salvation or lack thereof for that matter to manipulate/fear people into either believing, or if they do believe, to adjust some type of sinful behavior.
Don’t know if that makes sense? I think God has revealed enough for me to fulfill my “curiosity” for lack of a better term because that’s really why I wanted to know but I have peace with moving on and not being too concerned about it anymore.
LOL not that you wanted to know all that Ed but I just had a revelation concerning that so I thought I’d share
November 9, 2009 at 8:51 pm
edfromct
When you write about “The Word” is this a term for a specific version of the Bible, or just a general term for the Bible.
You are right that if Judas had been truly repentant he would not have committed suicide. He would have devoted the rest of his life to service of God, as Peter did.
I don’t think Judas can be called a Christ Follower since he treats Jesus as a man, and not the Son of God. He may have been a devoted follower of Jesus, the man, not Jesus the Son of God. Judas by his suicide showed he did not believe in the redemption of sinners.
As a disciple of Jesus he may have repeated what he was taught with his mouth, but it would not seem this is what he believed in his heart.
November 9, 2009 at 10:46 am
Debs
G: I believe every story and word in the Bible is there for a purpose. It was very important to me to see how God used someone who was not saved to fulfill His purposes, He knows no bounds. I have learned a ton from studying Judas, and now I can help others with that. That is always my purpose in any story in the Bible. I’m glad your curiosity is solved
I think the other thing we need to remember is, where God has a believer or non-believer at a particular time in their walk always needs to be respected. What is important to one at a particular time, may not be to another. It doesn’t make it equally important to investigate and share 
ED:! Sheesh… You keep me on my toes!!! Thanks
If you continue a little further in the Matthew 27 scripture it says, that the chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” They decided that they were going to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners….which is why it is called the Field of Blood to this day…..
Judas hung himself in the potters field, and after his body had decayed and bloated, obviously the rope broke and he burst into pieces on the land of the potters field as it says in Acts 1:18-19. This passage enforces to me that he was hanging, only decomposition and a fall from a height could cause a body to burst open in this way. Gee I hope you’re not having breakfast…
November 9, 2009 at 9:46 pm
edfromct
Watching bodies decaying, and being hacked apart on TV shows, like CSI, while eating dinner, I have long since got over being squeamish.
My father, a veteran of WWII and open heart surgery, was so upset at the sight of blood he once fainted while listening to an operation on a radio show.
Your explanation of how Acts and Mathew fit together agrees with the other articles I have read. From one article:
“Judas hanged himself on Passover and before a Sabbath, and no Jew was going to touch the hanging corpse so it is safe to assume that Judas hung himself and that the branch or rope eventually broke.”
Both Acts and Mathew are second hand accounts. I wouldn’t expect them to agree 100%.
November 10, 2009 at 9:23 pm
gchyayles
I absolutely agree that every story has a purpose and I also receive that God can use believer and unbeliever alike to accomplish His will (I have seen that time and time again with my family!) I was just saying that I went through my study with God and when I came to a place of peace it didn’t matter to me anymore whether Judas in particular was saved. I still know and believe that God can use unbelievers to accomplish His will and I still believe that the story served a purpose but I don’t believe the question of his salvation is meant to become a burden or take up more than it did when I stopped pursuing it as much is all I was saying
November 11, 2009 at 12:48 am
edfromct
Your are right gchyayles the story of Judas is only one of many in the Bible. Once you get whatever guidance you can from it, it’s time to move on another.
November 11, 2009 at 11:33 am
Michelle
Yesterday I was reading my pocket book of John while waiting for a spinal tap and came across this passage (which reminded me I had yet to comment on your Bible study posts):
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. ~John 13:6-11
So…was Judas “saved” or clean before the Lord? No. Could he have repented before he committed suicide? Yes. He could have and only God knows the answer to that question.
I thought it was an interesting passage and made me think of this comment thread, although I realize I’m not even talking about the original question.
I do believe Judas hung himself and all that gross talk about splitting open is only a further description of the same event. Very sad.
November 11, 2009 at 10:15 pm
edfromct
Michelle I hope your exam went well. I know you have been dealing with severe vertigo, and hope you find the right treatment for it. It does seem like we are guinea pigs when it comes to finding the right combination of meds.
Jesus knew that Judas in his heart Judas did not have faith in him as the Son of God.
The lesson in the story of Judas is that he could have redeemed himself if he had devoted the rest of his life to God, instead of committing suicide. Also, as you say, only God could see into Judas heart.
November 12, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Michelle
I won’t know the results of the spinal for a couple of weeks yet. I am hoping this is the last of the invasive tests!! Although, I do need a cane now and a motorized scooter for long distances…and no more driving until the vertigo is gone…still, I’m feeling fairly well. I’m able to draw and that keeps me busy.
I wanted to comment on this statement: The lesson in the story of Judas is that he could have redeemed himself…
I feel I need to address it because it is the point of difference in Christianity compared to all other religions. We are unable to redeem ourselves which is why we need a Redeemer. We can’t “buy” ourselves back from the punishment we deserve. Only Jesus was able to do that for us…in our place. It’s the meaning of the word “propitiation”. He is the substitute for all of the world and we gain salvation only in believing that’s what He did on the cross for us.
Any works I might do after believing come from a devotion to Him. To try to add to His work by doing “good works” only nullifies the gift. I will do good works through His Spirit, but it’s not a payment for salvation. That is free through faith.
I just felt I needed to clarify. So many don’t understand that point and it’s the reason for all the extra “rules” that Christ did not put on us.