Confusion Over Judas Iscariot's Death
Posted: Wednesday, December 03, 2008
by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html
We have discussed in other articles, some of the reasons that cause certain verses to appear to contradict another. There are several reasons for it. Often there is a difference in time, sometimes a lot of difference. Dialects change over time in many places and this can cause some confusion. Some scriptures are written by people whose language was entirely different to that of someone else who may have written about the same thing. Sometimes one person will be explaining a portion of an event while another emphasizes a different portion.
"God reveals Himself in his word, as He does in His works. In both we see a self-revealing, self-concealing God, who makes Himself known only to those who earnestly seek Him; in both we find stimulants to faith and occasions for unbelief; in both we find [supposed] contradictions, whose higher harmony is hidden, except from him who gives up his whole mind in reverence; in both, in a word, it is a law of revelation that the heart of man should be tested in receiving it; and that in the spiritual life, as well as in the bodily, man must eat his bread in the sweat of his brow."
I believe that statement to be true and scripture bears it out. There are far too many scriptures whose meanings are not immediately comprehended by almost everyone. Plus, we have a number of instances where it says almost the same things that scholar Haley says above.
Proverbs 8:17 " I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will l find me." (Emphasis added-JHH)NKJV)
Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. " (Emphasis added-JHH)(KJV)
When there are verses which appear different or contradictory, there are those who are seeking to find those differences and are elated to think they were right. Then there are those of us who have utmost confidence in the Holy Scriptures that they are inerrant, infallible. When we find something that appears amiss, our first and foremost thought is, what is the explanation for this? And then we seek to find the answer.
Another case which has two short, different explanations is that of Judas Iscariot. For those who are very short of knowledge in the scripture, Judas Iscariot was one of Jesus' original twelve chosen apostles and he was chosen for a specific reason. God the Father and Jesus himself knew the hearts so well, they knew that this Judas would betray Jesus. And we have record of his doing that in Matthew 26:14-16
"Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him."
We then know that he did so while Jesus and his apostles were in the garden. But afterward, a strange thing happened which we read in Matthew 27:3-5
"Then 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, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in."
All of this is in plain language and can readily be understood. Let us look a little further when the apostles were gathered in Jerusalem after Jesus had requested them to do so. There were about 120 people gathered with the apostles. While waiting, Peter talked to them concerning the fact that they were now one apostle short of the twelve that Jesus chose. Here is what he said about Judas Iscariot.
"Men 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. For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. Now 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." (Acts 1:14-16)
Although these two scriptures read entirely different, there is complete harmony here. One writer told of a portion of the death and the other told another portion. Notice also, that Peter refers to Judas as having purchased a field with the reward of iniquity. Of course it is known that he did not personally purchase the field but nevertheless, that is what he unwittingly did with the money. Also, without hanging himself, how would he have fallen down and burst asunder? One scholar who had been to Jerusalem and had seen the place where he was, explained it very well. He said that the hillside was steep and terraced with stones, some places the stoned walls were as much as thirty feet high. He concluded that it could very well have been that after Judas hanged himself, that he could have fallen and easily burst asunder.
The Bible has, time and again, been accused of recording something wrong, only to be shown accurate. It is these types of showing it's accuracy under shadow of doubt that convinces the involved student of it's inspiration.
We need to pray daily that God will reveal His mysteries to us as we study.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Yes, this is what I find so fascinating. I have thought about Judas' betrayl before and came to the same conclusion. Jesus needed to be betrayed. And then I wondered if Judas was the adversary; as in Job, but then I realised that Jesus knew his heart as a human being, and chose him because he had this weakness. It was his nature to betray for money.You're right. This is similar to the Pharaoh which ruled when God brought the Israelites out of Egypt. God knew his heart would be hardened by everything God did so he kept making the plagues worse until he did let them go. But even then, he hardened his heart and chased them into the sea.
Hi, Joel, I enjoyed all of this article very much. The words of John W. Haley--will try to learn more about his work--and the expression "self-revealing and self-concealing God" set the tone. We serve a great and merciful and living God.Hi Jane, thanks for reading and commenting. I agree that Haley's remarks were very meaningful. I'm not familiar with his background but I do have his book and it is absolutely great.It is paperback and doesn't cost much, at most Christian bookstores. I've forgotten what I paid but less than $10.00 I believe although it has been some time ago and it might be a little higher now.
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