Matthew 27:3-4 (KJV) The Unbelieving Character

Matthew 27:3-4 (KJV)
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. 

Too much should not be made of the fact that Jesus once insinuated that Judas was “a devil.”[1] Remember he also once called Peter Satan.  Judas was a man. He was deceived by the devil and, though obviously close to Christ, was missing some part of faith the other Apostles possessed. Though Judas “repented himself,” the true unbelieving character of this man is seen in:

• His conspiring to betray Christ 
• His carrying out of the deed and
• His killing himself rather than facing the terrible consequences of His sin.

Could Judas have been forgiven and saved had he had godly repentance and faced his crime? That is left to speculation. I do know that many a professing believer has proved that theirs was a false faith by turning from Christ and, not having the character to face their wrong, never returned. Contrarily, many a true believer has proved the genuineness of their profession by, having done some gross and heinous crime against Christ, confessed it,

suffered through the consequences and returned to live for the Lord.

[1] As a point of interest, Adam Clarke wrote of this passage, “There is much of the wisdom and goodness of God to be seen in this part of Judas’s conduct. Had our Lord been condemned to death on the evidence of one of his own disciples, it would have furnished infidels with a strong argument against Christ and the Christian religion. “One of his own disciples, knowing the whole imposture, declared it to the Jewish rulers, in consequence of which he was put to death as an impostor and deceiver.” But the traitor, being stung with remorse, came and acknowledged his crime, and solemnly declared the innocence of his Master, threw back the money which they gave him to induce him to do this villainous act; and, to establish the evidence which he now gave against them and himself, in behalf of the innocence of Christ, hanged himself, or died through excessive grief and contrition. Thus the character of Christ was rescued from all reproach.”

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Matthew 27:3-4 (KJV) The Unbelieving Character

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