Introduction: Modern film makers have sought to explain why Judas would betray Jesus, and invariably they seek to justify his actions. They say that he was really a noble, patriotic Jew, and was simply trying to push Jesus into declaring Himself to be the Messiah a little quicker. They say he believed Jesus would deliver Himself miraculously when they tried to arrest Him, and make Himself King of Israel. Then Judas would happily reign at His side. This is pure Hollywood, and a bunch of nonsense! Let's look at the Bible to see what sort of man Judas was, and why he betrayed Jesus:

I. Judas was a real apostle, chosen and given miraculous powers by Jesus (Matthew 10:1-4).

A. Remember that a person's ability to do miracles does NOT prove he is from God (Deut. 13:1-4).
B. Take note that a person with great spiritual advantages can turn away from God.

1. Satan himself is an example.
2. The Jews of Jesus' time are an example (Hebrews 6:4-8).
3. "Let him that thinketh he stands take heed lest he fall" (I Corinthians 10:12).

II. Judas was chiefly motivated by greed.

A. He lusted for money (John 12:4-6).
B. He betrayed Jesus because he wanted 30 pieces of silver (about $300 in today's money). See Matthew 26:6-16. Contrast Judas and Mary, who was willing to "waste" a year's salary on Jesus.
C. "The love of money is the root of all evil." I Timothy 6:6-10

III. Judas was a liar.

A. He lied about caring for the poor (John 12:4-6).
B. He lied to Jesus' face about betraying him(Matthew 26:25).
C. He lived a lie in front of all the disciples.
D. God is looking for truthful honest Christians.

IV. Judas was a murderer.

A. The Jews had been looking for a way to kill Jesus for a long time (John 7:19-20, 25; 8:59; 10:31-33; 11:7-8, 53-54 and so on.
B. Judas was perfectly aware why the Jewish leaders wanted to arrest Jesus, and yet he knowingly decided to betray Him into their hands. That makes Judas a murderer.
C. The Jewish leaders knew what they were buying from Judas. They called the 30 pieces of silver "blood money" (Matthew 27:6).

V. Judas "repented" of his sin, but probably not the right way (Matthew 27:3-4).

A. He was remorseful. He confessed to the Jewish leaders that he had sinned. He returned the thirty pieces of silver.
B. Question: was this genuine repentance? Does this mean that Judas trusted Jesus as his Savior, and was born again?
C. It is possible. You and I cannot judge what happened in Judas' heart. He may have been saved. Remember Jesus' words in Matthew 12:31-32.
D. However, Paul told the Corinthians that all repentance was not real repentance leading to salvation (2 Corinthians 7:8-11). We have doubts about Judas, because his remorse led him to hang himself, not to live for Christ.
E. Also, Jesus Himself called Judas "the son of perdition (Apollyon)," he was possessed by Satan (Luke 22:1-6), and Jesus said it would have been better for him to have never been born (Matthew 26:24-25).

Conclusion: Hollywood has tried to glamorize Judas, and to portray him as a man of principles, who was really trying to accomplish something good by turning Jesus over to the Sanhedrin. In actuality, Judas was a greedy man, a thief, a liar and a murderer. He was sorry for what he had done, but there is little evidence that he ever got right with the Lord. May the Lord grant each of us true repentance and saving faith, and help us to live for Him every day. Amen.