Judas

[rinnie]

Here is something that I wonder alot about. There is no way I can get a answer, but I would love to hear everyones views. Protestants and Catholic’s alike.

Do you think that Judas got into heaven? Do you think he was sorry for what he did?

Or do you think he was just plain evil?

 

[PrayHarder]

I took a theology class in college where someone posed that question. On one hand, you have Jesus in one of the gospels saying that it would have been better if Judas had never been born. On the other hand, without Judas’ betrayal you wouldn’t have Christ death and resurrection.

While we obviously can’t say where his ultimate destination was, he did go against everything Jesus taught and represented by lieing, betraying, and ultimately killing himself in grief. That doesn’t stack up too well for Judas.

 

[Luke65]

Do you think that Judas got into heaven?

“The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” (Mark 14:21)

I would have to say no. :nope:

Do you think he was sorry for what he did?

When 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. “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”

“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”

So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. (Matthew 27:3-5 NIV)

Feeling “remorse” is not the same thing as repenting to God, and believing in His mercy.

Or do you think he was just plain evil?

St. Peter cites this prophecy in reference to Judas (Acts 1:20):

Amplified Bible
Psalm 109
6Set a wicked man over him [as a judge], and let [a malicious] accuser stand at his right hand.

7When [the wicked] is judged, let him be condemned, and let his prayer [for leniency] be turned into a sin.

8Let his days be few; and let another take his office and charge.(A)

9Let his children be fatherless and his wife a widow.

10Let his children be continual vagabonds [as was Cain] and beg; let them seek their bread and be driven far from their ruined homes.(B)

11Let the creditor and extortioner seize all that he has; and let strangers (barbarians and foreigners) plunder the fruits of his labor.

12Let there be none to extend or continue mercy and kindness to him, neither let there be any to have pity on his fatherless children.

13Let his posterity be cut off, and in the generation following let their names be blotted out.

14Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered by the Lord; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.

15Let them be before the Lord continually, that He may cut off the memory of them from the earth!--

16Because the man did not [earnestly] remember to show mercy, but pursued and persecuted the poor and needy man, and the broken in heart [he was ready] to slay.

17Yes, he loved cursing, and it came [back] upon him; he delighted not in blessing, and it was far from him.

18He clothed himself also with cursing as with his garment, and it seeped into his inward [life] like water, and like oil into his bones.

19Let it be to him as the raiment with which he covers himself and as the girdle with which he is girded continually.

20Let this be the reward of my adversaries from the Lord, and of those who speak evil against my life.

I would have to say yes, he was an evil man! :sad_yes: (although this doesn’t all necessarily apply to him) And I think that I have seen enough of Judas to know that I have seen too much!

 

[thistle]

Here is something that I wonder alot about. There is no way I can get a answer, but I would love to hear everyones views. Protestants and Catholic’s alike.

Do you think that Judas got into heaven? Do you think he was sorry for what he did?

Or do you think he was just plain evil?

 

[thistle]

Here is something that I wonder alot about. There is no way I can get a answer, but I would love to hear everyones views. Protestants and Catholic’s alike.

Do you think that Judas got into heaven? Do you think he was sorry for what he did?

Or do you think he was just plain evil?

The Church does not teach any particular person has gone to Hell. However, based on Jesus’ own words condemning him, I firmly believe Judas is in Hell. Remember Jesus is God so he knows who is in Hell or Heaven. Would God publicly denounce Judas if he knew he was in Heaven.

 

[rinnie]

So far I am kind of seeing things the way you guys are.

If Judas would have confessed his sin, and repented, I think things may have been different. But in my eyes he took the easy way out and just ended his own life. I think when someone repents they admit their sins, ask God for forgiveness and try to live the rest of their life better.

The only thing I don’t agree with is that if he didn’t betray Jesus things would have been different. I think that Judas had free will and could have not betrayed Jesus.

According to scripture when Jesus was in the water and got baptised he knew his fate he saw he was going to die a horrible death. His death was to take away death forever. So the way I see it he was sent here to take away death.

But I really think that when Jesus was on trial it was more than Judas that got him killed. The Jews wanted him dead, because of his teachings. I really don’t think Judas had any control in the trial and death of Jesus. I think it was greed that really caused his death. But don’t get me wrong I am not just blaming the Jews we all had a part in this. But I do think it was about money more than Judas handing him over. And Judas’s greed also. Funny it all came down to the one thing Jesus never had any use for. Money!

But I do feel that the devil entered Judas and that was that. He over took him.

 

[John7]

Or do you think he was just plain evil?

John 6:70 “Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil”

interesting that he didn’t say he ‘has’ a devil, but that he ‘is’ a devil. How long he was a devil and whether he remained that way to the end …I tend to think he was like this to the end.

 

[rinnie]

John 6:70 “Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil”

interesting that he didn’t say he ‘has’ a devil, but that he ‘is’ a devil. How long he was a devil and whether he remained that way to the end …I tend to think he was like this to the end.

Good point. And funny how it was greed again that caused Judas to turn Jesus over. And who controlled the purse. Wonder how much he stole from Jesus during this time. Makes us wonder huh. Maybe there is a good lesson here. Think about it money can drive a person to steal, kill, more or less break every single commandment. And when money becomes a persons god it controls them. Think about it money can be evil. money is evil, I guess when it becomes you god it is evil. money, evil, devil, they sure all tie in together alot.

 

[CentralFLJames]

Judas APPEARS to have despaired in taking his own life - he doubted and limited God’s ability to forgive him, extend him mercy and restore him. Terminal despair (dieing impenetent) is a sin against the Holy Spirit that is unforgivable. It would appear that Judas thought he could expiate his guilt and pay for his sin by killing himself. If appearances are true this is a denial of God’s sovereignty and ironically an over estimation of one’s own ability to ever "pay for offenses which are eternal in nature; only Jesus as Divine can offset even venial eternal debts.

My own opinion is that there are slim chances for Judas though there are many of who still pray for God’s Mercy for Judas. God being eternal can hear all our prayers today as if they were uttered before Judas died. It is possible that as Judas fell to his death he may have accepted God’s Mercy. But I agree with most here who suggest that regretting one’s actions is not necessarily the same thing as true repentance if in that regret one denies the power of God to forgive. In sacramental confession no Catholic is forgiven of mortal sins simply for fear of God’s eternal wrath and punishment. Confessing imperfectly out of recognition of fault and fear of punishment rather than out of love is not the same thing as recognizing one’s transgression but seeking forgivness out of sincere desire to repent and for love of God.

There are also some theologians who put forth the speculation that God would not permit the man (Judas) who was instrumental in letting Jesus complete his mission diminish Jesus’ glory by being eternally condemned for doing his part in an action that leads to the salvation of so many.

But here is the definitive CCC that pertains to this question:

*2283
We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance. The Church prays for persons who have taken their own lives. *

James

 

[rinnie]

Judas APPEARS to have despaired in taking his own life - he doubted and limited God’s ability to forgive him, extend him mercy and restore him. Terminal despair (dieing impenetent) is a sin against the Holy Spirit that is unforgivable. It would appear that Judas thought he could expiate his guilt and pay for his sin by killing himself. If appearances are true this is a denial of God’s sovereignty and ironically an over estimation of one’s own ability to ever "pay for offenses which are eternal in nature; only Jesus as Divine can offset even venial eternal debts.

My own opinion is that there are slim chances for Judas though there are many of who still pray for God’s Mercy for Judas. God being eternal can hear all our prayers today as if they were uttered before Judas died. It is possible that as Judas fell to his death he may have accepted God’s Mercy. But I agree with most here who suggest that regretting one’s actions is not necessarily the same thing as true repentance if in that regret one denies the power of God to forgive. In sacramental confession no Catholic is forgiven of mortal sins simply for fear of God’s eternal wrath and punishment. Confessing imperfectly out of recognition of fault and fear of punishment rather than out of love is not the same thing as recognizing one’s transgression but seeking forgivness out of sincere desire to repent and for love of God.

There are also some theologians who put forth the speculation that God would not permit the man (Judas) who was instrumental in letting Jesus complete his mission diminish Jesus’ glory by being eternally condemned for doing his part in an action that leads to the salvation of so many.

But here is the definitive CCC that pertains to this question:

*2283
We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance. The Church prays for persons who have taken their own lives. *

James

I agree with you there James. There is no sin, that overpowers Gods Mercy. And there is no power in this world today as strong as Prayer. None of us will ever know what God’s final choice was for Judas, which I think we are all into agreement here on that. But there sure are alot of lessons here to be learned are there not?

 

[tobinatorstark]

one would probably assume Judas in hell for committing suicide among other things. It isn’t my place to say if he is in heaven or hell. I truly believe he was sorry for betraying Jesus though

 

[rinnie]

one would probably assume Judas in hell for committing suicide among other things. It isn’t my place to say if he is in heaven or hell. I truly believe he was sorry for betraying Jesus though

What I should have done was start pole on if we though he was sorry, and then if we thought he was forgiven and in heaven, I dont know how to do that. Thats what I should have done though, reading your post is when it :newidea: hit me.

 

[Deconi]

"Whatsoever…you bind on earth, will be bound In Heaven;…and whatever you loose on earth, will be loosed in Heaven"

Since The Church CONTINUOUSLY prays for ALL SOULS and ‘petition’ God to exercise His geat MERCY for all, I’d say that Judas has a chance of making it. A very slim one, but a chance nonetheless.

It is ONLY The Church that fully understands that Judas acted on his own volition, and * not through some perverse, divinely pre-determined behaviour * as a pre-requisite in the death of Our Lord! It is also ONLY The Church that continuously professes the message of Love Thy Neighbour and Forgive Thy Enemies; that illuminates the understanding that ALL MEN are the children of The One True God, and judge no one, lest you be judged in like manner!

Truly, if Judas is to ‘make it,’ it will be through the prayers of The Church, which INCLUDES him, and leaves the final decision to The Arbiter Supreme.

 

[RosaryFan]

Here is something that I wonder alot about. There is no way I can get a answer, but I would love to hear everyones views. Protestants and Catholic’s alike.

Do you think that Judas got into heaven? Do you think he was sorry for what he did?

Or do you think he was just plain evil?

Personally, I think Judas was horribly sorry for what he did to Jesus, but since he did not trust in God’s mercy and gave into despair (the devil’s favorite weapon against us) by committing suicide, then the despair/suicide was Judas’s sin - not the betrayal of Jesus, necessarily. So the question is, was he sorry for his despair? Who knows. We can never assume a person is in hell since we don’t know what was in their heart (nor are we in the position to judge) at the moment of their demise.

However, Jesus did say to Judas that it would have been better if he had never been born. So, if I was FORCED to take a guess, I think I would guess he’s in hell, but I certainly would never want to say that for sure.