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Heard a theory last week that Judas betrayed Jesus in order to provoke him to foment a revolution against the Romans. Judas truly believed that Jesus was the messiah, but he misunderstood what that messiah came to do.

It's no wonder he was named Judas, he was following in the footsteps of his eponym, Judas Maccabeus. The fact that Judas is now seen as the basically worst person in history has probably prevented numerous revolutions in its own right.

Revolution is not the way to freedom, freedom comes through submission to the King.

jonb 2y ago

Interesting idea.

But, I do think it's pretty clear from the narrative that he was motivated by greed. With references to him stealing from the group's collective purse prior to the betrayal and the fact that he was paid the infamous 30 pieces of silver to turn over Jesus.

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Discussion

Jordan Eskovitz 2y ago

I think both can be true, but we do have more weighted evidence of his greed. And his betrayal f Jesus for silver is typologically consistent with Judah's betrayal of Joseph and subsequently selling him to Ishmaelite traders for a profit.

jonb 2y ago

Biblical types are awesome. I think that strikes at the heart of it. Fundamentally, I think his betrayal is a replaying of Judah and Joseph, Cain and Abel, etc. He destroyed his brother because he could not master the sin that was crouching behind him.

Jordan Eskovitz 2y ago

Yeah! Typology is one of my favorite interpretative methods for understanding Scripture.

Along these lines, Judas is also a type of Absalom. The former betrays David (driving him out of Jerusalem) and dies by hanging on a tree. The latter betrays the heir of the throne of David and dies by hanging on a tree.