For centuries, tradition has upheld the view that “Judas of Kerioth”, often called Judas Iscariot, most likely would not make it to heaven, not just because he betrayed the Lord Jesus, but because his remorse lacked true repentance and he went on to commit suicide. Simply put, Judas of Kerioth might likely not enter heaven because he committed suicide.
Matthew 27:3-5 (KJV) “Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought the thirty pieces of silver again 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.”
But the Bible did not explicitly tell us the eternal fate of this very man who betrayed the Lord Jesus over a sum of material substance. However, the Bible did tell us about his physical fate.
Psalms 109:5-15 (KJV) “And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand.
When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin.
Let his days be few; and let another take his office.
Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.
Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places.
Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labour.
Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children.
Let his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out.
Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the LORD; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.
Let them be before the LORD continually, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth.”
Perhaps, using the technique of remez, the Apostle Peter reminds us that the above Bible passages are about the man who repaid Jesus’ love with hatred and betrayed him for a piece of silver. Acts 1:16-20 (KJV) “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.
And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.
For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.”
It is quite understandable from John 17:12 that Judas Iscariot was a son of perdition, that is, he was destined for destruction from the cradle. Yet there are indications from every side that Judas was not divinely allotted this destiny and that on his own terms, he walked in the path of the default destination of mankind. And any man who does not have Jesus in his life is a child of perdition. See John 3:18.
Judas Iscariot freely refused to have his mind regenerated by the teachings of the Lord Jesus, which is in contrast to the other eleven. See John 13:10-11 and 15:3.
Jesus did not choose Judas so that he could later betray him; he chose Judas because he saw potential in him. To add to it, Judas was the only one among the 12 disciples with a different hometown; he came from Kerioth, Judea, unlike the other disciples who were basically from Galilee.
I really want to believe that there is something our Lord Jesus really wants us to know from the fact that he chose Judas to be his Financial Secretary. The Bible tells us in John 12:6 and John 13:29 that Judas had the bag. Jesus definitely put him in charge of his treasury department for a reason. It really takes a big deal of trust for a man to put someone in charge of the treasury department of his organization. Jesus actually trusted Judas, and in trust, there is love. Jesus didn’t choose Judas because he did not have options. In fact, Matthew, one of the twelve, would be a better candidate in terms of handling finance. Until he was personally called by our Lord and he forsake all, Matthew worked in the Tax department. See Mark 2:14.
As far as God’s matter was concerned, Judas could be empty (he was a thief, by the way – John 12:6), but God still sees something in an empty man, and he would have that something taken away for another man if what he sees is not actually utilized.
Luke 19:26 (KJV) “For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.”
Notice “…from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.” The thing is, if truly he does not have, why should still something be taken away from him?
Christ actually saw something in Judas, and unfortunately, Judas missed it. The missing is beyond the material world; he missed it eternally and might likely not enter heaven.
There were the Judas sympathizers; they tried to justify whatever he had done. They said what Judas did was relevant to fulfilling Christ’s sacrifice for the universe and would likely enter heaven. However, Jesus said something striking regarding the eternal fate of Judas.
Matthew 26:24 (KJV) “The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It had been good for that man if he had not been born.”
First, Jesus said, “Woe unto Judas.” That woe is a divine judgment. Second, Jesus said, “It would have been okay for him if he had not been born.”
