The Deception of Judas: A Warning Against Unbelief and Pride

In our daily meditations at groupbiblestudy.com, we reflect on Judas, the betrayer. Scripture shows that Judas did not believe (John 6:64; John 13:11). He never trusted in Christ, so he did not undergo an inner transformation. There was intellectual agreement with Christ, but deep down, he never received grace and forgiveness for his sins. A strong deception was active in his life.

Our enemy, Satan, a real spiritual being, is working in the world to keep hearts and minds from seeing the truth about Christ. He tries to influence everyone to deny the reality of who Christ is and His redemptive work. Like Judas, a person can accept the facts of the Gospel and even understand the great truths about Jesus Christ, but unless someone repents—meaning they change their minds about God and turn from sin—and receives Christ personally, there is no change in their inner nature. Our enemy works strongly against people to stop them from genuinely repenting of their spiritually dead state (Ephesians 2:1). Paul the Apostle wrote about this spiritual battle to keep people blinded to the truth.

The god of this age [Satan] has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (2 Corinthians 4:4, Emphasis added).

In the invisible realm, a war occurs in the mind's thought processes and the inner man's decision center, commonly called the heart. All hell often breaks loose when people come under the conviction of sin and their need for forgiveness. Paul writes further about the enemy's use of people for his purposes. He said that Satan and his demons are at work against the Spirit of Christ. He calls Satan "the ruler of the kingdom of the air":

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient (Ephesians 2:1-2).

Satan will even use our family and friends, those we love and cherish, as his mouthpiece to speak words that discourage us from following Christ. They often do not realize why they say what they say; as the verse above states, there is an enemy spirit at work in those who are disobedient to the faith.

So, why did Judas continue to follow Christ if he did not truly believe? We can't know his motives, but maybe it was the desire for fame from being one of the twelve. Fame can be a curse; it can prevent a person from the humility of heart that God seeks in His servants. I wonder how many "Hollywood stars" will be in heaven. During the time of Christ, the “stars” of Israel were the religious leaders and teachers, and for Judas to be one of the twelve disciples of Jesus might have been a source of pride.

It may have been a worldly ambition to sit on a throne when the Messiah's kingdom arrived. Judas might have seen the Messiah only as a political savior. Perhaps he believed he was well-positioned to gain money, riches, authority, and a throne next to Jesus and the eleven others when they finally broke free from Rome's control. What kind of Messiah are you seeking? Why not follow the way of Jesus instead of trying to get Christ to follow yours? Keith Thomas

Taken from the series on the Gospel of Luke. Click on study 58. The Betrayal of Jesus.