The Prophecies about Judas

If God foreordained Judas to betray Jesus Christ, how can this be reconciled with other Scripture? Judas’s actions seem to have been ordained by God because they are prophesied. But, the betrayal of Christ was never foretold in the prophets.

1. If the betrayal of Christ by Judas was foreknown and foreordained, how could Matthew 26:24 be true? “The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” Judas would have had no choice. Therefore, God would have predestined a man to damnation. Does God do evil that good may come? James 1:13-17 says God doesn’t even tempt men with evil let alone predestine them to do it.

2. What does, “That it might be fulfilled,” mean? Matthew 2:15 and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” 2:23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth [Nazarevq], that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene [Nazwraio"].” [No OT Scripture, but consider Isa 11:1; rx,nEwÒ]

3. Others say: Barnes, “The words do aptly and appropriately express the thing referred to, and may be applied to it.” Bloomfield, “Appears quite suitable or applicable to it.” Moses Stuart, “O.T. phraseology expresses in an apt and forcible manner, the thought which they desired to convey.” For example, Isaiah 6:9,10 was fulfilled before the Babylonian captivity but confer John 12:37-40; Mat 13:14 “And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:” Act 28:28; Isa 6:9-10 And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ 10 “Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed.” Dr. Edward Robinson, Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, “Phrase is used as a formal quotation and implies ‘that something took place, not in order that a prophecy might be filled, but so that it was fulfilled; not in order to make the event correspond to the prophecy, but so that the event would and did correspond to that prophecy. The phrase is often used to express historical or typical parallelisms.’ ”

4. Gospel Scripture to consider: Mat 27:9-10 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, 10 and gave them for the potter’s field, as the LORD directed me.” No Jeremiah passage. Zec 11:12-13 Then I said to them, “If it is agreeable to you, give me my wages; and if not, refrain.” So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver. 13 And the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—that princely price they set on me. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD for the potter. John 15:24,25—Psa 35:19; John 19:36—Psa 34:19,20

John 13:18 “I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’ ” Psalm 41:9 “Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” Ps 41:4-10. His prayer had been one for healing after confessing his sin (v. 4). However, he lamented the fact that his enemies took advantage of his condition. Wanting him to die (v. 5), they feigned friendship while slandering him (v. 6), saying that he would never survive (vv. 7-8). Even his trusted friend betrayed (lifted up his heel against) him (v. 9). These words, of course, were quoted by Jesus concerning Judas (John 13:18). But here David had in mind the treachery of his friend Ahithophel, who betrayed him, and then hanged himself (2 Sam. 16:20-17:3, 23). Barnes wrote, “It is difficult to tell whether the text has any reference whatever to Judas Iscariot.”

John 17:12 “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. John 6:37-40; John 10:27-29; Heb 2:13. No OT Scripture says this.

5. Scripture in Acts to consider: Acts 1:16 “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled [What Scripture?], which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus 17 for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.” David didn’t say this about Judas. He said it about his “own familiar friend”. Psa 41:9 “Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” These scriptures were fulfilled in the sense of illustration by Judas.

Acts 1:20 “For it is written in the book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’ Psa 109:8 Let his days be few, And let another take his office. Psa 69:25 Let their dwelling place be desolate; Let no one live in their tents. Peter said that David prophesied of Judas. But when did David discuss Judas Iscariot? Certainly he did not refer to him directly or name him. The Psalms often anticipate Christ. Likewise the enemies of the royal psalmist became the enemies of the Messiah. Therefore, someone was predicted in Psalms 69:25 and 109:8. Both of these psalms are royal imprecatory psalms, but the prophecy is very general. Acts 1:20 applies them to Judas.