Author

Jesus said that it was better that Judas had never been born.

If I knew that by having sex on a particular day would result in the birth of a serial killer I would opt to not have sex that day.

And yet God, knowing what Judas would be and do, still brought him into existence.

24 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.
– Matthew 26:24 King James Version (KJV)

64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
– John 6:64 King James Version (KJV)

3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
– Matthew 27:3-5 King James Version (KJV)

Did Judas have a choice, or was his fate set and unchangeable?

John 17:12…

New International Version
While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

New Living Translation
During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold.

English Standard Version
While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

King James Bible
While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

Contemporary English Version
While I was with them, I kept them safe by the power you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost, except the one who had to be lost. This happened so that what the Scriptures say would come true.

Good News Translation
While I was with them, I kept them safe by the power of your name, the name you gave me. I protected them, and not one of them was lost, except the man who was bound to be lost–so that the scripture might come true.

NET Bible
When I was with them I kept them safe and watched over them in your name that you have given me. Not one of them was lost except the one destined for destruction, so that the scripture could be fulfilled.

Discussion

21 comments

  1. Wesley Dover says:

    This goes into the predetermination/free will argument.

    God knew beforehand what Judas would choose to do. God probably allowed him to be born because of the necessity of a Judas in God’s plan.

    Judas made a free choice, but at the same time, God always knew what the outcome would be.

  2. Dwight Osborne says:

    Judas always had the choice of not betraying Jesus vs. doing so. He chose to betray Him. If it hadn’t been Judas someone else but God in His foreknowledge what Judas would do and that he would see it through. It was also his choice to commit suicide. While Peter didn’t betray Him, he denied Him. What was the difference in the two acts? Judas showed remorse and guilt but no repentance while Peter was remorseful but added repentance. Peter still was punished for his denial in that he lost his commission as an apo0stle. But Jesus in His grace, mercy and sovereignty restored his commission as an apostle to him. But even then we see in his answer to Jesus in John 21 Peter wasn’t fully committed to loving Christ. His “love” for Him was “phileos”, a brotherly love, rather than “agape”, total and fully committed surrender. That came with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit

  3. Zach Payne says:

    Always had a choice. God knowing he would be the betrayer doesn’t mean God caused it. Watching a football game for second time you know what the quarterback is going to do but you don’t control their actions.

  4. Kimberlee Leslie says:

    We have free will, but God also knows all of our decisions and what the end result will be. For example, 200 years before the birth of Saint John Vianney, Our Lady of Good Success was sent by God to give a warning for our day. Not only did she mention John Vianney, but also that he would be a Saint. The only way to know that is by God telling her that. For God knows all of us better than we know ourselves and he knows who will be in heaven and who won’t. That’s why the Bible calls us as predestined. Not that we know we are predestined, but that God already knew before the foundation of the Earth who would be born and where our decisions would lead us. Jesus doesn’t tell us that most go to hell by a guess. He is telling us a fact in hopes that we choose to abandon ourselves and follow Christ.

  5. Ryan Cone says:

    Let’s be honest they didn’t really need Judas to find Jesus.

  6. Dominic Herrendoefer says:

    I think God tricked satan, i think Judas is in paradise.

  7. Zoey Granitz says:

    God knew what would happen and used it. It was Judas’ choice but he had no idea it would go that far.

  8. Mong Santiago says:

    It can be interpreted in a way that God didn’t causally determine Judas to betray Jesus but that He knows for certain that if Judas was placed on that situation, Judas would freely betray Jesus. But also, Judas would freely commit suicide after. In this way, God is not to be blamed for Judas’ actions if it’s freely done by him (Judas), God just knows for certain that it’s what would Judas do

  9. Dominic Herrendoefer says:

    Satan entered Judas while Jesus was right there. God allowed it.

  10. Ryan Wangen says:

    Yes! Would have been better for Judas but it was Judas’ free will that sealed his own fate. Just because God is omniscient doesn’t mean he interferes with the gift of free will he gives us. Serial killers, dictators and rapists are proof! If he did, we would have something different than humanity as we know it.

  11. John Lca says:

    For us that is 20/20. If the story just stop there, would there be Judas that we know today?

  12. Jesse Chasteen says:

    Judas fell by his transgression

  13. Jay Manongdo Vanquiray says:

    Judas chosed money than loyalty…and was given a choice to repent which he did but decided to take his own life..he always had a choice.

  14. Grant Reedy says:

    God is Objective Truth and morality, which means regardless of the will and purpose of God, there will be those who choose for themselves another pathway and God can’t force people to do the will and purpose of God.

    Satan became the adversary to the will and purpose of God.

    Adam and Eve became the adversary to the will and purpose of God.

    Noah did the will and purpose of God and others drowned in their own ignorance.

    Now Job is a little different as Job was a righteous man and through Job’s righteousness, others became the beneficiaries of Job’s righteousness with God.
    In the end, when God is ready, everyone will be accountable for themselves and no fringe benefits will apply.

    You name them including Jonah who refused to do the will and purpose of God, as Jonah chose a different pathway to suit his own agendas and narratives.

    Israelites who continuously in rebellion against the covenant with God, had better ideas apparently instead.

    Christ again, his disciples were gaining fringe benefits from Christ, though Judas rebelled against that benefit to prosper from it instead, which is commonly seen today of those who preach prosperity preaching, they themselves are little Judas and in the end they will be outside of the presence of God and will have taken their own life by their very own hands for their sins.

    While one commits and submits to the will and purpose of God, one is in the Hedge of God Christ Jesus and receiving the fringe benefits of Christ and should the day come, you will stand in Christ been Justified.

    If one is busy being in the presence of God tending His Garden, doing the will and purpose of God, exactly where does mankind get a mention of their free will? I don’t see any but a decision to commit and submit, yes.

  15. Alan White says:

    Jesus said he chose Judas knowing that he was a devil, so yes in that sense he was chosen because he was open to satan and God could use him to fulfill his purpose. Lets remember that Jesus had to be betrayed by one of his own this had already been established as part of Gods plan. So God “Jesus” chose a man that due to his character it was easy for satan to deceive and enter his heart and so do his bidding. But satan had no idea that by working through Judas and so helping to cause Jesus death he was in fact causing his own demise.

  16. Dominic Herrendoefer says:

    Judas is in Paradise with the thieve and all who rose from the dead. God used Judas to decieve Satan in thinking that he would punish Judas and thats what most here seem to hope. God can decieve too and it was all for fullfilling His work. Our God is a God f Love and mercy.

  17. Savenaca Seruvatu says:

    Jesus knew that Judas was going to betray him. After the betrayal, all judas had to do was to Repent and live.

    Peter was told by jesus that he was going to deny Jesus. After denying Jesus, as much as it could hurt Peter found in his heart to forgive himself, and I believe asked for forgiveness to Jesus as well.
    Peter took great control over his mind feelings and emotions. Judas did not.

    My Moral of the story

    As the man thinketh in his heart so is he.

  18. Anthony Gilbert says:

    It was God’s will for Judas to be a part of jesus’ ministry

  19. Steven Wells says:

    Free will and foreknowledge work together

  20. Tom Joseph says:

    Being deeply grieved, they each began to earnestly question Him, “Is it me, Lord?”

    And He answered and said, “The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had NEVER BEEN BORN.” (Matthew 26:24; Mark 14:21).

  21. […] Jesus said that it was better that Judas had never… […]