Thank you for the biblical question on Judas Iscariot, “Why wasn’t Judas forgiven when he repented? “When Judas, his betrayer, saw that he was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders,” Matthew 27:3
Judas Iscariot had worldly sorrow, but he did not have godly sorrow. II Corinthians 7 provides us insight to the question. The text says this, “Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— 9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done” (NIV).
Here are some thoughts as this applies to Judas Iscariot..
A. Judas Iscariot express “repentance” for his action.
The NASB-NIV in Parallel New Testament in Greek and English translates Matthew 27:3 in this manner, “Then seeing Judas the one having betrayed him that he was condemned, repenting returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders.”
There is a change of thought by Judas. It would imply remorse for his action of betraying Jesus. He returned to the people who paid him the money to betray Jesus.
B. Judas Iscariot failed to confess before Pilate.
It appears that Judas was present or heard the trial of Jesus before Pilate. He heard the crowd shouting that Jesus be crucified. Did Judas feel any tinge of regret at that time? He knew with the crowd continuing asking that Jesus be crucified that he would not be set free. Judas kept silent. Pilate did more to free Jesus than Judas! Judas watched and said nothing at all. Was he truly repented?
C. Judas Iscariot failed to repent before God or Jesus.
Even when Pilate condemned and had Jesus crucified, Judas has the opportunity to ask Jesus for forgiveness for betraying him. Judas had time. He didn’t take the time before Jesus’ death to go to him. Was he ashamed? Was it that he didn’t want others to know that it was him who betrayed Jesus? If Judas was truly sorrow and wanted to change his ways, he would have have gone to Jesus at the cross. He didn’t. He stayed away as far as we know.
D. Judas Iscariot by taking his life showed his despise and unworthiness to be forgiven.
Judas Iscariot after retuning the money went to hang himself. This is an act of self-hatred, believing that he is not worthy to be forgiven. He could not live with himself, knowing that he delivered Jesus into the hands of the Jewish rulers. Perhaps Judas thought that Jesus or the people would free Jesus over Barabbas, but it didn’t go the way that he planned or thought.
Judas may have thought that Jesus wouldn’t forgive him or that he was unworthy to be forgiven. He admitted his wrong doing to the Jews, but that acknowledgement should have been to Jesus. Although we don’t know the exact reason for the reason he took his own life, it may be guilt, feeling unworthy, or escape from dealing with his own actions.
As one looks at II Corinthians 7, Judas had repentance, but he went to the wrong person to ask for forgiveness. The High Priests and Elders couldn’t forgive him. His regret didn’t lead him to Jesus. It was a world repentance that didn’t allow a change of behavior.
It is acknowledged that Jesus declared that the person whom he gave the bread was the one who would betray. Jesus didn’t say anything about his actions after he betrayed Jesus. That was a decision that he made.
When I think of the actions of Peter and Judas, both of them had remorse and regret. Peter’s regret led him to Jesus. Judas regret led him away from Jesus. Peter was restored by Jesus, while Judas ended any possibility of restoration.
We have all experience people saying that they are sorry, but if there is no change of attitude or behavior, then that repentance or regret is fruitless. It is hollowed at the end.
Summary: Judas Iscariot acknowledgement of his wrong doing was to the wrong person. The High Priests couldn’t forgive him. He needed to confess it to Jesus which he didn’t. He died in his sin.
-Kingston