Illustrated Message Overview of Merchants – Message 6 - Christian Comradery With Judas - January 5, 2025
A good question for Christians to ask themselves today is; are they betraying Jesus with a kiss? Are they compromising and becoming comrades with a thief? Are they willing to betray Jesus for a lump sum of security that would sell Him out of their life? Is it worth it? No. Never, ever, ever.
1 Timothy 6:6-10 Amplified Bible says; “6 But godliness actually is a source of great gain when accompanied by contentment [that contentment which comes from a sense of inner confidence based on the sufficiency of God]. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so [it is clear that] we cannot take anything out of it, either. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who [are not financially ethical and] crave to get rich [with a compulsive, greedy longing for wealth] fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction [leading to personal misery]. 10 For the love of money [that is, the greedy desire for it and the willingness to gain it unethically] is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves [through and through] with many sorrows.”
Ask yourself again, are you being tempted to betray Jesus with a kiss? Don’t do it. It leads to destruction, it’s a broad and wide road. Take the straight and narrow road, submit to God and resist the temptation when it comes your way, don’t sell Jesus out.
Verse nine is a good description of the sin that led to up to Judas Iscariot's personal ruin, destruction and betrayal of Jesus, which led to him hanging himself, committing suicide.
“9 But those who [are not financially ethical and] crave to get rich [with a compulsive, greedy longing for wealth] fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction [leading to personal misery].”
You’ve heard of the Judas Kiss, that was used to identify who Jesus was to the temple soldiers or guards for the purpose of arresting Him found in the following verse:
Matthew 26:47-50 Amplified Bible;“47 As Jesus was still speaking, Judas [Iscariot], one of the twelve [disciples], came up accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, [who came as representatives] from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him.” 49 Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, “Greetings (rejoice), Rabbi!” And he [a]kissed Him [in a deliberate act of betrayal]. 50 Jesus said to Judas, “Friend, do what you came for.” Then they came and seized Jesus and arrested Him.”
Are you a comrade of Christ today or are you a comrade with a thief in secret, like Judas? Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss, it was deceitful.
Christians greeting each other with a holy kiss was the norm for the early Church disciples, however for Judas it was how Proverbs 27:6 describes as being a deceitful kiss of an enemy.
Proverbs 27:6; “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”
Other scriptures are;
1 Thessalonians 5:26; “26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.”
2 Corinthians 13:12; “12 Greet one another with a holy kiss.”
1 Corinthians 16:20; “20 All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.”
1 Peter 5:14; “14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.”
What Judas did to Jesus was deceitful, he was Jesus’ enemy deep down inside, the devil that entered Judas is Jesus’ enemy and is unholy.
Jesus Himself asked Judas the following in Luke 22:48, “But Jesus said to him, ‘Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?’”.
The Lord is asking Christians the same question today. Is the intent of your heart to love money more than it is for obeying Jesus in all things?
Judas was deceiving no one but himself, and so are Christians today if they’re considering to sell Jesus out for some security that they get by being deceitful. Are you sold out today, Christian? There’s a big difference between being sold out for Jesus and selling Him out. To think that Jesus didn’t know from the start of Judas’ discipleship that he would one day betray Him with an enemy's kiss of deceit would have been out of character for Jesus. For Jesus it was the kiss of betrayal. Jesus is the Son of God and nothing was hidden from Him then nor now. Jesus knows your needs today, He sees all of your debt, He sees all of your insecurity about the future, He sees everything. But He’s saying to you today to stay on the straight and narrow road and stay off of the road that leads to destruction.
The Bible says that Judas was ordained to be the son of destruction or perdition, he was irredeemable. It’s a hard saying because it’s almost like putting God in a box. But God can do whatever He wants, He can set the stage however He wants for what He wants to bring about.
It’s important to establish that Judas was a Disciple and chosen Apostle with the call of Jesus to ministry, he was ordained to betray the Son of God, and allowed the love of money to give root to all kinds of evil in his life that ultimately positioned him to become what is known to be the son of perdition or destruction. He may not have know that initially but he definitely grew into it.
Jesus knowing everything, prays the following about Judas in John 17:12 Amplified Bible; “12 While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and protected them, and not one of them was lost except [a]the son of destruction, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.”
It might seem unfair that Judas was ordained to be on the road to destruction, but God’s ways are not our ways, and I’m leaning more towards that than that he evolved into being a betrayer over a period of time. It would be a nice thought for God to keep a person in a place of grace and mercy for everyone, and that God had a good plan for Judas to fulfill. But some of the ways that God works you have to put aside your natural thinking and allow the Holy Spirit to speak, if not, your rational and reason will kick into gear and try reduce God into a man.
Judas made a lot of mistakes that led to his destruction and let’s face the reality, out of the abundance of his heart his mouth spoke and acted it out.
Judas reminds me of many Christian ministers today that have all the knowledge of God’s word, operate in the gifts of the Holy Spirit with signs, wonders and miracles even as Judas did whom Jesus sent out in the first commission, but the love of money that has been firmly planted in them and hasn’t been repented of, has given root to all kinds of evil in their ministry.
It was prophesied about Judas being a son of destruction (perdition), prior to his call and it gives the understanding that he was ordained by God for his destruction, and it once again shows that not everyone that says Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but those that do His will regarding what’s required of them as ministers. Did Judas do His will? No. He was sent out by Jesus, but did he do His will when it really came down to it? Where was Judas’ heart? Where was his true love? It was for the treasury job he had that gave him access to the money box of ministry funds which he quite regularly helped himself to. It’s call the love of money and is the root of all kinds of evil.
In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus is talking to individuals who are trying to convince Him that they are worthy of salvation; “21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
Did Jesus know Judas? Of course. Did Jesus know about the people He was talking about? Of course. But He didn’t ‘know’ them intimately. There’s a difference between knowing somebody and being known by somebody. These of whom Jesus is talking about didn’t ‘know’ Him. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, you can’t serve two masters, it’s either the straight and narrow road or the road that leads to destruction.
Prophesying, casting out demons and doing wonders in Jesus’ name does not qualify a Christian to be genuine, even as it did not qualify Judas, but doing the will of the Father is what qualifies the Christian to eternal life and not doing the will of the Father disqualifies a Christian and they end up in eternal destruction. Judas was disqualified from eternal life to eternal destruction. Did Judas cast out devils, did he raise the dead, did he do signs, wonders, and miracles in Jesus’ name? He was sent out to do that along with the rest of the Apostles.
As Christians we should not be surprised that there are false Christians who spend their whole lives in church, or out of church, proclaiming to believe in Jesus and that He is Lord of their lives, but Jesus said you will know them by their fruit.
Matthew 7:15-20 says; “15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”
Judas was known to be a thief, and as treasurer of the ministry money box, he stole money from it for his own personal gain. What he was doing was the norm for him because he was behaving like his father the devil, and the son of perdition was being revealed for who he was, or if Jesus was Father he would have not bore the fruit of a thief and he would have never betrayed Jesus for money. Just like the anti-Christ when he comes on the scene. The first 3 1/2 years he’ll be looked upon admirably, the saviour of a lot of people’s problems, but the true colours come out after that and the true dark side will be revealed. The anti-Christ is also known as the son of destruction.
John 12:1-7 talks about Jesus being anointed at Bethany; “12 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was [a]who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. 2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. 4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, 5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for [b]three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. 7 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; [c]she has kept this for the day of My burial.”
Matthew 26:14-16; “14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. 16 So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.”
You don't have to be a theologian to see that Judas was not bearing the fruits of a Christian, but rather was continually behaving like his father the devil, and fulfilling who he really was, a son of destruction. Judas didn’t care for the poor, all he saw was costly perfume being wasted. He couldn’t see the spiritual significance because he was a lover of money. It gives you the impression that he was a little ticked off as Jesus called him out and exposed him indirectly. He probably left the house just mad, he didn’t get his way, he didn’t get access to the money and the anointing of Jesus didn’t mean anything to him. You can see his character more and more, the enemy of Christ that he was, in such deception.
Got Questions says the following of Judas;
“The title “son of perdition” is used twice in the New Testament, first in John 17:12 and again in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. The phrase simply means “man doomed to destruction” and is not reserved for any one individual. In fact, there are two people to which the title “son of perdition” is applied. In context, John 17:12 is referring to Judas Iscariot, while 2 Thessalonians 2:3 is referring to the “man of lawlessness”—the Antichrist—who will appear in the end times before Christ’s return.
The word perdition means “eternal damnation” or “utter destruction.” It can also be used as a synonym for hell. When a person is called “son of perdition,” the connotation is that of a person in an unredeemable state, someone who is already damned while he is still alive. Jesus mentions the “son of perdition” in His high priestly prayer in John 17. While praying to the Father for His disciples, Jesus mentions that He “protected them and kept them safe” and that none of them were lost except the “son of perdition,” that is, the one who was already in a damned state. The fact that the phrase is used again to describe the Antichrist shows us that forgiveness was not planned for Judas. God could have saved Judas—moved his heart to repentance—but He chose not to. He was indeed “doomed to destruction.”
The world is full of true Christians and false Christians, and Jesus describes true Christians as wheat and false Christians as tares. Tares look like wheat, but they don’t bear the harvest of wheat, they were sown in the world by the devil, with all the appearance of a Christian without the fruit of being one. How many times have we talked about this, an appearance thereof but no fruit, whether in the church or out of the church.
In Matthew 13:24-30, Jesus talks about the parable of the wheat and the tares; “24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”
...36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.” 37 He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
Are you hearing today, Christians!
Matthew 10:8 says that Judas was empowered and able in Jesus’ name to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead and cast out demons. He had all the appearance on the outside of being a genuine Christian, but Jesus knew what was going on inside of Judas and saw right thru him to not only be stealing from the ministry money box, but saw him to be the son of destruction that would betray Him for money.
How many ministers today are stealing from the tithes and offerings in church and on the side are selling out Jesus for personal gain by merchandising their Christian product which they received for free from the revelations, inspirations, and illuminations derived from the Holy Bible that are all paid for by donated money? The reality is that tares, false Christians, will always be in and out of the Church, and it’s not till the day of judgment that they are cast into the fires of hell, but in the mean time true Christians need to exercise the gifts of wisdom, knowledge and discernment that are given them by the Holy Spirit to live lives that are above reproach, and with the use of sound Bible teaching, be fruit inspectors of those who call themselves Christians. You don’t have to go looking for sons of perdition or destruction in your congregation and church, but when people say they’re Christians, there must be fruit and evidence of it. At the same time, there are genuine Christians that are struggling with sin and living a sanctified life, that are in need of prayer and support from members in the body of Christ.
Judas over a period of time revealed himself to be the son of perdition, however it is mentioned that Satan enters his life at a certain point towards the end of three years as a disciple, and it’s here that he then proceeds to plan how to turn Jesus over to the Jewish leaders for money. The treasury box that he was stealing from wasn’t cutting it any longer. More and more I’m leaning towards the belief that tares (false Christians) that are in the Church, don’t become tares over a period of time by their own decision making, but rather just simply reveal who their father really is by their actions, and by what comes out of their mouth. That’s why it’s really important to listen to what is coming out of Christian’s mouths because out of the abundance of their heart, their mouth will speak.
The plot to kill Jesus is found in Luke 22:1-6; “22 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover. 2 And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people. 3 Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. 4 So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. 5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6 So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.”
The scheme of the devil was to single Jesus out while He was alone, in secret, out with His disciples praying, to get Him when He least expected it. Jesus knew everything that was coming His way because the Father had revealed it to Him. Expect God to do the same for you. Expect your enemies, those with a kiss of deceit, to be revealed. Churches are full of tares that are on a road to destruction, that are not your friends but your enemies.
Jesus identifies His betrayer in John 13:18-30; “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 [a]bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’ 19 Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He. 20 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” 21 When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” 22 Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke. 23 Now there was [b]leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke. 25 Then, leaning [c]back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 27 Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. 29 For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, “Buy those things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30 Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.”
John might have almost whispered it to Jesus so that no one else heard when Jesus said it was going to be the one to whom He was going to give the piece of bread. Otherwise, all would have heard and known immediately that it was Judas. Another speculation is that if they had all heard, they might have easily been able to say that he was the obvious person to betray Jesus. It’s obvious that only Jesus knew who would betray Him. When Jesus told Judas to do quickly what he was going to do, Jesus was addressing Satan directly, He knew the plan ahead of time. It’s interesting to see that no one at the table knew why Jesus told Judas what He did.
How many ministers today have their staff hood-winked, how many staff would never say their leader was being deceptive and wrong, that it’s not in their character to do such and such. I guess the ministers are pulling a great bluff, but behind the scenes they’re selling Jesus out.
We know that Jesus is then betrayed by Judas and is turned over to the Jewish leaders for a series of trials that led to His crucifixion, and that Judas attempts to give the money back that he had received for betraying Jesus and then commits suicide by hanging himself. There was no repentance from Judas the same that there is no repentance on leaders who get caught. It makes me wonder who their father really is when there is no repentance, God is the judge of that, but by their fruit...you’ll know them.
Got Questions again says the following;
“A good picture of a person who is a “son of perdition” appears in Hebrews 6:4–8, which describes a person who, like Judas, has experienced a certain closeness to God and has a good understanding of salvation, but then denies it. Instead of bearing good fruit, he bears “thorns and thistles.” This is a person who sees the path to salvation, which is trusting in God’s grace to cover sin (Ephesians 2:8–9), and instead either flatly denies the existence of God or denies God’s gift of salvation, preferring to pay his own debt. Judas chose the second path, punishing himself by suicide instead of accepting grace.”
How many people today are committing suicide for being ‘caught’. It’s not about repentance, it’s not about – forgive me Jesus, what do I have to do to be forgiven – it’s about being caught in their sin, and they commit suicide?
I believe that what it all comes back down to is that a Christian will be known to be true or false simply by the fruit they bear in their lives, (excluding signs wonders and miracles), and whether or not they do the will of the Father God in the Bible or the will of the devil. It’s just a matter of time for the true father of a person to reveal himself thru them, either their father is God or their father is the devil, a person cannot serve two masters. A true Christian cannot hop-scotch between the straight and narrow and the broad and wide all their life. I understand there are times when a Christian may slip, but for a long period of time with no repentance, the heart will reveal itself, being a son of God or a son of the devil. A son of the devil will be on the broad and wide almost all their life, it’s just the reality, because out of the abundance of your heart your mouth will speak and act out what’s in the heart.
Got Questions says;
“However, Judas and the Antichrist are extreme cases. It is never right for a human being to label another person a “son of perdition” because only God knows the ultimate future of each human soul. Only with these two individuals did God choose to reveal His plan for their eternal damnation. With every other person, no matter how lost or evil he may seem, we are to hope and pray for his redemption (1 Timothy 2:1).”
Regardless of whether or not you know that there are tares sown in the church, outside the church, in evangelistic or healing campaigns or on the mission field, it’s not your job to expose the tares, they’ll expose themselves. Our job is to pray and trust God for the gifts of the Holy Spirit to be in operation, the gifts of wisdom, knowledge and discernment to see clearly what’s going on in the hearts of those who are false Christians. God will reveal it, who’s true and who’s false. We’re to look for redemption in those who call themselves Christian, but through prayer, and if they don’t change, they will eventually expose themselves. It’s inevitable that the tares will expose themselves, as it was inevitable that Judas exposed himself. It’s a work of the Holy Spirit, in individuals that are false Christians. By you praying it will come out, either they’ll get redeemed, repent, get on the straight and narrow or they’ll continue on the broad and wide leading to destruction. Our job is to pray, speak the word, stay on the straight and narrow that leads to eternal life, stay off the broad and wide road. Be above reproach in the midst of a wicked and perverse generation that we live in.