Judas Betrayed Jesus for the Price of a Slave

A Savior for the "Price of a Slave"

According to three of the Gospels in the Bible, Judas Iscariot received 30 pieces of silver for pointing Jesus out to his enemies by betraying him with a kiss. This is why you might hear someone say of another that they gave a Judas kiss.

While Jesus was praying in the garden of Gethsemane, Judas appeared with a mob who carried swords and clubs as if they were looking for a fight. He had earlier made a deal with the Jewish leaders to show them who Jesus was by kissing him.

In the Old Testament in Exodus 21:32, 30 shekels of silver was the legal compensation a person had to pay if their ox killed someone else's slave.

If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.KJV

But if the ox gores a slave, either male or female, the animal’s owner must pay the slave’s owner thirty silver coins, and the ox must be stoned. NLT

Why did Judas betray Jesus?

It is believed that Judas betrayed Jesus because he was not the leader the disciple expected. Judas probably assumed his master was going to rule an earthly kingdom and overthrow the Roman government.

Another line of thinking is that Judas was offended because Mary anointed Jesus with expensive oil. He said it could have been sold and the money given to the poor. Judas was the treasurer of the disciples, and he stole the money.

He may have become angry when Jesus said to leave Mary alone because the poor would always be around but he would not. Whatever the reason, scripture says Judas allowed Satan to enter His heart. He had walked with Jesus for three years and seen Him perform miracles, and still he betrayed Him.

Judas and the chief priests

There is an alleged gnostic gospel of Judas, but it does not shed light on the money that was paid to crucify Jesus. In Matthew chapter 26, Judas presented himself to the chief priests and asked what they would give him if He brought Jesus to them.

The chief priests knew what they were doing when they offered Judas 30 silver coins. They revealed their hatred for Christ and were probably insulting Him by valuing his life as the same as a common servant.

In Matthew chapter 27, Judas regretted his decision and returned the money. He told the chief priests that he had betrayed innocent blood. He was so full of remorse that he went away and hung himself. The priests used the money to buy the "Potter’s Field."

This suggests the money was enough to buy a small plot of land on the outskirts of Jerusalem. It was used for a graveyard, but was not enough to purchase prime real estate.

Different views on Judas

Some people believe Judas should be offered sympathy, but the Bible does not state this. During the Last Supper, Jesus said of the man who would betrayHim that it would have been better if he never was born.

There is a book titled The Curse of the Denari, which suggests that Judas did not die from hanging himself and continued to live. This is a work of fiction that contradicts what the Bible says.

The Crucifixion was priceless

The value of 30 pieces of silver today is much higher, alleged to be around $1,000. For believers in Christ, this money represents the coins that changed hands and led to the salvation of our souls. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross was a priceless, selfish act of total love for us. We can put the 30 coins in perspective from a spiritual point but not a monetary one.