Judas Iscariot & Matthias

The Apostles we're going to be looking at this Sunday are the traitor Judas Iscariot and the man who Replaced him. A man named Matthias. So first Judas Iscariot, he was chosen by Jesus and he was an apostle.

Why did Jesus choose a man that he knew was going to betray him? Well many reasons. Perhaps the greatest is to Fulfill scripture. The scripture must be fulfilled Jesus said. Psalm 41 verse 9 Says. Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted who ate my bread has lifted up his heel Against me.

As you probably know Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. He gave up his location to the Jewish Council the Sanhedrin and He went with the soldiers the temple guard To the garden or the place where Jesus was staying the garden of Gethsemane.

And Judas approached Jesus. And you remember how he identified him in the dark. He identified him with a kiss. At which point the soldiers arrested Jesus and took him off to his trial which was in a kangaroo court.

And then eventually his death. We don't really know exactly what Judas was motivated by. We do have these insights. He was the treasurer of the Disciples so we know that he stole money from the ministry.

There's that the motivation of money. 30 pieces of silver really wasn't that much though Scripture identifies him as a devil from the start. But he likely became disillusioned when he realized that Jesus came to die in instead of establishing His kingdom upon the earth.

So by giving up Jesus to the Jewish leadership He probably thought he would be rewarded with a position of honor or authority. But in reality they were just using him. At which point when he realizes this he despairs and commits suicide.

Jesus says about Judas it would have been better for him if he had not been born. And in Acts 1 25 It says that Judas went to his own place. Which some believe that means the hottest hell was reserved for Judas being the one who?

Not just denied Christ but Betrayed him. Also in Acts chapter 1 the disciples decided that they would replace Judas. Peter identifies verses in the Psalms as Evidence that this should happen. So they chose two men who are with them during Christ's earthly ministry.

Who are also witnesses of the resurrection. So they prayed. They chose these two men prayed cast lots in the lot. Fell on this man Matthias. We really know nothing about Matthias. Nothing else is said about him in the Bible.

Some believe that Peter was misguided and should have waited for the Lord to make his own choice in calling the Apostle Paul. But that's a matter of debate. So either way next week. We will cover the final Apostle that Jesus called Saul of Tarsus.

Also known as the Apostle Paul.