Response:

I do not know all the reasons why Judas was selected, but here are perhaps a few. First, it shows that anyone is capable of rejecting Christ. Here we have someone who had seen all the miracles, and had heard all the teaching, and yet he still did not believe. No person can trust his position to get him to Heaven. He must trust Christ. Also, we know that the Old Testament prophesied that Christ would be betrayed by a friend. Psalm 41:9 states, "Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me." Though this could probably have been fulfilled some other way, God chose to fulfill it in this manner.

As to Judas' end, we know that he attempted to return the silver that he was paid to betray Christ, but he was rejected by the religious leaders (Matt 27:3-5). The Scriptures then tell us that he went out and hung himself (Matt 27:5). Acts 1:18 adds that Judas "falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out". Apparently, after hanging himself, the rope broke, or worked its way loose, and he fell to the ground in such a manner that he split his body open. Perhaps he hung himself over the edge of a cliff. As to his soul, Peter states that Judas "went to his place" (Acts 1:25). Most everyone believes that this place is Hell. Christ Himself said that Judas was a devil (John 6:70), and called him the son of perdition (John 17:12), which is the same title given to the Anti-Christ in II Thes. 2:3, so it seems that this must have been his ultimate end.

By Dr Mark Montgomery Ambassador Baptist Church 1926 Babcock Blvd Pittsburgh, PA 15209 (412)477-3210