Page 349 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

JUDAS - JUDGE NOT

Mercury, 1970, winter edition, reprinted in The Rock, 26:14-16), the price of a slave (Ex. 21:32). Christ called
Feb. 1987). Judas “friend” to the very end (Mt. 26:50), and he could
Finkelstein says, “[In Judaism] the spirit of the have been saved had he trusted Christ as his Lord and
Ancient Pharisee survives unaltered.” How true this Saviour (Jn. 1:12; 3:16). Judas was remorseful (Mt.
statement is! In modern Judaism we find the same bitter 27:3-4), but he was not repentant toward God. He had
hatred toward Jesus Christ and His followers as that the sorrow of the world rather than godly sorrow (2 Co.
which dwelt in the bosom of the Pharisees who 2,000 7:10). Christ said Judas’ end would be worse than had
years ago stood among the crowds watching Jesus’ trial he never been born (Mt. 26:24). Eternal judgment is not
before Pilate, stirring them up to cry, “Crucify him; annihilation. [See Footwashing, Godly Sorrow, Hell,
crucify him; let him be crucified!” ... persuading the Repentance.]
multitude that they should ask for Barabbas, and kill JUDE (praise). The names Judah, Judas, and Jude
Jesus. are all from the same Hebrew and Greek words. There
One of the statements in the Jewish Talmud teaches are several Judes mentioned in the N.T. (1) One of the
that Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ, was a whore and brothers of Jesus (Mt. 13:55; Mk. 6:3). (2) The brother
an adulteress who bore Jesus by a Roman soldier named of James and the writer of the epistle of Jude (Lk. 6:16;
Pandera (Ibid.). Indeed, Judaism is a Christ-hating Ac. 1:13; Jude 1). (3) An apostle other than Iscariot (Jn.
religion. 14:22). (4) A Galilean who stirred up insurrection (Ac.
In this light we see how wrong it is for those who 5:37). (5) A disciple with whom Paul lodged (Ac. 9:11).
profess to love Jesus Christ to fellowship with, have (6) A prophet (Ac. 15:22, 27). [See Apostle.]
joint meetings with, and in other ways join together JUDAEA (praise). The Greek equivalent of Judah. (In
with Christ-rejecting Jews. The Christian’s responsibility Ezra 5:8, Judea is Aramaic.) It referred to the tribe of
today toward the unbelieving Jew is the same as that of Judah and the region of Judah in southern Israel, and
the first-century Christians: Preach to them Christ after the Babylonian Captivity, Judaea referred to the
crucified and risen as Lord and Saviour and proclaim nation Israel (Mt. 2:1, 5, 22; 3:1, 5; 4:25; 19:1; 24:16;
that God now commands all men everywhere to repent. Ac. 1:8; 2 Co. 1:16; Ga. 1:22; 1 Th. 2:14). The Persians
Read the book of Acts and see how the apostles and and Romans appointed governors over Judah (Hag.
early Christians preached to the unsaved Jews. We find 1:14; Lk. 1:5).
there no idea that Christ-rejecting Judaism is a living JUDGE NOT. The following are some of the key
faith! passages on judging that are widely abused today:
3. Judaism is a temporary religion. The Bible says that Matthew 7:1-5 -- Judge not, that ye be not judged. For
there will come a day when the nation Israel will receive with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with
Jesus as the Christ when He returns from heaven in what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
power and glory (Ze. 12:9-10; 13:1, 6). Before then And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's
there will come a period of the most terrible trouble this eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
world has ever experienced. It is called the “time of Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the
Jacob’s trouble” (Je. 30:7), because it will be the time mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own
when God will complete the judgment of Israel for her eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine
unbelief and will reveal Himself to the remnant and own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the
pour out upon them the salvation we read of in mote out of thy brother’s eye.”
Zechariah 12-13. Christ will return; His feet will stand First, if we examine the context of this passage we
upon the mount of Olives; and He will establish His see that the Lord Jesus is not condemning all judging;
kingdom on earth with its capital in Jerusalem and with He is condemning hypocritical judging (Mt. 7:5). To
a converted Israel at its heart. forbid something in another person that I allow in my
JUDAS (praise). The Greek form of the Hebrew word own life is hypocrisy, and it is a great and deep-seated
for Judah. (1) A son of Jacob (Mt. 1:2-3). (2) A sin among men. For a parent to tell his children not to
revolutionary mentioned in Ac. 5:37. (3) Judas Iscariot, listen to rock music when he listens to Country-Western
the disciple who betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver music is hypocrisy. To tell my children not to smoke
(Jn. 6:66; 12:6; 13:29; Mt. 26:14-25, 47-50; 27:3-10; when I smoke or to attend church when I don’t attend
Ac. 1:15-26). This was prophesied by David (Ps. 41:9; church, or to be serious about God’s will when I am not
Jn. 13:18; Ac. 1:16). Iscariot refers to Kerioth, his native that serious about His will, or to be kind to others when
place. Judas was covetous (Jn. 12:4-6). Judas was a I am not kind to them or to their mother, or to obey me
hypocrite (Jn. 13:24-29). The other disciples did not when I don’t obey my husband is hypocrisy. This is the
know that he was an impostor. Judas esteemed Christ type of thing that Christ was warning about.
very little. He sold Him for 30 pieces of silver (Mt.

Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity 349