Did Judas Go To Heaven?

Did Judas go to Heaven is such a controversial question. and it is difficult to answer definitively. There is no clear cut answer in the Bible. But in this post we will explore both sides of the question.

Did Judas go to Heaven?

Judas Iscariot was one of the 12 disciples of Jesus, and he famously betrayed Jesus for 30 silver coins. This betrayal of Jesus has been concluded as the most unforgivable sin ever, but did he catch Jesus by surprise? This and many other points of view will be explained as you continue to read.

Let’s Begin With The Story Of Judas:

2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. (Matthew 10)(NIV)

Judas was the son of Simon Iscariot and he was chosen by The Lord Jesus as one of His closest followers. He was put in charge of the money that was given to the ministry in order to make sure that all was proper with the finances. He was not treated any different than the other eleven men and was even given the authority to cast out demons. (Matthew 10:1)

The Bible does not tell the stories about the disciples before being called by the Son of Man. However some are distinguished by their family name such as “son of Simon Iscariot or son of Alpheus…”. This was to make sure that the first century Jews knew exactly who was being spoken about.

We can only surmise that the men and women who loved and devoted themselves to the teaching of Jesus were opposed to the Iscariot household. Throughout time true Christians have also been unable to have compassion toward the betrayer of Jesus. Was this in fact the worst sin ever?

Did Judas Betray Jesus?

The Gospel of John 6:64 “…Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. Some people may believe that the fact that Jesus knew that Judas did not believe would eliminate the guilt of such an action.

The men who wrote the gospels all agreed that there were clear indications that Judas was not a genuine follower of Jesus, the Son of the Living God. However this act of betrayal was not limited to Simon’s son. It was fully planned out by the hypocritical hand of the religious leaders of the day.

Judas was not as concerned about the finances as he should have been so, when they were present at the house of Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, he showed his true colors. In his gospel, the apostle John (chapter 10) wrote,  3Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

There is good reason to believe that the act of betrayal was potentially pre-planned by a greedy thief. It took hind sight for the disciples, and Mary Magdalene to understand these things about their friend and fellow student of the Rabbi (teacher). This is perfectly shown in the Bible verses about the Last Supper.

Mark 14 expresses this: When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.” 19 They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean me?”

Not one of Jesus’ closest twelve disciples knew that it was Judas Iscariot. Not one of them understood that innocent blood was about to be shed. They all believed that Jesus was the Son of God and that He was the Messiah chosen to free the Jews from the Roman suppression they were under.

The New Testament Agreement with the Old Testament:

Zachariah 11:12-13 (English Standard Version)

Then I said to them, “If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” And they weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver. Then the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the lordly price at which I was priced by them. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord, to the potter.

Matthew 26: 14-15 (New International Version)

Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver.

The book of Psalms 41:8 (New King James Version)

Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.

John 13:18 (NKJV)

“I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’

Psalm 55:12-14 (ESV)

For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to take sweet counsel together; within God’s house we walked in the throng.

What Happened After The Betrayal?

After Judas betrayed Jesus, he felt remorseful and attempted to return the silver to the chief priests and elders. When they refused to take it back, Judas threw the silver down in the temple and then committed suicide by hanging himself.

Some people believe that Judas did not go to Heaven because he committed suicide. However, there are others who believe that Judas may have been forgiven by God since he felt remorseful for his actions. His eternity would not have been determined by his suicide or his remorse.

Judas’ motives can only truly be determined by God the Father. He had done a lot of good works while following Jesus. Ultimately it is man’s freewill that determines his eternity.

God’s plan has always been to spend eternity with us. It may seem that some people have all the correct answers, but it is only what lines up with the Word of God, The Bible. There is a Book of Life and if your name is in that book You will spend eternity with God.

Revelation 21:27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Now Let’s See About Judas’ Death:

The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” Matthew 26:24 (ESV)

 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. John 13:2 He then went to get the soldiers and went to the Garden of Gethsemane, where the group often went to pray.

But Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” Luke 22:48 (ESV)

The Devil had prompted both Judas and the High Priest to work together to put an end to this radical teacher, whom they portrayed as a false prophet.

A small crowd gathered as a mock trial forced Jesus to speak the truth of His deity. 62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?” 

63 But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I demand in the name of the living God—tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Matthew 26 (NLT)

When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders.  “I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.” Matthew 27:3-4a Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself. (vs,5)

Did Judas Repent?

The book of Acts tells the gospel Jesus taught all the time He walked the earth: Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved; you and your household. (Acts 16:31) Jesus also said to Nicodemus “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. God didn’t send His Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:16-17)

Did Judas go to Heaven? He was remorseful, and he returned the blood money. Maybe at the very last moment of his life He realized the magnitude of his actions. Maybe in his last breaths he asked God to forgive him.

Did Judas Go To Heaven?

It is possible that God’s grace covered Judas. Nahum 1:3 and Old Testament verse declares The Lord is slow to get angry, but his power is great, and he never lets the guilty go unpunished. God’s judgements are real and they are right.

Human beings are allowed, by God, to make our own choices regarding everlasting life. True repentance leads us to desire a relationship with the Son of God. It creates a new space in which we are free from a need to sin.

When a person calls on God’s Name He promises to hear and to answer. If Judas did go to Heaven it is the greatest example of God’s love. The Bible verses I have placed here for you to review show that there is a possibility that Judas did go to Heaven.

What Does That Mean For Us?

None of the disciples thought that Jesus could or would be killed. So it is likely that Judas believed that He would be able to prove himself to the Sanhedrin or that He would escape, like He had done before. It is possible that the last thing that Judas did was to cry out to God.

Jesus’ death caused all the graves of the godly people that walked the earth to be opened and they walked around among their family members. No doubt they worshipped the One that came to Earth to save all those that were lost. Undoubtedly that is why many came to know Him and believed after His death.

We will never know the reason Judas turned Jesus over to the wicked men. We may never know until we are before the throne of His glory whether or not Judas was forgiven when Jesus took the keys of Hell from the Devil.

What we do know is that while there is still breath in our lungs, God will for give every sin and He has promised us eternal life in the Kingdom of God. Holy Spirit is here with us and will guide us into the right relationship with the Holy Father that the Son died for us to have.

And if we refuse to accept His gift of life, forgiveness, freedom and salvation we will die a second death in the lake of fire. And be doomed to never have contact with Our God, out creator, the lover of our soul.

Please look at Does God Love Everyone? and What Does It Mean To Be A Christian? These posts may help to shed some light on this and how it could pertain to us.

P.S. (Plain and Simple)

Did Judas go to Heaven? The Bible does not say, but it does allude to the torment that would be his. What we can all understand is that even if Jesus rescued him after his death from the pit of fire, he obviously did suffer a great deal of mental anguish.

My opinion is that Jesus did pull him out with others after He took the keys of death and the grave from Lucifer.  I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. Revelation 1:18

Resources: Various Translations of the Bible