Why did Judas betray Jesus?

In Matthew 26:1-30, one of Jesus' own followers sells Him out for thirty pieces of silver. Dr. Toby Holt shows that even this betrayal was part of God's plan to save His people. While a devoted woman poured costly perfume on Jesus to prepare Him for burial, Judas slipped away to deal with the chief priests. At the table Judas calls Jesus only "Rabbi," teacher — never "Lord." That evening Jesus took bread and the cup and gave the Lord's Supper, explaining His blood would be poured out for the forgiveness of sins. What looked like the darkest betrayal was the path by which God brought the greatest good.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why did Judas betray Christ? He valued money over his Master, handing Jesus over for thirty pieces of silver. He saw Jesus as only a teacher, not as Lord.

2. What did Jesus give His followers at this meal? The Lord's Supper — bread and the cup — as signs of His body and blood, poured out for the forgiveness of sins, marking a new covenant.

3. Was the betrayal outside God's control? No. Christ's death was God's plan from before the world began; God brought salvation out of the greatest evil.

"For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." — Matthew 26:28 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.