Judas wasn’t just a thief. He was also the Treasurer.
Sometimes it is the smallest details that are the most revealing. And, sometimes it is the things that are not stated that speak the most loudly.
Judas’ very name is synonymous with being a traitor, something many believe is worse than a sworn enemy. But, there is more to the story of Judas and Jesus than simply betrayal. There is more to Judas than his name. In fact, it is his title that I find most provoking.
It is well-known that Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve disciples. And, as such, he was one of Jesus’s closest friends. But, he was also “the treasurer”. Some have suggested that Matthew, the tax collector for the Roman Government, would have been a better choice and that it is likely that Judas was one of the first to follow Jesus because he ended up in this position. As in many ministries, businesses or organizations, the treasurer is one of the first positions to be filled. Nevertheless, the fact I find most interesting is that Judas had been stealing regularly from the treasury and no one knew it except for Jesus (John 12:4-6).
Consider that idea for a moment. Judas was the treasurer and a thief. He didn’t just steal. He was a thief. Which means he stole on a regular basis from the treasury. In fact, he’d probably been stealing money for the entire three years of Jesus public ministry. But, only Jesus knew what was happening.
Was Jesus Poor?
If Jesus was a poor as many people believe he was then it doesn’t make any sense to have someone on his ministry team designated as the treasurer. The very fact that Judas was designated as the treasurer indicates that Jesus’ “not-for-profit organization” must have been raking in the dough because not only was He able to support Himself but a traveling ministry team of twelve people.
Second of all, if His business or ministry was broke than it would have been practically impossible for the treasurer to steal anything without any of the other disciples knowing. On the other hand if there was great wealth flowing through Jesus’ ministry than it would make sense to have one of the twelve team members designated as the treasurer and it would be very easy for this person to be skimming some off the top without anyone knowing but Jesus.
Just before the crucifixion, during the Last Supper, Judas Iscariot suddenly left the party. The story is detailed in John 13:29 and the response of the other disciples. They assumed Judas was going out to disperse money from the treasury to the poor or to buy something needed for the feast. Evidently this was commonplace because they did not find it unusual. Therefore, the treasury at the very least must have had the resources to disperse money to the poor and provide whatever was needed for a large feast on a regular basis.
Judas Iscariot, the treasurer, is one of the strongest reasons that I do not believe that Jesus was poor. Nor do I believe in a poverty gospel.
The Mercy of God
Although my aim in writing this article was to focus on the fact that Jesus had a treasurer, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the mercy of God. Judas sinned (literally “to miss the mark”) by betraying Jesus for money. But, just a few hours later Peter denied that he knew Jesus three times to save his own skin after Jesus was arrested. Judas’ sin and Peter’s sin are no different from our sins. We all miss the mark.
The lesson lies in what followed. Both men were filled with sorrow and later confessed their sin. Judas returned the 30 pieces of silver to the priests repenting for his betrayal of Jesus who was innocent. But, sadly the only words he heard were of judgment and shame from the priests and the words that played over and over in his mind. No one reminded him nor did he remember the mercy of God. He was so filled with shame, unable to find forgiveness, that he took his own life.
On the other hand, Peter was there when Jesus was resurrected and he spoke with Jesus face to face. Jesus called Peter to repentance and then three times restored him, commanding him and entrusting him to “feed My sheep.” Peter found forgiveness in the mercy of God.
And so can you and I, when we know the resurrected Savior.
Photo used with permission by Gene D. Austin
I was looking for an article on why Jesus appointed Judas to handle the money, when google pulled up your blog article. While I can appreciate a different take, there are some misused cultural terms that conflate the issue and leaps of assumption that can be logically countered.
The first is a bad cultural term. Judas wasn’t the “official treasurer”; he carried and monitored the money pouch. There’s a big difference in what those those two different images convey in today’s world. The funny picture I get from your wording is of Judas carrying around a 1st Century laptop using Peach Tree accounting (A pile of scrolls) and monitoring the balances of five different bank accounts and balancing the spreadsheets for the monthly board meeting. I don’t think that is a very good image to use when arguing your point. It adds confusion to the topic. Instead, I picture Judas carrying Jesus’ “man purse” (the money bag). That’s first, but there are also related issues.
The second issue is a poor assumption. You suggest your strongest argument is that Jesus must have had a lot of wealth because, if he had less money, it would be harder for Judas to steal some of it without one of the other disciple’s knowing about it. This assumes the disciples would have kept track if the amount in the money bag was smaller. It also assumes Judas was stealing enough to get noticed. When I was a kid, I would often take a little money from my my mom’s purse when no one else was looking. I knew only my mom knew how much – or little – she had in her purse. When the money was lean in her purse, I knew I couldn’t snag a 1$ bill. So if only Judas handled Jesus’ “man-purse” then it was only Judas (and Jesus) who knew how much was in there and how much should remain.
Third, you dismiss the possibility that, while there were certainly times the money bag was overflowing, there were other times that the money bag was nearly empty. My guess from what I read in the gospels is that there were rare times when Jesus would have been considered well taken care of, but many times, his disciples and he were just scraping by on the daily basis – solely on the hospitality of a few “wealthier” individuals and friends.
Thanks for sharing your view. God bless your faith whether you have health and wealth or are currently in lean times and sickness.
Great counter-argument! Thanks for sharing. Love it. And, thank you for being one of the rare people who can share their argument with such respect and grace.
I liked your thoughts on “was Jesus poor”. I agree that God provided the daily needs for Jesus and the apostles. Just as God provides for our needs. When Jesus was born, he received gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Certainly enough money to care for the family for years. And as Jesus grew up in Nazareth that was near the trade routes, His father Joseph would have a good trade as a builder. And Jesus and His brothers worked with Joseph. So I do not think Jesus was poor. I do not agree with the other person who replied because he is not aware of how a Christian group works. My Bible study group respects other members gifts or jobs assigned to them and take care to focus on the gifts or jobs God has given to each one of us instead.
Another thing I would like to mention is Jesus provision for His mother while on the cross. At the time of Jesus death, none of His brothers believed. So Jesus gave His mother to John who could comfort her in time of sorrow.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this article and also to share your thoughts!