The Betrayal of Jesus by Judas: A Pivotal Moment

What did Judas agree to betray Jesus for?

Options: A. Twenty pieces of silver B. Thirty pieces of silver C. Forty pieces of silver

Answer:

Judas agreed to betray Jesus to the Jewish officials for thirty pieces of silver.

Judas was willing to betray Jesus to the Jewish officials for thirty pieces of silver. This betrayal is a significant event in the Christian Gospels, set against the backdrop of Roman-occupied Palestine where political and social tensions were high between the Jewish population and the Roman authorities.

The context of Judas's betrayal takes us back to the Roman territory of Palestine, which had been a source of tension and opposition from the Jewish population, primarily due to heavy taxation and resentment towards the Romans. This opposition was part of a larger background of conflict, including significant uprisings that eventually led to the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem in 70 CE and the subsequent dispersal of the Jewish people.

Despite these tensions, the Jewish authorities were under Roman rule and worked to maintain some level of order which included silencing potential disruptors like Jesus. Jesus, described in the Gospels as a champion of the underprivileged and a rebel against the Roman occupation, was viewed as a threat to both the Roman and local Jewish leaders.

Turning back to Judas's act of betrayal, as described in the Gospel of Matthew (26:21-25), Jesus predicts that one of his apostles will betray him and later identifies Judas as the betrayer when they both reach for food on the same plate. This scene highlights Judas's dual actions of reaching out to Jesus at the table and yet setting in motion the events that would lead to Jesus's arrest and crucifixion.